Ditch Your Car And Take This Gorgeous Train Ride To Hike The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is one of those bucket list national parks that most people would love to see at least once (if not more) in their lives. Because of this, it comes as no surprise that the Grand Canyon was the second-most visited national park in the United States in 2023 with a whopping 4.7 million recreational visits, according to the National Park Service. Of course, this means that the Grand Canyon can get pretty busy and, sometimes during peak season, it can be hard to find parking at major scenic overlooks. Luckily, there's a way to avoid the hassle of finding a parking spot at the Grand Canyon altogether — by ditching your car and taking the train.

Starting from the railway depot in Williams, Arizona, the Grand Canyon Railway departs in the morning and delivers all its passengers to the Grand Canyon South Rim to explore and then returns them back to the train depot by dinner time. This is perfect for travelers who want to spend one day taking in the beauty of the Grand Canyon (without the hassle of national park entrance lines and parking) and then move on to other incredible attractions that Arizona has to offer — like Monument Valley, which is one of the most breathtaking places to camp in the United States.

Starting from Williams and journeying to the Grand Canyon by train is a two hour and 15 minute ride through plenty of beautiful scenery including a Ponderosa pine forest, which continues into a prairie before climbing back up into another pine forest just before reaching the Grand Canyon South Rim. As you journey through the forests and prairie, you'll have a chance to spot wildlife like elk, mule deer, bald eagles, horned owls, and the rare mountain lion or California condor.

While you will have time to keep an eye out for wildlife during your journey to the Grand Canyon's famous south rim, you will also be treated to plenty of entertainment starting with a western reenactment at 9 a.m. before the train's departure that involves a battle between a fictitious gang of outlaws and the town marshal. Then, once on the train, passengers are serenaded by a few musically inclined cowboys who walk from car to car, singing country classics. Plus, there may even be a train robbery which, according to a review on TripAdvisor, typically happens on the journey back. 

There are multiple car class options on the Grand Canyon Railway and all of them have their own advantages. The cheapest option, at about $70 per person, is the pullman class which has open windows and is a great choice if you want to feel the fresh breeze on your face during the cooler months. If you'd like air conditioning on the ride, you could purchase the next class up (coach class) which will cost about $90 per person. First class will run you about $170 per person and also includes bar service and complimentary snacks. Other available choices include the observation dome, luxury dome, and luxury parlor which will run you between $200 and $240 depending on which option you choose. You also don't have to stick to one class, but can choose different options for the journey there and the journey back.

Another important thing to know about the Grand Canyon Railway is that the trains do not run every day and, in fact, typically only run on the first Saturday of every month and a few special holidays — like Earth Day and the anniversary of the railway itself (September 21). So, if you'd like to take the train, it is important to first buy your tickets and then schedule your trip around the train. Furthermore, as another reviewer on TripAdvisor noted, you may want to bring some food with you or "pick up lunch before you go in Williams" because you will need to grab lunch while you are at the Grand Canyon South Rim and there aren't many food options once you get there.