Grand Canyon Travel Guide from Tusayan

Tusayan Grand Canyon Shuttle Guide

This seasonal shuttle bus route was designed to give Grand Canyon visitors an easier option for parking and entering the park, allowing you to skip the 1+ hour entrance station lines and start exploring even faster. Running from March to September, the Tusayan Route picks up passengers throughout the town of Tusayan, located just south of the park. The bus then drops off passengers at Grand Canyon Visitor Center where you can walk to the rim at Mather Point for photos or change to another free park shuttle bus to see even more of the park. Visitors already in the park can also use the Tusayan Route to leave the park and access Tusayan services including the Grand Canyon IMAX, fast food and sit down restaurants and gift shops. Parking is available throughout Tusayan and passengers can board after purchasing a park pass (you pay the same price as you would if you drove your own car into the park), which are sold at multiple locations throughout town.

Tusayan Shuttle Bus Route/Purple Route

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Pros

• Parking is readily available throughout Tusayan, not only at the Shuttle Bus parking lot at the north end of town but also in parking lots at various businesses as well. This makes it a great option for visitors who arrive later in the day when you will struggle to find a place to park your car inside the park.
• The park shuttle buses use a bypass lane that allows them to skip the long lines at the entrance stations and get you into the park faster. This could save you more than an hour of waiting at peak visitation times during the day (10am-sunset).
• The Tusayan Route interconnects with other South Rim shuttle bus routes at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center shuttle bus plaza allowing you to see the park without the headache of driving and parking.

Cons

• If you are using the Tusayan Route to enter the park for the first time, this is the only shuttle bus that charges riders--you must purchase a park entrance permit before boarding the bus. It costs the same amount as driving your own car into the park so for many visitors it is still the best option since it saves you time and stress even if it does not save you money. If you already have a valid America the Beautiful, Senior or Access Pass, the entrance fee is waived.

Bus Route Origin: The route begins in two places--at the shuttle bus plaza at Grand Canyon Visitor Center and at the IMAX in Tusayan.

Where to Park: The dedicated parking lot for shuttle bus riders is at the north end of Tusayan, accessed off of the roundabout. If you park there, walk to the Steakhouse stop to avoid needlessly riding the shuttle bus throughout Tusayan; this stop will take you directly into the park. If you are already in the park, you can also access the Tusayan Route at Grand Canyon Visitor Center shuttle bus plaza.

Required or Optional?: This route is optional since visitors can choose to drive their own vehicles into the park as well.

Shuttle Type: Takes you to services throughout Tusayan, then drops off at Grand Canyon Visitor Center inside of the park; there are no scenic views of the canyon on this route.

Shuttle Highlights: Tusayan is a very small town so most visitors could easily walk the length of town rather than take the shuttle from stop to stop. For those not staying overnight in a Tusayan hotel, the main attraction on this shuttle route is the Grand Canyon IMAX.

Hours of Operation/Shuttle Frequency

Shuttle buses run every 20 minutes throughout the day

First bus leaves IMAX Theater in Tusayan at 8am
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

Total Time for Route: 40-minutes roundtrip if you do not exit the bus.

Shuttle Season: Runs March 1-September 30.

Price: $30 for bus pass which covers all members of your group for 7 days (the same price as a personal vehicle entrance pass). Fee is waived if you already have an America the Beautiful (annual), Access or Senior Pass.

Access to Restrooms and Services Along the Route: Restrooms are nearby at every stop along the Tusayan Route. Drinking water is available or you can buy food and drinks throughout Tusayan.