Williams Arizona surpassed our expectations! We booked two nights in Williams because it was on the way home from Los Angeles (Route 66), and the grand canyon was on our bucket list.
I didn’t know what we’d find in Williams (I hoped for decent food and shelter). We planned on spending most of our time at Grand Canyon National Park.
I didn’t expect Williams to be a fun destination on its own, but the small town proved me wrong!
Williams Arizona has the typical Route 66 feel with neon lights, old cars, and good food!
Most of this post is dedicated to how to visit the Grand Canyon from Williams. To learn more about the town of Williams, click here.
This Post Covers the Following questions about visiting The Grand Canyon from Williams Arizona.
- Where to stay
- What time to arrive at The Grand Canyon
- Where to park
- Places to eat at Grand Canyon Village
- The best places to eat in Williams, Arizona
- What are the roads like from Williams to Grand Canyon Village?
- What the shuttles are like
- What to pack for a day trip
- Itinerary option 1, for one day at The Grand Canyon with kids
- Good to know
- Baby and Toddler Safety at the Grand Canyon
Where to stay in Williams, Arizona close to The Grand Canyon
We stayed at Days Inn in Williams.
We booked a slightly more expensive hotel but realized at the last minute that the two-day booking was off by one day.
We found two rooms at The Days Inn last minute, but I believe we got the last two rooms, rooms they probably don’t rent out unless the hotel is full. The rooms were a good deal, and the manager gave us 10% off our booking.com price because the rooms weren’t idyll and they couldn’t move us.
That was a bit of a downer. Our room smelled like smoke, and my parent’s room smelled like wet dogs and smoke!
They did have a nice pool area that my kids enjoyed splashing in and a decent hot breakfast. If you book ahead of time, I think you’ll get a room you’re satisfied with.
There are a lot of other hotel options in Williams. Why not stay in one of downtown Williams’s historic Route 66 hotels?
The Grand Canyon Railroad Hotel is popular among travelers. Rooms cost approximately $123 to $195. (Picture below)
What time of day to Arrive at Grand Canyon National Park from Williams Arizona
Breakfast at our hotel was served at 6:30 am. We got up at 6:00 am, ate between 6:30 and 7:00, got in the car, and arrived at The Grand Canyon at 8:15.
It takes a good hour to drive to Grand Canyon Village. Google Maps says it’s 1 hour and 2 minutes.
8:00 is a great time to arrive. We used the restrooms when we got there and then went straight to the shuttle. We didn’t need to wait in line even though it was a Sunday, and people said it was busier than usual.
Where to park at The Grand Canyon when arriving from Williams Arizona
We parked at The Grand Canyon Village parking lot and used the shuttles all day.
As a 10-year-old, I saw The Grand Canyon from Phoenix, Arizona. We used our car to get to the viewpoints. We had a good time, but I found the shuttles more convenient and the shuttle drivers knowledgeable. They could answer practically any question you have.
If you really want to drive, I don’t think you’ll have trouble taking your car to a lookout point because finding a parking space at Grand Canyon Village later in the day shouldn’t be a problem. We never saw the parking lot full.
The reason for using the shuttle is convenience, not lack of parking spaces like at Sequoia National park or Yosemite.
Where to Eat at The Grand Canyon Village (Close to Williams, Arizona)
Food options close to the Grand Canyon are limited. Many Visitors bring picnic meals.
- El Tovar Dining Room
- Yavapai Tavern
- Maswik Food Court
- Grand Canyon Village Market & Deli
The Best Places to Eat in Williams Arizona
I recommend anything on Williams main street. We especially enjoyed Station 66, an Italian restaurant with great pizza, among other great dishes. It’s connected to the Historic Brewing Barrel and Bottle House.
We had a great time sitting outside, eating, and enjoying a beautiful evening at Station 66. Even our kids like the food.
The atmosphere in Williams felt family-friendly and fun. I would love to stop there again!
Station 66 and the Historic Brewing Barrel and Bottle House. Have historical details that remind you of the ‘Good Old Days’ on Route 66! Most of the restaurants on Mainstreet are renovated historic buildings oozing charm!
What the Roads are like between Williams, Arizona, and the Grand Canyon
It’s pretty much a straight shot from Williams to the Grand Canyon! This was a nice change from the windy roads in and out of Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks! No one got car sick on our visit to the Grand Canyon!
