Grand Canyon Railway - What You Need to Know About Riding the Train

Choosing Your Grand Canyon Trip - What's Important to Consider?

How to Choose Your Grand Canyon Railway Trip

You have quite a few choices when it comes to your trip to the Grand Canyon via train. You need to consider:

• Will I want to take a day trip or spend an overnight or two at the Grand Canyon? If you opt for a day trip, you will most likely have 3-4 hours of time at the Grand Canyon once you arrive. This is ideal for someone whose mobility is limited or a person with limited time in the area.
• Do I want a Grand Canyon Railway Package? Grand Canyon Railway vacation packages may include lodging at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and at the Grand Canyon as well as meals on the Grand Canyon Railway campus at Max and Thelma’s buffet. Packages may actually save you money and keep the planning simple.
• Do I want to travel in Luxury Parlor Class or Coach Class? The Grand Canyon Railway has 5 classes of car to choose from. When you do the math, you might find that Parlor Class is not all that more expensive than the next level. The comfort and thrill of traveling first class might just be worth stretching your budget.
• Do I want to plan for a Special Trip? The Grand Canyon Railway has special holiday Polar Express trips that are sure to be a hit with children. This past fall, the railway announced an afternoon Sunset excursion to the Grand Canyon proved to be very popular.
• Are you a train enthusiast? You might want to get a little more information if, for example, you are a follower of vintage steam engines. The Grand Canyon Steam engines run primarily in the summer and spend their winters undergoing maintenance and are stored where they can be protected from the harsh winter environment.

A Short Package Trip – As An Example

Railway Getaway Package

This fall I took a one day trip to the Grand Canyon. The package was the “Railway Getaway” with two nights in the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams and a day trip to the Grand Canyon. The package included two breakfasts and two dinners at Max and Thelma’s buffet. We upgraded to Luxury Parlor class for the experience and the opportunity to enjoy photo ops from the open-air end car.

You can price different itineraries on the Grand Canyon Railway website before you make your decision. We could have taken a Motor Coach Tour as an add-on but wanted to enjoy some light hiking along the rim and a visit to the El Tovar hotel. It is important to keep in mind that the prices are based on double occupancy.

The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel

Our experience began with a late afternoon check-in to the Grand Canyon Railway hotel. It is a large rambling, well maintained hotel with immense pieces of specially commissioned Arizona landscape art. The lobby had a large fireplace and, down the hall, was an interesting lounge. The rooms were very comfortable and would be easily accessible for someone with mobility limitations. The hotel has two floors with an elevator.

We toured the old depot, had a look at the gift shop and settled in to our room. Before dinner, we stopped by the hotel lounge for a glass of wine and noticed a beautiful old wooden bar. The bar was a custom handcrafted masterpiece, built by George Spenser in England in 1886. On the opposite wall was another of the impressively large landscape paintings.

Dinner at Max and Thelma's

It was time for dinner and we headed over to Max and Thelma’s, a very short walk, and found ourselves in yet another gift shop! As we went farther, we were greeted by the restaurant hostess and seated. We were offered a menu and could have remained seated, ordered off the menu for an extra fee but felt the buffet, with hand carved prime rib, looked enticing. We started with salad, and then selected our entrée. The garlic mashed potatoes complimented the prime rib well. I skipped dessert but my friend tried a piece of chocolate cake. We decided that Max and Thelma’s was set up well to handle large numbers of people and groups but also tried hard to add atmosphere to the experience. There was a garden-scale railway that moved along the ceiling and a wonderful rock fireplace divided the large room. We were, however, intrigued to hear that the old depot lobby was to be restored and a smaller upscale restaurant would be opened at that location.

The Wild West Show

The next day we opted for bowls of oatmeal and skipped the wonderful buffet offerings at breakfast. It was just too much good food! As announced, the “Wild West Show” was about to begin so we headed over to the bleachers to watch. Some hard-working cowpokes in vintage clothing and gear put on a show with some fake gunfire, lots of corny jokes and, at the end, an opportunity for children and adults alike to have their photos taken with authentic looking cowboys and their horses. I am sure those photos were treasured long after the vacationers returned home.

Grand Canyon Railway Trip Basics
Experiencing the Train Ride
When You Go