Williams Depot Reviews

The Williams Depot is a beautiful building with a great staff. The desk staff was very helpful guiding us thru our several day itinerary. The gift shop has a small coffee and fudge bar besides the huge selection of train souvenirs. There are many photo op spots the building before departing on the train.

we stayed at the train depot RV park, and got a package with the train ride to grand canyon. It was a lot of fun, The depot itself had a great buffet lunch that we ate at one day. The morning before the train ride there was a wild west show. Throughout the day we saw those characters again on train with a mock train robbery. Everyone that worked at all these places were very friendly and helpful

We usually don't buy things in these souvenir tourist trap stores but in this one we did. Also the pre-train show was funny and enjoyable especially for kids.

A interesting place to start your train ride up to the Grand Canyon. Handily located in down town Williams with plenty of free nearby parking. Best reserve and collect your tickets in advance as there are large queues, but quick to move through. The set up is clear and easy to access for all with plenty of staff to point you in the right direction. The train will depart on time so don't be late. There is visitor attraction staged "Gun-Fight" prior to departure, which is worth checking out, and it gives you the opportunity of meeting several of the caricatures that "may" appear later on in your travels.
The journey itself is only up to the Canyon and not through it.

This is well worth doing. The scenery is beautiful and once in the Grand Canyon village make sure you take the coach tour to have the opportunity to take photos. The gorgeous old hotels in the Village are worth exploring and if you stay overnight in Williams this can become a neat two nights away from home vacation.

The Williams Depot, itself, was rather forgettable. To be clear, we did not ride the train to the Grand Canyon. On that subject, this would be a good time to mention that train passengers DO NOT see the canyon during the train ride. Anyway, we watched the train return and passengers disembark. They appeared a bit worn out and ready to lose the masks. In my opinion. The depot needs a little TLC and some upgrades.

Great place for adults and children for a up close look at a real steam train. Also great history on travel as it use to be and accommodation at the Harvey house hotel chain of a by gone time.

We stopped here the day before we boarded the train to the Grand Canyon. This is a great place to get a feel for the area and see some well restored old steam trains.

Great that these old trains are on display, and historical information too. My husband and son spent a long time viewing the ins and outs of the workings of the train.

Lots of old trains here to look at up close. Gift shop and restaurant on site. You can get a train ride to the Grand Canyon from here. Quaint old town with lots of shopping and things to do.

Just like the train ride, the show before the train ride was very cheesy and corny. I think this is fine for families with young kids, as they would probably have been entertained by it. For adults, however, it was annoying.

Amber Rose was our hostess (?) on the train. She was amazing! So friendly! Told us great stories about the history of the train and the Grand Canyon and the area! She came around and met each person and got the whole train car to become like a family!! Not sure how she did it, but she is for sure a keeper!!!

We visited here to see the train depot while in Williams. They had it set up for Halloween. It had an old west feel.

The Grand Canyon Railway is a heritage railroad which carries passengers between Williams and the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. You can board the historic Grand Canyon Railway Locomotive No. 539 which was built in 1917, for the trip which starts or ends, depending on which way you take the train, at the Williams Santa Fe Depot. The depot was built in 1898 and is located at 235 N. Grand Canyon Blvd, in the town of Williams. The Fray Marcos Hotel, built in 1901 is connected to the depot. It is one of the most historically significant buildings in Williams, because of its long term status as a "Harvey House".

The railway was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in August 23, 2000, reference #00000319. The Williams Santa Fe Depot is included in the Nation Register of Historic Places listing of the Grand Canyon Railway. The Fray Marcos Hotel is also included in the Nation Register of Historic Places listing of the Grand Canyon Railway. So, pick up your and all aboard the"Polar Express" during the winter.

We went on the train to Grand Canyon for the day. From the depot to Grand Caynon and back. It was fun time.

What a great way to visit the Grand Canyon. Jump on the train and let them do the driving. Comfortable and entertaining travel.

We took a road trip to get away during Covid time and we love Williams. The Depot is a piece of local history, has great displays and very knowledgeable docents--and bathrooms.
It should not be missed when in town, plus you get to see a vintage steam locomotive.

Take the train from the depot to see the Grand Canyon - Lots of fun on board - It's an amazing fab day!

We caught the Grand Canyon railway here. Friendly people clean restrooms, sanitizer and all wearing masks. Interesting gift shop with local artists and history. Worth a look. And definitely take the train if you can!

I called and set up reservations for the train ride. Picked up tickets day before in the depot gift shop..do it after noon. They had packet all ready to go and of course had to buy something in the gift shop!

Fun getting so close to these trains for picture opportunities. Wonderful trains if this is your thing. There is a gift shop also to exlore while waiting for your train. Plenty of seatng also. Everyone was very friendly and helpful with any questions or just to say Hello!

Staying two days in Williams and this was a definite visit to see old town USA. If you’re into trains and railways this is worth a visit. Not only can you see an old steamer but site a while and watch a new freighter come through

Williams adventure is will worth it, and one of those I'm glad I took my family to this! The only down side is that Old Smoky's restaurant is closed and it was really great! Service was a little slow because too many people for the small place!

We took the Dome Car in the morning, stayed in the El Tovar Hotel one night, then returned by the train on the Parlor Car for a first class adventure. The Train delivers your luggage to the Hotel and picks up in your room and delivers it back to the train. No hassle luggage. The Hotel built in 1905 was an excellent choice. We took a motorcoach tour upon arriving in the Grand Canyon. The bus was located next to the train. It is several steps from the Train Station to the El Tovar. A very good way to see the Grand Canyon. Remember you are at a high elevation and breathing is a little harder.

Not far off the interstate and there was plenty of parking. A small but efficient area that separated those with tickets and those purchasing. A little gift shop and an area where cowboys put on a show (not necessary if you are not in to shootouts). Hanging out and watching the train coming in is an option. Staff was friendly and helpful.

Took the train 4/28/18, weather was perfect, sunny clear day. Views were fantastic from the train. If you drive from Williams, it's about an hour. Train takes 2.25 hours, but it's a relaxing time and you can rubberneck all you want! You'll see the plains, cows, horses, the "North Pole" for their Polar Express they do in the winter. Took the bus tour once we were at the rim, that was great, too, highly recommend both.

We had so much fun at the depot! We enjoyed viewing the old train and taking photos. While we were there a train came into the station and it was beautiful to see. The conductor waived at us as he came into the station and so did a lot of the passengers! It made me want to come back in the future so that I can experience the train first hand. It is definitely worth walking over to check it out and snap a few photos!

"Experience the charm of a 5-star destination in Williams, AZ along the iconic Route 66. Don't miss this beautiful place!"

Had wonderful, knowledgeable help in planning train trip to Grand Canyon. Also lots of things to see and buy.

A train ride with nice scenery and wild life to the Grand Canyon. On the way back their was a train robbery. Although the train ride saved driving and parking, don’t mistake this train ride for a scenic ride through or around the Grand Canyon.

Depot was good. Stayed overnight in Williams and at canyon. Everyone was very helpful. They delivered our luggage to the canyon and had it in our room when we arrived. Picked it up from our room and was at the station we we arrived back. Excellent trip, should be a bucket list item for everyone. Try it!

I took my Granddaughter here the night of our Polar Express train ride. The service was much better than the food but still a place with lots of personality and an old west bar.

Great visit...informative and fun. A great source of history of the TRAIN and the area. The area is in a good location for walking to town.

You can see some of the older steam trains, and look at the things they have done with some of the old parts. The shop has lots of different things to buy. You can also get tea and coffee and cold drinks as well.

My husband has a bad knee so we took the train to the Canyons and the Freedom Bus Tour while there. With a lot of time to wait for our train back to Williams we sat at the Depot. Not much to do. Bring your own food. It's too far to walk to get something for lunch.

Looking for T-Shirts, this is the place. Jackets/fleece for the cool mornings, this is thelace. Some things kind of pricey, but that's what you expect at a tourist destination.

Spent one evening exploring downtown Williams and the Williams Depot prior to our train trip to the Grand Canyon. Our family of 4 have done the Polar Express experience twice before, and this was our first visit after the Xmas rush. We got great family photos in front of the steam engines and perused the gift shops at our leisure after we ate at the Grand Railway cafe. Very relaxing and got a few good after Xmas deals on some souvenirs.

Some nice old trains (engines, rail cars) on display. The GCR uses some 1950's era locomotives for the trips to the grand Canyon. I believe some of the steam locomotives are brought out once a week or month.

