Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel - Williams, Arizona

Introduction to Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel

The Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel represents a unique offering for travelers seeking an immersive experience within the breathtaking landscapes of the Grand Canyon. Located at 235 N Grand Canyon Blvd, Williams, AZ 86046, this entity combines the nostalgic charm of vintage train travel with modern hotel accommodations, creating a distinctive way to explore one of America's most iconic natural wonders.

Transportation and Accommodation Services

At the heart of the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel experience lies its historic train service. Operating primarily from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the railway offers scheduled departures throughout the year, providing passengers with unparalleled access to the canyon's vast expanse. This service is particularly noteworthy for several reasons:

• Scenic Journey: The train ride itself is widely regarded as a highlight, offering passengers comfortable seats, knowledgeable guides, and the unique perspective of moving through the canyon's diverse terrain.
• Accessibility: For many visitors, especially those coming from the East or West, the train provides a convenient and scenic way to reach the Grand Canyon South Rim without the extended driving time.
• Historical Significance: Riding the Grand Canyon Railway offers a connection to the canyon's early tourism history, with the train being one of the last remaining narrow-gauge railways of its kind still operating in the region.

Hotel Accommodations

Complementing the train service is the hotel component, which provides lodging options for those wishing to extend their stay or combine train travel with other activities. Situated in the town of Williams, Arizona, the hotel serves as a comfortable base for exploring the Grand Canyon area:

• Guest rooms offer comfortable stays with access to shared hotel facilities.
• As mentioned in customer feedback, the hotel amenities typically include a pool and hot tub, enhancing the relaxation aspect of the visit.
• Room service and dining options are available, though some reviews suggest the on-site dining experiences may not consistently meet expectations, with one reviewer noting disappointment with the restaurant component of their package.

Location and Context

Nestled in the town of Williams, which serves as a gateway community to the Grand Canyon National Park, the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel occupies a strategic position. Williams, Arizona, is approximately 70 miles north of the Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim. This location places visitors within a short drive of the canyon's entrance and various viewpoints, while also offering access to the historic Route 66, which runs through this area.

The Grand Canyon itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. It features a depth of over a mile and stretches for nearly 277 miles. The railway and hotel provide a different perspective on experiencing this wonder compared to more common tourist approaches, emphasizing the journey through the canyon's landscape rather than solely focusing on the panoramic views from the rim.

Customer Experience and Recommendations

Customer feedback, aggregated from thousands of reviews on Google My Business, consistently highlights several aspects of the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel experience:

The Train Ride

Undoubtedly, the train journey represents the most anticipated part of the visit for many. Passengers board from the railway's depot in Williams and travel through the Supai tunnel, one of the highest railroad tunnels in the United States, before emerging into the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon landscape. The journey allows visitors to see the canyon's spectacular formations up close in a way that few other experiences can match. The narrated tour provides historical context and points out points of interest along the route.

Hotel Accommodations

For those extending their stay, the hotel offers comfortable quarters at an accessible price point compared to lodging directly within the Grand Canyon National Park. The rooms are generally described as clean and adequate, particularly for a multi-night stay. The hotel facilities, including the pool and hot tub, are appreciated additions, especially during warmer months. Some visitors specifically mention the hotel as being family-friendly, suggesting it can accommodate guests of various ages and needs.

Practical Recommendations

For potential visitors, several practical recommendations emerge from customer experiences and general knowledge of the area:

• Best Time to Visit: While the train operates year-round, summer months offer the most extensive programming, including evening departures with dinner onboard. However, spring and fall often provide pleasant weather and fewer crowds.
• Tour Packages: The entity often offers multi-day packages that combine train rides with hotel stays, which can provide better value than booking separately. The two-night package mentioned in one review is a popular option.
• Booking in Advance: Especially during peak seasons, advance booking for both the train and hotel is recommended to secure preferred dates and room types.
• What to Bring: Visitors should pack layers of clothing for variable canyon temperatures, sturdy walking shoes for exploring viewpoints, and items for sun protection.
• Combining Activities: While the train ride is a highlight, visitors might consider supplementing their trip with visits to nearby viewpoints or other attractions accessible from Williams.

Conclusion

Considering the overwhelmingly positive sentiment expressed in customer reviews (averaging 4.5 out of 5 stars across 4,130 ratings), the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel presents a compelling option for travelers seeking an authentic and memorable Grand Canyon experience. While the train journey undoubtedly stands out as the centerpiece, the accompanying hotel accommodations provide comfortable bases for multi-day explorations. As noted in some reviews, the dining experiences may be secondary to the primary attraction, but this doesn't detract significantly from the overall value proposition for many visitors who prioritize the unique train perspective on this natural wonder.

👍 Reviews of Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel

Jeff B.

