Williams, Arizona is a lively town near the Grand Canyon, also known as the Gateway to the Grand Canyon®; it is one of the most sought-after places for RV travelers looking to make a night’s stop on their way to the Canyon itself. But don’t think of Williams as just any town; it is filled with all sorts of recreational, dining, and outdoor activities. In fact, there’s so much to do in Williams, that it should be a holiday spot of its own. So much so that you will want to stay in one of the many fantastic RV Parks in Williams as your home base for a while, all of which are just an easy drive to all that Williams Arizona has to offer.
From shopping options galore to restaurants that serve every type of food for your fancy: Steaks, burgers, pizza, Chinese, and Italian – whether you’d like to dine in or just grab and go – Williams offers it all.
For the RV travelers to the Grand Canyon National Park itself, Williams has several RV parks where you can station your RV and drive up to the South Rim, Grand Canyon – or just take the scenic train route to the Canyon.
For information on Grand Canyon distance from Williams, please read our How Far Is the Grand Canyon from Williams Arizona guide here.
There are a number of lakes located near Williams where visitors can readily go for picnics, fishing or hikes through pristine forests and open grounds.
Nearby Lakes in Williams
Kaibab Lake
Kaibab Lake, located at 6800 feet elevation is an ideal spot for fishing, picnics, and recreation; it is located a 5-mile drive north of Williams,
The lake and the area around it are good for a lot of activities. If you’re in the mood for fishing, just go down to the fishing pier, book a boat and set off to the deeper lake. Fish species include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch, rainbow trout, and northern pike. Do note that swimming is not allowed in the lake.
Kaibab also has over 300 miles of hiking trails so travelers can put their time to good use before traversing the Grand Canyon; you’ll be climbing through the pine trees and open ground to have a fun time hiking in Kaibab.
Camp facilities include campsites and tables for individuals and groups; you can also pitch your own tents or park your trailers and motorhomes (up to 40 feet only).
Cataract Lake
If you are looking for a beautiful spot to enjoy the calming effects of nature, Cataract Lake is the perfect place.
The lake itself is located in a beautiful wooded area of the Kaibab National Forest; it has a small campground complete with picnic tables and fire pits and a toilet.
There is a boat launch on the north side of the lake which is open year-round. However, the road to this launch is not plowed during the winter months.
Cataract Lake is great for a variety of activities but especially popular with boaters and anglers. The lake has several species of fish, including rainbow trout, catfish, and bass. The calm waters of the lake are great for boating, kayaking, or canoeing.
Dogtown Lake
Travelers venture out to Dogtown lake mainly for picnics and fishing – for trout and crappies. You can also enjoy a guided nature and hiking trail; the campground is located about 6.5 miles south of Williams and has dazzling views of Bill Williams mountain.
White Horse Lake
Lying 19 miles southeast of Williams, the White Horse Lake is the perfect place for hiking, riding mountain bikes or simply watching wildlife. There are a couple of hiking trails located near the lake.
Visitors can choose to set up camp for picnics or a barbecue (you can reserve either single-unit sites or group sites before coming). A number of campsites are also wheelchair accessible.
RV Parks in Williams Arizona
The most urgent question for any RV traveler is access to an all-facilities provided RV park and campground. There are several such RV parks either in Williams or nearby, all of which boast countless facilities for your comfortable stay.
Canyon Gateway RV Park
Located at 1060 N, Grand Canyon Blvd – atop a hill near Williams, the Canyon Gateway RV Park offers unparalleled views of the scenic valley below; it has a long list of facilities available for use for RV travelers who park their RVs here:
- 24 RV Spaces
- 24-Hour Internet Availability And Access
- Daily OR Weekly Rates
- Picnic Tables and Picnic Area
- Showers and Restrooms
- Chevron Station
- Gift Shop
- Restaurants on site
Contact: 928-635-2718 OR 1-888-635-0329
Website: http://www.grandcanyonrvparks.com/
Canyon Motel & RV Park
Located at 1900 E Rodeo Road adjoining the Kaibab National Forest, the Canyon Motel & RV Park offers various types of lodging facilities, a picnic area, and a hidden garden patio for smaller gatherings.
Lodging Facilities (Rooms):
- Historic Motel Rooms
- Caboose Suites
- Railway Car Suites
- Nomad RV for Rent
Other Facilities:
- Dry Storage Park: Perfect for leaving your RV parked safely while you are exploring out and about.
- Hidden Garden Patio
- The RV Park can accommodate fairly big rigs.
Contact: 928-635-9371 OR 1-800-482-3955
Website: http://www.thecanyonmotel.com/
Grand Canyon Railway RV Park
Located at 601 W. Franklin Avenue, the Grand Canyon Railway RV Park is right next to the train depot. This is where the Grand Canyon Railway departs for the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, meandering through the lush forests and valley and providing you with an unforgettable rail journey in its classic diesel-powered wagons.
Facilities at the Grand Canyon Railway Park include:
- Three types of RV spaces (pull-throughs, buddy spaces, and back-ins).