Greeted with the first snow of the season, enjoyable experience overall. Much of what we saw was strictly tourist directed. Was fun though, display was good.

Checked in to Hotel 7/5 and went to train depot to pick up tickets. Rude older gentlemen was our counter clerk. He wanted me to sign for package without going through it. Then he was curt and discourteous as he went through the package. This trip package cost big bucks, do not need rude attitude when picking up tickets. Also mens restroom dirty, especially the toilets.

Restored train depot contains ticket office where you pick up train and meal vouchers purchased as part of a Grand Canyon tour or for direct purchase of train tickets only. Depot also has merchandise for sale including that with Grand Canyon Railway logo. There is food available also.

Nice place to spend time waiting for the train ride to the canyon. Horses for the kids to pet outside and some cowboys too.

Nice place to stop if you are going though Williams and love trains or catching the Grand Canyon Train.

Nice little town walk around on the Historic Route 66, oh wow the smell of food from the restaurants. Love the Train Station also there is the Visitor's Center and gift shop.

Part of our package was a train ride from the Williams Depot out to the Grand Canyon. Before we got on the train we were treated to a Wild West show. The train ride itself was great.

We stayed overnight in the hotel and took the train to the Grand Canyon the next day. Our package included two dinners and two breakfasts in the depot buffet, three hotel nights, the train to the Grand Canyon. This was a wonderful trip. We can't believe we waited so long to see the Grand Canyon. The only draw back was the meals at the buffet in Williams. Very limited menu and bland food. The only things I would do differently is bring a warm jacket and remember to drink more water. I did suffer altitude sickness.

We loved visiting the depot and looking at the trains. My family spent an hour walking around and letting our grandson look at the trains.

Taking the railway was a great experience. Staff was awesome and it allowed my family to enjoy the view of Arizona

Board the amazing Grand Canyon Railway here. You are sure to find some amazing souvenirs of both the GCRY and Route 66.

This depot was built in 1901 - still being well utilized today. Check out the history of this building. Awesome gift shop.

The Depot is a great place for souvenirs and information about getting to the Grand Canyon. You can buy tickets for the train and for tours around the Canyon, this is also where you pick up tickets for online purchases. I found their Native American jewelry prices to be excellent, far better than at the Canyon.

This is a small depot which you pick up your tickets and shop around for anything. Purchased a few shirts for family members and they like them

Depot was good. Stayed overnight here and at canyon. Excellent trip, should be a bucket list item. Try it!

This was on the grounds of the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel, and very convenient to get to. It has a gift shop and snack bar, and is very quaint! The staff are very nice and helpful! Lots of neat items in the store for sale. Note: if you're looking for bottled water, they only have canned water, which is just as good. However, inside the hotel, in the vending machines, you can get bottled water; be careful, because the vending machine guy will put water in the slot for Coke! If this happens, you can go to the front desk and get a refund. The depot is very cool, and has spots to take photos. It's also the place to pick up your train tickets along with your meal vouchers. I highly recommend this place as well! Get the package deal when booking your stay at the hotel, which includes meal vouchers for breakfast and lunch, as well as train tickets aboard the Grand Canyon Railway! Well worth the money!

In addition to the "ticket windows" for the Grand Canyon train, there's a relatively large gift shop, a fudge shop, a seating area, coffee/hot drinks options, and more.

We took the train ride to the South Rim and really enjoyed it. It was a fun time going there & returning.

Depot has a large assortment of t shirts and souveniers. The dinner and breakfasts were buffet style. It was ok...not great but ok. Looks like the buffet has a larger selection than it does because they have they same items on both sides of the restaurant. Omlette station was good but only 1 person working it so it was slow.

The train ride from Williams to The Grand Canyon was wonderful! It was a great opportunity to take a break from driving after the 17 hour drive to get out here. It allowed our whole group (eight adults and one infant) to relax and enjoy the scenery. We rode in the Pullman car, which is not air conditioned. The temperatures were decent (maybe mid-seventies) and the windows open, so we were able to enjoy a breeze as the train moved. I highly recommend the experience.

We took the train ride to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. We splurged and opted for the luxury car and it was worth it. We had our own bartender, snacks, and free champagne on the return trip.

Even if you are not taking the train to south rim. It’s fun to stop in the depot and take a look around. Great for tourist pics. However i recommend taking the train as well. It’s a lot of fun.

Learned a lot about the history of Williams and the train. Didn't take the train though. Maybe next time. Good food and trinkets

We had a wonderful experience at the Grand Canyon railroad in Williams. Spent the night ate in the restaurant and then went up to the Grand Canyon. Spent two nights in the Grand Canyon came back down to spend one more night in Williams. Super fantastic holiday vacation everybody was very friendly and attentive we enjoyed ourselves tremendously .

I have taken my daughters and friends here to look at the beautiful trains many times and they all love it as much as I do. Beautiful way to spend a few hours. I also love the gift shop which has tons of choices for everyone. Friendly staff.

Staff was helpful and professional. Facilitates were clean and adquate. The area has many areas to explore. Great for families of all ages

Fully restored depot and information station. Inside includes photos, maps, artifacts as well as a gift shop full of interesting items. Outside is a steam engine, caboose and other related items making for neat photo ops

The Depot is where you get on the train to the Grand Canyon. It has the typical old depot feel, with the addition of selling touristy things!! There are places to eat and an old steam engine on display.You can catch an old west shootout that is meant to entertain while you wait for the train to load. These gunslingers are fun to watch and they also do a show on main street nearly every night in the summer.

The Williams depot is the departure point for th Grand Canyon Railway. Inside there are restaurants, snacks, interesting books and information about the railway as well as tourist memorabilia. This is where you purchase or pick up your tickets and the staff is very friendly and helpful. Even if you don't intend to ride the railway, this depot is worth a quick tour.

Surprising depot is great for railroad fans. Many vintage passenger cars and a very nice 2-6-2 Prarie engine. Fun to watch the trains leaving and arriving. Breakfast at the Depot was an excellent large buffet.

We had travelled on the railway to the Grand Canyon before so drove this time. Went to look at the shops and see if the cowboy show was still on. Cafe and shops to look at as well .

This was a walk from the hotel. Nice to stroll freely and see the magnificent engines. Theres a lot to do but I didn't get to see what the whole depo had to offer. All Hotels offer magazines that reflect Williams, Arizona and the Grand Canyon. There's quite a little to do and would certainly return. The area is brilliant, and the locals are fantastic.

We were there in early November and they had already gone full bore on the Christmas decorations. At night the train depot looked like a winter wonderland.

Nice quality gift shop that offered many of the same items in the GC gift shops at the same prices. We purchased our train tickets as part of a package, so they were given to us when we checked into the hotel.

It was a very nice place with hotel, gift shop, cafe and of course train station. It was all kept up nice and very close to the town on Route 66. Would love to go back someday.

This was a great experience and worth visiting, Williams Town is a nice place.
People were very friendly.

This is a nice place to start one's train trip to the Grand Canyon and/or wait for the pre-ride "gunfight" ( especially if it's cold outside).
There's a decent selection of items to browse; as well as snacks/drinks in which to indulge.
The architecture and ambiance helps one step-back in time a bit; and shape the upcoming experience.

Start out with a gunfight adjacent to the Depot at 9 AM. Pick up your tickets for the 2 hour ride to the Grand Canyon South Rim. Get out and take a look see. Make use of the shuttles. Enjoy El Tovar for lunch or drink. Shop a bit. Take all the photos of the Grand Canyon you can ever hope to keep your memories alive. Visit the Hopi House for Native American Jewelry. Spend a quick three hours before you return to Williams Depot on the comfortable air conditioned Railway with live musical entertainment, snacks and drinks. The train is a bit expensive but there is no hassle with traffic, parking, or stops along the way. You might even see an elk, havelina, mule deer, or steer if you keep your eyes peeled. Maybe you want to take a snooze or even meet other travelers from around the world and across this great nation.

Restored old train depot functions for the rail trip to and from the South Rim. Buy tickets here. Also has a pretty large gift shop and snack counter.

Walked over to the depot from the campground. Lots of shade and benches to sit and watch people boarding and arriving back from Grand Canyon. Also there are commercial trains also using the tracks. The depot has a old steam engine on display and other train related items. The gift shop is very nice and I found the prices better than in the historic district on several items. This is where you can purchase your train tickets for the ride to Grand Canyon. There is a cute Western skit every morning at 9 on the grounds that is short enough to see before boarding the train. There is also a restaurant on the grounds, but we did not try it.

