I am planning a cross country trip from LA to NYC and one of our first stops is the Grand Canyon. AAA suggested we spend the night in Williams, AZ (since that is on the route we are taking) and I am looking for a day trip to the South Rim, preferably one that includes pick up to and from the hotel. I have found a bunch of tours online but I am not sure which one take, suggestions of tours would be greatly appreciated. OR is it worth it to just drive, park and take the guided tours from the grand canyon park itself?

It's only an hour's drive from Williams to the Grand Canyon and probably 99% of the time people would just drive to the Canyon and stay there or close by instead of staying in Williams, a small logging town with little of interest to most tourists.

Just saying you're better off staying at the Canyon or Tusayan or Cameron or Valle (well, maybe not Valle), which are all closer to the Canyon than Williams.

Bill

If you are driving, there is no need to take a tour. You can drive yourself to within about 20 feet of the canyon rim.

Don't stay in Williams. Stay at the Grand Canyon National Park or in Tusayan, as Bill_H mentioned. You must get reservations in advance if you want to stay in the park, they book up quickly. In Tusayan, visit the IMAX movie. It's worth it.

You should also start looking at the National Park websites: www.nps.gov

Curious as to why you are not stopping in Las Vegas.

I have been to Vegas too many times to even count! I wanted to try somewhere new. Our stop after AZ is Santa Fe hence why I was planning to stay in Williams or in the general area. I am now considering staying in sedona. we have a long long drive to nyc so I was hoping to avoid driving to the canyon on a saturday. one day off would be nice and i dont mind spending the $$ for the ease.

if anyone has recommendations on day tours/guide tour companies i would greatly appreciate any advice!

Just returned from a day trip to Sedona. It is a lovely place with numerous canyons to enjoy. Noted in Tripadvisor a number of hotels that have full view of the rocks. It is about an hour's drive of winding roads to Williams.
i am unfortunately finding myself here at the Holiday Inn Express in Flagstaff as it was the only Holiday Inn property with vacancies when I booked a month ago. Now I know why. I had bookings both at the HI properties in Williams & the Grand Canyon but had to cancel last minute due to change of plans.
Book early as they really do fill up early. Tripadvisor may have some tips for you. Whatever it is, keep away from HI at Flagstaff.

http://www.thetrain.com/ There is a train tour from Williams to the Grand Canyon. Don't know anything about how good it is. You can check the website or ask Fodors for info on the train tour.

We stayed at the Hampton Inn in Flagstaff and it was good - good breakfast also. Then we drove to the Grand Canyon for the day.

The drive down Oak Creek Canyon from Flagstaff to Sedona is a nice drive.

There is a train tour from Williams to the Grand Canyon. Don't know anything about how good it is.

Not very good at all, it's considered the 2nd biggest tourist trap in Arizona (only the Skywalk is worse). 4.5 hours on the train thru non-scenic areas (you can drive it in an hour each direction), cost is several times greater than driving, and you are at the canyon for a few hours mid-day, the worst time to view the canyon.

One thing, which no one else has recommended, is after viewing the south rim (which everyone does), drive around the Grand Canyon and visit the north rim. In my opinion, it is actually superior to the south rim.

I remember when I did it (I just decided to do so, on my own), I was leaving the south rim park, and a lady park ranger said to me after she learned my destination was the north rim, "Great! Most people don't take the time to visit there. It's actually nicer."

She was sooooooo correct!

It takes a few extra hours, but you'll be soooooo thankful you did it, after you experience it.

visit the north rim

North rim is surely worth a visit but this lady is traveling on I-40 to Santa Fe and it would require almost a nine hour detour just to drive to and from the north rim, plus time spent there. So maybe on a later trip?

I don't understand why you want a tour. You self-drive most of the Grand Canyon vistas, and can go to the vsitor center. There is no need to pay anyone to do this for you.

Are you looking for a helicopter ride? A boat ride? A mule train ride?

Bill Thanks for the information on the train tour. often wondered what it was about.

We always just drive to the canyon and enjoy it.