The Grand Canyon Railway Polar Express takes place in Williams, Arizona. The train station is located directly behind the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel.
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The Grand Canyon Railway Polar Express takes place in Williams, Arizona. The train station is located directly behind the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel.
For travel times and driving directions, please visit the Directions & Parking Page.
Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) – in Phoenix, Arizona is about 2 hours (182 miles) from Williams. This is the closest international airport.
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) – in Las Vegas, Nevada is about 3 hours and 20 minutes (217 miles) from Williams.
Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) – in Flagstaff, Arizona is about 40 minutes (40 miles) from Williams.
Please note: Travel times are estimates and can vary based on traffic and chosen route. Please view our Parking & Directions page for more information.
If you booked a Polar Express package, you will receive your train tickets upon check-in at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel front desk. Will call train tickets will be distributed at the ticket counter inside the Grand Canyon Railway Depot, located next to the Fred Harvey Restaurant. The guest who was responsible for payment will need to present a photo I.D. to receive train tickets.
Train Only Guests
We recommend arriving at least one hour and a half before departure. This should provide enough time to pick up tickets at will-call and be ready to board The Polar Express. The train will begin boarding 15 minutes before departure. You can certainly pick up your tickets earlier. Tickets will be available beginning at noon (12:00 p.m.) on the day of your departure.
Polar Family Package Guests
The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel is conveniently located adjacent to the Williams Depot. You can begin checking in at the hotel at 3:00 p.m. Upon check in you will be issued both your train and meal tickets. Dinner and breakfast at the Fred Harvey Restaurant, also located next to the hotel, is included in your package. If you’re on the 5:30 p.m. departure, we recommend arriving to Williams around 4:00 so you can check-in, pick up your train tickets and have plenty of time for dinner.
The passenger cars have luggage racks near the ceiling so feel free to bring coats, diaper bags, camera bags, backpacks and anything else you need. Even though the cars have luggage racks, we recommend only bringing what you really need on the train. Strollers can be parked outside the depot. There is a limited amount of space in the vestibules (between the cars) on the train, but we recommend parking strollers by the depot as there are plenty of covered areas. Also, all families are encouraged to bring their own copy of The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg to read along to the story during the journey. Brand new copies are available for purchase at the Depot and Fred Harvey Restaurant Gift Shops.
Polar Express offers one class of service featuring the 1923 Harriman style cars in Pullman class.
Guests interested in having a private car might consider the Ultimate Polar Express Experience featuring first class historic train cars. Learn more here.
If you are booking Polar Express train tickets only, there is no limit to the number of train tickets that can be purchased. If you are booking a Polar Express package, you can book up to 9 rooms on one name and credit card. 10 or more rooms would be considered a group reservation. To book a group reservation, you can submit a request to Grand Canyon Railway’s Group department through the form listed on our Contact Us page. Reservations booked via this site that are considered to be a Group are subject to cancellation.
Guests interested in having a private car might consider the Ultimate Polar Express Experience featuring first class historic train cars. Learn more here.
Seats on board The Polar Express are bench-style, with two passengers per bench. Booking seats in even numbers is strongly recommended. If your family is traveling with another family on a separate reservation and would like to be seated together, please contact Central Reservations at 1-888-848-3511. While we do our very best to honor all seating requests on board The Polar Express, we cannot always guarantee them.
Yes! During the check-out process, there is a place to add someone else’s confirmation number and last name and request seats together. These requests cannot be guaranteed.
Each year, on November first, we open up the following season. For example, November 1st, 2025 will open up bookings for the entire 2026 season. Online reservations will be available starting at midnight (12:00 a.m.) Mountain Time (Denver, CO time). Our Central Reservations office will begin accepting reservations via phone at 7 a.m. Mountain time (Denver, CO time).
Other activities at Grand Canyon Railway include story time with Mrs. Claus and pictures with Mr. Claus in the Polar Room. Also, have your kids stand on the patented Naughty or Nice Meter™ to see if they might be expecting a lump of coal in their stockings! Be sure to visit with our staff Elves and Hobo, who will be wandering around the Platform throughout the evening. In fact, if you’re around the Hobo’s campsite 45min prior to departure you might see him sharing some hobo wisdom with Polar Express passengers.
Please visit our general FAQ page as well.
During Polar Express, the restaurant will be open for dinner from 3:30 p.m to 9:30 p.m. Breakfast will be open at 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The full buffet is available during Polar Express nights, as well as special desserts made just for the holidays! No alcoholic beverages are permitted aboard The Polar Express. Adult beverages are available at The Fred Harvey Restaurant and inside the hotel at Spenser’s Pub.
Parking is free and is available around the hotel and depot complex. There is a parking lot east of Grand Canyon Blvd. as you enter the Railway’s complex as well as parking west of the hotel. You may want to budget a few minutes extra to find parking as there will be as many 3,000 people on property.
Due to the age of the equipment not all rail cars are ADA accessible. Please contact our Central Reservations Department for arrangements at least 7 days prior to arrive so we may make arrangements for your family.
Yes! During the check-out process, there is a place to add special requests and let us know you may need extra assistance such as: bringing a wheelchair, needing to utilize the lift, or bringing a scooter.
Arizona is always in Mountain Standard Time.
No alcoholic beverages are allowed onboard the Polar Express.
No; however if guests would like to bring their own special items they may.
The Polar Express ride is approximately 90 minutes.
While train cars are heated, layers are recommended. Guests are also encouraged to wear their festive holiday pajamas!
Yes! Restrooms are available on each train car as well as on the platform.
For information on our deposit and cancellation policies, please visit the Polar Express Reservations Policies page.
Changes for all Polar Express reservations, including packages, must be made at least 7 days prior to arrival. For more information, please visit the Polar Express Reservations Policies page.
Arizona Department of Transportation’s website provides updated information on weather and road conditions.