Grand Canyon from Flagstaff?

[tgstubbs1]

Yet another disappointment. It was $6 per head and $25 a car.

As far as taking the Grand Canyon railroad, how would it work to stay at the Grand Canyon and take a trip to Williams from there?

 

[TinCan782]

Yet another disappointment. It was $6 per head and $25 a car.

As far as taking the Grand Canyon railroad, how would it work to stay at the Grand Canyon and take a trip to Williams from there?

I believe you would have to spend a night in Williams. Trains go TO the rim in the morning; RETURN to Williams in the afternoon.
Beyond that, a call to GCRY would be in order to see if they would even issue tickets for that.

 

[Barb Stout]

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.

This reminds me of my last visit to the Grand Canyon. I lived in Phoenix at the time and 2 friends and I decided to go camping (in a tent) at GC in March. March in Phoenix is already warm to hot and for reasons that I still don't understand, when I live in a hot place when I'm continually struggling to cool off, it just doesn't get through my head that other places may be cold even though I was raised in a cold place. Anyways, we got there and it was windy and somewhat cold. We couldn't get our campfire going which is what we were going to use to cook our food. Someone in an RV nearby saw our plight and invited us into their RV where they let us cook our hot dogs, eat, and warm up. Then off to bed in our tent where we wrapped our feet in newspaper like a trinity of bums and managed to get some sleep. And in spite of the previous night's weather, we were still surprised when we opened our tent and saw about 5 inches of snow on the ground. Brr. After that, I no longer scoffed at people who camp in RVs.

And why did Amtrak stop service at Williams? Too close to Flagstaff?

 

[Bob Dylan]

This reminds me of my last visit to the Grand Canyon. I lived in Phoenix at the time and 2 friends and I decided to go camping (in a tent) at GC in March. March in Phoenix is already warm to hot and for reasons that I still don't understand, when I live in a hot place when I'm continually struggling to cool off, it just doesn't get through my head that other places may be cold even though I was raised in a cold place. Anyways, we got there and it was windy and somewhat cold. We couldn't get our campfire going which is what we were going to use to cook our food. Someone in an RV nearby saw our plight and invited us into their RV where they let us cook our hot dogs, eat, and warm up. Then off to bed in our tent where we wrapped our feet in newspaper like a trinity of bums and managed to get some sleep. And in spite of the previous night's weather, we were still surprised when we opened our tent and saw about 5 inches of snow on the ground. Brr. After that, I no longer scoffed at people who camp in RVs.

And why did Amtrak stop service at Williams? Too close to Flagstaff?

The Shuttle Service that picked up Amtrak Passengers @ the privately owned William's Junction stop ( out in the Boonies, not in town) didnt renew and Amtrsk was unable to work out a contract with anyone else.

Flagstaff is a nice town with all services, much better place to board/detrain.

 

[Barb Stout]

The Shuttle Service that picked up Amtrak Passengers @ the privately owned William's Junction stop ( out in the Boonies, not in town) didnt renew and Amtrsk was unable to work out a contract with anyone else.

Flagstaff is a nice town with all services, much better place to board/detrain.

Oh, I see. I thought the previously mentioned shuttle was talking about the shuttle that goes from Flagstaff to Williams for the Grand Canyon Railroad customers and I was really wondering how that could be.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

Oh, I see. I thought the previously mentioned shuttle was talking about the shuttle that goes from Flagstaff to Williams for the Grand Canyon Railroad customers and I was really wondering how that could be.

The shuttle was from “Williams Jct.” which is just a small yard along the BNSF, to the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. The shuttle was operated by the hotel, but was available for all Amtrak passengers when you booked a ticket to and from Williams.

It was a really great service, I would probable have been back to the Grand Canyon by now if it was still offered.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

Does the bus from flagstaff to Williams still run? It’s not on the Amtrak timetable.

 

[fdaley]

The shuttle was from “Williams Jct.” which is just a small yard along the BNSF, to the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. The shuttle was operated by the hotel, but was available for all Amtrak passengers when you booked a ticket to and from Williams.

When we stopped there in 2012, the Williams Junction station was gated and accessible only to the operator of the shuttle; you couldn't use your own vehicle or take a taxi there. It was in a remote area where I believe the Santa Fe had built an extensive new alignment bypassing Williams in the '50s.

When Amtrak discontinued the stop a couple of years ago, I recall reading a news story that made it sound like the hotel management had grown weary of having its lobby function as an Amtrak waiting area, with people and luggage lingering through the night. As there was nothing but a remote platform at Williams Junction, the shuttle didn't take people there until the SW Chief came within range. The eastbound train went through about 4 a.m., and the westbound was scheduled for about 10:30 p.m. but was sometimes very late.

In our case, we arrived on the westbound train from Chicago and left three days later on the westbound to California. On the day we left, we took the GC train back to Williams and had dinner at the hotel, then waited in the lobby for the shuttle. Even with the train on time, it was a fairly long wait, but it would have been awkward if the train had been, say, 4 hours late. On the way over, the shuttle driver mentioned that the westbound on the day before we'd arrived had shown up 15 hours late.

