Grand Canyon Railway Review

Great experience, well worth the money and time. Our hostess was amazing!

Wonderful experience. Rode on the Pullman car, which was great because it felt and sounded like a train. Brenda was our guide on the trip, and she was very knowledgeable and pleasant. She made the trip very enjoyable. Loved the entertainment and also the train robbery.

This was such an amazing experience! My family of 3's first train ride and it exceeded my expectations. We got the AC car, one step above the cheapest option. I highly recommend it in the summer afternoons conning back. The snack car was super cool, they sold cards to play at the little tables in there to pass time, but looking outside for deer and elk was also a good way to do that. The best part was the little shows and dinners that would come through. Kathy with a K was phenomenal! She kept our car entertained and informed without over doing it and taking the whole time. It was just so wonderful and I highly recommend this to everyone considering to travel this way. We had plenty of time to see major stops on the park bus. Just remember that you have to travel back on those shuttles and that can take some time getting back to the train.

Snack, entertainment and a great attendant Christine!

Great railroad! Loved getting to ride the train from Williams to here and then getting to spend time at the South Rim of the Grand canyon. Pretty sights and the ride was entertaining with the other n board entertainment. Train cars are nice and big too. They usually run a diesel locomotive but on special holidays they pull out their old steam locomotive!

This was our first time riding the train up to the Grand Canyon. The starting location in Williams can be difficult to find. At first we went to the hotel. The train station is actually just South of hotel and is labeled Tickets.

We rode in the Luxury Parlor Car on the way there and it was fantastic. We went the first weekend of January (1/5/20) so it wasn t very busy at all. It was beautiful with all the snow!

On the way back, we rode in the Dome Car. I did not expect the dome car to be so cramped... we peaked into the luxury dome car on the way to the Grand Canyon and that car is much more roomy than the regular dome car. My boyfriend is only 6 tall but his knees were still a tight fit.

Nice place in the town of Williams, the last town before the Grand Canyon and on Route 66.
Small and welcoming place with the railway station from where the train leaves for the Grand Canyon, for those who want to leave the car there and continue on an alternative panoramic route.

I would love to recommend the Railway as the best and only way to see the Grand Canyon south rim. Donna was our hostess/bartender and she was delightful. The entertainment was really a treat. The two musicians were fun to listen to. The snacks and drinks were perfect for the two hour trip. I want to recommend this adventure to all families looking to have a spectacular time at the Grand Canyon. I would also like to commend our tour guide at the GC, on the Grand Tour bus 27 as I forgot his name. If you want the best the Grand Canyon has to offer go to Williams Az and get aboard the Grand Canyon Railway.

If you are taking the train to the grand canyon, then why not go via the best way possible. Take the Williams train and book yourself into the upper cabin of the Mary Coulter car. The views are spectacular. What they call snacks I wouldn't even serve to my worst friends, for the price paid I believe than something better could be provided.

Amazing experience!!!
Conyarae is an awesome hostess She made us feel welcome and at home Jimmy and Omi my kids loved her laughter and they just won t stop copying her.
Anyone going to Grand Canyon kids and adults would be able to make unforgettable lovely memories with this train ride.
There was plenty of good quality food on the train at no extra cost. Fresh squeezed juice to shirley temple Conyarae had it all for us.

Just get the package, stay in the hotel, take the train you won't regret it

Good train trip and a great destination. Not much scenery but good ride.

The train ride was nice but long and there isnt much scenery to look at. The entertainment on the train was ok on the way there but on the way back it was better.

It was a disappointment! We bought two tickets on first class car to go on the train to GC.
It took us 2 hours to get there.
They served us with a paper box with 4 strawberries, one small yogurt with granola and an absolute the worst bb muffin I have ever tasted! Non-alcoholic drinks were offered once.
No history of GC, no other interesting info was offered.
The ride was exclusively adults and only I had a 9 yo child with me.
After a few alcoholic drinks passengers were throwing f bombs all the time and making inappropriate jokes.
We arrived at 11:30 am at GC and our return first class tickets were for 3:30 pm the same day in the same car with the same crowd.
BTW, the picture on a website for first class is nothing what it really looks like!
Seats are either facing each other but you would be left with no leg room and NO TABLE!
Or it s just a regular double seats with pull out table from the seat in front of you.
We were lucky to have a relative to meet us at GC and we took a ride back to Willians with him instead of getting back on our overpriced, nothing to be excited about, first class train ride.
Waste of money!!!
We expected much a bit more from this experience!!!

