Grand Canyon National Park

Overview

Located on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park at an altitude of 7,463 ft (2,275 m), Desert View Campground is located 23 miles (37 km) to the east of Grand Canyon Village. The Desert View area offers a peaceful setting. Most sites are sized to accommodate tents or smaller RV’s, or vehicles with travel trailers (30 ft./9 m total length). Vehicles over 29' in (8.8 m) total length may not be able to negotiate turns without damaging resources and/or vehicle/trailer.

Due to high demand, Desert View Campground requires advanced reservations during its season, usually mid-April to mid-October. You may book reservations up to 6 months in advance. Desert View Campground does not hold back any campsites for first-come, first-served camping during peak season and does not have a wait list or call back system.  

You may book same day reservations here on Recreation.gov or through the toll-free call center at 1-877-444-6777.

Recreation

• Wildlife Viewing
• Bicycling 
• Photography 
• Star Gazing and Night Sky Events 

Facilities

• There are a total of 50 campsites in the Desert View Campground.
• Most sites can accommodate tents or SMALL RV's or travel Trailers.
• Sites can not accommodate RV's or travel trailers over 30 ft. maximum length - Front bumper to rear bumper).
• Limit of six persons; two tents; two-vehicles or one RV/Travel Trailer per site.
• There are no Group Sites. Affiliated Groups cannot break up into separate sites. Examples of Affiliated Group: clubs, Scouts, organizations, group of friends, large family gatherings.
• All campsites are dry sites. No utility, water, or sewer hook-ups are available.
• Each site does have a campfire grill for fires and cooking use and a picnic table.
• There are two water faucets located within the campground.
• There are men's, women's, and accessible restrooms in the campground.
• The restrooms have flushing toilets and sinks (no hot water).
• Desert View has no showers, laundromat, or dump station. The nearest are at: Mather Campground, in Grand Canyon Village, 26 miles/42 km west of Desert View. 
• A General Store and a Gas Station are in the Desert View area; with limited groceries and firewood.

Natural Features

Desert View Campground lies beneath a mixture of pinyon and juniper trees, providing most campsites with ample shade. The campground is less than 1/2 mile (.8 km) from the rim of the canyon. A visit to the canyon during sunrise and sunset yields spectacular views of yellow, orange, red and violet hues in the canyon walls. Layers of rock display billions of years of geologic history. Campers can take a short walk from the campground to the historic Desert View Watchtower. Visitors can see the mighty Colorado River, which flows 277 miles (446 km) through the bottom of the canyon. Wildlife abounds on the South Rim, including elk, mule deer, coyotes, lizards, songbirds and the endangered California condor. Although condors nest below the rim, they can be seen soaring several thousand feet above the canyon in search of carrion.

Nearby Attractions

Desert View provides one of the widest views of Grand Canyon and the Painted Desert. The Mary Colter's Desert View Watchtower displays this architect's talent. The Desert View area offers an aviation memorial, a trading post and market, and Tusayan Ruin and Museum which provide glimpses into the life of a small Ancestral Puebloan village 800 years ago, all within 5 miles from the campground. 

Charges & Cancellations

Reservation adjustments are made online through www.recreation.gov. or by phone (877)444-6777.  

Overview

Due to high demand, Mather Campground recommends reservations during peak season: March 1- November 30. You may book reservations up to 6 months in advance.

Mather Campground is on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. Grand Canyon is one of the most inspiring landscapes on Earth and draws over five million visitors per year to its spectacular scenery.

Mather Campground is large and can accommodate a variety of needs and comfort levels. It is the only campground within Grand Canyon Village. Scenic overlooks, the park's free shuttle bus system, the Visitor Center, the general store and hiking and biking trails are all within a few miles of the campground..

The campground is at an elevation of approximately 7,000 ft. (2134 m). Summers are sunny with high temperatures generally in the 80s. Thunderstorms frequently occur in July, August, and early September. Fall and spring are mostly sunny and cool with occasional snow. Visitors should come prepared for changes in weather. 

Recreation

From the campground, campers can access the Greenway, a paved walking and biking trail that leads to scenic overlooks and the Visitor Center. The Rim Trail, a paved walking trail, is one mile away and follows the edge of the canyon for 14 miles (23 km). Leashed pets are allowed on both trails, but are not permitted below the rim.

Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails descend into the canyon from the South Rim (trailheads are a short shuttle bus ride from the campground) and other Day Hiking trails are available. The park's concessionaire also offers day and overnight mule trips into the canyon and along the rim.

Facilities

**Visitors are responsible for verifying that their vehicle(s) will fit within the size restrictions listed for the site they are reserving. Visitors are also responsible for reviewing the site map and site information to ensure that the doors of their vehicle(s) will open on the desired side. Vehicles must be parked on the pavement and facing the one-way direction of the campground loop. **

The NPS strongly recommends advanced reservations for Mather Campground during peak season, March 1- November 30. Reservations can be made on Recreation.gov six months in advance.

Mather Campground is the largest campground in the NPS system, with 327 campsites, including 7 large group sites and 2 equine sites. Each standard site (1-6 people) includes a campfire ring with a cooking grate, picnic table, parking space, room for up to three tents, and up to two standard vehicles. Group sites accommodate groups of 7-50 people, and three standard vehicles.

Visitors without camping reservations may NOT take unoccupied sites. Sites must be purchased in advance on Recreation.gov, or in-person with NPS Rangers at the campground kiosk. Unoccupied sites may not be first-come, first-served, nor otherwise available. These sites may have reservations, but the campers may not have arrived yet.

