Grand Canyon Shuttle Bus Guide (Useful Maps+Routes+Schedules)

The Grand Canyon has a very well-thought-out shuttle bus service. Even more, the shuttle bus service is included in your Grand Canyon entrance ticket.

You can use the Grand Canyon shuttle bus service as many times as you need. Simply hop on and hop off at any of the bus stops.

I hope this Grand Canyon shuttle bus guide will help you navigate through the Grand Canyon National Park like a pro! Plus, you will save money on gas, and not be stuck in traffic. In addition, it will take all the stress of finding a parking spot.

There are five routes covered by the Grand Canyon shuttle bus service:

• Blue Route/Village Route 
• Orange Route/Kaibab Rim Route
• Red Route/Hermits Rest Road Route
• Purple Route/Tusayan Route (operates in summer)
• Hiker’s Express Route

Blue Route (Village Route) is a loop that is about 50 minutes long. It operates year-round and provides transportation between Grand Canyon Visitor Center, campgrounds, lodges, restaurants, and Market Plaza where you can find a market, post office, and a bank.

What you need to know about Village Route (Blue Route):

• Blue Route (Village Route) is a loop.
• Shuttle buses run counterclockwise on this loop.
• Shuttle buses start operating at 4:30 am from Grand Canyon Visitor Center in summer and 6 am in winter.
• The last shuttle bus leaves Grand Canyon Village at 9:30 pm (summer) and 8;30 pm (winter). If you are dining in Grand Canyon Village, make sure to get to the shuttle bus stop before 9:30 pm.
• Blue Route (Village Route) shuttle buses run every 30 minutes between 4:30 and 6:30 am, every 15 minutes between 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm, and every 30 minutes between 7:30 pm and 10 pm.
• Important: if you are transferring to Red Route (Hermits Rest Road Route), then make sure to get off at Hermits Rest Route Transfer. This is stop number 5 on Blue Route(Village Route).
• Important: if you are transferring to Orange Route( Kaibab Rim Route), then get off at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center stop.

Orange Route (Kaibab Rim Route) is a figure 8 loop. It is about 50 minutes long. It provides transportation between the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and some of the most spectacular viewpoints on Grand Canyon South Rim including:

• Mather Point
• Yavapai Point
• South Kaibab Trailhead 
• Yaki Point
• Pipe Creek Vista

What you need to know about Orange Route (Kaibab Rim Route):

• Orange Route (Kaibab Rim Route) is the figure 8 loop and shuttle buses run counterclockwise on this loop.
• Orange Route (Kaibab Rim Route) and the morning Hiker’s Express shuttle bus offer only motorized access to South Kaibab Trailhead.
• Keep in mind, that the road to South Kaibab Trailhead and Yaki Point is closed to private vehicles. To get to South Kaibab Trailhead or Yaki Point, you need to take a shuttle bus or you will have to walk.
• The first shuttle bus leaves Grand Canyon Visitor Center at 4:30 am.
• Shuttle buses run every 30 minutes between 4:30 am to 6:30 am and every 15 minutes between 6:30 am and 1 hour after sunset.
• Make sure to be at the bus stop no later than 30 minutes after sunset.

Red Route (Hermits Rest Road Route) shuttle bus provides transportation between Grand Canyon Village and Hermits Rest. It runs along the rim of the canyon for 7 miles and stops at some of the most breathtaking overlooks!

The outbound shuttle bus stops at nine scenic overlooks including:

• Trailview Overlook
• Maricopa Point
• Powell Point
• Hopi Point
• Mohave Point
• The Abyss
• Monument Creek Vista
• Pima Point
• Hermits Rest

The return shuttle bus has four stops including:

• Hermits Rest
• Pima Point
• Mohave Point
• Powell Point

What you need to know about Red Route (Hermits Rest Road Route):

• Important: Between March 1, and November 30, Hermits Rest Road can only be accessed by Hermits Rest Road shuttle bus, commercial tour, on foot, or by bicycle.
• Important: Hermit Road is only open to private vehicles during December, January, and February, and make a note that there is no shuttle service during that time.
• Hermits Rest Road (Red Route) is in operation from 4:30 am until one hour after sunset each day
• Shuttle buses run every 30 minutes between 4:30 and 6:30 am, every 10 to 15 minutes between 6:30 am to sunset and every 30 minutes between sunset to an hour after sunset.
• The last bus is scheduled to run 30 minutes after sunset.

Purple Route (Tusayan Route) shuttle bus is a great option, especially during the summer months! The lines at the entrance station to the Grand Canyon National Park could be more than a mile long during that time.

What you need to know about Purple Route (Tusayan Route):

• Purple Route (Tusayan Route) shuttle buses run every day starting March 1 through November 30.
• Purple Route/Tusayan Route shuttle buses pick up visitors in Tusayan at the following four stops: IMAX Theater/ R.P.’s Stage Stop, Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn, The Grand Hotel, Big E Steakhouse, and Saloon.
• After making four stops in Tusayan, the shuttle bus heads straight to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.
• The shuttle buses run every 20 minutes between 8 am and 9:30 pm. It takes about 20 minutes to reach the Visitor Center.
• To use Purple Route/Tusayan Route shuttle bus, you must present a valid park entrance pass when boarding the bus. It is no big deal, you can buy an entrance pass online before your trip to the Grand Canyon.
• An online pass will admit everyone traveling with you in your car or personal vehicle. In addition, you can purchase an entrance pass in Tusayan at the following locations: National Geographic Visitor Center (IMAX Theater), Grand Canyon South Rim Chamber of Commerce, R.P.’s Stage Stop, Red Feather Lodge, Canyon Plaza Resort
• In addition, if you are visiting a couple of national parks during your vacation, or within a year, consider buying an annual pass. The cost of the annual pass is $80. An annual pass is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites, such as national parks, national wildlife refuges, national forests, and grasslands.

The Hiker’s Express Shuttle Bus is an early morning bus with service to South Kaibab Trailhead.

Hands down, I highly recommend that you hike below the rim and South Kaibab Trail is the perfect hike to experience Grand Canyon below the rim. In addition, there is nothing better than watching the sunrise while descending into the canyon. It is simply a phenomenal experience!

What you need to know about Hikers Express Shuttle:

The Hiker’s Express Shuttle Bus departs from Bright Angel Lodge bus stop on the hour. The second stop is at Backcountry Information Center. The third stop is at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Finally, the last stop is at South Kaibab Trailhead.

Bus leaves Bright Angel Lodge at:

7 am, 8 am, 9 am in March
6 am, 7 am, 8 am in April
5 am, 6 am, 7 am in May
4 am, 5 am, 6 am in June, July, August
5 am, 6 am, 7 am in September
6 am, 7 am, 8 am in October
7 am, 8 am, 9 am in November
8 am, 9 am in December, January, February