This train travels to the Grand Canyon. It is fun to ride the old train. There are robbers that come on board.
The scenery is nice. You get off at the Grand Canyon where you stay for three hours and then take the train ride back to Williams.

The depot was totally decked out for Christmas. Lights synched to music, lights on the old engines,and the trees were all decorated. Definitely a winter wonderland and Christmas wonderland.

A fun festive stop to see, wonderfully decorated trains and lights everywhere! The gift shop has lots of great items. Also, new this year, characters from the Polar Express movie put on a little pre show before your ride. We had a great time just walking around and taking photos!!

We stayed at the Grand Canyon railway hotel and took the train trip to and from the Grand Canyon south rim. It was an awsome experience and one I would highly recommend. Especially for families with children.

The kids enjoyed the train ride, so I guess it was worth it for them. I would not do it again as it is a slow trip and it leaves too late in the day.

Lovely depot to catch the train to the Grand Canyon. Nice gift shop as well. Staff are very friendly and helpful.

The train ride was good the train beautiful the staff faboulas, only let down we expected to see more of the Canyon from the train

Beautiful town friendly people. You don't see too many historic towns like that anymore. Very close to the Grand Canyon.

Enjoyed the pre train trip show. Easy to get around, plenty of shopping opportunities. (Found some great deals on Polar Express Stuff for our grandkids)

Visited at the start of a train trip to Grand Canyon.

Lot of old rail relics and brilliant photo opportunities.

Train depot was excellent, full of items to purchase. Train ride was entertaining we had very nice hosts and entertainers, wasn't crowded and the boarding and unboarding was well organized . My only complaint was it took to long to go and come from the Canyon.

From stepping into the Buffet building the experience was extremely negative. The hostess greeting began with a negative reaction when we communicated that we would not be buying alcohol, then seated at a crammed in beside a table that had not been cleared from previous guest, to waiting too long to be acknowledged by a server that had way too many tables for one person, wet tablecloths lined the floor in front of the doors, food was absolutely horrible, not just displayed poorly, preparation and flavor was disgusting. We left, and never went back. We paid for meals elsewhere. We talked to a few other guests that had the same experience.

Met by Melissa who was very welcoming, giving us a low down of what we were going to experience during our day - we travelled 1st class and 1st class it is! Seating is extremely comfortable - great views from the windows and snacks and drinks along the way.

The depot has a an old time western gunfight. Very funny. Gift shops are very reasonably priced. Great time.

Great staff and enjoyed going "back in time" and old west feeling while making our way to the Grand Canyon.

We had a great time. The Train Depot was decorated to the extreme. Lot’s of things to do. Great shops, restaurants & pictures taking surroundings. Great Experience. Thank You.

this place has a really nice gift shop and the lady working there was wonderful.as we were in the building the train returning from the grand canyon was coming into the station my son whos in a wheelchair got very excited and the lady working the gift shop as busy as she was ran over and opened the door for my son and i so he wouldent miss the train.great customer service and very nice people here.i want to thank that nice lady again for her kindness.

Made return journey Williams to Grand Canyon. Quite an expensive day out. When collecting tickets we were warned food service at GC had long queues so to take a picnic. Seemed they wanted to Nickel and Dime us for much of day…photos, drinks, cowboys etc

The train to the Grand Canyon was a cute, corny and fun experience. There's stories, shootouts, jokes, songs sung by a banjo player, sheriffs and train robbers. The coach class seats were roomy and comfortable. The staff was especially friendly, but firm. They were not kidding about the departure time and let you know it in the most pleasant but serious manner. Everyone is focused on the riders having a good time. The view isn't as scenic as I expected, but I enjoyed what Nature gave us. You could probably drive there faster, but it wouldn't be nearly as much fun.

Neat place. The western show was entertaining and the people were very nice. Clean bathrooms!! lots to see

This is our second time riding the train to the Grand Canyon. The first time with one grandchild and this second one with both. They loved it! What a fun and educational trip!!

The Williams Depot is worth a visit to see the train coming in or going out from, if you don't have time to purchase a ticket for the all days grand Canyon trip, well maintained and classic Casey Jones Americana.

Williams Depot has a lot of old time trains. It is the starting point for the Grand Canyon Train which is a great way to go to the Grand Canyon.

Great gift shop here, entertainment was fun and the employees were very helpful! Great place to visit!

Awesome to see the old trains - and what a fun show before the Grand Canyon Railway departed to the Canyon ...

I think that I got more of a kick out of the depot than my grandsons. With the old style ticket windows and benches, there's a treasure in every corner. Outside, there are a variety of exhibits and photo ops.

The depot was nicely decorated for Christmas and had a few told train engines to get up close to get pictures. Large gift shop with good selection. Fun place to visit before or after the train ride.

If you like The best view take Dom car section, it's heigh from the roof also glass top of your had. Train doesn't go faster but entertaining is good, don't scare from cowboys with guns they just artist.

Just a quick stop on our coach tour of Route 66. Stopped at the station and seen the Grand Canyon train, it was loading people but we did not see it pull out . There are other trains there for anyone into trains

We visited the depot as we were ready to board the train to the Grand Canyon! The folks there are super friendly and everyone we met was cheerful and enthusiastic. They have a gift shop and its fun to play the part of a tourist and pick up little things to commemorate your trip.
Outside when we boarded the train they had workers come out and wave good-bye, it was just a really special touch and a lot of fun! We can't wait to do the Grand Canyon train again, this was our second time. It was a lot of fun!! Highly recommend!

So many reviews about history museum. Just another gift shop and ticket booth. Lady at coffee shop said no museum here. A few train cars outside for photos.

This depot co-located with the hotel, is the place where you pick up your tickets for the train. It is also a very large gift shop and there is also a coffee shop located here. Around the area are static displays of various railroad equipment, Shay locomotive, caboose.

Had a great time on this Train Ride to the Grand Canyon! Dennis was a very funny and informative steward!

There are other ways to travel to the Grand Canyon however we took the train. We loved it. Had me feeling part of history.

A cool train depot and a good cowboy gun show. A good depot and by many restaurants and gift shops. 🚋

Save yourself the trouble of finding parking at the Grand Canyon and take the train to the park. We rode on the Fred Harvey car with the dome view and it was woderful. Very informative conductor, snacks, clean restrooms & lovely company. 4 Stars!

Well worth a visit to the Depot and good photo opportunities but I think the actual train ride to the Grand Canyon is a bit overpriced

The depot is huge, It is clean and has a great gift shop. I don't know if the gun show was part of the depot but the show was amazing too. Entertaining for all ages,

'Kathy with a K' was our tour guide on the train ride. She was excellent! She was informative, entertaining, accomodating, personable and very professional. She was knowledgable about history and the region. She really made the experience enjoyable!

The other staff were also very good. We especially enjoyed the gentleman who played the guitar on the train.

We took the bus tour. Our bus driver/tour guide (we don't recall his name) was extremely informative. He shared his knowledge about geological formation of the canyon as well as history of the region. He was very pleasant.

Thank you

The train begins and ends at the depot so it is convenient to shop for unique items to remember ones visit.

The old looking train depot in Williams, AZ was the perfect setting for the railroad service from there to the South Rim of the stunning Grand Canyon. After the Cowboy Show near the depot, you're mind set takes you back to the turn of the century, and boarding by the train depot keeps the imagine of a grand adventure just around the corner. If you are an old "train buff," I suggest you have this experience some day as it's great fun

If you are interested in trains you will love exploring the depot, Hats off to the team that keep this wonder up and running.

We spent three nights at the inn here at Williams Depot and we used the train to transport us to and from the Grand Canyon. For our family, this was an awesome experience. We enjoyed our time at the Depot area and we enjoyed the convenience of the location. We were able to walk to town from here. The train ride was great for us and meant I didn't have to do the driving and I was able to relax and enjoy the trip.

Great place for train fans and kids. they offer train rides to the canyon (seasonal) and during winter "Polar Express train trips" starting at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.... what fun it is to be a kid. recommended meutermedia

We made reservations ahead, and fortunately got to the ticket counter ahead of the many, many folks who had to check in. Friendly counter help. No problems. Gift shop was teeming with people, and I found nothing I needed to buy, so all was well.

A very nice train depot. Clean, spacious, interesting souvenirs to look through either while waiting for your train ride or when your day of adventure is complete. A short Wild West show was fun before boarding the train too. The ticket counter personnel were friendly, knowledgeable & clear in providing needed information.