All visitors must check-in at the kiosk upon arrival. If arriving after-hours, you can check-in with volunteer hosts, or follow the instructions posted on the kiosk window. If arriving after 8:30pm, please check-in at the kiosk the next morning.

During peak season, Mather Campground has approximately 20 first-come first-served campsites available for purchase day-of, in-person, for one night at a time. Check availability in person with NPS Rangers during kiosk open hours. During peak season, these sites usually sell out by 11:00am. 

There are flush toilets and drinking water spigots throughout the campground. Mather Campground does NOT have hookups available but there is a free dump station nearby at Camper Services.

During peak season, generators are NOT permitted in Pine Loop (sites 265-319). Throughout the rest of the campground, generator-use is ONLY allowed from 7:00am to 9:00am, and from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Generators may be used in Pine Loop during winter operations, only during generator hours. Noise violations should be reported to on-duty NPS Rangers, volunteer campground hosts, or (after-hours) to GRCA non-emergency dispatch.

All visitors are responsible for knowing the campground rules and regulations, which are listed on the Mather Campground Bulletin (emailed to you at time of reservation, available on the NPS GRCA website, available on Recreation.gov (see Additional Info Links tab), and available at the campground kiosk on the back of the site map handout). Failure to follow the rules and regulations may constitute a violation of your permit.

Natural Features

Mather Campground lies beneath a tall canopy of Ponderosa pine, Pinyon, and Juniper trees that provide most campsites with ample shade. The campground is one mile (1.6 km) from the rim of the canyon. A visit to the canyon during sunrise or sunset yields spectacular views of yellow, orange, red and violet hues on the canyon walls. Layers of rock display billions of years of geology.

Campers can take a short shuttle bus ride from the campground to the Visitor Center. Visitors can also visit Yavapai Geology Museum, where they learn about the forces that formed the canyon. Below, visitors can see the mighty Colorado River, which flows 277 miles (446 km) through the bottom of the canyon.

Wildlife abounds on the South Rim, including elk, mule deer, coyotes, lizards, songbirds and the endangered California condor. Although condors nest below the rim, they can be seen soaring several thousand feet above the canyon in search for carrion.

Nearby Attractions

Numerous visitor centers, restaurants, museums and shops are within a shuttle bus ride from the campground. Beyond the village, Desert View provides one of the widest views of Grand Canyon and the Painted Desert. The Desert View Watchtower displays the talent of architect Mary Jane Colter. Tusayan Pueblo Museum provides glimpses into the life of a small Ancestral Puebloan village 800 years ago. Both are within 25 miles (40 km) from the campground.

Overview

The North Rim Campground is located on the remote and rustic North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona, approximately 210 miles (338 km) from Grand Canyon Village, AZ on the South Rim. It is nestled in a thick ponderosa and aspen forest just on the canyon's edge at an elevation of 8,200 feet.

• This facility is perfect for tent camping and smaller RVs.
• Due to its heavily forested location, large and/or high-profile RVs cannot be accommodated. 
• The maximum length in each site description is the combined length of both the RV/trailer and tow vehicle.
• Many sites are not level and have obstacles such as tight curves and narrow passages through trees. 
• Some sites may not accommodate trailer pop-outs or awnings.  
• The maximum vehicle length permitted on the Cape Royal Scenic Road, Widforss Trailhead, and North Kiabab Trailhead is 22 feet; plan accordingly if renting an RV if you wish to explore these other areas of the park.

Recreation

Situated right along the canyon's edge, campers can access most of the North Rim's scenic spots and amenities on foot. The Bridle Path, a foot/bike/stock use trail, gives visitors access to both the Grand Canyon Lodge and Visitor Center area as well as the North Kaibab Trailhead. The Transept Trail (foot only, no dogs allowed) is a great alternate route to the Grand Canyon Lodge and Visitor Center as it hugs the canyon rim and offers spectacular views. 

If visitors have a longer stay at North Rim, the Cape Royal Scenic Drive is a wonderful scenic drive with additional hiking opportunities. But do note, the maximum vehicle length permitted on the Cape Royal Scenic Road is 22 feet; plan accordingly if renting an RV if you wish to explore these other areas of the park. For more information on recreational opportunities, click here. 

Facilities

The North Rim Campground Reopens June 1! 

We're excited to welcome campers back to the North Rim Campground beginning Monday, June 1, 2026.

Nestled among ponderosa pines and aspens at 8,200 feet, the North Rim Campground offers a peaceful and scenic basecamp for exploring the North Rim's trails, viewpoints, and spectacular canyon vistas.

⚠️ Fire Restrictions in Effect:

For visitor safety and to protect the park, all wood burning and charcoal fires are prohibited, including campfires, warming fires, and charcoal barbecues.

Visitors should be aware that:

💧 Potable water is not available at the campground but is available for purchase at the nearby General Store.

🚻 Portable toilets are available for visitor use throughout the campground.

🚿 Campground showers and laundry facilities will remain closed for the 2026 season.

The campground is best suited for tent camping and smaller RVs, as many sites have tight turns, narrow clearances, and length restrictions.

Natural Features

North Rim Campground is shaded by large ponderosa pines interspersed with aspens which turn golden in the autumn as it is situated at over 8,000 feet (2438 m) in elevation. However, it only takes a short walk to peer over the canyon rim to see millions of years of geologic history. The North Rim lies on the Kaibab Plateau, an area that has been uplifted by geologic processes. Many species of wildlife call the Kaibab Plateau home including the tassel-eared Kaibab squirrel which is found nowhere else in the world.

Contact Info