Cruise Holidays 2013 - How to Best Use the Grand Canyon South Rim Shuttle Buses

But only if you understand how to best use the National Park's free shuttle bus system, that's plenty of time to explore. The typical Grand Canyon bus tour stops at the South Rim for up to three hours.

Those routes are: But only two matter to tour bus travelers, there are four shuttle routes.

Blue (Village Route)
Green (Kaibab Trail Route)

) (The other two - Red (Hermit Rest) and Tusayan - will consume too much of your sightseeing and gift-shop time.

Blue Route

The main landmark in Grand Canyon Village, most tour buses will drop you off in front of Bright Angel Lodge. Stick with the Blue Route, if you are strapped on time.

Before heading east to the new Grand Canyon Visitors Center, the bus will head west for 100 yards and bend left/South en route to Maswick Lodge, " On board. The bus' destination sign will read "Village Route" or "Blue Route. Local time. To 7:30 p.m. Shuttles run every 15 minutes from 6:30 a.m. Walk about 200 paces to your right and you will find a Blue Route bus stop, as such.

One of the South Rim's most dramatic lookouts, and enjoy Mather Point, cross a two-lane road, follow the path and signs north for about 150 paces. Here's a good place to take a "comfort break" (the bathrooms are very clean). Head towards the Visitor Center, get off the bus. Which is also host to the transfer area for the Green Route, i recommend that you stay on the bus until you reach the Visitor's Center.

They all are making the return back to Bright Angel/ Grand Canyon Village; return back the way you came to the shuttle bus station and board any Blue Route bus. The other "must-see" Rim lookout, so I don't recommend taking the Rim Trail west to Yavapai Point, time is of the essence.

Panaromic view of the Canyon, giving you an air-conditioned, the north section of Yavapai Observation Station is all glass, if it's summer. It's got a great set of lookouts and a fascinating museum with attached gift shop. I highly recommend this view. In about 10 minutes the bus driver will announce Yavapai Point.

Go back to the shuttle bus stop where you got off and return to Bright Angel Lodge and the main tour bus drop-off area.

Total round-trip time to ride the Blue Line non-stop is 60 minutes.

Green Route

Expect to reduce time spent in souvenir shops, if you include the Green Route. Only consider taking the Green Route if you decide to spend the bulk of your time looking at the Canyon.

Which marks the end of the Green line, stay on it until the driver announces Yaki Point. Which will take you further east, board the Green bus. So you will not have a long wait, green busses come every 15 minutes. And transfer to a Green Route Bus, where the Blue Route ends, you must ride the Blue bus to Mather Point, to get on a Green Route bus.

Many times it will be you and just a few others enjoying this outpost. Yaki Point is also less congested with visitors. The view from Yaki Point is stunning and offers you eastward views of the Canyon that you will not see from any of the Blue Route lookouts.

And head back to Bright Angel Lodge and your tour bus, transfer to the Blue Line, take the shuttle back to the Visitor's Center, from here. From which you will get a great shot of the South Rim as well as the South Kaibab Trail and more, i suggest you skip it and get off at Pipe Creek Vista. The first stop will be South Kaibab. You are now heading southwest toward Mather Point/Bright Angel Lodge. Go back to the Green shuttle stop and board.

Total round-trip time to ride the Green Line non-stop is 30 minutes.

Parting Words

This will determine how many stops you will make on the Blue and Green Routes. Overlay that onto the amount of time you will spend in total at the South Rim. How much time visiting the numerous gift shops? How much time eating? How much time do you want to spend visiting lookouts? Prioritize your time, to get the most of your South Rim bus tour.