I have been many times to the Grand Canyon but have never been on the train. It is a wonderful way to travel. There is beautiful scenery along the way and the train is a comfortable way to sit back and enjoy the trip. At the Canyon, the train drops you off and picks you ip by the El Tovar hotel. The trip is a little over 2 hours so you have about 3 hours at the Canyon. There are tickets for every budget but they do sell quickly.

This was a great way to get to the Grand canyon with little kids. Our guide in our car didn't turn out to be too much of a guide. He just told some jokes and had other people tell jokes. I'd like to hear more about the history of geography of the Grand canyon. It was a great once in a lifetime trip but I felt like it could have been better

The service is wonderful. The showers are amazing ! My husband and I come here every year during the holiday to get away from work and Tucson. The. Railside RV is a quaint and cozy RV park that is quiet and has all of the amenities of home. We have noticed after the 1st of the year many locals go on Holiday as well. We Checked out KICKS for dinner and it was amazing !!! Have fun !! The Fosters.

So much family fun and atmosphere! The train employees went all out to entertain!

Loved our adventure on the Grand Canyon railway, could sit back relax & enjoy the view. Stayed 2 nights in the park. They took our luggage & it appeared in our hotel room. When we left we didn't need to handle luggage again, they took care of it all. Breakfast & dinners were included @ Williams. Great experience.

I went for the package deal (2 nights, 4 meals, and the train ride). This was a great time for me and my family. The buffet was standard with prime rib both nights, Room was comfortable, but the highlight was the train ride. There was a cowboy show 30 mins before the train leaves that was very entertaining (they have a little person that plays a cowboy and my kids absolutely loved him). There was entertainment on the train including a train robbery. The time we spent at the canyon was perfect. We were able to have lunch and then do a hike. If your looking for good value for your summer family trip, I recommend this place for it's packages.

Lovely, plush ride in the Luxury Parlor. Carol was a great attendant, took great care of us, and the onboard food was delicious and plentiful.

Great train ride. Beautiful sites. 3 crazy guys followed the train.

We had a horrible trip on the train, what should have been a 6 hour round trip with a grand canyon tour in between lasted almost an extra 4 hours because of train problems. What really took the cake was that when we got back to the depot they closed their office down early and locked the doors so they didn't have to deal with disgruntled customers. Very despicable! So we complained and they offered to compensate us, which was a step in the right direction, except they didn't reimburse us until we caught on that they didn't credit our credit card 2 months later.

A wonderful way to get to and from the Grand Canyon and avoid the long lines and parking at the South Rim. We rode first class and it was wonderful. Great snacks, the car attendant was informational and amusing, and the entertainment was fantastic as well. Train was very comfortable and a lot of fun.

We enjoyed the train ride to the Grand Canyon. The employees on the train were amazing. The customer service on the train was amazing.

Unfortunately, the employees inside the train depot were very rude and the customer service was terrible. We made reservations online using a park pass. When we got to the ticket booth, Janet was unwilling to take our pass because it was an online print out. She insisted we pay for entry to the park even though the pass allows our family in for free because of the 4th grade promotion for national parks. She also was not willing to allow the AARP discount for the grandparents because they did not have their card- despite the fact that the number was included in the reservation. She was quite unpleasant about the entire reservation. Thank goodness the employees on the train were professional and excellent.

Enjoyed our family vacation! Stayed at the hotel, ate at the restaurant, and took the train to the park.

We went to Williams and rode The Polar Express. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. I thought The Polar Express was overpriced for what it was. The kids liked it, and that's what matters.