It is a small depo but with a cute gift shop with delicious fudge! The train depo is a great place for pictures and they keep it all in real good shape and the train is painted and kept up

This is a beginning point for the Grand Canyon Railway trip from the Grand Canyon Railroad Hotel to the Scranton. Take this trip whether couples or with the family, it will be a great experience. Williams,AZ and the Railroad are a great trip to take.You will not be disappointed.

Excellent selection of books, gifts, clothing, candy items...you name it, they have it! Great little corners to sit and enjoy the fireplaces, have a cup of coffee or just watch the trains outside the Depot! Fun weekend all around!

I have trouble walking very long distance so had I known you had to walk the length of the train 3 x's I would not have gone. The ride up to the canyon was long & slow, although they do their best to entertain you. So that part was fun. The staff play their parts very well and we had lots of laughs. It's fun to do it once but would not do it again & maybe a little overpriced.

Very nice place and staff. Very good time with family and friends. The store well appointed with a variety of items. Staff helpful. Checkin was efficient and everyone seemed in a good mood. They must see literally hundreds of riders each day; yet, we didn't feel like a number. Good job team at Grand Canyon railway.

We travelled from Williams up to the Grand Canyon. On the way out we were in Dome class which gave us an opportunity to have the best seats on the train, seeing over the train at all the scenery on route. This was expensive but you had unlimited drinks and snacks and was well worth it. We were entertained throughout the journey including having a singer that sat literally right in front of me. The weather was lovely and hot, and we spent a few hours wondering around the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. We travelled back via Pullman class and this was also fantastic and we were entertained with games all the way back. This included the train slowing down and being boarded by Train robbers and all of the passengers bought into the theatre. We were the token tourists on he train and were the subject of some jolks but we took it all in the spirit we assumed it was meant. This is a must stop if you ever travel to Williams or the Grand Canyon.

We purchased First Class Tickets for our trip to the Grand Canyon. We have been on other trains for excursions off of a cruise ship, and we did NOT want to sit on hard/uncomfortable seats for 5 hours of our day.

The seats were quite comfortable.

They served a light breakfast on the morning train into the park, and a decent snack on the way back to Williams. Not enough to call either one a 'meal', but enough to tie over the kids until the next real meal.

The onboard entertainment, some folk singers doing mostly covers of other artists, was pretty well done too.

The staff were very friendly, and our hostess, Annette, was both entertaining and informative.

We were a bit hesitant to absorb the cost of this format to the Grand Canyon. We are VERY happy that we did it.

Well worth it!

My grandson and I stayed at the Grand Canyon Railway hotel. The entire area of the depot was a lot of fun. They have gift shops, a restaurant, the train depot, and a Wild West show every morning at 9am and 10am. It was a good show to start the day. After the show you board the train for an awesome ride to the south rim of the canyon. It was a wonderful weekend for my 13 year old grandson and myself. I would recommend going if you have the opportunity.

Employees are helpful and friendly. Went to pick up train tickets and told them we had a National Park pass and we were refunded $35 on our sale.

Standing on the platform as the train approaches takes you back to a time when this form of travel was the only way to travel. For a young boy, ( The Author ) The train gave one the ability to ride " The Magic Carpet Made Of Steel " ( compliments of Mr. Arlo Guthrie ) and to this day it has not changed.

The inside has the aroma of what train stations have always had, adventure to the unknown.

It is a great experience and one that should not been missed.

This a long overdue review,

Wonderful experience and beautiful scenery! Very authentic and absolutely loved the coral act. Very realistic and sense of humor!!

After paying well over $500 for 2 adults and 1 13 year old for 1st class cabin tix and a (harvey cars) 1.5 hour bus tour of the south rim, we were very happy to have totally erased the negatives of seeing one of the seven wonders of the world - no driving/getting lost, no parking stress, no wasting time doing "stupid" tourist mistakes or putting yourself at risk, and no wandering aimlessly for food, restrooms, and souvenirs. Our 1st class cabin conductor, Kyle, was engagingly humorous from the get-go and he, along with the entertaining cowboys playing guitar/fiddle, made the deliberate pace to/from the Grand Canyon completely an experience that cannot be reproduced. The bus tour conductor was also excellent as he gave us interesting information with his amazing sense of humor. OK, it was pricey but for someone who hates driving, finding parking and getting lost, it was well worth it especially knowing we would have never been able to cover all the premium sites we visited out having to wait for the overcrowded GC public bus that were jam-packed, SRO. To have taken away all of the potential downers that could have derailed our GC experience, we would do it again. We are still amazed that the staff of the GC Railway were so accommodating and that they do what they do because it's part of their history and pride, e.g., those cowboys and marshall were very authentic and darn enjoyable; yup, train robberies are just not what they used to be! TY, GCRailway family!

A wide variety of items which are reasonably priced. A great place to do a little shopping while waiting for the train.

We had a great time at the Williams Depot. All the employees were friendly & helpful. They seemed to love their jobs. Also, it was extra special that when our train left the station, there were people at intersections waving goodbye to us. We had a good time taking pictures at the photo op locations too.

We purchased tickets to ride the train into the Grand Canyon. I felt the price a bit steep but thought we'd have a fun experience.
The wild west show before the ride was fun and very entertaining!
It's a LONG ride (2.5 hours). There's not really enough to keep you busy - not much to look at for a majority of the way. Even with the entertainment, I felt the ride was about an hour too long. Our passenger service attendant, Mario, was AWESOME! He was full of great tips for the canyon and he was born and raised in Williams and had many suggestions on things to do around the area. The entertainment was fun and kept us occupied for a short time during the long ride. They all expect tips, so take cash - I felt that the total price of the ride + tips + cafe car was overpriced. I'm glad we had the experience, but take something for kids to do/read during the majority of the ride.
I do also wish we had about one more hour to experience more things in the canyon.

The hotel is fantastic--clean, friendly staff, excellent decorations. Gift shops are very nice. Food is okay...nearby restaurants in town were preferred by my family.

The train is the way to go, the ride is pleasant, the seating is comfy, each coach has a host, and you did not have to worry about parking in the very crowded Grand Canyon. We were in a dome car and the views were great. A late snowfall made the desert beautiful. The snacks set out for the guests were plentiful and tasty (there are several classes of services to choose from).

A good stop along the historic Route 66. A lot of history and plenty to do and see. Quiet and friendly town.

The train ride was great. The entertainment was a great break from the sight seeing out the window. Christine was a great Conductor. She is energetic and knowledgable oh the history of the tour. We took the tour bus had a buffett style lunch then off to the Canyon. Next time we would like to stay at the hotel. Great family outing and a great ride to the Grand Canyon...

We rode the Train to the Grand Canyon. This was a very fun time and the Train personal were very helpful. The Grand Canyon railway provide entertainment on the trip to and from the grand Canyon. We also have about three to fours hours to visit the Grand Canyon Park.

Really friendly and helpful when picking up tickets for the Grand Canyon Railway. Make sure you take photo ID when collecting your tickets. There is also a great gift shop.

If you go at Christmas you won't be disappointed. So many lights. It's just fun to look at. Williams Depot pulls out all the stops in such a festive way.

I could't believe when I saw their parking lot fall with cars,i thought with the snow and cold, people will not take the train and I was wrong, you could see everything seniors, family with kids, had wonderful time

We've wanted to do this for sometime. It's starts off with a cowboy comedy skit, it's fun. We to the coach car up complete with "Buckshot" the fiddle player. Scenery is awesome. We did the motor coach tour around the south rim. On the ride back to Williams we rode in the Luxury Doom car. Much better view than coach, also much quieter b/c no children are allowed. Return trip included finger food and champlain toast. All in all an awesome trip. We will return.

Good trip to the Grand Canyon....Donna our PSA made it very enjoyable! Would recommend if you've never been!

The people here are very nice and helpful. The gift shop is large.The gentleman at the ticket window had all the answers to any questions we had.

This was my first visit to Williams. My family and I left our car in the Visitor's Center which is opposite the Williams Train Depot. There were still a few train carriages there to have some photos next to, however after visiting the Grand Canyon South Rim, I now know that you can get the train here to the Grand Canyon and back. In hindsight I wish I had done this, as I now know that there is a cowboy show first before you take the train to the Grand Canyon, and actual cowboys who ride the train with you. I believe it takes about two and a half hours each way. The gift store is fantastic and there is a nice hotel right next door. The only negative was the miserable lady working in the gift store!..She clearly did not want to be there!...

