Williams is a small Northern Arizona town (pop. 3,398) that’s big on nostalgia and Americana. As soon as we drove into town, it didn’t take long to figure out that's what Williams is all about.
We were greeted by a large arc proclaiming “Gateway to the Grand Canyon.” Children were playing baseball adjacent to a large American flag. Families were eating ice cream as they walked along the sidewalk. Vintage train cars were parked on nearby tracks. There were numerous markers, signs and murals noting that the historic Route 66 is the downtown’s main road. And, rising up all around the town were incredible forest covered mountains.
So, Williams is the place for you if you love trains, Route 66 history, the outdoors or are visiting the Grand Canyon. That’s a lot for such a little town to pack in! It's no wonder the town's visitor center website boast: "Small Town Nostalgia Meets Grand Adventure."
The Charm of Williams and the Route 66 Experience
For decades Route 66 was one of America’s most popular and well-traveled highways. It ran from Chicago to Santa Monica with plenty of little towns, cities and sites to see in between.
Beginning in the 1950s, Route 66 along with other worn out roads was slowly replaced by the interstate system, ultimately causing economic troubles for hordes of towns, tourist attractions and businesses along the way.
In 1984, Williams became the very last Route 66 town to be bypassed by an interstate (I-40). The fabled road was decommissioned the next year.
Efforts to create a national Route 66 Preservation Corridor followed and Williams is doing its part to celebrate the historic road. Route 66, also nicknamed the “Mother Road” and “Main Street America,” is the actual main street of downtown Williams.
All A-Glow: Tourist Traditions Live On
Every night the downtown is bathed in neon and pulses with a certain kind of retro charm. As an added bonus, the area is flat, compact and easy to get around—perfect for walking the sidewalks along Route 66 and popping in and out of shops.
Being downtown at night is like stepping into a time machine. It’s no wonder the entire business district is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Every business seems to have a neon sign and feature something to lure you in, similar to the roadside tourist attraction tradition made famous along Route 66. Sitting outside the Colors of the West souvenir shop is a mechanized bearded, old-timer sheriff that laughs and greets you.
Colors of the West and its sister store across the street, Copper Canyon Trading, have everything you could ever imagine souvenir-wise. Hundreds of T-shirts, coffee mugs, barrel upon barrel of salt water taffy flavors and hot sauce varieties displayed as if they were fine wines. Guarding it all is a mechanized, talking buzzard perched on a replica (I assume) steer skull. There’s also a huge collection of Route 66 items, which is pretty much the same for all the souvenir stores in town.
The Addicted to Route 66 store down the street is hoping to get the attention of tourists with the teal and white 1954 Oldsmobile sitting out front. Look closely, a mannequin dressed as Elvis is sitting behind the wheel!
If that site doesn’t draw you in, maybe the lure of seeing the world’s largest Route 66 shield sign inside will. If you want a magnet, coffee mug or anything else emblazoned with Route 66 or 50s-themed posters and memorabilia, then this is the place to go.
Probably, the best example of a Route 66 roadside attraction in downtown Williams is the Poozeum. Yes, you read that right. It's a museum dedicated to poo, specifically fossilized dinosaur poo, which are called coprolites.
We kind of snickered before we went in thinking it was a tourist trap. But, it’s legit and we really enjoyed ourselves.
The museum is free and features all kinds of coprolites and facts about dinosaurs that only their poo can tell, such as diet, behavior and the environment. The museum, which boasts the largest certified coprolite collection in the world, has been featured in national magazines and news programs and its exhibits are often loaned to science museums.
The museum itself is small and rotates exhibits from the larger, overall collection. The coprolites are housed in museum-quality displays and the accompanying banners play up the roadside attraction aspect of the unusual collection.
We learned a lot, especially from the owner who is friendly and knowledgeable. The museum is unusual and great all at the same time. If you or your children are into dinosaurs, then stop in. If you can’t visit, then check out the website—it’s informative, too.
I just have to say, the museum’s logo with an image of a cartoonish T-Rex sitting on a porcelain throne and the slogan, “# 1 for fossilized # 2,” is clever marketing.
For a nightly, live-action attraction, be downtown at 7 p.m. to watch the Cataract Creek Gang’s Wild West Show. Every night this group of “cowboy bandits” take over a section of the main road and puts on a comedy show for about 20 mins.
It’s silly, hokey and hugely popular, especially with kids. It’s not everyday a show happens in the middle of a street. Side note, I thought the gang’s name was a dig at the age of a couple of the actors, but nope, there is an actual Cataract Creek and Cataract Lake nearby.
If you're interested in a little history, follow one of the town’s pathways, which includes a Santa Fe train car bridge, to the Welcome and History Park. The park is small, featuring a few train cars and historical placards. The park’s big Route 66 sign is a great selfie spot.
The path begins close to the intersection of Grand Canyon Blvd and Route 66/E. Bill Williams Ave. and runs past the Poozeum toward the edge of downtown.
Other downtown and nearby attractions in Williams include the Route 66 Zip Line, Canyon Coaster Adventure Park and Pete’s Route 66 Gas Station Museum.
Dining Along the Mother Road
To fully immerse yourself in all the nostalgic Route 66 “feels,” plan to eat at Cruiser’s Route 66 Cafe. The cafe fronts the historic road and its decor of neon signs, restored gas pumps, black and white checkered floors and old road signs all pay homage to it.
The menu features classic diner and comfort food, including burgers, fries, pulled pork mac-n-cheese, smoked brisket, wings, ice cream, banana splits, milkshakes and so much more. Indoor and outdoor seating is available, but if the weather is nice pick a fresco, especially when live music is available.
