I’ve lived in Southern California most of my life, and somehow, I had never been to the Grand Canyon. So, it was finally time for my first Grand Canyon trip.

I spent two days exploring the South Rim, using Williams, Arizona as my home base. One day I drove into the park and explored on my own, and the next I let the Grand Canyon Railway do the driving. It turned out to be a great combination.

From the Coachella Valley, the drive to Williams is a little over five hours and surprisingly easy. Kingman makes a great stop to stretch your legs, grab a quick bite and fill up the gas tank. There’s even an In-N-Out for those of us who apparently can’t leave California completely behind.

And if you’re coming from California, Arizona gas prices are a very welcome sight.

Why I Chose Williams for My Grand Canyon Trip

I chose Williams for three reasons: it’s about an hour from the South Rim, it sits along historic Route 66, and it’s home to the Grand Canyon Railway.

It also turned out to be a fun destination of its own. Downtown is filled with neon signs, funky Route 66 memorabilia, gift shops, bars and restaurants. It’s touristy, but in a fun, nostalgic way.

One of my first stops was Grand Canyon Wine Company for a tasting of Arizona wines. Regina, who was behind the counter, was beyond friendly and incredibly knowledgeable. I also picked up a can of wine to take to the canyon for lunch the following day. More on how that worked out later.

For dinner, I had chili and cornbread at Cruiser’s Cafe 66 Bar and Grill while enjoying some live music.

Another favorite was the “world famous” Sultana Bar, an unpretentious mix of locals and tourists with dollar bills covering the walls, pool, darts, live music and great prices. It’s also dog friendly. I enjoyed a cocktail or two and some wings, and everyone I met was incredibly nice.

Before leaving Williams, I stopped at Annie’s Canyon Cafe for a good, solid breakfast with great service.

Where I Stayed in Williams

I stayed at the Comfort Inn for less than $100 per night, which I thought was a bargain. It’s on the edge of town but still within walking distance of downtown. My room was good-sized and clean. Nothing fancy, but comfortable and exactly what I needed.

The free breakfast included waffles, cereal, bagels, muffins, fruit, eggs and sausage, and I definitely took advantage of it to save a little money.

There’s also an indoor pool and spa that I fully intended to use but never found the time.

A nice extra was the 24-hour “coffee room” with complimentary coffee, tea, hot chocolate and lemon-infused water. As a tea drinker, I appreciated that.

Visiting Just After the Grand Canyon Flood

My visit happened shortly after flooding had caused major disruptions inside the park. The lodges were closed for overnight stays, but restaurants, gift shops and other visitor services were still operating.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but unless you were planning to hike to the bottom of the canyon, you probably wouldn’t have known a flood had taken place at all.

The big exception was water. Stage 4 water restrictions were in effect, and visitors were strongly encouraged to bring their own. I came prepared with plenty and kept extra bottles in a cooler in my truck.

Day One of My Grand Canyon Trip

I arrived at the Visitor Center around 9:45 a.m. There was no line to get into the park and plenty of parking, although the lots had filled considerably by the time I left around 4 p.m.

Parking there was incredibly convenient. I left my cooler, jacket and extra water in the truck and basically used it as my locker for the day.

I started by walking the Rim Trail toward Grand Canyon Village.

And wow.

There are spectacular views everywhere, along with plenty of benches and places to stop for photos or simply sit and take it all in. You don’t need to be a serious hiker to experience the Grand Canyon. Walking along the rim gives you one incredible view after another.

Once I reached the Village, I explored for a while and stopped at El Tovar to make a lunch reservation for the following day.

Then it was time to eat.

Possibly One of the Best Sandwiches I’ve Ever Had

Because I was visiting so soon after the flooding, I had played it safe and picked up a sandwich that morning from Gateway Sandwich Co. in Williams.

Excellent decision.

Seriously, this was one of the most delicious sandwiches I’ve ever had.

I took the shuttle back to the Visitor Center, grabbed my sandwich and the can of Arizona wine from my cooler, and enjoyed lunch in the courtyard with some excellent people watching.

The wine was lovely.

Would I do that again?

Probably not.

Apparently wine + walking + Grand Canyon elevation = one sleepy traveler.

Lesson learned. I powered through.

Exploring Hermit Road by Shuttle

The Grand Canyon shuttles are pretty easy once you figure out the routes and transfer points. I actually used AI to help me find the right stop at one point.

A few hours later I was helping other visitors figure out where they needed to go.

They had no idea it was my first day there.

I took the Blue Route to the Red Route, which travels along Hermit Road. You can hop off at whichever overlooks interest you and another shuttle generally arrives within 10 to 15 minutes.

I explored Hopi Point, Mojave Point and Pima Point before riding to the end at Hermit’s Rest.

Practical tip: there are restrooms at Hopi Point. Hermit’s Rest also has restrooms, a gift shop, and food and drinks.

