Camping in Grand Canyon National Park

Mother Nature had a blast creating the Big Ditch, an awe-inspiring place where ancient rocks soar above the Colorado River in a fiery parade of colors. Forested campsites are just steps from gorgeous views on both the North and South Rims, where hiking trails, biking, and sunset-watching await campers. Looking for solitude? Pack your backpack, fill your water bottles, grab your permit, and hike seven miles into the heart of the place on the switchbacking South Kaibab Trail, with gobsmacking views around every bend. Cottonwood oases provide shade at three developed campgrounds. Across the park, ranger talks add context to outdoor adventures.

• Best for families: The large, year-round Mather Campground on the South Rim has family and group sites, picnic tables, and a nearby dump station.
• Best for classic views: Several campsites overlook a side canyon at the North Rim Campground.
• Best for escaping crowds: Campsites are well-spaced from each other at the low-key Desert View Campground near the East Entrance. 
• Best for RVs: The South Rim’s year-round Trailer Village RV Park offers full hookups.
• Best for adventurers: Bright Angel Campground at Phantom Ranch is set at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, the only lodging option below the canyon rim. It’s only accessible by foot, mule, or raft.

1. Mather Campground sites can be reserved six months in advance for reservations from March through November. Sites are first-come, first-served from December through February.
2. North Rim Campground is typically open from mid-May through mid-October. Tent and RV sites are available, but there are no RV hookups. You can also try your luck in person early in the day.
3. Desert View Campground takes no reservations, with all sites first-come, first-served. Set on Desert Rim Drive at the park’s east entrance, the campground is open from mid-April through mid-October.
4. A lottery-based backcountry permit is required for all backcountry camping outside of Mather, Desert View, and North Rim.
5. Just outside the park, Kaibab National Forest offers additional camping options.

The South Rim is open all year, but the best seasons to visit are spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and crowds are lighter. The Bright Angel Trail and others can be icy in winter. Summer is popular on both rims, despite the Arizona heat, although the inner canyon can also be dangerously hot in summer. The North Rim is open seasonally, typically from mid-May through mid-October.

• The North Rim and South Rim are only 10 miles apart geographically, but the drive between them is 212 miles and takes five hours. Choose an entrance accordingly.
• The South Rim entrance is just under a four-hour drive from Phoenix and about an hour and 40-minute drive from Flagstaff.
• Free National Park Service shuttle buses loop around the South Rim on various routes (and are wheelchair accessible). Rent bicycles at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.
• Aside from the park’s Grand Canyon Village, Tusayan is the nearest town to the South Rim where you can find gas, grocery stores, restaurants, and the Grand Canyon Camper Village.
• Free wifi is available on the South Rim at park headquarters and the Canyon Village Market & Deli general store.

For desert enthusiasts, camping near Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area is a must. Experience camping like never before, with the vibrant hues of the Mojave Desert, unique wildlife encounters, and spectacular night skies that make Beaver Dam Wash a fantastic outdoor experience.