Williams, Arizona, a great starting city for Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon Tours from Williams

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Canyon Dave Tours Offers Pick Up in Williams

Williams is a good choice, maybe the best, when you are planning a Grand Canyon trip. It is the closest sizable town, only 45 minutes from the Canyon. There are numerous activities for vacationers in and around Williams. The town is located about equidistant from Phoenix and Las Vegas, roughly 4 hours drive one way.

A town of only about 3,000 people, Williams is mountainous and pine-forested at 7,000 feet altitude--the same as Grand Canyon. The air is clean and clear, and it snows in winter—a surprise to Arizona visitors. Many local shops and activities revolve around the Route 66 mystique, the former "Mother Road" from Chicago to the west coast. Williams was the last Route 66 town bypassed by Interstate 40.

Williams is a great starting place to visit the surrounding forest and several nearby lakes. We recommend Kaibab, Dog Town, or Whitehorse Lakes.

Williams is home to Bearizona, a wonderful wildlife park with many bears right on the road—don't open the windows! It is a pleasant surprise and a must-see for kids. It starts as a drive-through park exhibiting animals in natural settings. Bearizona also has a walk-in zoo with traditional enclosures. You will see a bird flight presentation and three huge grizzly bears.

Hotels and Restaurants

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Sheridan House Inn

We recommend staying at one of the charming bed and breakfasts in Williams. You can take Canyon Dave's Grand Canyon Tours from Williams starting at the Sheridan House. This eclectic BnB offers adults-only a cozy and elegant English-style hospitality. They have exceptional food and ambience--just wait 'til you try their amazing breakfast! Another nice B&B, the Canyon Country Inn, is on Route 66.

There are many inexpensive motels in Williams, so it is a life-saver when Grand Canyon hotels are booked up. Among the motels, we enjoy the Lodge on Route 66, the Days Inn, the Comfort Inn, and the Best Western of Williams. There is also a new Holiday Inn Express, a new La Quinta, a new Hampton Inn, and many more.

Eating places in Williams are eclectic, with fine dinners at the Red Raven restaurant and Best Western Hotel's Western View Steak House. Pine Country is locally famous for its generous and delicious pies, and El Corral has great Mexican dishes.

Ready to book your Grand Canyon tour from Williams?

Adults from $249 • Seniors $234 • Children $149 • Lunch included

Book the Full Day Tour

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Williams from Grand Canyon?

Williams is only 54 miles from the Grand Canyon South Entrance — about 45 minutes by car via Highway 64 north. It is the closest sizable town to the Canyon, making it an ideal base for your visit. See our driving directions page for tips on the drive including wait times at the entrance gate.

Does Canyon Dave Tours pick up from Williams hotels?

Yes — we pick up and drop off at any hotel, bed and breakfast, vacation rental, or campground in Williams. The Sheridan House Inn, Canyon Country Inn, Lodge on Route 66, and all motels are on our pickup route. Just enter your accommodation details when you book.

What is there to do in Williams Arizona?

Williams punches well above its weight for a town of 3,000 people. Visit Bearizona wildlife park, explore the Route 66 shops and restaurants downtown, catch the nightly cowboy shoot-out in summer, or take the historic Grand Canyon Railway train right to the South Rim. The surrounding Kaibab National Forest has beautiful lakes including Kaibab, Dog Town, and Whitehorse Lakes.

Is Williams a good base for Grand Canyon?

Williams may be the best base of all. It is closer to the Canyon than Flagstaff, has lower hotel prices, and has a charming small-town character that feels like a real Arizona experience. Hotels fill up fast in summer so book early — but Williams is often available when Grand Canyon Village hotels are completely full.

What is Bearizona?

Bearizona is a drive-through wildlife park just outside Williams that is genuinely one of Arizona's best family attractions. You drive your own car through natural enclosures where bears, wolves, bison, and other animals roam freely alongside the road — keep your windows up! There is also a walk-in zoo section and a bird flight presentation. It makes a wonderful addition to a Grand Canyon trip.