Williams

Introduction

Williams main street Christmas Tree from a distance

© All Rights Reserved GregW

Williams, Arizona is situated about 52 miles (83 kilometres) south of Grand Canyon Village, and along with Flagstaff is one of the primary towns for people to stay at when visiting the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Sights and Activities

There are several other sites and activities in Williams in addition to the nearby Grand Canyon.

• The Elk Ridge ski resort offers skiing and tubing in the winter. Get more information from their website.
• The Planes of Fame Air Museum is located on highway 64, 30 miles (48 kilometres) north of Williams, just outside of Valle, on the way to the Grand Canyon. Check out the Planes of Fame website for more information.
• Route 66 history is visible in downtown Williams.

Events and Festivals

The Williams Chambers of Commerce have a list of festivals and events.

Weather

Williams is at 6,800 feet (about 2,000 metres) in elevation. In summer, the temperatures are up in the high 20s C, with temperatures in the low-teens and single digits in the winter. Snow does fall in the winter.

Getting There

Grand Canyon Railway Station in Williams

© All Rights Reserved GregW

By Plane

The nearest commercial airport is about 50 kilometres east in Flagstaff. It provides commuter service to Phoenix 180 miles (almost 300 kilometres) south. Las Vegas, Nevada is almost 350 kilometres northwest.

By Train

Amtrak provides daily service to Williams, operating its Southwest Chief between Chicago and Los Angeles. Rail passengers arrive and depart at Williams Junction, 3 miles (5 kilometres) east of Williams, and are shuttled by Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach from Williams Junction to the Grand Canyon Railroad Station in downtown Williams.

The downtown station serves as the southern terminus for the Grand Canyon Railway, running up to Grand Canyon Village.

By Car

Williams is located on I-40 in northern Arizona, 60 miles south of the Grand Canyon. It is 30 miles (48 kilometres) west of Flagstaff and 220 miles (350 kilometres) southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada.

By Bus

Getting Around

By Car

Many international rental companies have a wide selection of rental cars and these include Hertz, Avis, Dollar, Thrifty, Enterprise, Budget and Alamo/National. Most companies will require you are at least 25 years of age, although younger people might be able to rent cars at slightly higher rates and with some insurance differences as well. A national driver's license is usually enough, but an additional international one is recommended. Also note that it usually costs more to include lots of other extra things. For example extra drivers, GPS, the first full tank, SLI (Supplemental Liability Insurance), PAI (Personal Accident Insurance, usually covered already at home), road assistance/service plan, and drop-off costs for one-way rentals.
If you want to book a car, it is recommended that you book your car before arriving in the USA. This is almost always (much) cheaper compared to just showing up. Also, try and book with a so-called 'broker', which usually works together with a few or many car rental companies and can offer the best deal. Some examples include Holidayautos, Holidaycars and Sunny Cars. Some of the cheapest deals to book from Europe, includes Drive-USA, which also has a German version.

For more information and tips about renting cars and campers, additional costs, insurance, traffic rules, scenic routes and getting maps and fuel it is advised to check the USA Getting Around section.

By Public Transport

By Foot

By Bike

Eat

Drink

Sleep

There are a number of lodging options, which can be found at the Williams tourism website.

Budget

Camping options run from $15 and up. Details on potential campsite can be found at the Williams Tourism website's camping page.

Mid-Range

Upscale

Work

Learn

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Post

The US Postal Service is very good and well priced mail system. There are post offices in every small and large town for sending packages internationally or domestically. If wanting to send a letter or postcard it is best just to leave it in a blue mail box with the proper postage. There are also private postal services like FedEx, UPS and DHL.