There isn’t much to stop at on the drive, so ensure everyone goes to the bathroom before you leave, Williams, and fill up your car if you’re low on gas.
This is what the shuttles at the Grand Canyon National Park were like
The Shuttles were nice, clean and convenient.
They did require us to wear a face mask in the shuttles. They don’t do this all the time, but there happened to be a spike in corona cases in that area when we were there, so they asked everyone to wear face masks inside and in the shuttles. Fortunately, we spent most of our time outdoors!
We never had to wait long for a shuttle to come, and we made it on every shuttle we stood in line for. The shuttle was never so full that we had to wait for the next one.
We felt the atmosphere was relaxed and it didn’t seem crowded even though we visited on a Sunday. However, some locals said that The Grand Canyon was always crowded on Sundays.
What to pack for a day trip to the Grand Canyon
- Take plenty of water! There are a few filling stations, but you can’t have too much water when it’s hot. Plus, you can’t always find a filling station when you want one.
- One-day pack or backpack for each traveler. Put a small backpack on each child with their water bottle and a selection of snacks. Their bag won’t weigh much and letting everyone carry something shrinks the bags the adults must carry.
- Lots of snacks.
- Lunch if you plan to picnic.
- First aid kit.
- Sun hats.
- Hiking boots or leather sneakers (it’s best not to wear mesh shoes or sandals if you plan to hike off the main paths). Some paths are paved some are not.
- Extra socks. You may need to change your socks. It can be dusty, sweaty, or maybe someone gets blisters.
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Picnic blanket
- Sunblock shirts (for kids)
- Gatorade powder in case someone gets dehydrated.
- Candy if you need something to lock young children along the trails.
- Paper map of the area.
- Paper map of the shuttle system (the wifi isn’t the best).
- Pack a stroller, baby backpack, or harness and child leash if you have small kids.
The Best Itinerary for Visiting the Grand Canyon with Kids (South Rim)
My kids had a great time at the Grand Canyon. The South Rim was well organized and accessible for families.
Because of the length of this post, I decided to make the itinerary a separate post. Hopefully, separating the posts will make the itinerary more beneficial for you because I can include more pictures of hiking trails, shuttle stops, and views and still allow you to load the page fast.
Good to Know about visiting the Grand Canyon with Kids (South Rim from Williams, Arizona)
Plan on filling water bottles and going to the bathroom in Grand Canyon Village and again at the end of the shuttle Line. We couldn’t always find a bathroom or a filling station when we wanted one.
Strollers can be used on the first two walks between shuttle stops, and most shuttle stops at lookout points are small stroller friendly.
Small foldable strollers are allowed on the shuttles. Big strollers and jogging strollers are not allowed.
Toddler Safety at the Grand Canyon
Preparing before you leave is necessary for a safe trip to The Grand Canyon National Park with your baby or toddler.
- Use a child safety harness and leash. (For kids who like to walk.)
- At the lookout points
- On the safe trails for children (Some trails are not safe for kids!)
- Strap your child in their stroller if they don’t want to walk and during nap time. (Take a small foldable stroller if you want to take it on the shuttle. Big strollers and running strollers are not permitted on the shuttles.)
- Use a Baby backpack. This may be a suitable mode of transportation for your child. My kids never wanted to sit on our backs long, but some kids love riding mom’s or dad’s back. A backpack with a sunshade is a good idea in warm weather.
- Keep your kids Hydrated!
- Research your planned hikes and trail conditions. You’ll want to know which hikes have steep drop-offs, which viewpoints have guardrails, and which trails are paved or unpaved.
- We took the shuttle to the first viewpoint and then hiked the next two trails with our kids. They were easy, paved trails that didn’t get too close to the edge. (My seven-year-old walked these trails, but I made her walk on the inside of the trail while I walked close to the edge.) It’s necessary to watch small children closely on the trails.
- Keep in mind there are no guardrails on most trails, and even the guardrails they have don’t make it safe for toddlers and small children to navigate these areas independently.
- Research current weather and road conditions. The National Park Service posts updates on conditions here. If it’s going to be warm or sunny, you’ll want to bring plenty of sunscreens, water, and a wide-brimmed hat.
