Grand Canyon National Park provides excellent Shuttle Service that allows visitors to get to viewpoints, lodging, services and more. The Shuttle Service is FREE for visitors who have purchased a Park Pass.
If you want to use the Shuttle Bus System, you can either 1) Park in Tusayan and take the Purple Route into the park (Seasonal) OR, 2) Drive into the park and use the Blue, Orange, and Red Shuttle Bus Routes. Parking is available at all Shuttle Bus Locations.
The Purple Route (Tusayan) operates Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend only, and provides convenient transportation from several locations in Tusayan into the park. Park for free at any of the Purple Shuttle Bus Locations, make sure you have purchased a Park Pass, and hop on the shuttle for a free ride into the park without waiting in the sometimes long lines!
- Purple Route Buses run approximately every 20 minutes between 8:00 am and 9:30 pm
- 40 minute round-trip
- First bus leaves IMAX Theater in Tusayan at 8 am.
Last bus leaves IMAX Theater in Tusayan at 9:45 pm - First bus leaves Grand Canyon Visitor Center at 8:25 am
- Last buses leaves Grand Canyon Visitor Center at 9:30 pm
- Approximately 20 minutes from Tusayan to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center
- No lines, No Hassle, No Fuss!
The Blue Route-Village operates Year Round and provides transportation between the Visitor Center Plaza, Lodges, Restaurants, Campgrounds, Backcountry Information Center and Market Plaza (Market, ATM and Post Office)
- Blue route runs approximately every 11-22 minutes between 8:00 and 7:30 pm
- First bus is at 7 am, and the last bus is 9 pm.
- 7:00 AM to 10:30 AM (every 15 minutes)
- 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM (every 10 minutes)
- 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM (every 20 minutes)
- Last bus: 9 pm
- Visitors dining in Grand Canyon Village need to be at a bus stop no later than 8:30 pm
- Canyon views are a short walk from the following bus stops:
- Train Depot – follow the paved footpath up the hill behind the bus stop.
- Bright Angel Lodge – the canyon is just behind the bus stop, beyond the buildings.
- Hermit Road Transfer Station – as you exit the bus, walk to your left to the overlook.
- The Canyon Rim Trail and greenway trails can be accessed via this route – but be aware of ice and snow during winter months (and sometimes during spring) along these trails.
The Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route is a figure 8 loop that provides transport between the Visitor Center Shuttle Bus Terminal and South Kaibab Trailhead, Yaki Point, Pipe Creek Overlook, Mather Point, and Yavapai Geology Museum. This route is available year round, please always visit the official NPS Page for exact route times. Information below is for Spring 2024.
First bus is at 6 am, and the last bus is one hour after sunset.
- 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM (every 15 minutes)
- 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (every 12 minutes)
- 5:00 PM to one hour after sunset (every 15 minutes)
- Last bus – one hour after sunset
- Be at a bus stop no later then 30 minutes after sunset.
If trail users need access to or from the South Kaibab Trailhead when the shuttle buses are not running, please contact Xanterra Taxi Service at 928.638.2631.
The Red Route-Hermit Road Shuttle operates Seasonally March 1 through November 30 and provides transportation between the Blue-Village Bus stop and 9 amazing scenic overlooks along Hermit Road. This is the ONLY way to access the viewpoints along Hermit Road from March 1 through November 30, NO private vehicles can utilize Hermit Road during this period.
During December, January and February, Private Vehicles are permitted on Hermit Road.
- First bus is at 8 am. Last bus is one hour after sunset.
- 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM (every 15 minutes)
- 11:00 AM to one hour after sunset (every 10 minutes)
- To ride the last bus, be at a bus stop 30 minutes after sunset.
- Outbound buses stop at all nine overlooks.
- Return trip buses stop only at these 4 stops:
Hermits Rest, Pima, Mohave, and Powell Points . - The last outbound bus leaves the Village Transfer Station 1 hour before sunset.
- The last return bus leaves Hermits Rest at sunset.
- The last return bus stops at all Hermit Road bus stops on the way back to the village.
- During the busy seasons, the line can be long at the Hermit Road Transfer Station – you may have to wait for two to three buses.