5/5

This is a great experience. If you are traveling Rt 66 and haven't seen the Grand Canyon, you must do this. The cool part of this experience is that you can see the National Park Wonder and not spend a ton of money. The Hotel is fine, we had the 2 night package. Good pool and hot tub. Room was quite adequate. The restaurant part of the package was really disappointing, but that's not why you stay here. The train ride is great. We weren't traveling with children but the train ride and entire package seemed very kid friendly.

E3764GNmichaela

The Grand Canyon railway hotel was clean, quiet, and well run. Our package included meals and a rustic train ride to the Grand Canyon. The meals are cafeteria style, better than average. The service is very good. There were country singer soloists during the evening meal, and they were talented. The music was sedate, not overbearing. The train ride was two hours to the Grand Canyon and goes through the back country. The conductor we had was very informative. The scenery and occasional wildlife sightings were a visual treat, and overall the train ride was a relaxing way to get to and from the canyon. The staged "train robbery" was done with humor!

GastrodontUK

Really nice, large hotel adjacent to the Grand Canyon Railway station. Ample parking, friendly and helpful staff. Well maintained hotel with character public areas. Room very clean, comfortable and recently refurbished, well equipped with fridge and coffee machine but no safe. Easy access to Williams historic centre restaurants and Route 66 memorabilia across the railway tracks. Enjoyable hotel but let down by the main restaurant at both dinner and breakfast buffets, poor choices and quality of food, many stations empty, not enjoyable meals.

Lety E.

5/5

It was a delight to celebrate my birthday here. What a great experience it was to ride on the train to the Grand Canyon. The ride was so much fun! Once we got to our lodge, I was so glad that the staff took care of our luggage and put in our room. Such great service and everyone should do this at least once! Thank you for the great memories!

Niloufar G.

5/5

This was our first time staying here, but I’m so glad that we did. It was the best way to go to the Grand Canyon via the train. We stayed at the hotel one night and the next morning we headed to the Grand Canyon via the train. We booked everything through The Grand Canyon railway website. It was super easy.

We got the two queen bed , which it was great for my husband and I and my five year-old son. The rooms were very nice and cozy. Very standard room but very clean and had everything we needed. The only negative I would say is the Wi-Fi was very slow.

The hotel itself is very charming and you basically feel like you’re at a train station because you see the trains outside your window and outside the hotel. The town next to the hotel is on route 66 so there is a lot of little charming restaurants and shops that you can walk to about seven minutes but we would drive and it was like a one to two minute drive. There’s also grocery stores around if you wanted to get stuff for your room there’s a Safeway, there’s a Dollar General store as well. It’s a very, very cute little area and very charming.

When we arrived at 7:45 AM, our room was actually ready which I was very surprised about it and happy it was ready . we were able to go to our room and drop off all our luggage and then head to the depot across the hotel to get our boarding tickets for the train ride that heads out at 9:30 AM. And don’t miss out at 9 AM. There’s a wild wild West show that goes on before you get on the train. You don’t wanna miss it! I would get there maybe about 15 to 20 minutes if you wanna get seats.

I would say this, all the staff from the train conductors to the train station ticket depot to the gift shop to the reception, everyone was super friendly and inviting and helpful.

We didn’t get to use the amenities, but they do have an indoor pool and a gym. We also did not use the restaurants inside the hotel, but there are plenty of places to eat outside the hotel, which was great.

Everything went super smoothly and we had a great time! I highly recommend anybody that loves trains if you have children or not, this is the best way to get to the Grand Canyon. stay one or two nights at this hotel and then take the train to the Grand Canyon. It was a lovely and relaxing experience.

Armando P.

5/5

I highly recommend a stay at the GC Railway and Hotel. We also took the train ride to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon which is a most convenient way to visit the Grand Canyon if your time is limited. The trip on the rail car was a bit cheesy but a lot of fun. The railway car host provided fun facts and jokes. The over 2-hour ride went by fast. The hotel is well maintained, and the rooms are spacious with excellent amenities.

Robert B.

5/5

This place is fantastic! Marissa and Barbara at the front desk deserve a mention because they are so welcoming and helpful! If you want the best pie in the state ask Barbara, she will set you straight! This entire place makes a vacation effortless. They literally have every detail handled. The rooms are clean and comfortable. The amenities are perfect for anyone wanting to relax and see the beautiful state of Arizona. If you read this review and still have doubts about staying here you are not very smart. This place and the people who make it run are straight up AWESOME!

Kathleen Q.

5/5

We scheduled this trip to celebrate my friend's 60th birthday. What an experience! The staff was wonderful, the hotel was beautiful, Spenser's Bar was cool, and the train ride was fantastic! We bought tickets for the Luxury Dome Car (all adults in our party) and had the best time on both legs of the journey. Besides the drink service, they served delicious snacks during the whole ride. Also had just the right amount of time at the Grand Canyon. HIGHLY recommend staying at the hotel and taking the train ride!