Another delicious place to eat with a fun atmosphere is Station 66. Woodfired pizza is the star of the menu and for good reason. The fired-charred crust is delicious! On a nice day, sit outside at the wooden picnic tables and among the old gas pumps. It’s especially festive at night when the crisscrossing strings of cafe lights overhead turn on.
Next door is an extension of Station 66, the Historic Brewing Barrel House featuring a full menu, craft beer and cocktails and activities such as mini skee-ball.
The Gateway to the Grand Canyon
Williams proclaims itself as the “Gateway to the Grand Canyon” and for good reason. It’s an hour south from the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, which is a half hour closer than driving from Flagstaff. And, frankly, it’s hard to compete with Williams’ small town charm.
The town of Tusayan is the closest town to the Grand Canyon, literally at the park’s entrance. But, it is super small (population 558) and there isn’t much to do. It’s basically a collection of some hotels and a sparsely stocked general store.
We stayed in Williams during our visit to the Grand Canyon and it was an added bonus of fun things to do. The town is safe, friendly and easy to figure out and navigate. We were there in late May, a few days after Memorial Day, and had zero traffic problems or lines to wait in.
We arrived at the gate around 8:30 am and it was a weekday, which helped. During peak season and weekends traffic could be a headache. If you want to avoid any driving issues, then arriving by train may be your best bet. Or, look into the companies in Williams that specialize in tour excursions to the Grand Canyon.
All Aboard! The Historic Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel
The Grand Canyon Railway, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is a big feature of Williams. The railway is 65 miles long and runs from Williams to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim.
When built, the railway, completed by Atchinson, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in 1901, provided a faster trip than the eight hour stage coach ride from Flagstaff, according to the railway’s website. The railway helped increase tourism to the Grand Canyon and the development of park features such as the Grand Canyon Village.
Passenger rail service stopped in the late '60s when cars and road trips were more popular. In 1989, rail service was restored and continues to operate today, every day of the week.
The railway is a popular way to travel to the Grand Canyon, especially since you can enjoy the sites of northern Arizona desert prairie along the way. Passengers ride in refurbished vintage trains cars and choose among six different classes of service, each offering different levels of amenities and experiences.
The train ride takes about 1.5 - 2 hours each way with three hours at the South Rim unless you are staying overnight in the park. It only takes an hour to drive from Williams to the Grand Canyon, but if you want to avoid peak seasonal traffic and dealing with parking, then the train is a relaxing option.
The Grand Canyon Railway depot, which is over 114 years old, is right behind the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. Package deals combining ride and room are available.
The hotel’s site has a long history of hospitality associated with rail travel. The Fray Marcos Hotel opened there in 1908 with just 22 rooms. Today’s hotel, designed to look like the Marcos, opened in 1995 and has 298 rooms.
The hotel's main reception and sitting area is grand and warm with deep leather couches, a stone fire place, vaulted ceiling and dark wood trim. When the fire roars at night it's an especially relaxing spot.
Overall, the hotel is well-maintained with nice amenities, including an indoor pool. The rooms are updated with modern finishes and decor. The furnishings and accessories reflect a railroad theme in subtle ways, such as a metal rivet detail on the headboards and framed black and white photos of steam engines. The rooms are gracious—a double queen, for instance, has plenty of room for a family of four.
The hotel has a kind of Disney-esq quality with its landscaped flower beds and piped music playing outside. There are also historic train cars and engines displayed on the grounds. The hotel hosts special events during the year, such as the hugely popular Polar Express. Book that one way in advance.
One of the hotel’s best features is its proximity to the heart of downtown Williams, an easy five min walk. It’s not an inexpensive hotel, but if it's in your budget, it’s worth it. The hotel also has a RV park if that's how you're traveling.
Even if you aren’t staying at the hotel (there’s a new Hampton Inn on the edge of town), it's a just a nice place to walk around and see. And, the hotel’s lounge, Spencer’s Pub, is a quiet place to grab a late night drink and dessert.
If you’re a train or history enthusiast visiting Williams in 2025, the Arizona Railroad Heritage Park and Arizona State Railroad Museum may be open. According to its website, the park will be spread across 21-acres. The park's centerpiece will be a museum designed with the feel of railroad engine houses and repair shops. Visitors can expect hands-on exhibits, archives, an outdoor amphitheater and more.
Get Outdoorsy
The great outdoors is another special feature of Williams, which is surrounded by the world’s largest ponderosa pine forest. Since the town is at the base of Bill Williams Mountain in the Kaibab National Forest, the choices for outdoor recreational activities, include biking, fishing, and exploring with all-terrain vehicles. The forest is over 1.6 million acres and also borders the north and south rim of the Grand Canyon
Want to explore the national forest? Check out Grand Canyon UTV Tours in downtown Williams and its backcountry tours. This company also hosts tours to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
If lake life is more your thing, then check out the fishing, boating and picnic options at Cataract Lake, just outside of town.
Visit-Worthy Williams
If you find yourself heading west outside Flagstaff along I-40, make a plan to exit in Williams. It embodies so much of the lore wrapped up in America’s transportation history. Plus, it’s a convenient homebase for a Grand Canyon visit.
The charm of Williams is ever present. It definitely caters to tourists and it’s a little kitschy, but it’s fun, unique and offers something for the entire family.
For more information about Williams, check out the visitor center’s website at www.expereincewilliams.com
This story is part of a series that highlights some of the historic, kitschy and beautiful sites to see when driving coast-to-coast along 1-40 and Route 66, aka the “Mother Road.”
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