A great adventure, beautiful views, the attack of cowboys on the train .... Impressions will remain for a long time

My 7th time going up to the Canyon.... Never gets old... The only way to see the candy.... Go back in time..

This was a great train ride! The employees are extremely friendly and just want to make everyone smile. Amber Rose was our attendant and was very informational and funny.

Awesome train ride awesome hospitality with awesome friends!!!

First time here can't wait to see the grand canyon.

We had a great time on the train with the upgrade to the Luxury Dome. I m not sure we would have enjoyed it as much without the upgrade though as in the dome you can move around in the spacious lounge and/or your assigned seat, and enjoy complimentary food and beverages.
We were celebrating our 60th birthdays and were disappointed, however, that due to some glitch not all of our photos taken on the train were provided and they ran out of the nice frames so we didn t get any of the professional photos to commemorate our trip. The staff were all very friendly and nice, and the train restoration is beautiful.

Grand Canyon Railway is fabulous. The vintage train ride from Williams Arizona to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is great no matter if you are a child or a senior citizen, everyone has a good time. If possible stay two nights at the south rim and the free shuttles are terrific. It doesn't have to be for a special occasion to go and enjoy a trip to the South Rim. Ok, why three stars everything was perfect except for the Grand Canyon Railway photo vendor Magic Memories on the train. We paid for the photo package and received a digital pass to download our photos. When try to access our photos we get a no such number / not found we contacted Magic Memories and opened a case with them numerous time only to never hear back from them, a sad end to a wonderful trip.

Our first trip to the Grand Canyon and it has been a great one. Terrific hotels, wonderful people, train rides. Grand Canyon has great shuttle service so we did four days without driving. One of the best parts of this trip was watching families interact, talk, laugh...act like families. Wonderful experience all around.

Very cool experience. Great staff always entertaining and amazing views!! Recomended 100%

This is a Wonderful Experience! Our Family had a Great Time! The day started with a fun filled Gun Fight and Ended with a Train Robbery! We experienced a peaceful ride to the Grand Canyon and had an Amazing lunch at the Lodge when we arrived. A must do...

This was great for my family. Nice train ride up to the Grand Canyon. Really a neat and relaxing experience.

Fun slow pace trip, worth it if you are not in a hurry.

Really a great experience. GCR puts on the complete package that our whole family enjoyed. We didn't have any kids with us so it was nice to be in the lounge car for the train ride. If you have time, I'd recommend staying at the Canyon overnight but the day trip was really spectacular.

Loved seeing this old fashioned train station. The log house is unique and worth a visit. If you go there around 1145 you might see the arrival of a train.

Great fun on rails. Crew is great and the tour is fantastic! I would recommend

Two types of trains may arrive daily at the Grand Canyon Village Station from Williams based on dates and seasons. The Grand Canyon Railway Diesel Fleet trains with a model F40FH locomotive, built by General Motors Electro Motive Division in 1977 and 1979, which has 6 fare classes in these Pullman wagons including the wagon with its Dome observatory and the Polar Express steam train which does not work all year.
Williams' departure with the Grand Canyon Railway Diesel Fleet is at 9:30 am for an arrival at Grand Canyon Village at 11:45 am. This train leaves at 15:30 to arrive at Williams at 17:45.
But be careful because the sheriff is here at all arrivals :) :)

Nice trip. Is slower than driving, but a pleasant trip with nice staff. Consider staying one night at the Grand Canyon and taking the train back the second day! The Dome car was worth the extra cost one way, for the first class service, full views and the experience

Had an awesome time. Definitely don't eat at that McDonald's before you enter the Grand canyon for $5 items came out to $20 talk about a tours trap. Eat at a gas station. Way cheaper.

We went on the Luxury Dome it was expensive put it was worth it. Had a Amazing Day!!!

Lots of fun. Train ride is a bit long the Canyon us worth the trip.

Very nice and clean place. Convenient, close to everything!

Awesome.awesome.awesome. very enjoyable. Worth the money. Great scenery. They also stage a little (friendly) train robbery. We got a kick outta watching the little kids reaction

Great experience fun experience great service from all.

