Last year, I was sick of driving during a road trip, so I hopped on the Grand Canyon Railway.
The train departs from Williams, Arizona, and drops travelers off at the park's South Rim.
The ride took twice as long as driving would've, but it was a new way to explore a national park.
By the time I reached Williams, Arizona, my hands felt permanently bound to my van's steering wheel. My back ached, making me feel decades older than I actually am, and my legs cramped from being in the same position for hours.
Thankfully, that's why I was in Williams in the first place. The small Arizona town is home to the Grand Canyon Railway.
Instead of driving another two hours round-trip to the national park, I decided to let someone else do the driving and hopped on the train.
While I've explored nearly a dozen national parks, I've never arrived via train.
The author in front of an Arches National Park sign.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
Living in Colorado means I'm lucky enough to have dozens of national parks just a road trip away.
I've even visited the Grand Canyon before. Last summer, I hiked with a group of friends around the park's North Rim during a road trip exploring Utah's national parks.
While cars and vans grant a level of independence, I was excited to explore a new part of the park via train. It would remove the hassle of extra driving time and the dreaded hunt for parking.
So when I discovered there was a train that takes visitors to Grand Canyon National Park, I was intrigued.
The train parked at its station in Grand Canyon National Park.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
Between a break from driving and exploring a new way to see a national park, I was eager to board the Grand Canyon Railway.
A few days before arriving in Arizona, I bought my ticket for about $80.
The author's train ticket.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
The Grand Canyon Railway has six different class options. The bottom-tier class is the Pullman class, where round-trip tickets cost $70. The highest tiers are the luxury parlor and luxury dome, where tickets cost $240. These prices do not include a $35 park entry fee.
When picking my train class, I was just happy to be in a train car and not in a van. I opted for the second-tier coach ticket on the way to the Grand Canyon and a Pullman ticket on the way home. Besides design, the main difference I spotted between the two classes was that the coach class offers air conditioning, while the Pullman car does not.
Altogether, I paid $82 for the ride in October 2023.
While reserving my tickets, I learned this adventure would be an all-day affair. The train leaves at 9:30 a.m., and visitors arrive back in Williams at around 5:45 p.m.
A train conductor steps off the train in Williams, Arizona.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
The train ride takes about two hours and 15 minutes, compared to an hour by car.
Around 8:30 a.m., I arrived at the station's ticketing office to pick up my printed tickets and grab a coffee.
The Williams train depot.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
The train depot in Williams was built in 1910.
Then, I headed to a little arena for a performance. The experience includes more than just transportation. Musicians and actors are on board, creating an Old West feel throughout the ride.
The pre-train performance put on by the Grand Canyon Railway.
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A group of cowboy actors lined an Old West-style set and acted out a cliché shootout.
Sure, it was a little gimmicky, but after traveling along Route 66 and exploring America's old Art Deco movement, I learned to embrace it.
After the show, I found my coach car and boarded the train. At 9:30 a.m., we were off to the Grand Canyon.
Passengers walk to their train car to board the Grand Canyon Railway train.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
The coach car was only about half full, so all the passengers could grab a window seat to admire the ponderosa pine forests and grasslands we were traveling through.
During the two-hour ride, we listened to our passenger attendant share history and insights into the railway and national park.
A view of the train's coach class.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
The ride is 65 miles and travels through a range of landscapes.
Along the ride, I learned about the Indigenous peoples who call the region home, and our train attendant dove into the railway's history.
Between stories, the passengers spotted wildlife in the distance.
A view from the train's window.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
Someone from our train car spotted a bald eagle within the first 10 minutes of the journey. Throughout the rest of the trip, we also saw cattle, horses, and pronghorns.
About an hour into the ride, I headed to the train café, which sold chips, candy, sodas, beer, and other snacks.
The train's snack car.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
I grabbed some pretzels and peanut M&M's for the rest of the ride.
As we got closer to our destination, I waited for the massive valleys, red rocks, and striking landscapes to come into view. Instead, all I saw was grassland and forest.
Views during the train ride.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
Little did I know that you can't see any part of the Grand Canyon from the train. Instead, after disembarking, the canyon is a short walk away.
I had about three hours to explore the national park. Initially, I feared it wouldn't be nearly enough time.
A view of the Grand Canyon.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
I've spent entire days wandering through Arches National Park and Zion National Park.
But an afternoon was ideal for a first look at the Grand Canyon's South Rim.
Grand Canyon National Park
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
While I could've easily spent days in the park, an afternoon offered an ideal taste of its offerings.
I spent about an hour walking a segment of the Rim Trail, a paved path that gives visitors a view into the canyon. I also wandered through the visitor center, gift shop, and restaurants.
With time to spare, I embarked on another short hike into the canyon.
Once done, I ended my afternoon with a snack and some final views of the canyon.
Another view of Grand Canyon National Park.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
I still had enough time to grab a quick bite before boarding the train back to Williams.
Around 3 p.m., I headed back to the train. This time, I was in a Pullman car.
The interior of the Pullman train car on the Grand Canyon Railway.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
Though it was the lower class, I enjoyed the Pullman car a bit more. The seats were a tad more comfortable, and the entire space felt a bit more historic. Plus, I was traveling in the fall, so the air conditioning in coach class was an unnecessary perk. (I wasn't even sure it was on.) But if it had been the height of Arizona's summer, I would have picked coach.
After settling in the emerald-green train car, we left promptly at 3:30 p.m.
The afternoon ride was filled with more music and another cowboy skit.
A violinist on the Grand Canyon Railway.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
Both a violinist and a guitarist played for passengers during the ride.
We arrived back in Williams and ended the day with a stunning sunset.
A view of the sunset from inside the train.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
As an avid hiker, I'm itching to return to the national park and take on more challenging hikes.
The day on the train was a fun way to explore the Grand Canyon, and, thankfully, I never had to get in the driver's seat.
The train parked in Williams, Arizona, at the end of the day.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
I returned from the daylong adventure energized and no longer dreading the drive ahead.
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