Grand Canyon National Park Resumes Park and Ride Shuttle Service

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, and just ahead of the crush of summer visitors, Grand Canyon National Park will bring back its popular park and ride shuttle service from the community of Tusayan, located just outside its gates.

Starting May 28, the park will resume the Purple Route which runs between Grand Canyon National Park Visitor Center at the South Rim and the gateway community of Tusayan, Arizona.

The shuttle will depart every 20 minutes between the hours of 8 am and 9:30 pm daily until September 9. As crowds descend on the park during the summer travel months, visitors can expect wait times of up to two hours at the South Entrance Station between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Furthermore, parking lots can reach capacity as early as 12 p.m. Park-goers can monitor traffic at the South Entrance on the park’s webcam.

The park urged visitors who are not staying inside the park to consider this shuttle to avoid long lines and frustration over parking. Riding the shuttles helps protect resources, reduces crowding on park roadways, and decreases the park’s carbon footprint. The Tusayan Route has not operated since the start of the pandemic in 2020, so Ed Keable, superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park, hopes visitors and residents will use and enjoy it this year.

How to Use the Shuttle from Tusayan

Although lodging inside the park can often sell out months in advance and may come at a premium rate, the nearby community of Tusayan offers an excellent alternative for visitors seeking affordable accommodations. This proximity to the park ensures convenient access to the breathtaking landscapes of the Grand Canyon.

To utilize the shuttle, visitors must have a daily park entry pass or a lifetime/annual pass before boarding. These passes can be acquired in several easy ways:

• In-person: Purchase at the IMAX, Canyon Plaza Resort, Red Feather Lodge, or the Westwind Air Service at the Grand Canyon Airport.
• Automated machines: Available at The Grand Hotel or the IMAX.
• Online: Passes can also be obtained through recreation.gov.

Moreover, according to the park’s guidelines, “passengers should have their own face mask/covering” when they board the bus.

Hiker Shuttle from North to South Rim Returns

The North and South Rims of the Grand Canyon are merely 10 miles apart as the crow flies; however, the hike between these two points involves an approximate 24-mile trek down and back up the other side. Consequently, the vehicular route stretches to 220 miles and takes around five hours due to the need to navigate around the canyon.

Fortunately, for hikers wishing to leave their vehicles on one side, the Trans-Canyon Shuttle provides an excellent solution. This private shuttle service facilitates the crossing of hikers who want to traverse the rim-to-rim in the canyon. The service will reopen for the season on May 15, and reservations are highly recommended. The fare is $90 one way.