Grand Canyon Railway

The Grand Canyon Railway first ran on 17 September 1901, largely thanks to the determination of Buckey O'Neill — sheriff of Yavapai County and Mayor of Prescott — who saw that money could be made from both the mines and the tourism of the region.

In the late 1800s Americans were pushing west, and new forms of transport were built to carry them. The main line west ran between Chicago and Los Angeles, passing through Williams, Arizona. At first the railroad hauled ore out of the Wild West, from the Anita mines some 45 miles (72 km) north of the town.

O'Neill sought investment to make his vision real, winning the backing of the Lombard, Goode Company of New York and the Santa Fe Pacific Railroad. The Santa Fe & Grand Canyon Railroad was incorporated in 1897 and the line was finished in 1901. O'Neill never saw it completed — he was killed in 1898 fighting in the Spanish–American War.

Santa Fe kept investing in the line, above all in lodging and restaurants. The El Tovar Hotel opened in 1905 and remains the finest hotel on the South Rim, once famous for the fresh food and milk produced by its own herd and greenhouses.

As the motor car took over, interstate highways were laid parallel to the railroad and its use declined until passenger service stopped in 1968. It was the determination of entrepreneurs Max and Thelma Biegert that brought the railway back: after rebuilding the decaying tracks and the old depots, they reopened it for passengers on 17 September 1989 — 88 years to the day since the first train.

Today, riding the Grand Canyon Railway is a chance to watch a piece of history roll by — dramatic country outside the window, and a journey back into an important era of the American West.

The Grand Canyon Railway departs daily from Williams and runs 65 miles (104 km) north to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, taking a little over two hours each way.

This is high country. The Grand Canyon sits on the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona, and both Williams and the canyon rim stand at around 7,000 ft (2,100 m). Between them the line dips toward the wide, open plateau before climbing again, so the scenery changes as you go: the Ponderosa pine forest around Williams gives way to open range, then rises back into piñon pine before you reach the park. East of Williams, the San Francisco Peaks — crowned by Humphreys Peak, the highest point in Arizona at 12,633 ft (3,851 m) — dominate the horizon.

The experience on board depends on the class you choose, as each carriage offers a different level of comfort. The glass-enclosed Observation Dome and Luxury Dome cars give the most immersive, panoramic view of the passing country.

Pullman Car

Built in 1923 and refurbished by the Grand Canyon Railway, its seats flip to face each other so a family can travel together. A Passenger Service Attendant rides along to share the history of the line and help plan your stay.

Coach Class

Comfortable bench-style seats in a classic 1950s car, with on-board musicians and a café car.

First Class

Oversized reclining seats, plenty of legroom and panoramic windows. Pastries, fruit, coffee and juice are served in the morning, with snacks and soft drinks on the return.

Observation Dome

A glass-enclosed car that opens up the great views of the journey. You ride on the upper deck, watching the country roll past from high above the train while enjoying the food and drinks on offer.

Luxury Dome Class

The dome views of the Observation car, paired with elegant, classic furnishings for a cosy ride. Stay upstairs for the scenery or head down to the lounge for a drink.

Luxury Parlor Class

The most exclusive carriage of all: the finest service, a private bar and comfortable sofas in a beautifully appointed car — with access to the open-air rear platform, where you can take a drink out into the fresh air.

Every car is accessible, with ADA-compliant restrooms and power lifts at both stations. Wheelchairs, power chairs and scooters can be stored on board; it is best to let your reservation agent know your needs in advance.

Western characters keep the journey lively with music, and a re-enacted Old West train robbery — cowboys, a hold-up (hands in the air!) and a shootout — brings a little of frontier life back to the rails. Rest assured, the Marshal always gets his man.

The Grand Canyon Railway runs a single daily round trip (every day except 25 December), giving you a little over three hours at the South Rim before the return. Times shift about an hour earlier in November and December, and a second train is added on selected spring dates.

The pattern below is a guide only — always confirm current times on the operator's live timetable before you travel.

The journey takes about 2 h 15 m each way.

Timetable last checked: July 2026 against the operator. Confirm current schedules at thetrain.com (opens in a new tab) or via your booking provider.

Fares vary by class of service, from the family-friendly Pullman car up to the exclusive Luxury Parlor. The classes below give a sense of what each carriage offers; the prices shown are indicative adult fares for the round trip — confirm the current price, availability and any child restrictions with the operator when you book.

Tickets can be booked directly with the Grand Canyon Railway. Fares checked July 2026 against the operator's class listing (opens in a new tab); the Pullman car runs seasonally, March–October.

The South Rim has plenty to see once the train has set you down, and the cards below cover the pick of it — the canyon itself, the two great Santa Fe buildings on the rim, the river a mile beneath them, and the depot town you left that morning.

Getting about is easy and mostly free. The park's shuttle buses run along the rim and out to Hermit's Rest on a road closed to cars for most of the year, and the Rim Trail links the viewpoints on foot with almost no climbing. Coach tours run to the eastern viewpoints, and mule rides into the canyon are booked well in advance through the park concessioner rather than on the day.

One correction worth making, because it is a common and expensive misunderstanding: Havasu Falls cannot be visited from the South Rim. It is not a walk from the rim or an afternoon's excursion. It lies on Havasupai land some 200 miles away by road, followed by a ten-mile hike, and it requires a permit bought months ahead for a fixed multi-night stay. Treat it as a separate trip, planned on its own terms — the card above sets out what it actually involves.

The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams is the natural place to stay, right beside the depot so you can step from your room almost straight onto the train. It is a comfortable, cosy hotel with all the amenities you would expect, and packages that pair a night's stay with your journey.

If you would rather stay on the South Rim, El Tovar and the other in-park lodges put you a short walk from the canyon edge — book these well ahead, as they fill quickly in the high season.

Around Christmas, the Polar Express sets off into the night-time wilderness around Williams, bound for the "North Pole". It is a one-of-a-kind evening for children — pyjamas encouraged — and for families, with Santa and his elves handing out hot chocolate and chocolate-chip cookies. Between the decorated train and the station, it is a place where imagination takes over and the old story comes to life. Aboard, you can visit the Polar Room and play the Naughty or Nice O'Meter to find out whether you are due a present or a lump of coal.

Steam Saturdays

The sight of an old steam locomotive is rail history on wheels, and the Grand Canyon Railway restored two of them — both built in the 1920s — to keep it alive.

On the first Saturday of each month, from March to October, you can make the journey to the canyon the classic way, behind steam — on those days the 09:30 departure from Williams is steam-hauled, returning from the South Rim at 15:30. Steam schedule checked July 2026; runs can be cancelled for weather or mechanical reasons, so confirm before you travel.