Where do you stay when you are headed to the Grand Canyon?  The most convenient city to call home for the night before a Grand Canyon tour is Williams, Arizona.  Not only do you get great small town western hospitality, but you also get a straight shot to the South Rim for your visit to one of the most amazing natural wonders in the United States.  Here are some tips for your stay in Williams, AZ, the gateway to the Grand Canyon.

This post includes affiliate links.

Williams Arizona City Guide

When you plan to visit the Grand Canyon South Rim, you need a place to stay where you can have a great time, get some good food and rest before your adventure.  Williams, Arizona is approximately one hour south of the Grand Canyon South Rim Visitors Center and offers everything you need. 

Almost every night during the tourist season, there is a free wild west show that happens in the streets.  Check with your hotel when you check in and see where the show is happening each night.  Typically it will start around 7:00 or 7:30 and lasts about 30 minutes.  

Nightly Wild West Show

  Grab an icecream cone from Dairy Queen and watch for the crowd to start gathering.  You can park down the street or just walk and enjoy the quaint small town vibes of Williams.    

  The Catract Creek Gang hosts free wild west shows that are fun for the entire family.  Get ready to laugh and enjoy the wild west shootout happening right before your eyes.  *You are welcome to leave a donation or tip when the show is over! 

Where to Stay

The best place to stay for the night is the Holiday Inn Express.  Just minutes from the downtown area, the Holiday Inn offers everything you need to relax and unwind before you head to the Grand Canyon. 

Whether you want some time to swim, grab some food or use the computers in the business center, the Holiday Inn Express has you covered.

Where to Eat

For supper, just walk across the parking lot to the Grand Canyon Brewing Company for a dinner of pizza, hamburgers or other 

Williams, Arizona is the last Route 66 town to be bypassed by I-40 and lives up to the Route 66 historic vibes.  The downtown streets have old-fashioned street lamps, lots of shops and diners that live up to the Route 66 feel.  There are also plenty of places to purchase Route 66 souvenirs.  

Have you stayed in Williams, Arizona?  What is your favorite memory of this fun little city? I’d love to hear!

Love Route 66?  

Check out these fun things to see as you travel down Route 66 in Arizona!