(Grand Canyon, AZ) - The National Park Service (NPS) will again offer shuttle bus service between Grand Canyon National Park and the neighboring town of Tusayan, Arizona in 2012. The Tusayan Route shuttle will be available now through September 7 and will run at 15-minute intervals between 8 a.m. and 9:30 p.m., daily.

Each day, the first bus will leave Tusayan at 8 a.m. from the IMAX, while the first bus will leave the Grand Canyon Visitor Center at 8:30 a.m. The last buses will leave both Tusayan and the Grand Canyon Visitor Center at

9:30 p.m.

Shuttle buses will make the following four stops in Tusayan:

• IMAX Theater/R.P.'s Stage Stop,

• Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn,

• Grand Canyon Airport (Grand Canyon Airlines terminal), and

• The Grand Hotel

This summer, visitors should expect temporary modifications to shuttle stop locations and parking areas in Tusayan due to significant road construction, including streetscape improvements and construction of permanent shuttle bus stop shelters. Every effort will be made to communicate these temporary changes and to accommodate visitors utilizing the shuttle bus service.

Public parking for Tusayan shuttle riders is available near the IMAX Theater, R.P.'s Stage Stop, and at the Grand Canyon Airport. Those taking advantage of the shuttle service will have expedited entry into the park and will be able to connect with the park's free shuttle bus system at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.

The Tusayan Shuttle is free of charge; however, visitors entering the park via shuttle bus will need to purchase their entrance passes in advance.

Entrance passes can be purchased at most of the hotels in Tusayan, including the Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn, the Grand Hotel, Grand Canyon Red Feather Lodge and Canyon Plaza Resort. Entrance passes can also be purchased at the IMAX Theater, R.P.'s Stage Stop, the Grand Canyon Airport at the Grand Canyon Airlines terminal, Tusayan Trading Post and the Wild West Experience. Entrance passes purchased at these locations are valid for shuttle bus or private vehicle entry for seven days and are accepted at any of Grand Canyon National Park's entrance stations. Those holding a valid America the Beautiful National Park and Federal Recreational Lands Pass or other valid pass will not need to purchase an additional entrance pass.