Very busy place, had a great selection of souvenirs. Bathroom was clean and the staff was friendly and helpful.

This was a fabulous way to travel to the Grand Canyon, especially if you’re a train buff! If you have the extra funds, I highly recommend taking either First Class or Luxury Dome. We did the top of the line area which offered an area where we could stand on a platform on the back of the train. There was a professional photographer on the train taking pictures of all individual parties. You then had the option to purchase these pictures on the return trip back to Williams. The entertainment on the train was also very exciting (train singers and robery). This is highly recommended!!!

A cute train and Grand Canyon stop. Lots of great souvenirs for train buffs from magnets to clothes and everything in between.

Very friendly staff. Very helpful.

Not impressed with the buffet had a lot to be desired and it was pretty expensive for what they offered. Mostly a pasta bar and since my husband and I cannot have carbs. It was way overpriced. The vegetables were mainly carbs or mushy green beans. For breath fix the next morning the only place that offered graphics close to the Depot, was the same buffet with various versions of eggs and carbohydrates. So I would've like to have local better choices that I had to get to my car for.

Travelled to Williams specifically to ride the Polar Express. Stayed in the RV park across from the hotel and it was great! The Polar Express itself was a great experience. Really fun, and even though we went over Veterans Day Weekend, really put us in the Christmas spirit! Would recommend this train ride for kids 4-10ish. Several really small kids in front of us (probably 3 & under) with adults who were all making so much noise we couldn't hear the "read aloud" of the Polar Express story by the author which was broadcast throughout the train cars. The "chefs' who are really in charge of each train car really do their best to get people to join in on the fun. All in all, worth the trip for sure!

This is the place to be to pick up your tickets, use the clean restrooms, shop for gifts and get some coffee. I would recommend arriving about 45 minutes before the train leaves so that you can look around and also see the old west show that starts 30 minutes before the train leaves. This is all part of yh experience! Finally, you might buy bottled water here. They do not sell it up at the grand canyoun (only refill stations), as they don't want plastics littering the national park.

We had a great time!! The town of Williams is a great place with many great restaurants! The railway itself has 2 great gift shops. The restaurant is very Nice. The food is very expensive and the buffet really wasn't worth the price. I would eat in Williams next time instead of eating at the Grand Canyon Railway restaurant.

Very well done for a gift shop. You pick up your tickets here for the Grand Canyon Railway trip. Plenty of selection for a great variety of souvenirs, or a warn fleece to fight the wind and cold. Check the weather for the Grand Canyon before you take the trip. My wife did pick up a nice fleece, that was not too over priced. I got a hat with a chin strap so it would not blow off in the wind. Veterans discount too!

This was a nice experience, but will not do again. The price you pay for the trip is a little steep, but it is a nice ride. There is not much to see on the ride. You don't see the Grand Canyon on the ride up. Was a little disappointed about that. It's a long ride and once you get to the canyon you don't have much time to see it all. It is best if you want to really see the canyon that you stay overnight and take the train back the next day. This way you aren't rushed.

The depot itself was pretty cool. Large gift shop. It also serves drinks and snacks.... similar to a Starbucks. Overall it was nice.

The depot is a great stop before and after your train ride - or even if you are not riding on the Grand Canyon Railway!

The train ride to and from the Grand Canyon South Rim on the Grand Canyon Railway was the most enjoyable part of our visit to the Grand Canyon! We took the Pullman class and had a very knowledgable hostess who was a super story-teller! We learned more about the Grand Canyon than we could have ever learned otherwise. The musicians entertained us and were very enjoyable. Oh! And did I mention the Old West cowboy show? Those guys were awesome! I would totally recommend the Grand Canyon Railway ride to the Grand Canyon!

If you like trains, but even if you don't this was still fun. It's an old fashion train station outside.

Shopped at the Williams Depot prior to boarding the train.
A lot of options to purchase items including Grand Canyon sweatshirts, hats, shirts, etc. Native art and pottery.
Friendly staff!

Trains come through the depot with passenger and freight pulled by massive engines.A static Polar Express with train is display. Kids young and old love this place.

Taking the train from Williams was something I want to experience, so booked our Grand Canyon trip through the Railways. In mid May, the weather was still kind of chilly and with the wind blowing that day, made it a little cold to walk around Williams. The train depot had a gift shop with many different items for sale, a little expensive on some. The little Wild West shoot-out re-enactment before departure on the train was nice to attend.

The train and staff were awesome! Very enjoyable and will definitely do this again. loved the comedy gun fight and train robbery

A very enjoyable place to start a train journey to the Great Canyon, nice to get pictures with the old steam train and other memorabilia. Well worth getting there early to enjoy the feel of the depot.

Really enjoyed the visit to the depot and the gift shop . Staff were courteous and helpful.
Would definitely stop here again.

You have to go to the Williams Depot if you're taking the train to the Grand Canyon. Nice gift shop, clean and friendly people.

A slow and easy train ride to the GC. with a cowboy show before and a train robbery on the return ride.

Williams is a quaint town.We were there in the dead of winter so it was extremely quite but very nice. At one point we were the only ones walking the streets! It had snowed but that day there were blue skies and it was really nice. We walked the entire town and then went to the depot. Well worth it, don't miss it.
Also a very dog friendly town. Out Gracie was invited in to every shop we stopped at.

There are a number of static exhibits related to the railroad and other historic aspect of the area. There is a restaurant, gift shop, coffee shop and some entertainment while you wait for the train to pull into the station and board. There is seating inside and outside for those who are waiting.

Train depot for Grand Canyon train and BNSF passes thru this area too. There is a 9am pre GC train trip cowboy gunfight show

The train ride was great. The conductor was awesome. The singing performers were great. The wild west show was funny. It was great. Food car was a little expe9

The Williams Depot is the starting point for the Grand Canyon RR excursions, as well as being an historic train depot. In addition to the ticket counters, they have a great gift shop, and the Grand Depot Cafe. It's a beautiful facility! They have displays of old steam engines and a caboose car. It's a neat stop in itself, even if you're not into trains. I'd definitely recommend it!!

We booked our tickets early in the holiday season and we were only able to book after the Christmas so my first recommendation would be to book early.

As recommended we came over an hour early before departure. I'm glad we did because we picked up tickets quickly and it allowed us time to see the various aspects of the depot and get pictures with Santa. The pictures were pricey but Santa was great. The train ride was about an hour and a half round trip and the "chefs" on each car did a great job of keeping everyone engaged and entertained. The cookies and hot coco were ok, but of course that's not why we were here. The highlight was seeing Santa which was great once he boarded the train and passed out bells once we arrived at The North Pole. The return trip was singing carols.

We visited the train depot before and after taking the train into the Grand Canyon. The building itself is beautiful and well maintained. It is located within close walking distance to Route 66. There is a beautiful old engine that you can get close to and look at.

I'm trying to take more train trips when I have time, This was my second this year. The depot is well organized. It has a restaurant on-site but I didn't eat there this trip. The fudge and gifts were a little on the pricey side but I figure if you're only going there once you might as well buy what you like. If you have to buy knick-knacks for a lot of people I could see where it could get pricey. Overall I wasn't put off buy the pricing but to each his/her own.

Had dinner at the buffet. It was very good but a little pricey. Wish they had a smaller menu for seniors.

We chose to make the trip to The Grand Canyon ourselves. Cost less and we were able to go at our pace.

The train ride to the Grand Canyon was outstanding! I loved every minute of our trip and would recommend it for everyone!

We took the train our last day in Williams . The depot was clean and the cowboys were funny. A lovely time.

From here on Down Town Williams the train leaves for the Grand Canyon and back. The train workers are dressed in old fashioned clothes, and before the train leaves to the Grand Canyon there is a nice shootout show. There are also an old locomotive and cars standing for a show, and few souvenir shops. The wild west is back!

The Train was a great experience for all ages. The staff was amazing, very organized and fun events on the ride up and back. The grandsons loved the scavenger hunt and musicians on the way up. The top favorite of all was the ‘robbery’ on the way back. Highly recommend.

The Depot was very crowded. You really need to make reservation ahead of time for parties larger that 2 persons. the wait time was longer than expected . Was worth the wait a must see.

When staying in a hotel in Williams, it is impossible to not notice the trains and rolling stock of the Grand Canyon Railroad. You can just walk along the old locomotive on display and the passenger cars and locomotive that are in use. For any train enthousiast a nice side show close to that major attraction that the GC itself is.