- Suitable for bigger rigs. All spaces are 50-amp.
- Digital TV (with each space)
- High-Speed Internet
- Indoor Swimming Pool
- Hot Tub
- Coin-operated laundry machines
- General picnic area
- Pet Resort (28 spaces for dogs, 16 for cats)
- Convenience Store
- Basketball and volleyball courts
- All-paved RV park (only one such in Williams)
- The Fred Harvey Restaurant opposite the RV park.
Contact: 928-635-4224 OR 1-800-843-8724
Website: http://www.thetrain.com/
Railside RV Ranch
Located at 877 E Rodeo Road, adjacent to the Grand Canyon Railway, the Rail RV Ranch offers the following facilities (apart from RV parking):
- Free 24/7 Wifi and Digital TV
- Fresh and clean restrooms.
- 24/7 laundry room
- Playground
- Dog Wash Station
- Tent sites
Contact: (928) 635-4077
Website: http://railsiderv.com/
Williams/Circle Pines KOA
Located at 1000 Circle Pines Road, 4 miles west of downtown Williams, the Williams KOA offers easy access, spacious RV parking facilities. Other amenities include:
- Spacious RV sites (90’ max length)
- All spaces are 50 amp
- 24/7 Wifi
- Cable Tv
- Snack Bar
- Miniature Golf Rental
- Swimming Pool
- Hot Tubs/Sauna
- Spa
- BBQ Rentals
- 1-Room OR 2-Room rentals
- Gift Shop
- RV Supplies
- Bike Rentals
- Laundry facility
- Bear Trax Cafe
Note: Open March 15 – November 1
Contact: 928-635-2626
Website: http://www.williamskoa.com/
Grand Canyon KOA
Located at 5333 State Highway 64, the Grand Canyon KOA RV park is the closest RV park in Williams to the Grand Canyon (a meaningful grand canyon connection). Boasting modern facilities, the Grand Canyon KOA prides itself as being ‘the’ base camp for all your Arizona adventures.
Facilities include:
- 24/7 wifi and free cable TV
- Snack bar
- 50 amp RV spaces
- Spaces suitable for bigger rigs
- Swimming pool
- Gift Shop
- Fire Pit Rentals
- Laundry facilities
Contact: 928-635-2307
Website: http://www.grandcanyonkoa.com/
Note: Open All Year
Day Trips To Other Towns In Arizona While Staying At Williams
If you plan on making one of the RV parks in Williams home for a while, then here are some nearby towns you can visit during your stay:
Sedona
Nestled between high-jutting, multi-hued desert rocks, Sedona is located 60 miles south of Williams. There are a ton of things to do in Sedona; from dining out in its vast selection of restaurants to hiking or biking along gorgeous tracks – while taking in the hourly changing ‘colors’ of the desert rocks – to visiting the dozens of art galleries lining the streets.
Some special things to do in Sedona are:
- Bike a part of the 400+ miles of trails.
- Oak Creek Canyon fishing
- Go for golf at one of the four golf courses in Sedona
- Visit the Jordan historical park
- Birdwatch at the Sedona Wetlands Preserve
- Enjoy a trolley tour aboard the Sedona Trolley
- Take a hot air balloon ride to the skies!
- … Or take a helicopter ride
- Enjoy a refreshing cup of coffee at Java Cafe (or other coffee places)
- Venture into the Verde Valley
Flagstaff
Known as the ‘City of 7 wonders’, Flagstaff is located 33 miles east of Williams – about a 40-minute drive. Flagstaff has a unique natural beauty of its own and its red stone buildings are a historical sight to behold.
There are a number of accommodation and dining options in Flagstaff for all budgets and tastes.
Other activities to do in Flagstaff, while on a day trip from Williams, are:
- Visit the national monuments: Walnut Canyon and Sunset Crater Volcano
- Ride the Arizona Gondola at Arizona Snowbowl
- Enjoy the award-winning delicacies at Sweet Shoppe
- Visit the Northern Arizona Museum
- Get a free Lunar Landmarks Passport over at the Flagstaff Visitor Center and mind-blowing info on the training of moon-landing astronauts training (all of whom trained in Flagstaff)
- Zipline through the pristine Ponderosa pine forest at the Extreme Adventure Course.
Prescott
Prescott lies about 70 miles south of Williams, a 1 hour 15-minute drive. It is known for its mild season all year round and thus perfect for visiting anytime; and nestled between the pine forests of Arizona, it boasts a refreshing and clean atmosphere for its visitors.
Prescott is famous for hosting four of Arizona’s most known museums; and there are a lot of art galleries, restaurants, and golfing opportunities to keep you busy on your day trip from Williams or while just passing through.
For fishing, boating and kayaking, head down to Watson lake and enjoy the crystal clear water of the lake. Or shoe up and head to the Granite Mountain wilderness – you will encounter a lot of wildlife here (elk, deer, and wild boars) – and this area provides the perfect background for all of your nature photos.
