Grand Canyon from Flagstaff?

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ciship

Service Attendant
Joined
May 4, 2004
Messages
164
So, can you go to the Canyon and back to Williams in one day? Or do you have to stay overnight?
 
I searched through these forums on info about the Grand Canyon stop in Flagstaff, but the info I found was old. We are interested in going from KC to Flagstaff and then driving over to stay in Williams, AZ where the Grand Canyon train takes you to the canyon. Anyone done this trip recently? We were thinking about renting a cabin in Williams. Should we stay in a hotel in town instead?
 
The Grand Canyon Railway leaves from Williams and goes to the Canyon and back in a single day. You can book a one way ride and stay overnight at the canyon, and return on a following days train if you’d like.

I’ve always stayed at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel, it’s very nice and of course quite convenient to the train. I miss the Amtrak connection in Williams though.
 
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.
 
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?
 
A lot of people stay at the newer big hotels in the small town of Tusayan, close to the park entrance. Reservations for Bright Angel lodge fill early, although this year could be different.

A person could visit all of the stops with scenic views using the park shuttles in a day, but I always recommend 3 days for a hike or two and to really take it all in. Sadly, I've read a lot of visitors only stay 45 mins.

Flagstaff is interesting and has some nice hotels. Do you like historical sites?

I took the train from Williams once and stayed at the Bright Angel lodge. I've also stayed in Flagstaff and took a shuttle to the park. They prefer people visit using public transportation and charge more for cars that enter.
 
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.
Since the train returns early enough, we all drove on to Sedona for a couple of nights where we stayed at a Courtyard and they stayed at the fancy Hilton.
 
Here is a trip report I did on our visit to the Grand Canyon in October 2019.
GC Trip Report

We made hotel reservations directly with Xanterra reservations and got a great rate at the historic Bright Angle lodge literally right on the south rim. They also made reservations for us at the very special El Tovar for our dinner (although the Bright Angel restaurant was good too). It was so great to be able to stroll over to the canyon at any time, somthing you would miss if staying off property. We made separate reservations for the round trip train ride directly with the railroad office as I wanted to be specific about our accommodations. Even though we were not staying at the GC Railway Hotel we were told, since we were staying at a Xanterra property, we could drop our bag off there before the train ride and it would be transfered to and from our hotel room. It was waiting for us when we opened the door. By all means take the bus tours. We would have missed a lot if we hadn't.
 
Yes, you can do a round trip to the rim and back in one day on the train but, a lot better experience if you spend more time at the canyon.

We traveled to the Grand Canyon in January 2012 when Amtrak still stopped at Williams Junction.
Southwest Chief from LA to WMJ (early AM arrival). GCRY took us to their hotel where we checked in for that first day and night. Rode the GCRY to the South Rim in the open-platform parlour car.
Spent several night in a Bright Angel Lodge cabin and used the park shuttle to get around. Cold, but no snow (disappointment!) that January.
After riding the train back to Williams we had dinner (voucher from hotel) and killed time until the westbound SWC arrived.

Of course, now the connection must be made at Flagstaff.
 
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.
 
If it was my
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.
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.

There are other things to see within driving distance; craters, forests, etc. I could see people getting a car for a week and have a base in Flagstaff.

When you enter the park they prefer you park your car. Parking in the lot is easy but there may be problems parking at scenic overlooks.

Do you think you will have been vaccinated by then?
 
Check when Grand Canyon is running their steam locomotive... it’s usually once a month. Nothing like riding behind steam to the Grand Canyon on the historic Santa Fe line!

I’ve been in the summer and winter and never seen a line for the shuttle bus, I would think it’s much easier to use the shuttle than try to find a parking spot at each location.
 
I visited Williams by hire car some years back.I walked around the town on foot from my hotel, including to the Grand Canyon railway depot. It is a compact town, only took 10 mins or so from my hotel near the freeway to the depot. My hotel was about the cheapest in town. (No surprise there, as folk who know me might say!) and I drove up to the canyon next day, You don't need to stay on the doorstep of the railway if you prefer a cheaper option.
 
I endorse the idea that a day (in reality it would be less than that) is far too short a time to visit one of the major wonders of the world. We spent three days there and it wasn’t enough. Also, at that time anyway, private cars were not allowed in the busiest areas, it was shuttle bus only. I feel the shuttles were by far the best, allowing the car driver to take in the views, not just their passengers.
I recommend accommodation at the Canyon edge. We stayed at Bright Angel, just a few steps from the edge. In fact for travel anywhere, my feeling is that out-of-town accommodation is a false economy.
 
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?
The section from Grand Canyon Village to Hermit's Rest is off limits to most private cars and you use the frequent bus service.

As for the original question, I would say that if you want to see the Grand Canyon, you should rent a car in Flagstaff and stay several days within the park. If you want a train ride, you should take the Grand Canyon Railway and can still see a wee tiny bit of the park in a one day trip.

Please note that there are two lodging concessions on the south rim - Zanterra and Delaware North. We used Delaware North on our last trip (2017) and were very pleased.

Staying just outside the Park in Tusayan would be fine but you have to deal with the Park entrance gate each day and I believe lines can be long on some days. Others may have more experience and information on the Tusayan option.
 
The entrance fee for vehicles is 4-5x the "walk-in" rate, which is what buses get per passenger.

Even if I stayed in Flagstaff I'd consider parking at Tusayan and take a shuttle from there.

It's too bad Amtrak has chosen to abandon the Williams stop. What were they thinking?
 
We took the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams to the south rim in 2012 with a family group of five. At the time, Amtrak still stopped at Williams Junction, so three of made the connection there and stayed overnight at the the railway hotel before heading north in the morning. It was possible to make a same-day round trip to the canyon from Williams, but I would strongly advise staying at least one or two nights at the canyon -- it deserves to be the main event on any itinerary.

The El Tovar and Bright Angel lodges both are right on the south rim; you walk out the door to the trail along the rim. We stayed elsewhere and consequently had to use the shuttle buses to get around. The bus system was quite efficient, although the one-way system in the village meant that we sometimes had to start out in the wrong direction and then change to a bus going the other way. I made a note to myself to book at the Bright Angel next time -- or splurge for the El Tovar.

This may not be a factor if you're traveling in June, but we were a bit unprepared for how cold it can be at the canyon. Visiting in December, we found more snow there than we'd left behind in upstate New York.
 
It's too bad Amtrak has chosen to abandon the Williams stop. What were they thinking?

My understanding is the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel chose to end the shuttle bus service, which is a real shame.

I think Amtrak tried to find another shuttle operator, but failed. Too bad, was a great service that I enjoyed using.
 
Just another thought about the cost of entering the park - at the time we visited we had pre purchased a National Parks annual pass for quite a reasonable amount. IIRC it was $50 then, so obviously more now. But it gave great value, free entry to every national park we visited, and over six weeks that was plenty.
If someone stayed just outside the park and paid daily, an annual pass would work well. Even so, IMO it is a false economy, financially, timewise and just enjoying the general vibe of being right there.
 
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