I celebrated all my walking with an ice cream bar before making my way back to the Visitor Center.

Day Two: Riding the Grand Canyon Railway

The next morning, I boarded the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams.

The trip takes approximately two hours and 15 minutes each way, but the ride itself is part of the experience. There’s a Wild West show before boarding, live entertainment on the train, and an attendant who shares history and interesting tidbits along the way. Keep an eye out for deer and other wildlife, too.

There are several classes of service. Pullman is an open-air car without air conditioning. Coach is enclosed and air-conditioned, while First Class has larger seats and food and beverage service in the car.

I chose Coach, which fit my needs perfectly. There’s a cafe car where you can purchase snacks and drinks, including beer and wine.

Once you arrive at the South Rim, you have approximately three and a half hours to explore.

That’s why I loved doing the train on my second day. I’d already had an entire day to wander without watching the clock, and now I knew my way around.

Lunch at El Tovar and a Little Exploring

I visited Kolb Studio and Lookout Studio, two historic buildings right along the rim, before heading to my lunch reservation at El Tovar.

The historic hotel opened in 1905 and is worth visiting even if you aren’t staying there.

For lunch, I ordered the Elk Bolognese, although I learned the elk comes from New Zealand, not the Grand Canyon, followed by apple crisp.

And after my wine-plus-altitude experiment the previous day, I ordered the Sunset Canyon mocktail with orange juice, grenadine and soda.

Much better idea.

I Went Below the Rim!

While exploring near Bright Angel Lodge, I found myself at the Bright Angel Trailhead.

Because of the flooding, the trail was closed farther down, but several miles were still open.

I hadn’t planned to hike it.

But there it was.

So, of course, I had to go down at least a little.

I walked to the first tunnel and slightly beyond. It’s less than half a mile down, so this was hardly an epic Grand Canyon hiking expedition. Going back up required a little more effort, naturally, but it was completely manageable.

Was it a major hike? No.

Can I now say I went below the rim of the Grand Canyon?

Yes.

And I’m counting it.

And Then We Got Robbed

Back on the train, after two days of walking and exploring, I took a little nap on the ride toward Williams.

But apparently even a nap isn’t safe in the Wild West.

Our train was “robbed” by Wild West outlaws on the way home.

Completely silly? Yes.

Fun? Also yes.

The train crew takes it all in stride, and sometimes you just have to embrace being a tourist.

Almost 30,000 Steps in Two Days

By the end of my Grand Canyon trip, I had walked almost 30,000 steps.

You certainly don’t have to walk that much. That’s one of the things I liked about the South Rim. Feeling energetic? Walk to the next area. Getting tired? Hop on a shuttle. Find an incredible view? Grab a bench and stay awhile.

You can make your visit as active or relaxed as you want.

Is the Grand Canyon Dog Friendly?

Although I traveled without a dog on this trip, dog-friendly travel is a big part of Out of the House with TLC, so I paid attention to what you can and can’t do with your furry friend.

Dogs are allowed on the Rim Trail at the South Rim, so you can enjoy some spectacular views together. However, dogs aren’t allowed below the rim or on the park shuttle buses.

So I’d call the Grand Canyon somewhat dog friendly.

If you simply want to walk the Rim Trail and enjoy the views, bringing your dog could work beautifully. But if you want the fuller experience, including the shuttles along Hermit Road or hiking below the rim, you may want to leave your furry friend at home for this adventure.

Is Two Days Enough for a Grand Canyon Trip?

For me, absolutely.

Driving myself on day one gave me the freedom to wander, walk the Rim Trail and hop between overlooks along Hermit Road without worrying about a schedule.

The Grand Canyon Railway gave me a completely different experience on day two. Since I already knew my way around, three and a half hours was enough for lunch at El Tovar, the historic studios and my mini-adventure below the rim.

If the train were my only Grand Canyon experience, I think three and a half hours might feel limiting.

But paired with a full day on my own, it was perfect.

What I Learned From My First Grand Canyon Trip

You don’t have to be an experienced hiker to have an incredible time at the Grand Canyon. And if spectacular views without a major hike are your thing, check out my guide to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for another easy Southern California adventure.

Walk the rim. Ride the shuttles. Explore a few overlooks. Have lunch with a view. Go below the rim if you want to. Or don’t.

Williams deserves some time, too. Staying there gave me Route 66 neon, Arizona wine, live music, quirky bars, great food and the Grand Canyon Railway, while keeping my hotel cost under $100 per night.

And don’t feel like you have to see every viewpoint.

There will always be another overlook and another photo opportunity.

Sometimes the best thing you can do at the Grand Canyon is find a bench, put away your phone and just look.

After living in the Southwest for most of my life, I can finally say I’ve seen the Grand Canyon.

And yes, it was worth the wait.