We booked the Grand Canyon Railway trip last minute after family in San Diego we were visiting encourage us to take the train to the canyon. I booked us on Pullman cab and so glad I did. It was the cheapest fare but we were able to open the Windows while taking in the beauty and fresh air. Brinda our hostess was awsom. She went over the history of the train and the canyon, she has a world of knowledge all the way around. She keep our group totally engaged the two he trip there. Brinda told us about the "7" that were in the canyon in different locations representing the Grand Canyon being the seventh wonder in the US. She challenged is all to find them and come back with pictures.These sevens are a natural part of the canyon.
The canyon was more than I expected absolutely breathtaking. On our return trip to Williams Az where we boarded, wevwere tired and mostly all fallen asleep but Brinda was on on top of her game. She had questions and games for us to play keeping us awake and asked who found the "7" and wanted to see the pictures. She was excellent and and added so much to our train trip. Also during the ride we were entertained by cowboys that played guitar and a mock hold up. These entire trip was a great added adventure to our road trip.
Thanks Brinda

Riding the train is a must for every grand Canyon vacation. So much fun for young and old a like.

I would recommend this place to anybody . What a great experience , for a couple like us in our 60s to anybody with a family. Rooms where nice and clean the buffet was great. Would like to make two shout outs. to two of the people that made it even more special . First being Amber Rose our tour guide on the train . Very funny and knowledgeable. The second would be a Elaine the hostess in the evening at the buffet, Who had an great smile and was always cheerful. Not that everybody there did not go out of their way to be obliging and cheerful . These two were the ones that just really stood out to us .

Awesome trip with the family learned a lot on the trip breath taking views all and all great fun

Had a nice time at this awesome hole! Wish I could walk the whole place

What an amazing experience on the polar Express, well worth the money and time!!!!

moved by the story i read on facebook about this place, never knew about it but when i come to az im coming here

Unforgettable ride to an incomparable visit to the Canyon.

Great way to get to and from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon from Williams, AZ! Crew was very friendly and funny. Enjoyed the guitarists that played during the train ride to and from, as well as the "train robbery" on the return trip.

Went on the Grand Canyon trip. The train is beautifully restored. The trip was very nice.

Fun, fun, fun. On time, comfortable, interesting, fun, fun, fun.

On our first time ever train ride to the Grand Canyon! We rode in the Pullman car, seats were comfortable , easy to see out of the clean Windows. The small restroom was clean and easy to find. The train car guide was very friendly, knowledgeable, funny. It's a 2hr ride so he did his best to entertain all the passengers. They have different time period dressed people walk thru the cars, either to play the bango or tell jokes! We went the first part of October, so it was not real hot and stuffy. You are free to open the window if you please!
At least on the train, you don't have to worry about driving the 60 plus miles, you can sit back and enjoy the ride!

Ya gotta go on it.
The train is a blast. If you can swing it try the parlor car. Its spendy but I felt worth it. Don't have breakfast before you leave as they provide a pretty complete offering of pastries, eggs, and muffins. In addition the afternoon snacks include meat and cheese plates, along with fruit and crackers. What I likes most about the parlor car was how comfortable and well designed the cars were. They had huge lounge chairs, and couches. In addition you have access to the dome car which was fun to sit in. The "hold up" on the way back was a little childish but overall it did not deter from the experience Just throw the guy $10 and be done with it. Overall I would highly recommend it. It was one of the highlights of our trip.

This was an easy and relaxing trip into the Grand Canyon. We took a first class rail car that included non-alcoholic drinks and snacks on the east to and from With Room Grand Canyon village. My party of four faced each other so we had awkward situation with no table for drinks and snacks boxes. Service was great, clean, and covid sensitive. I would go again.

Put it on your BUCKET LIST or FAMILY TIME.This is a must see.

Over all a great experience. The only suggestion I would make is to shorten the lunch time and increase the amount if time at each viewing location at the canyon. 20 minutes at each viewing location is not enough time.