Very nice, large space, clean and organized. VERY friendly people. Good prices and lots of choices for all ages.
Worth a look!

Was at the depot to catch the train to the South Rim. Nice and clean, had a great gift shop and coffee shop. Parking was easy, I suggest you get early to park, parking is behind the Grand Canyon Railway hotel.
From there you walk to the depot

The train ride to the Grand Canyon was absolutely wonderful. If you enjoy trains, you have to take this trip. It's almost 3 hours each way so you get lots of time to enjoy the trip and the gorgeous scenery. You also have 3 hours at the Grand Canyon to hike and see the spectacular sites.

As I understand, the train station began life as a Fred Harvey property. Has changed a bit.

Basically the facility is one large gift shop with a ticket counter attached. The architecture is 'railroady' with a large boarding area. Pleasant. But nothing special. nice beginning to the Grand Canyon train ride, though.

we sat in the Luxury Dome car on the way up, the views were amazing. On the way back we were in the Luxury Parlor class which also offered amazing views. Food and beverages were served on both trips and they made everyone feel special.

We went Coach Class which meant the carriage was basic but air conditioned. The carriages were comfortable and clean, there was free ice cold water and Brenda, our tour assistant was a delight. She took time to speak to every passenger and was very knowledgeable as well as funny.

We didn't book the additional tours and to be honest there were not needed, although I would consider booking one if someone in your party was not very mobile.

We had ample time at the South Rim to see what we wanted and take loads of pictures.

The entertainment on both legs was really good but the "robbery" on the return leg was the icing on the cake.

A very enjoyable day.

If you are taking the Grand Canyon Railroad into the park this is your jumping off point. You pick up or buy your tickets here and there are historical displays scattered around the building. The majority of the space is a gift shop and restaurant. It maintains the old feel of a railroad depot so it still has charm. Outside the depot, before you board the train to the Grand Canyon, there is a fun Wild West Show like I saw as a kid many years ago. It was a nostalgic moment I Shared with my two boys. The true star of this is the train and of course the Grand Canyon, but the depot adds a nice touch to the trip.

Overall an excellent experience. The wild west show set the stage for our train ride. The depot was exactly as you pictures it in the old days.

Wonderful experience at the Train Depot with helpful, friendly staff. What an exciting train trip to the Grand Canyon.

We bought two tickets, one was for the Grand Canyon and the following day Polar Express. Both train rides were wonderful. The experience alone truly made our visit. Be sure to have some dollars on you in case the train gets robbed by some cowboy train robbers.

Spend 30 minutes in this complex of buildings. The old station is mixed in with new buildings like the hotel. You can see quite a few old and new locomotives and passenger cars.

It was so relaxing to sit back and let ourselves be entertained by the staff on the Grand Canyon Railroad. Nicholas was a wonderful host. So polite and provided excellent service. We enjoyed the entertainment by Larry. He played a mean guitar! A wonderful experience for family, couples and singles. Loved that there were so many restrooms provided on the train for the different cars. They provided light snacks. When we got to the Canyon, we were shown to tour buses that took us around to different sites at the Grand Canyon. Thanks to Terry our bus driver!! He was informative and fun to be with on our trip. I was glad I wasn't driving and trying to figure out where to go. It was busy due to spring break.

We roamed around the depot area waiting for our train ride to the Grand Canyon. This area is very nicely done .... no worries about not feeling safe or uncomfortable. The experience was enjoyable. Very nice gift shop ..... Needs a couple of more cold water fountains when it is over 100 degrees

Nice experience but has issues. Staff was not able to enforce no vaping on train. 1 staff member for 2 cars seems wrong. Having asthma, vaping is an issue I avoid & wouldn't have gone knowing it's not enforced.

Very friendly staff at the depot. Very knowledgeable about your tickets. Everything was explained to us about their system of doing things. Great experience.
Was our anniversary - all signed a card and made sure we received it on the train!

super fun to see old depot and trains....there was a shoot out re-inactment while we were there with cowboys....great restaurant and gift store as well....the depot is a great look into the past and how people used to travel

An overpriced gift shop and snack bar. Train platform is an interesting place to watch the train depart and arrive each day.

Traveled the train to the Grand Canyon. From start to finish a A+++ Take advantage if your are a AARP member s they offer a discount

We took the train to the Grand Canyon. It was a nice and relaxing trip. We enjoyed watching the scenery. The Passenger Service Attendant, Madison, was funny and personable. There was some other entertainment on board as well.

We enjoyed going through Williams Az and on Route 66! The evening we went through the snow was everywhere and they were clearing the streets of the snow!

Parking was no problem close by. We had tickets for the train the next day so picked them up the day before to save queuing on the day. We arrived at 0845 just as the train was pulling into the station.
They have a wild west show prior to boarding and this is well worth seeing and it encourages people to arrive in plenty of time.
The gift shop is nice and well stocked. We cannot comment on the cafe or restaurant as we didn't use them.
The toilets are very clean.

We loved the depot and the train ride to Grand Canyon! The
scheduling was easy, the ticketing was easy and the train was on time to the minute. It was such an enjoyable and relaxing day. Our second time to the canyon, it was a perfect way to see it and experience it again.

Train had a large number of cars with everyone spaced out. Had Pullman passenger cars, first class cars, luxury class cars, domed observation cars. Great scenery. Dropped us off below El Tovar hotel in middle of South Rim Village.

Very nice. The people were friendly and helpful. It was easy to pick up the preordered tickets. It was also clean

The crew on the railway trip were very accommodating. The host in our car had a very annoying Fran Drescher laugh, that was detracting. Good values in the gift shop--for a tourist place~

This is no museum. It is just a train station. Catch the train that takes you to Grand Canyon National park from here.

At the Depot each morning that the train runs to the Grand Canyon, the depot puts on a cowboy show with a shoot out and lots of jokes. We enjoyed watching the show that is open to the public and not just to people who are taking the train. We have a RV and stay often in Williams at the Grand Canyon Railway RV park. So the depot is just across the street. Very fun show. The "cowboys" are friendly and talkative.

We ate two breakfasts and 2 dinner meals at this restaurant and enjoyed our food. There are gluten-free options - be sure to ask your server and the cook to order - breakfast items & pasta - did an outstanding job. Definitely recommend eating here.

I really don't know what else to say about depot, had all the amenities that one would need, had restrooms, a bottle refill station, and had employees that were very helpful, and knowledgeable about the train schedule.

We booked the 3 day 2 night package, all inclusive through AAA. The train ride and bus tour was our first experience, and our second visit in 15 years. We had a great time overall. The train staff was excellent, which added to the wonderful trip up to the Grand Canyon. We encourage everyone to book this trip. The money spent was well worth it. The Depot and every place in Williams is walking distance, great for a stroll after a meal.

Trains, old trains and the Grand Canyon all converge at the Williams Depot. Pretty awesome. Great train ride. Also a nice rest stop if you are traveling down the highway.

We did a quick stop on the way to the Grand canyon. The people that take the train to the Canyon were already gone so we had the place pretty much to ourselves. We browsed and bought some things. The only down side for us was the clerks were not friendly & we didn't expect that at such a tourist location.

came here to take photos of old trains, called in to ticket office to check prices for trips to grand canyon which also had a cowboy show and music onboard, liked the set up of the old station,nice time

Great fun for the family. Lots of historical information, good eating at a good price. Staff are friendly and helpful.

Something I’ve always wanted to do and it did not disappoint!
The kids and adults all had a ball!!
The depot and surroundings were all decorated beautifully.
Hope to do it again for sure.

This is where your train ride starts and stops. It comes complete with the ticket window, a gift shop, a coffee/snack bar, restrooms, a train and a old west gunfight. Great place to begin your adventure to the Grand Canyon.

Since we had to pick up our friends after the train returned, we just hung out at the Depot. Great spot for people watching.

Fortunately, iconic treasures, such as downtown Williams, from Old West Route 66 historic Americana, are still here for our children and hopefully future generations to see and experience. Even though we live in Sedona, we still consider Route 66, the Williams Depot, the rail lines, Grand Canyon Railway, and old town Williams a destination point. Thankfully, the GC Railway still runs up and back to the Grand Canyon in one day and is a FUN experience for children (adults too). We were at the Williams Depot over the Christmas holiday and they had the Santa Express sleigh zip line running back and forth above the rails to the delight of the children. It was like taking a step back in time...who knows how much longer these little historic towns will be able to survive in a 'Scottsdale <:o( kind of world...'

