The Grand Canyon is a place everyone should visit at least once to really appreciate the beauty and wonder that is Planet Earth. There are several visitor points of interest, but the most famous is the South Rim, with several hotels, restaurants, gift shops, and activity centers, not to mention gorgeous views and famous trails. You can drive in for $25 per private vehicle or if you enter by bus, foot, motorcycle, bike, etc., it’s $12 per person.

An alternative, relaxing, albeit longer, trip to the Grand Canyon is via train from Williams, Arizona… on the Grand Canyon Railway. My family (a two year old, a 10 month old, a nine month old, four adults, and two grandparents) just went on our second trip on this train this week. We previously went three years ago without children.

"Train Robbery" aboard the GC Railway

Grand Canyon Railway is an easy and relaxing way to cross Northern Arizona’s high desert without worrying about traffic or waiting in long lines to enter the park. It’s a little long for the kiddos at 2.25 hours each way, plus four hours free time in the park, but decent for adults, though the train ride back seems to take forever but does include a cheesy-but for for kids old-west “train robbery.”

Pullman Coach car

Pullman Coach car

This trip we rode coach, at $65 per adult (13+) and $35 for kids (2-12). Children under 2 ride free on the lap of an adult. My dad made the reservations only a week before the trip so the only car available was the Pullman Coach. This has no air conditioning but includes as many sodas and glasses of water as you can drink. From there, you can get up and walk around and visit the air conditioned gift shop and snack bar. You can only stay 15 minutes at the tables in the snack car with a food purchase.

The ride out in the morning is decent, even in July. A little warm, but cool breezes blow through the cabins’ old-timey wooden windows. The seats themselves are uncomfortable. You can feel the old springs through the thin velvet cushins. They are also really crammed, especially for tall people. My husband, who is 6’4″ and dad who is 6’2″ were both crammed beyond belief in the seats. I am 5’5″ and thought the leg room was undesirable but okay.

On the ride back, the un-air conditioned cars are really too hot. I was sweating profusely and very uncomfortable. I was glad I had brought my MistyMate personal mister. (These are really a must for anywhere in Arizona in the summer. Click HERE for more on them). It made the ride better, but it was really miserable, though none of our children really complained. They were so tired, they all took naps. Really, these un-air conditioned cars should not be used under any circumstances on summer afternoons. I’m surprised no one passed out from heat exhaustion.

I would not recommend riding Pullman coach when it’s hot. If however, you planned on staying in the Canyon or a hotel at the Rim and could arrange it so that you only traveled in the morning or evening, then the un-air conditioned cars would be satisfactory.

The next class up is the Budd Coach, which has air conditioning and only costs $5 more per person. They book up further in advance, but if you’re on a budget you’re not going to want to pay double the price for first class ($130 for adults, $100 for children). So it’s well worth your time to book as far in advance as possible so you can get an air-conditioned seat. Now if you have a little extra money, the first-class does come with some other upgrades in addition to air conditioning, including: reclining seats, larger windows for a better view, a light breakfast on the way to the Canyon and snacks and a champagne toast on the way back.

If money is no object and you’re not traveling with children under 12, you should opt for either the Observation Dome or Luxury Parlor Class cars. The Observation Dome ($160) offers panoramic views. The Parlor cars ($170) have comfortable couch-like chairs plus access to an open-air rear platform. Both include all the amenities that the first class offers. Children under 12 are not allowed in either of these luxury cars.

The Grand Canyon Railway also offers packages including hotel either in Williams or the Grand Canyon. For more info on these packages or the Grand Canyon Railway itself, click HERE.

For more to do and see at the Canyon itself, see my article on the South Rim HERE.

For my review of the Bright Angel Lodge Restaurant, visit OutWestFoodReview.com.

For more information on booking a hotel in the Canyon, getting to or from the Grand Canyon, or hiking at the Grand Canyon click HERE.