How long is the train ride from Arizona to the Grand Canyon?
The trip measures 65 miles and takes 2 hours and 15 minutes each way—45 minutes faster than in 1901 when the train made its first trip. The train departs Grand Canyon Depot each afternoon for the return trip to the Williams Depot. All aboard!
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COACH CLASS - ADULTS (ages 16+): $82.00 | CHILDREN (ages 2-15): $51.00 | CHILDREN UNDER 2: FREE. Take a journey to the canyon and back with style and grace aboard our streamliner-era coaches.
The Grand Canyon Railroad is one of the best ways to get to the Grand Canyon. The train begins the journey to the Grand Canyon from downtown Williams, Arizona. Board the train and leave the hard work to the conductor. A two hour, 15 minute trip, the train takes you along Arizona's beautiful desert landscape.
The views you'll have from the train will be the same boring high desert views that you'll get from the car, except the train will take 3 hours whereas your car will only take an hour. That's time that you could better spend at Grand Canyon National Park on the rim, exeriencing the canyon.”
With just one day at the Grand Canyon South Rim, you can see several viewpoints and even hike into the canyon. Unless you want a super relaxed Grand Canyon vacation on the rim or an adventurous rafting trip down below, one to three days at the Grand Canyon is usually enough time for the highlights.
Grand Canyon Railway departs each day from the historic Williams Depot, located at the south end of the rail line. Built in 1908 by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, the depot was an oasis for travelers heading to and from California along the main line running from Los Angeles to Chicago.
We loved the top of the world view from the dome car and did feel that it was worth the extra money for our one time only experience, but you can save a little by purchasing a dome ticket to the Grand Canyon and then purchasing a lesser class ticket for your trip back to Williams. Helpful?
How many days should you spend in the Grand Canyon? If you're visiting the South Rim, you'll want 2-3 days.For the North Rim, plan on visiting for 1-2 days.If you want to see both rims, give yourself 4-5 days!
The journey is a total of 2 hours and during this time keep your eyes peeled for wildlife because the landscape is full of them! Look out for deer, bald eagles, California condors, and more! This is one of the most popular Grand Canyon tour experiences and is great for the whole family.
Not surprisingly, the weekends are the busiest times at the Grand Canyon, so it's best to go during the week. Mondays and Tuesdays tend to be the least crowded days of the week.
The town of Tusayan, which is just 15-20 minutes away from the main Visitor Center on the south rim, has a great selection of places to stay. Grand Canyon Junction (formerly known as Valle) is further out (about 30 minutes to the rim), but is another good option. If you want a hotel, stay in Tusayan, which has plenty.
Hands down, the South Rim is THE place to visit at the Grand Canyon. It's often described as the real Grand Canyon and it's the part of the National Park that you've undoubtedly seen in movies, photographs and magazines.
The National Park Service has provided free shuttle bus service on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park for more than 40 years. All of the park's buses are fully accessible and run on compressed natural gas, which means fewer harmful emissions for people and the environment.
Tours and Activities:National Park (North and South rims) entrance fees - $30 per vehicle. West Rim entrance package - $46.65 per person. Helicopter tours - South Rim - $199 per person. Helicopter tours - West Rim - $299 per person.
Because it's home to many of the most memorable viewpoints, the South Rim is the ideal destination for first-time Grand Canyon Visitors. If you have small children, you may prefer to visit the South Rim for its many amenities and activities.
Safety: Taking a guided tour can be safer than driving yourself, especially if you're not familiar with the terrain or weather conditions. However, there are also some downsides to taking a tour: Cost: Tours can be expensive, especially if you're traveling with a large group or booking a luxury tour.