Tusayan (Purple) Route Shuttle Bus — Park & Ride

 
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Tusayan (Purple) Route

 
4 long lines of cars waiting to enter the park at the South Entrance Station
Cars waiting to enter the park at the South Entrance Station.

CLOSED - Summer Only

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, 2024, the Tusayan (Purple) Route will provide shuttle bus service between the gateway community of Tusayan and the park. After making four stops in Tusayan, the shuttle bus heads straight to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, where you can begin your Grand Canyon experience. Park & ride, we'll be your guide.

Why wait in lines and drive in circles looking for parking? During summer, lines are long at the entrance station and parking is difficult to find on the South Rim. So park in the gateway community of Tusayan and ride a shuttle bus into the park. No lines, no hassles, no fuss!

 

Park Entrance Pass Required

During Summer 2024 - Park in the Gateway Community of Tusayan

  • Ride the free Tusayan Route (purple) shuttle bus into the park, and bypass the wait at the entrance gate.
  • You must present a valid park entrance pass when boarding the bus.
    Vehicle ($35), Motorcycle ($30), Individual ($20) —Passes are valid for 7 days on both South and North Rim of the park. - or an annual pass >
National Geographic Visitor Center (IMAX Theater)
{accepts checks and credit cards}
Vehicle ($35)
Motorcycle ($30)
Individual ($20)
Interagency Annual ($80)
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These Tusayan locations sell the:
($35) Vehicle Pass
($20) Individual pass
Canyon Plaza Resort
Pink Jeep Tours

Red Feather Lodge
West Wind Air Service
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There are also automatic fee machines available right at the shuttle bus stops in front of the IMAX Theater and the Grand Hotel.
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Learn more about annual and lifetime park passes
 
Typical Tusayan shuttle bus stop/shelter have red stone benches beneath a olive color corrugated metal roof. There is also a route map exhibit and an elevated sign on a pole that identifies each stop.
Bus stops/shelters in Tusayan look like this. (Grand Hotel stop)

Route Times and Stops

The Tusayan Route is in operation every day from May 26, through September 7, 2023. Buses run every 20 minutes between 8 am and 9:30 pm.

Tusayan Route Schedule:

  • 40 minute round-trip
  • First bus leaves IMAX Theater in Tusayan at 8 am.
    Last bus leaves IMAX Theater 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
 
Tusayan Route (Purple) shuttle map shows the four bus stops, buildings shown in brown and parking lots in purple.
Tusayan Area Shuttle Stops.
 

Shuttles Make the Following 4 stops in Tusayan:

  1. IMAX Theater/ R.P.'s Stage Stop
  2. Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn
  3. The Grand Hotel
  4. Big E Steakhouse and Saloon
Day use and overnight visitors can park anywhere in Tusayan to take the bus, including the Grand Hotel, Big E Steakhouse, IMAX/R.P.'s Stage Stop, and the park-and-ride lot on the north end of town.

The park-and-ride lot (off the roundabout near the IMAX Theater) is the best place for day visitors to park RVs and trailers - since there are limited parking options inside the park for RVs.
 
Tusayan Shuttle at the Imax Theater Stop as seen from across the street and showing the Imax building complex on the left and the shuttle stop on the right.
Tusayan Shuttle at the IMAX Theater stop.
 
Webcam

South Entrance Station

To help time your South Rim arrival, monitor the South Entrance Station Webcam. During busy weekends, there can be long lines and up to two hour wait times between 10 am - 5 pm. This view refreshes every minute. The entrance station is about 1.6 miles (2.5 km) north of the gateway town of Tusayan, AZ.

View Webcam
 

Spring 2024 — South Rim Shuttle Bus Routes

From Grand Canyon Visitor Center, you can access trails, scenic viewpoints, or the free, in-park shuttle bus system. For information about the shuttle bus system within the park and Grand Canyon Village services, download the South Rim Pocket Map. You will receive a paper copy of the pocket map when you enter the park.

 
Map showing South Rim Grand Canyon Village and Vicinity showing three shuttle bus routes that are in service during spring 2024
This spring, three shuttle bus routes are in service from March 1, through May 24, 2024. Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route, right, transports visitors to S. Kaibab Trailhead and outstanding views at Yaki Point. Village (Blue) Route, center, connects Visitor Center with lodges, campgrounds, Backcountry Information Center, and Market Plaza (market, outdoor ATM, post office). Hermit Road (Red) Route travels a 7-mile scenic road with spectacular overlooks. Tusayan (Purple) Route resumes service summer 2024.
 

Additional Shuttle Bus Routes

Shuttle Bus Home Page

 

Last updated: March 4, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 129
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023

Phone:

928-638-7888

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