Under Canvas Grand Canyon
Quick Facts
Why Williams & the Grand Canyon
Williams, the “Gateway to the Grand Canyon,” sits about 60 miles from the South Rim along historic Route 66, surrounded by the Kaibab National Forest. The Grand Canyon Railway has carried visitors from Williams into the park since 1901, complete with cowboy musicians and a mock train robbery, while downtown Williams remains one of the best-preserved Route 66 towns in the country.
Under Canvas puts guests in wood-stove-heated safari tents about 40 minutes from the South Rim, genuinely isolated enough for excellent stargazing away from the park’s crowds.
What Makes It Special
- Location: Williams, about 40 minutes from the Grand Canyon South Rim
- Setting: Genuinely isolated, excellent for stargazing
- Site type: Safari tents, some with private bathroom/shower
- Amenities: Wood-burning stoves, nightly bonfires, 40 minutes to the South Rim
- Recreation: Hiking and wildlife viewing
Pro Tips for Booking
Set expectations for self-serve style. Reviewers note service leans more self-serve than full-resort despite the price point — worth knowing going in.
Ride the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams. It’s a genuinely fun, historic way to reach the South Rim without driving.
Join the nightly bonfire. Stargazing here is excellent given the isolation from town lights.
What to Do Around Here
- The Grand Canyon South Rim, about 40 minutes away
- The Grand Canyon Railway, a historic train ride from Williams
- Historic Route 66 through downtown Williams
- Bearizona Wildlife Park, a drive-through wildlife experience
- Stargazing from the property’s nightly bonfire