We spent some time in the gift shop and walked around the Depot area. Its really clean and fun to take pictures with the locomotive on display. Kids love it! We didn't eat at the Fred Harvey restaurant but I wish we had taken the time to eat there after reading the history of the Fred Harvey Girls. If you're boarding the train be sure and get there early so you can take in all the buildings and history.

great depot to check out. they had polar express train running when we were there and it was amazing to see adults and children dressed in their matching pj's as a family event. we took the grand canyon train and it was great. had buffet in morning then later in afternoon. Pam was very nice and helpful as our cabin waitress. much recommend to all who want to see it all in comfort.

The depot was larger than expected and considering the amount of people was very organized for the event. The outside area was decorated with Christmas lights and the inside was tastefully done. The buffet restaurant is very expensive on site.

We took the train to Grand Canyon and back. The trip is about 2 hrs. 15 minutes each way. We selected 1st class (best way to go) or buy higher. The lower tickets are like bus seats. First class included a light snack cheese, crackers, fruit and soda, juice or coffee both ways. It was relaxing and enjoyable way to see the scenery on way to the Grand Canyon.

So I didn't pre-book my Grand Canyon Ticket. As a single travler this time, I was hoping I would get a seat on the train if I arrived early enough. I was fortunate this time and made a seat on the train no problems.The team at the Depot was great even got the car I wanted.
I headed over to enjoy the Cowboy show on a nice chilly morning. Had to laugh these guys complained about breakfast too much. Inside joke there, see the show, you'll appreciate it. And be warned if you are in the front row they may accuse you of card thievery too! But it was funny and cute. The train leaves pretty much right after the Cowboy show ends. So if you wanted to eat make sure you did it ahead of the show.
Leave and return from in front of the Depot in Willams.

We have done this twice now and this year was better than the last. Excellent service, a quality experiences, and memories we will always cherish as a family.

The ticket line is right in the middle of the gift shop, made it a little confusing as to who was in line and who was just shopping. I did get through the line quickly with no issues. The gift shop was crowded. It made it hard to navigate through and look at all the items for sale.

We purchased our tickets in advance but they request you get there early to see the cheesy cowboy show in the corral prior to boarding. Depot is in walking distance to hotels, so I would not drive here, though there is ample parking. Benches(as in school variety) are metal) so COLD is the word. Show is a little loud & a bit scary for the little ones - but this is the old west.

Great train ride from Williams, clean depot, quick boarding, lots of entertainment, clean snack car. Great experience for adults and kids. Roomy and comfortable train seats on Pullman.

Very nice place ... Great Buffet and Gift Shop, all the staff were friendly, polite, and helpful. I definitely recommend.

We booked the luxury package for my wife's birthday and had a great time throughout the trip. The benefit of the luxury package is NO KIDS in the car! Making it a wonderful quiet trip to the canyon. It also allows you to check out the entire train, where you see why you prefer the ride with NO KIDS. Don't get me wrong, we love children, but not moving all over the place screaming and crying and begging for attention. This was a nice peaceful trip up and back. The attendants Christina going up and JR on the return trip, were very pleasant and informative along the route. Lucky for us we had perfect weather for seeing the canyon and enjoying the outdoors. I would recommend this trip to anyone. It was a great way to see and enjoy the Grand canyon. I bet we do this again in the future. Have fun! WooWoo!

Booked first class tickets on 2 hr 15 min train ride into the Grand Canyon. Seats were comfortable and the personnel (conductor, guide, concierge, actors, musicians) were all friendly and entertaining. I love trains so the ride itself was a delight for me. It was nice to get to see so much without all the tension of driving. Unfortunately, on our car, the even numbered seats had the view partially blocked with the curtains and did not have a full window. We upgraded to the luxury dome car for the return trip. The snacks and (non-alcoholic) drinks were complementary. A wild west show started the day and we enjoyed musicians on both the trip in and out of the canyon. Very enjoyable.

It is a train station built up to support the Canyon travel tourism. A little bit to history, some western actors with a show down show.

They make a delicious 3 scoop ice cream sundae in a waffle cup. It's more than one person should try and finish so bring a friend and enjoy

This historic railway depot offers a ton of activities surrounding the railway. The gift shop is EXCELLENT and offers snacks and hot coffee for purchase. Loved how the decorated for the holidays and its polar express experience.

We arrived a little later than we wanted to, so did not have a good view of the show that is performed before the train leaves the station.

The depot itself is clean, and has a selection of touristy things to buy. Don't buy the small strands of beads there. They are less expensive (for the exact same thing!) in the Grand Canyon!

Choices for breakfast are limited to sweet things, muffins, that sort of thing.

As far as a depot goes, nothing terribly exciting.

Fabulous place to visit!!! So much to do there and we had an amazing experience! Can't say enough great things about this location!!!

Wonderful place to buy Souvenirs for all ages. Colorful and plenty of items to choose from. Prices are moderate. Train sets galore! Happy shopping

This wonderful train station was built in 1908.
It was remodeled a few years ago, and a lot of original content has been removed to convert or expand a gift shop.
My view is that this wonderful historic site should have been preserved as closely as it was over a hundred years ago. I would like to experience as it was then and still buy tickets to board the Grand Canyon Railway train.
Further, I would rather pay an entrance fee maintain history, than be subjected to a commercialized gift shop.
However, is still is an interesting place to visit. It’s just that now you must use your imagination and wonder how it use to be.

If you take the train to the Grand canyon, the depot on that end is really cool. The one in Williams is more modern and touristy, but still very cool.

A throwback to another era, the train depot was very nice to visit while we waited for the train. A wonderful gift shop - something for everyone. The shop assistants were knowledgeable and polite - we felt very comfortable here.

Enjoyed heading to the train depot to catch the train into the Grand Canyon. Staff were great and very helpful with answering questions and seemed to give each person the attention they needed.

Due to the train schedule however, there was a little bit of a wait at the cash register. Luckily, another one was available and got out just in time to board.

Fun starting place for Railway - has food and typical tourist store.
Interesting old steam engines on display. One round trip a day when we were there

Morning Gun Fight, entertaining train ride to the Canyon, friendly and accommodating staff, snacks up and back, ends near the rim and easy walking trails. We road up in Dome Class, switched to the more comfortable First Class and road back Luxury. I would do First Class again because of the comfy seats and plenty of leg room. Staff is wonderfully helpful. A true wild west experience for adults and kids alike.

we stayed at the Grand Canyon Rail Hotel in Williams, Az. a very nice Hotel, very clean, great comfortable beds, rooms are well appointed and staff professional and very helpful.

We love this place and taking the train to the Grand Canyon. Great staff, lots of fun. We stayed for our anniversary at the hotel 2 nights took the train on to the Grand Canyon, visited Bearazona and just had a great time.

We arrived at the depot early enough to enjoy all it had to offer. It has a cafe, souvenir shop and Wild West Show, just before boarding. Fun Stuff!!

1st train ride and 1st time visiting Grand Canyon. The set up of the Depot is fun and interesting. Resembles train depot from back in the days. If you plan on taking the train to the GCanyon, make sure to arrive early enough before train departure. Ticket office in souvenir store. Great spot for pictures. There is a western/cowboy show 15 min before train boarding begins - Don't miss it! It is very entertaining.

Very organized and quick service at desk check in. That alone was 5 stars....reduced the score to 3 because the cashier at the coffee shop area and gift shop closest to the coffee shop were borderline rude.

The Williams Depot is the actual depot used when the train began running to the Grand Canyon in 1901. If you love history and trains, take a slow stroll around. Grab a coffee and imagine the people arriving at the Fred Harvey Hotel attached to the Depot. Listen to the solemn whistle as the BNSF railroad still passes through town. Take a stroll around the grounds, back to a simpler time. Enjoy.

cute city with themed Route 66 downtown. fun for families and kids. Few restaurants and coffee shops that are well located. You can walk around town in 30 min

I was camping inside the Grand Canyon and took the Express Tour which is essentially a shuttle van takes you from the park over to Williams, AZ and then await boarding for the morning train that travels to the Grand Canyon.

I called to have this tour booked and it was not explained that I would be taking a shuttle. I was informed it was a train ride to Williams and a train ride back to the Grand Canyon. Not a huge deal, but it's frustrating when you are provided wrong information and then confusion sets in when you show up for the event you've already paid for.

The ticket price included a show prior to boarding but it was cancelled due to heavy rainfall so we spent our time walking through the train station and checking out the gift shop.

