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| The Grand Canyon is about a one hour drive from Williams, Arizona. Arizona Highway 64 will take you directly to the South Rim entrance. It is hard to believe as your travel across the flat land toward the park that the deep canyon edge is just ahead. |
| Williams |
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Known as the Gateway to the Grand Canyon, it offers the shortest route from Interstate 40 to the splendor of the Canyon, about 59 miles north of the city.
It lies on the route of Historic Route 66, and Interstate 40. Williams is a major tourist stop and has many inns and motels, restaurants and gas stations.
Founded in 1880, the city and the mountain were named for William S. "Bill" Williams, a famous master trapper and scout on the old Santa Fe Trail.
At an elevation of 6,780 feet, Williams maintains its attractive small-town atmosphere, while large-town conveniences and entertainment are only 30 minutes away in Flagstaff via I-40.
The Williams area offers cool summer temperatures, four seasons and thickly pined forest at almost 7,000-foot elevation. The Williams area offers an abundance of outdoor attractions including Sycamore Canyon Wilderness which boast the second largest canyon in Arizona.
Enjoy fishing and camping at Cataract Lake, Kaibab Lake, Dogtown Lake and White Horse Lake. The popular Williams ski area provides excellent downhill skiing, sledding and nearby cross-country ski trails.
If you enjoy camping and hunting, the Kaibab National Forest surrounding Williams has over 200 campsites and seasonal hunting for deer, elk, mountain lions and bear.
The Grand Canyon Railroad offers historic steam-engine train rides between Williams and the Grand Canyon. The Southwest Chief Amtrak train route has a stop for Williams.
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The Grand Canyon Railroad Official Website |
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Sycamore Canyon Wilderness |
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| Valle |
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| Valle is a small community in the Coconino Plateau south of the Grand Canyon at the junction of U.S. Highway 180 and Arizona Highway 64. It is 30 miles north of Williams and 30 miles south of the South Rim. |
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| There are several gas stations, motels and souvenir shops selling Indian crafts that cater to the tourists passing through on their way to the Grand Canyon. |
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Valle Airport is home to the Planes of Fame Air Museum. where visitors can see a sizable collection of WWII airplanes. Some are very rare and one-of-a-kind classic aircraft. From a Messerschmitt Me-109G-10/U4 to a flyable Douglas AD-4N Skyraider, an Aichi D3A2 Val (BT-15 Conversion), Douglas RB-26C Invader, Ford 5-AT Trimotor, Grumman J2F-6 Duck, Lockeed T-33 Shooting Star, Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-15, Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka 11, and many more!
One of the main stars at the Planes of Fame - Grand Canyon facility was the personal transport plane for General Douglas Macarthur, a Lockheed C-121A Constellation named 'Bataan' by the General himself.
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Yaba-Daba-Doo! Flintstones Bedrock City is in Valle. |
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 Want to get up close and personal to a dinosaur? While on your way to the Grand Canyon, why not stop and see the home of Fred, Wilma, Barney, and Betty? It is the vacation home of Fred's Stone Age family in Arizona.
Bedrock City is a 1972-vintage tourist attraction based on the popular Flintstones cartoon. The "stone" buildings are painted in bright, garish colors. Smiling fiberglass statues of Fred Flintstone and the other characters stand among the buildings. Obviously a lot of effort went into making this a fun place,
Open for over 35 years it is worn in places but a great place to let the kids run. It is family-owned and run where you can shop at the giftshop or spend the night at the Bedrock Campground. Watch out for the scary dinosaur.
You can also grab a brontosaurus burger or a chickasaurus sandwich at the Bedrock Diner. Don't forget your camera for a great photo opportunity.
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Pyramids of Valle - Once a new age shop built by hand, the new owner is revamping the inside and out both to meet code and to show off the place. They expect it to have an entirely new face within the year. The new owners are converting the buildings to a hardware store. You will see them on your right just outside of Valle.
The landscape quickly turns to sagebrush and other desert vegetation that stretchs across a level landscape to a great distance. Sit back, enjoy the ride and soon you will be looking at a wonder of the world.
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| Tusayan |
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Tusayan (pronounced “Too-SAY-on”) is a true tourist town just outside the south entrance gate to the park that cater to the millions of tourists who pass through the area annually. It has a year-round population of about 600 people.
There are lots of hotels, motels, fast food restaurants, gift shops and gas stations. Mule rides, helicopter tours, jeep tours, horseback riding, and hiking are just some of the things available to visitors. Located at 6,000 ft elevation there are forests of juniper trees that extend from both side of the road as you enter and leave the town.
Tusayan is served by Grand Canyon National Park Airport. There are several air sight seeing helicopter companies and fixed wing operators waiting to show you the sights. Grand Canyon National Park Airport is a public airport located in the Tusayan area near Grand Canyon National Park, seven miles from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The airport is primarily used for scenic tours and charter flights, but there is scheduled commercial service.
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The Grand Canyon Visitor Center is an official Arizona Office of Tourism Visitor Center.
It offers a spectacular array of media and literature describing all of the Grand Canyon’s sights as well as providing an overview of the Arizona High Country.
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National Geographic Visitor Center IMAX®
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| Do make sure you go in to talk with the experienced local representatives. They have extensive knowledge of the area and are glad to offer advice, insights and materials for travel in and around this awe-inspiring wonder of the world.
The Visitor Center is also home to the Grand Canyon IMAX® movie, which is the most-watched IMAX® film ever. The IMAX® Movie, "Grand Canyon: Discovery & Adventure" is 34 minutes of excitement where viewers will discover a Grand Canyon that would take a lifetime to experience.
The film opens with the beginning of man's fragile kinship with this twisting 277 mile Canyon, then moves the audience through time with brief glimpses at the stone pages of human history. From the mysterious Anasazi who inhabited the Canyon 4,000 years ago, viewers will travel through Grand Canyon history to join Major John Wesley Powell as he challenges the unexplored Canyon and raging Colorado River in 1869.
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| Grand Canyon National Park |
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| A powerful and inspiring landscape, the Grand Canyon overwhelms our senses through its immense size; 277 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep. |
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The beauty of the Grand Canyon, one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World, is like nothing else you will ever experience. Each season of the year provides a unique vista.
From the flowers of spring and the scent of the pine forest after a summer rain to the colors of autumn and the spectacle of snow during the winter months, your vacation to the Grand Canyon is a treat for the senses.
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| Native American history and culture are also part of the real Grand Canyon experience.
People from around the world marvel at the color, sound, art and performances of those whose ancestors made the Grand Canyon their home.Welcome to the experience, adventure and breathtaking beauty. Welcome to the Grand Canyon!
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The Grand Canyon  Official National Park Website
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