Getting There
Williams, Arizona—the “Gateway to the Grand Canyon”— is a historic town on Route 66 and one of the nearest to the Canyon. Williams is also the only place to catch a ride on the iconic Grand Canyon Railway, which goes directly to the South Rim.
Ride The Rails
Est. time 2 hr 15 min
The Grand Canyon Railway departs the Williams depot daily at 9:30am. (Allow time to stop by the booth for paper tickets, as e-tickets are not accepted to board.) Passengers can enjoy the scenery along the 63-mile journey to the South Rim and avoid the hassle of traffic and parking there, which can be a nuisance in the high-season.
Upon arrival, passengers disembark at a depot towards the west end of Grand Canyon Village, which is a convenient launching point for exploring the canyon’s rim, descending via the popular Bright Angel Trail, or grabbing lunch at El Tovar or other historic eateries. But keep an eye on the clock, as the train departs for Williams at 3:30pm sharp. If you miss the return, you’ll be hitchhiking — or staying overnight in the canyon.
Hit The Road
Est. time 55 min
An advantage of driving from Williams to Grand Canyon National Park is that you can arrive as early and stay as long as you wish. This is essential if you want to see the sunrise or sunset sweep across the canyon walls, or undertake longer hikes or activities.
During the summer high-season, the park’s narrow roads get jammed with traffic and parking is scarce. Even motorists end up relying on the park’s shuttles to get around, since the trailheads and amenities of the South Rim are spread out over several miles, and private vehicles are barred from the Hermit Road for much of the year.
If you want to get close to the park and then ditch your car, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the Park Service operates a park-and-ride shuttle from various sites in the town of Tusayan just outside the park to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, with departures every 20 minutes.