Once you board the train you'll learn about the history of the train cars. There was also some onboard entertainers (tip: they will be looking for cash tips when they are complete).

It was made clear many times prior to boarding the train does not have any canyon views, however some people voiced disappointment upon arriving at the destination, so just be aware there is not a canyon view at any point during the travel.

It was a fun journey, the train does not exceed 40mph so it took about 2.5 hours from Williams to GC Park.

I have been wanting to do the Grand Canyon Train Trip for years and finally got to cross it off the bucket list this year. Wonderful experience! The Depot was clean, well staffed and had something for everyone. Picked up our tickets the night before our trip, but found even on the morning of the adventure, staff were quick at processing passengers through the line. Enjoyed the pre train ride entertainment.

Train station is very nice and well kept up. We enjoyed our experience at the depot. We were not impressed by the buffet meal at the depot, things had been sitting out way to long and the food was not well maintained, out of many things including condiments with no attempt to fill them up. Visit the station, but eat someplace else.

Took the dome car to the Grand Canyon Village, 1st class car for the return. Leisurely, relaxing trip, fun with the car attendants, singing cowboy, train hold-up, and sheriff chase. Fun for adults and kids.

had the typical tourist items to buy. Good options and many choices. This is also the place to buy stamps and train tickets -

History at it's best. You can take a walk through history of Route 66 and the train that has brought Williams, AZ back from the brink of extinction. Love the TRAIN and the show that goes with it.

Gift shop, restsurant, wild west enactment/shoot out. This is a government controlled concession, so it is predictable, clean and about 30 minutes of fun before you head to the Grand Canyon. If you are riding the train to the Grand Canyon, you come here to board the train.

We had a wonderful experience at the depot and on the train. The ride to The Grand Canyon South Rim was fun with beautiful scenery

Way overpriced for this train ride!! ALOT of walking, from the depots at Williams and the Grand Canyon- not at all ADA friendly.
NOTHING to see along the entire 2 1/2 hour trip to the canyon and back.
Service attendant in our car was young and inexperienced (Adriana)-kept laughing at herself. She announced in advance when the skit men were going to rob the train- and literally begged for money to be in plane sight so the robbers could take the money
Musicians on board were pretty horrible, especially the accordian player woman.
Easier to drive to the Grand Canyon, parking is free, take the free buss service to see all that you want to and not be on a fixed amount of time to catch the train back to Williams.

Love the station with its historical vibe, the decor, gift shop selection, and the activities for the little ones. Also enjoyed the warm tents for waiting on the train. Looking forward to our next train adventure!

It seemed like everything in the gift store was twice the price as elsewhere. The folks at the ticket window were helpful and informative.

What an amazing train ride- desk check in was easy, fast & reasonably priced for all budgets! Truly felt welcome, train hostesses were amazing as were the entertainers- what an experience! Snack cart was cash only & picture packages are relatively inexpensive.

Great gift shop with reasonable prices. Suggest making purchase after the return trip so you don't have to carry around at the Grand Canyon.

My GF and I have both always wanted to tour the Grand Canyon on the train. Well, we finally had a chance to do it, and it was amazing! The trains have been well restored and the ride is comfortable with an attendant in each car. We chose first class as a little treat to ourselves and we couldn't have been happier. The seats were so comfortable, the windows were giant, and the train gently rocked it's way through prairies and green forests. We had ample complementary snacks and beverages. The drinks we bought were great. A true full pour! We found all the staff great! Dori in ticketing checked us in and patiently and cheerfully helped us with our National Park Pass Holder refund of 30.00$ (highly recommend the annual pass) 80$ covers 4 people. You can make that back on 2 national park visits alone! The cowboy western show was good humored and the crowd enjoyed all the characters. The wandering singers on the train were all very good. Overall, it was worth every penny! (When at the Grand Canyon, eat at the Arizona Room) Best tasting food. The hostess is a hoot! Servers were fast, friendly and attentive. Have a great trip!

Amtrak has done a nice job with the Williams Depot. It's fun to walk around and see some of the old trains and get a feel for the vibe of railroading in another era.

I Love old trains. You could take pictures with old trains and funny wooden cut outs all around. It was an easy on easy off kid friendly place. Thank goodness to Williams AZ for having the depot and train

We had a blast taking the train to the Grand Canyon. It was so easy and saved us driving time. The singing and guitar playing was really entertaining.

The startingpoint of trip to Grand Canyon. Therea are ticket office and gift shop at station. There are old locomotives at yard.

We did the Dome Train to grand Canyon, which was very good service and excellent comfortable trip. Nice Nibbles & Drinks included, and a little Entertainment.

Two and one-half hour ride to the south rim of Grand Canyon. You will be entertained and educated by you public service advisor on and off throughout your ride. There’s a food car where you can very reasonably purchase drinks and food with a decent selection. We were serenaded both going and returning by two different guitarists. On the return trip there’s a mock train robbery. Be sure to bring some small bills. Everyone is hoping for a tip…even the robbers!

Attendants were very kind and helpful. They allowed us to park a car for two days while we went exploring. Lots of useful information on the history of Williams, the Grand Canyon, and nearby sites of interest.

Went into the Depot for some of their fresh fudge but they had so many more great items to remember a visit to Williams and the train ride to the Grand Canyon and back.
In addition to finding some unique USA made things, each person who worked the registers were friendly and helpful.
By the way, the fudge is divine and they insist you sample!

take the train fun and friendly great way to travel
entertainment a bit corny but the kids love it and brings you back in time to the wild west

The ride was beautiful and entertaining a must to do. We laughed, sang and enjoyed the views. We rode in coach to the canyon and the dome car on the way home. Great day.

Quaint little station in Williams for the start of the Grand Canyon railroad to the Grand Canyon. Made to look old fashioned like the trains - good journey to the canyon

Before the train leave you can get your momentos and see a wild west shootout. They also do a train robbery during your ride to the Grand Canyon. Fun for all ages.

Cute shop to walk around before or after you get on the train. Plenty of photo ops all around the depot.

We were there for the 9.30 departure of the Grand Canyon train. Ok so it wasn’t the steam train, but it was still fun to experience. There were 3 guys dressed up in period costumes. The atmosphere was great, with anyone excited to be boarding. Even though was getting on the train, it was fun to watch.

We were taking the train to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. They put on a show for 15 minutes prior to boarding the train. Full of laughs and giglles, especially for the little ones.

Dress warm, because the weather in northern AZ can change fast, like it did this April 20,2018. Always wanted to go on this train trip & see the Grand Canyon.

Nice little museum that tells the story about the depot and the trains from the Polar Express to the trip to the Grand Canyon

Williams is definitely a place you should visit at least once in your life, and the depot is a must we enjoyed every minute of it

Fun ride to the grand canyon and back to williams...refreshments entertainment..view.. all family friendly...you would be wise to pack a lunch in a backpack as the resturants were very backed up over an hour wait for table at the grand canyon..

9am there is a cowboy “ shootout” in the depot that is free and is incredibly good, yes the bad guys get shot but it’s entertaining and at times funny. A 15 minute show you really should not miss.

Fun Train ride for the grand kids, Love to see their faces light up when they saw Santa on the train.

Very old train station. We stopped here to get our Route 66 booklet stamped, but there was still a lot to see and visit. Very nice old trains, well maintained. Friendly staff members.

The depot is well maintained and organized. The train car selections should cover most riders budgets.

We chose the coach class car and enjoyed it very much. A musician sang and played his guitar for about a half hour both to and from the canyon. The "outlaw" gang from town did a train robbery on the return trip.

Great experience with the grandchildren. All the staff was friendly and courteous. Relaxing scenery and fun surprise on the way back. Would recommend this for all ages.

This is a wonderfully educational place to see and learn about the trains that take you into the Grand Canyon. There's a lot to walk around and see and it is very central to everything in Williams. A little pricey.

As part of the Grand Canyon Railroad overnight package, two dinners and two breakfasts are included. Both of these meals are served buffet style and the food and service are good.

The depot in Williams, AZ is just beautiful. It was clean and well managed. The restrooms were very clean. There was a great gift shop.

The train was a lot of fun but the food is not the food that is on the website. It's cheese, meat, hummus, and crackers. The morning spread consisted of cold muffins and cold danish. So, don't expect the elaborate spread that you see on their website. They panhandle a lot! The musicians, the robbers....

We had a excellent day at the Grand Canyon. It was a amazing experience for the kids and they had a blast!! It was so easy and the staff and crew were amazing. I would definitely recommend this if you want a great and easy experience.