 

[tgstubbs1]

If people call 800 AMTRAK they should know something about the arrival times.

 

[tomfuller]

If you stay in Flagstaff, the Lowell Observatory is a great place to visit, stay for the spotting scopes after dark...Of course, check the website to see what is happening closer to a planned visit as any tourist stop may have special rules.

My wife and I visited Arizona and the Grand Canyon November 2019. Sorry, we flew Allegiant to Phoenix-Mesa and then rented a car. It gave us a lot more flexibility. We stayed 6 nights in a motel along Rt. 66 in Flagstaff. We visited the Lowell Observatory, Sedona, Winslow and Desert View at he east end of Grand Canyon NP. I visited the Lowell Observatory both in the daytime and at night for public programs. Percival Lowell's mausoleum is within 60 yards of one of his telescopes. It has rose colored glass in the top.
My Amtrak trip (by myself) for 2020 was from Chemult via LA to Tucson in early February. My travels from Tucson took me back to Yuma where I did not want to get off at 2AM.

 

[Brian Battuello]

In a former life, I was a pilot for a tour service based in Hayward California, specializing in flights for multiple day tours of National Parks. The Grand Canyon was our premier trip, three nights in the Bright Angel Lodge. We would book the lodge about once a month for three days a year ahead of time, sometimes snagging the primo rimside cabins. We'd try to sell the trip, and if we couldn't we released the cabins in time to avoid a penalty. I did this maybe 8 times, so spent a lot of time at the canyon, and took the GC train several times (vista dome, of course).

I agree with all the above advice, but if anyone needs any inside scoop on visiting the canyon and getting rooms, ask here or pm me. While any visit to the Canyon is worth it, I highly agree that longer is better. Two full days on the rim (three nights) is my absolute minimum. You need to see the canyon in all lights and weather conditions, and regardless of your physical condition, you need to walk at least 20 minutes down the easy trail so you can look up at the rim.

In an even earlier life, I took the Hassayampa Flyer from Phoenix to Williams Junction and back. Look that up to see how ancient I am!

 

[me_little_me]

Apparently, twice a year, you can get a half-price discount on the train and on the hotels at the Canyon (possibly only for late year stays). We did that last year. After getting an AAA discount of the regular price, we got an email from the company offering a half-price special for a "future stay" and a "future train trip" so we canceled our reservations and immediately rebooked the same reservations for a lot less.
The offer lasts only for a day or two and comes from the company that manages them. Since there is a generous cancellation policy, it's worth booking early and then sit on the reservations until the deal is announced.

 

[tgstubbs1]

Two full days on the rim (three nights) is my absolute minimum. You need to see the canyon in all lights and weather conditions, and regardless of your physical condition, you need to walk at least 20 minutes down the easy trail so you can look up at the rim.

I start a hike pretty early to make it back up before midday. It could get hot.
It's easy riding the shuttles in the afternoon and almost every evening they have events at the outdoor auditorium.

.

 

[dlagrua]

Planning an August trip to Flagstaff, then we will go see the Grand Canyon but can't figure out how to plan it. The train arrives at 8:32 PM. We can probably get a ride to our hotel via cab or Uber . In the following days we will go to the Grand Canyon either by rail or by car (haven't decided) maybe stay two days . We can plan that but need suggestions on how we would catch the train on the last day that departs at 4:30 AM. We must bring our car rental back the day before as the agency will be closed at 3AM. . We can stay at a Flagstaff hotel that night, but then need transportation to the train station at 3:AM? Anyone know how this can be arranged? Do any hotels have shuttle service at that hour?

 

[Bob Dylan]

Planning an August trip to Flagstaff, then we will go see the Grand Canyon but can't figure out how to plan it. The train arrives at 8:32 PM. We can probably get a ride to our hotel via cab or Uber . In the following days we will go to the Grand Canyon either by rail or by car (haven't decided) maybe stay two days . We can plan that but need suggestions on how we would catch the train on the last day that departs at 4:30 AM. We must bring our car rental back the day before as the agency will be closed at 3AM. . We can stay at a Flagstaff hotel that night, but then need transportation to the train station at 3:AM? Anyone know how this can be arranged? Do any hotels have shuttle service at that hour?

Why dont you PM AUer "Greatcats", he lives in Flagstaff and knows the area well! Great guy, helpful as all get out!

 

[dlagrua]

Why dont you PM AUer "Greatcats", he lives in Flagstaff and knows the area well! Great guy, helpful as all get out!

Thank you. Will send him a message.

 

[tgstubbs1]

The last time I went there we didn't arrive in Flagstaff until almost dawn, so no need for the hotel.
The eastbound train was on time.

 

[me_little_me]

In addition to the AU contact, read or post on a forum such as TripAdvisor for Flagstaff.
Flagstaff Tripadvisor Forum

 

[PVD]

Last time I left from there I made an arrangement to drop my rental (Enterprise) in a small lot area right across from the station. If I recall, there was a key drop box in the waiting area.