We took the GCR train from Williams to the GC early last December. We stayed overnight. We had been to the GC many times including the train back in the early '80s.
For anyone who has never been to the GC, going there and returning the same day by train is, IMHO, silly as you have little time to see anything or enjoy its majesty for what you are spending. Better to drop another place on your trip (to see on a later journey) and stay at least one night than to spend just a couple of hours at the Canyon.
Had we not already seen the Canyon at least six times in the past, our overnight would have been way too little.
Where did you stay in Williams? Where did you stay in GC?
Night before train was at the Railway hotel. We went up to GC with son, dil, 10 y/o grandson & 1 1/2 y/o granddaughter. We stayed at El Tovar (we splurged but got a great deal) and kids stayed at Bright Angel, I think, even though they could have afforded a suite at the El Tovar.Where did you stay in Williams? Where did you stay in GC?
They used open air trams when I was there and there was really never a wait. Maybe if there is some big group hitting it but they handle crowds well. The trams appear every six minutes.We are looking at that trip for August 2021 and not sure wheter to take the Grand Canyon train to the Grand Canyon or just stay in Flagstaff and drive up. Also looking into driving to the observation points rather than to take the crowded buses for which there may be a long wait. Got to check out the parking situation.
The section from Grand Canyon Village to Hermit's Rest is off limits to most private cars and you use the frequent bus service.Yes, I had thought the West Rim drive had been off-limits to private cars for decades. I know it was the last time I visited which was in the '90s. Did they re-open it to private vehicles?
It's too bad Amtrak has chosen to abandon the Williams stop. What were they thinking?
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