Grand Canyon Railway

All aboard the Grand Canyon Railway! If you're looking for a unique way to travel to the Grand Canyon from Williams Arizona, then this train ride is the perfect journey for you.  Sure, it’s a little pricey, cheesy, and loooonnnnggg, but we were glad we did it.  So, sit back, relax, hold on to your cowboy hats, and we’ll tell you what else you need to know.

Is there Pre-Ride Entertainment for the Grand Canyon Railway? 

Before the train ride, the Grand Canyon Railway treats passengers to a 20-minute western show that starts around 9:00 am.  The backdrop of the show are the building facades for a telegraph office, bank, livery, hotel, and jail from the 1880s.  We enjoyed some fancy rope-twirling, gun spinning, and what appeared to be a gunfight by some cowboys.  Lots of people in the stands LOVED this (especially the kids).  Unfortunately, we could not follow the story-line because the small outdoor speakers for the western show made everyone sound like the teacher from Charlie Brown (but with more “wah wah” and maybe a little less trombone).   Understanding the complexities of who-wronged-who-and-why wasn’t necessary to enjoying the gunfight, but it would have been nice.   

The western show before the train ride at the Grand Canyon Railway

One of the cowboys shoots a prop gun at the Grand Canyon Railway

How is the Ride on the Grand Canyon Railway?

Near the tracks of the Grand Canyon Railway

There are three things you should know about the train ride itself.

• First, the train moves slowly. 

Say that again. The train moves vvveeerrrryyy ssssllloowwwlly.   The 65-mile trip takes around two hours and 15 minutes.   You can drive a car from Williams to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center in about half the time.   The ride is meant to be relaxing, not efficient. 

• Second, your national park time is limited.

Because so much of the day is taken up actually riding on the train, that leaves relatively little time to explore the national park itself.   We had roughly 3.5 hours, and used most of that to eat our packed lunch and walk the 2.8-mile Trail of Time. 

• Third, after boarding the train, it’s sorta boring.

The scenery on the train ride isn’t as spectacular as some of the reviews might suggest.  Sure, you go through part of the Kaibab National Forest, but a lot of the ride is just scrub brush and dirt. 

What are the Seating Options on the Grand Canyon Railway?

View from our open-air Pullman Class railcar near the Grand Canyon. Most of the ride was NOT this scenic.

There are a few different choices when it comes to where you'll be sitting on the train. (Prices are from 2023.)   

• Pullman Class. 

$32.50/person (one-way).  This Harriman style coach care feature windows that slide open and no air conditioning.  

• Coach Class. 

$41.00/person (one-way).  This option bench-style seating and air conditioning.   

• First Class. 

$79.50/person (one-way).  The website notes that this features “oversized, reclining seats, and grand picture windows that enhance the scenic journey” and complementary snacks.    

• Observation Dome.

$94.50 (one-way). This is pretty much the same as the “first class” except that you are seated on a higher level with dome windows. 

PRO TIP: Importantly, you can mix-and-match seats, meaning that you don’t have to sit in the same class on the way to the Grand Canyon and on the way back to Williams. 

What are the “Best” Seats on the Grand Canyon Railway?

Personally, I think the best seats on the Grand Canyon Railway are the cheapest ones: the Pullman Class. We chose to ride the Pullman Class on the way to the Grand Canyon because the high temperatures were in the 70s that day.  I loved being able to open the windows and enjoy some of the cool mountain air.  We drank some $8/can beers while we chatted up a Canadian couple in the seats behind us. 

We wanted to see what spending more money would get us on the train though. On the way back from the Grand Canyon to Williams, we channeled our inner Tom Haverford and decided to treat ourselves to First Class tickets.   We didn’t get to choose our seats and were assigned to the Kokopelli traincar. Our upgrade included a self-serve buffet of snacks and non-alcoholic drinks (more on that below).  There weren’t any kids in our section so it was nice to just relax and shut our eyes on the way home. 

The “First Class” Kokopelli train car on the Grand Canyon Railway. The observation dome seats are shown as well.

I was glad to experience both seating options, but I wouldn’t get First Class tickets again and would instead just stick with the Pullman Class (weather permitting). I just didn’t think that the differences were worth $57. 

What Kind of Food and Drinks are Available on the Grand Canyon Railway?

The food and drinks available (and what you pay for them) all depend on your seat class.   Nothing was included in our basic Pullman Coach seats, but there was a café car right next to us that featured basic snacks like candy bars, chips, and ice cream, as well as soft drinks and beer.   Even though it was just 10 am, Kasie hopped over to the cafe car surprise me with some $8/can craft beers:  a Jack Wagon Hazy IPA from Historic Brewing Company (Williams AZ) for me and a Railhead Red from Lumberyard Brewing (Flagstaff AZ) for her.    Don’t judge.

Our First Class ride included a buffet of cheese cubes, sliced meats, fruits, vegetables, coffee, soft drinks, lemonade, and hot cocoa.  However, alcohol was still not included in the ticket price.  We were actually too tired for beer so stuck with the “freebie” soda on the ride home. 

Importantly, all food and drinks must be purchased using a credit card (no cash). 

What Kind of Entertainment is on the Grand Canyon Railway?

The Grand Canyon Railway is mostly about getting folks from Point A to Point B, but they do manage to provide a little cowboy entertainment.    

One of the cowboy’s sings Wagon Wheel on the return trip on the Grand Canyon Railway

On our ride to the Grand Canyon, a cowboy with a guitar serenaded our railcar for three songs, including Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.”  🎵 I hear the train a comin’…It’s rollin’ round the bend.  🎵 The music was good, but it lasted less than 15 minutes.   On the return trip, the musical entertainment didn’t last much longer, even though we were in First Class.  We had a different cowboy musician play another three songs, including one of my favorites - Old Crow Medicine Show’s Wagon Wheel.     

On the train ride back to Williams, we were told there would be a “surprise” around 5:00 pm and that we should have to make the entertainers work for their money.  Sure enough, a couple of cowboys rode up to the train on horses, boarded the train, and then proceeded to fake-rob us all.  A few folks in our railcar loved the robbery and really got into it.  And, I’m sure that most kids would love it.   To me, it just seemed like an elaborate way to collect a little tip money.  I would have preferred a few more cowboy songs.  

I act like I’m stealing the prop gun during the staged robbery on the Grand Canyon Railway

Overall, the entertainment on the Grand Canyon Railway is pretty good, but limited. That’s largely because it lasts about 15-20 minutes during a ride that is over two hours long. For those traveling with kids, make sure you bring a long some other activities to keep them occupied during the trip.

Is the Grand Canyon Railway Worth it?

For those wanting a day-visit to the Grand Canyon just to see it (but not really explore it), the Grand Canyon Train is a great option.  Stick with the cheapest seats — the Pullman Class seats (weather permitting) — and come with a good attitude about the limited entertainment.  Don’t forget your cowboy hats (and your tip money) either.