- Don’t walk the Grand Canyon trails close to dusk. It’s dangerous to navigate the trails after dark.
- Do not feed the wildlife. Don’t approach wildlife and don’t offer animals human food. We saw plenty of signs saying the most dangerous animal at the Grand Canyon is the squirrel! You don’t want to go to the emergency room because your child got a squirrel bite!
- Stay on marked trails. You could get lost or encounter a steep drop-off if you leave the trail. Be sure to stick to the marked trails.
- Stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from the edge of the rim. There are documented fatalities from people getting too close to the edge and falling to their death. (Your safety is not worth compromising for a selfie!)
- Don’t throw rocks (or anything else) over the canyon’s edge. You could injure hikers and animals below or start a landslide.
- Closely supervise your child even when there are guardrails. A toddler could climb through or under many of the guardrails. As shown in the picture below, some guardrails are old, and the ground has caved in a bit. Keep a close eye on your child at all times.
Baby Safety at the Grand Canyon
- Keep babies cool in the summer!
- Things you may bring to keep baby cool!
- A fan that clamps on your stroller
- Washcloths or hand towels to dampen
- A sun hat
- Sunblock clothing
- Sunscreen
- A small foldable stroller with a sunshade
- Hiking backpack to carry your baby with a sunshade
- Things you may bring to keep baby cool!
- Don’t let your Baby crawl at the lookout points. The guard rails are not safe for babies and small children.
- Keep your baby hydrated!
- Lots of liquid for MOM if you are nursing.
- Extra water and formula if you’re bottle feeding.
- Strap your child in their stroller if they don’t want to walk and during nap time. (Take a small foldable stroller if you want to take it on the shuttle. Big strollers and running strollers are not permitted on the shuttles.)
- Use a Baby backpack. This may be a suitable mode of transportation for your child. Some kids love riding mom’s or dad’s back. A backpack with a sunshade is a good idea in warm weather.
- Research your planned hikes and trail conditions. You’ll want to know which hikes have steep drop-offs, which viewpoints have guardrails, and which trails are paved or unpaved.
- We took the shuttle to the first viewpoint and then hiked the next two trails with our kids. They were easy paved trails that didn’t get too close to the edge. (My seven-year-old walked these trails, but I made her walk on the inside of the trail while I walked close to the edge.) It’s necessary to watch small children closely on the trails.
- Keep in mind there are no guardrails on most trails, and even the guardrails they have don’t make it safe for toddlers and small children to navigate these areas independently.
- Research current weather and road conditions. The National Park Service posts updates on conditions here. If it’s going to be warm or sunny, you’ll want to bring plenty of sunscreens, water, and a wide-brimmed hat.
- Don’t walk the Grand Canyon trails close to dusk. It’s dangerous to navigate the trails after dark.
- Do not feed the wildlife. Don’t approach wildlife and don’t offer animals human food. We saw plenty of signs saying the most dangerous animal at the Grand Canyon is the squirrel! You don’t want to go to the emergency room because your child got a squirrel bite!
- Stay on marked trails. You could get lost or encounter a steep drop-off if you leave the trail. Be sure to stick to the marked trails.
- Stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from the edge of the rim. There are documented fatalities from people getting too close to the edge and falling to their death. (Your safety is not worth compromising for a selfie!)
- Don’t throw rocks (or anything else) over the canyon’s edge. You could injure hikers and animals below or start a landslide.
Safety tips for taking kids with ADHD to the Grand Canyon
- Kids with ADHD (Predominately hyper) have LOTS of extra Energy! It’s not safe to let them run around the lookout points or run on trails. They may fall off the edge or endanger other tourists.
- Kids with ADHD may not have the most concise control of their bodies. My kids had a hard time knowing where their body was in relation to other people and objects. My son often flailed his arms around or waved sticks. He hit other children in his vicinity without meaning to. These behaviors could potentially knock someone over the edge.
- If your child has ADHD and, like my kids (who have ADHD), feels overwhelmed by noise and often blocks out sounds, then you must be only a few steps away from your child at any given time because shouting your child’s name when he/she gets close to danger may have no effects whatsoever.
- Put younger children with ADHD on a child harness and leash.
Copyright Annie Eklöv