Grand Canyon Railway

The Grand Canyon Railway

The Grand Canyon Railway runs from Williams to the South Rim in about 2 hours 15 minutes each way, with almost four hours at the canyon in between. The depot is about 34 miles west of Flagstaff.

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Train tickets

Checked November 3, 2026From $69.98Leaves 9:30 am

Grand Canyon Railway · Photo: Rob Bixby / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 · Credits

Schedule

One train a day, there and back

Times are Arizona time. The train doesn't run on December 25.

Grand Canyon Railway day train
SeasonSeason	Leaves WilliamsLeaves	Arrives at the rimArrives	Leaves the rimReturns	Back in WilliamsBack
January to October	9:30 am	11:45 am	3:30 pm	5:45 pm
November and December	8:30 am	10:45 am	2:30 pm	4:45 pm

Classes and prices

From vintage Pullman to the luxury dome

Pullman is the simplest and cheapest class and runs from March to October. Coach and First Class are the classes with wheelchair access. The dome and luxury cars sit higher, for the view.

The Williams depot with a steam locomotive of the Grand Canyon Railway — The Williams depot, where every trip starts.Williams Depot · Photo: Grand Canyon Railway / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Pullman (March to October)
Adults 16+$69.98Children 2–15$37.98
Coach
Adults 16+$89.98Children 2–15$57.98
First Class
Adults 16+$172.98Children 2–15$132.98
Observation Dome
Adults 16+$202.98Children 2–15$192.98
Luxury Dome
Adults 16+$242.98Children 2–1516 and up only
Luxury Parlor
Adults 16+$242.98Children 2–1516 and up only

Park fee

The National Park fee comes on top

The class prices don't include entry to Grand Canyon National Park. The railway adds the fee to your reservation, per reservation rather than per person once you have two adults or more.

How it works: The park entrance fee is added to your train reservation
1 adult (16+): $20
2 to 9 adults: $35 per reservation
10 to 18 adults: $70 per reservation
Visitors who aren't US residents: An extra $100 per person 16 and over, unless a qualifying pass applies
Have a park pass?: Give its number when you reserve; it covers the holder and up to 3 more adults

Our verdict

Which class is worth it?

For most families, Coach: it runs all year, has wheelchair access, and the ride and the four hours at the rim are the same in every class. Pullman is cheaper but only runs from March to October.

Best for most families

Coach

$330.922 adults and 2 children aged 2–15, with the $35 park fee

Runs all year, and Coach cars are wheelchair accessible.

Cheapest, March to October

Pullman

$250.92the same family, with the park fee

The simplest class, in vintage cars. It doesn't run from November to February.

For the view

First Class

$646.92the same family, with the park fee

Wheelchair accessible like Coach. The dome cars above it sit higher for the view; children under 2 can't ride in the Observation Dome.

Family prices worked out from the day-trip fares and the park fee on the Grand Canyon Railway's site, checked November 3, 2026. Visitors who aren't US residents pay an extra $100 per person 16 and over.

Tickets

Tickets for the round trip

The Viator ticket includes sales tax and the National Park fee, with coach or first class to choose from.

Guided tours from Flagstaff instead

Round trip by train

Grand Canyon Railway

4.6 (998 reviews on Viator)

Grand Canyon Railway Train Tickets

About 8 hours, round trip

This ticket covers the round trip from Williams to the South Rim in coach or first class, with sales tax and the National Park fee included.

The train leaves from the depot in Williams, about 40 minutes' drive west of Flagstaff.

National Park fee included
Coach or first class
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

From $135.21 on Viator

Check Prices & Availability

Good to know

The train leaves from Williams, not Flagstaff
Departs 9:30 am, or 8:30 am in November and December

Good to know

Before you board

You can bring snacks and soft drinks on board, but not your own alcohol. For the 9:30 departure, leave Flagstaff by 8:30 at the latest.

Ride time: About 2 hours 15 minutes each way, with almost 4 hours at the rim
Before you leave: Each morning the Cataract Creek Gang and the Marshal stage a Wild West shootout at the Williams Depot
On the way: Musicians walk the train playing Western songs, and each car has an attendant who explains the route and helps plan your time at the rim. On the way back the cowboys may 'rob' the train
Food: Bring snacks and soft drinks. No alcohol of your own
Wheelchairs: Coach and First Class cars are accessible
Babies: Children under 2 aren't allowed in the Observation Dome
No train: December 25
Depot: 233 N Grand Canyon Blvd, Williams, next to the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel
From Flagstaff: About 34 miles on I-40, roughly 40 minutes without traffic

Where to stay

Sleep next to the depot

The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel is beside the depot and charges no resort fee; the other downtown Williams hotels are a short walk away.

Photo: Expedia
1 / 7
Photos: ExpediaCheck prices on Expedia
Best for the trainDowntown Williams 9.2/10 on Expedia
Grand Canyon Railway Hotel
Free parkingNo petsBreakfast extra
An 8-minute walk to the platform, with free parking while you're at the canyon and an indoor pool for the evening after.
- Good for Train days to the Grand Canyon
- Good for Families: indoor pool, arcade and playground
- Skip if You travel with a pet
Check prices on Expedia Photos, rules and fees

The Historic Grand Canyon HotelDowntown Williams 9.6/10 on Expedia · 655 reviewsFree parkingNo petsBreakfast includedCheck prices
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Williams-Grand Canyon AreaDowntown Williams 9.0/10 on Expedia · 1,418 reviewsFree parkingPets: dogs and cats, up to 2Breakfast includedCheck prices
The Ellsworth Hotel, an Ascend Collection HotelDowntown Williams 9.4/10 on Expedia · 526 reviewsFree parkingNo petsBreakfast extraCheck prices

All hotels in Williams

Quick answers

How long is the Grand Canyon train ride?

About 2 hours 15 minutes each way between Williams and the South Rim, with almost four hours at the canyon before the train heads back.

Is the Grand Canyon train worth it?

If you'd rather not drive and park at the rim, yes: you leave the car in Williams, ride to Grand Canyon Village and have most of the middle of the day at the canyon. The shootout at the depot, the musicians and the staged train robbery make it a good day for kids too. If you want the most time at the canyon, driving gives you more.

Is there a train robbery on the Grand Canyon Railway?

A staged one. The Cataract Creek Gang shoots it out with the Marshal at the Williams Depot before departure, and the same cowboys have been known to 'rob' the train later in the day. It's part of the ride, at no extra cost.

Does the Grand Canyon Railway leave from Flagstaff?

No. It leaves from the depot in Williams, about 34 miles west of Flagstaff, roughly 40 minutes by car.

How much is the Grand Canyon Railway?

Day tickets start at $69.98 for adults in Pullman class (March to October) and go up to $242.98 in the luxury cars. The park entrance fee is added to your reservation.

Is there a train from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon?

No. Drive or take a shuttle to Williams, then ride the Grand Canyon Railway from there.