The Grand Canyon is included in everyone’s list of must-see places in their lifetime and with good reason! Carved by the sheer power of the Colorado River, the canyon’s steep walls are like a history book recording two billion years worth of the earth’s history. This is a place where you can feel and experience the sublime. But since the Grand Canyon is so popular to a point where there are nearby hotels, crowds of tourists are unavoidable. If you want a better way to experience the Grand Canyon, try camping in one of the campsites on the North or South Rim, or located along the trails that run throughout the canyon. You may even cross by a few glamping spots here, if you’re lucky! This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, so better make it worthwhile, right? Check out the best camping spots in the Grand Canyon National Park below.
1. Grand Canyon Camper Village
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Situated within the South Rim, this campground has the best of both worlds. Not only will you get to access the glorious beauty of the canyons, but you’ll also be near plenty of establishments, from movie theaters to restaurants.
Being one of the best RV parks near the Grand Canyon in terms of location and convenience, expect a lot of trailers and campers, so book your slots six months in advance. The village also has tent grounds for those who opt to camp in a traditional fashion.
Grand Canyon Camper Village
Address: 549 Camper Village Ln, Tusayan, AZ 86023
Website: Grand Canyon Camper Village
Price: 67 USD (per night, 30 AMP RV full hookup); 30 USD (per night, tent site)
2. DeMotte Campground
The DeMotte Campground is an iconic Grand Canyon camping site, located only 7 mi (11.27 km) north of the park’s North Rim entrance. Surrounded by a cool mountain breeze and scenic trees, it’s an idyllic place to lay out your tents and camping gear and enjoy what nature has to offer.
Book a slot now from any of the 36 campsites, and enjoy its standard string of amenities. These include access to outdoor grills, drinking water, the fire pit, and toilet facilities throughout. Although you may be closer to the Grand Canyon, this place is also where you may spot rare animals, including the Kaibab squirrel.
DeMotte Campground
Address: Forest Rd 616, Fredonia, AZ 86022, United States
Website: DeMotte Campground
Price: 26 USD (per night)
3. Bright Angel Campground
About 0.5 mi (0.8 km) north of Colorado River, the Bright Angel Campground is a great place for tent camping near the Grand Canyon, where you can enjoy sights of tall walls of 2-billion-year old granite and the sound of Bright Angel Creek rushing by. You have the option to camp in a spot of your choice that’s close to the granite, or by the creek. Cottonwood trees shield the area from the sun.
This is one of the most sought-after campgrounds within the Grand Canyon area, so make sure to secure your permit early. You can get a walk-in permit, but take note– they only issue a few of these. Make Bright Angel Campground your destination or a stop on a multi-day trans-canyon loop.
Bright Angel Campground
Address: N Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, United States
Website: Bright Angel Campground
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4. Ruby Hill
Ruby Hill is also consistently rated as one of the best campgrounds in Grand Canyon for plenty of reasons. Although it’s located in the South Rim, which is by far the most popular area, Ruby Hill offers seclusion, peace, and solitude, considering it’s a fair bit of a four-by-four drive from the most developed areas this side of the Grand Canyon. The main attraction here is the beautiful sunrise views of Point Sublime, another top campground situated in the North Rim.
Ruby Hill
Address: South Rim, Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States
5. North Rim Campground
North Rim Campground is an easy choice if you want an accessible place to camp during your Grand Canyon trip. Operated by the National Park Services, you can enjoy simple amenities here, such as a dump station, restrooms, coin-operated showers and laundry, and campsite grills. Pets are very much welcome to stay, provided they’re on leash the entire time they’re at North Rim Campground. This is also a popular spot, and while walk-ins are available, it’s best to make a reservation months ahead of your trip.
North Rim Campground
Address: North Rim, AZ 86052, United States
Website: North Rim Campground
Price: 18 USD onwards
6. Desert View Campground
Another top spot in the South Rim, Desert View Campground is quiet and with amazing views of the canyon. For these two reasons, the campground often fills up as early as 12 noon, with everyone eager to get a good spot. So, if you want to pitch your tent in a nice area, make sure to get here early - unlike other popular campgrounds around the Grand Canyon, Desert View Campground accepts visitors on a first-come-first-serve basis. If you didn’t make it, don’t worry, there are things to do here. The Desert View settlement is home to a market deli and a coffee shop where you can re-energize. Tusayan Museum, which shines the spotlight on the region’s American Indians, is located nearby.
Desert View Campground
Address: South Rim, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, United States
Website: Desert View Campground
7. Mather Campground
Located within Grand Canyon Village, Mather Campground is convenient and has everything you need to enjoy a fun camping trip at the Grand Canyon. If you don’t want to sleep in a tent, there are lodges you can rent for the duration of your stay. But if sleeping in a tent is your thing, there are over 300 campsites to choose from, each with their own campfire ring, picnic table, parking space, and enough room for at least three tents. Site amenities include flush toilets, drinking water spigots, and a dump station. Most of the campsite is shaded, thanks to the towering Ponderosa pines and juniper trees that cover the area.
Mather Campground
Address: Havasupai St, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, United States
Website: Mather Campground
Price: 6 USD onwards
8. Cottonwood Campground
Cottonwood Campground is one of the lesser-known campsites in the North Rim. For that, there’s a high likelihood you’ll get to enjoy this spot in the Grand Canyon without worrying about huge crowds and all the noise that comes with it. There are 11 small campgrounds in the area. Treated water is available, and there are composting toilets on site. You can hear Bright Angel Creek bubbling merrily while you take in the sublime views of the area. Do take note that rangers are not always available here - they often stay Roaring Springs or Phantom Range. So, exercise caution and don’t forget to bring a first-aid kit in case of emergencies.
Cottonwood Campground
Address: 20 N Kaibab Trail, North Rim, AZ 86052, United States
9. Ten X Campground
Ten X Campground is not exactly on South Rim, but it’s proximity to the Grand Canyon’s most favorite part is a draw. What we love about this campsite, however, is that it is located in the Kaibab National Forest. There’s ample shade for everyone, and you can hear the leaves rustle in the breeze at times. From here, there’s a hiking trail you can take that goes deeper into the pine forest. There are single-unit campsites, as well as areas for big groups (these ones are available first-come-first-serve only). On-site amenities include picnic tables, fire rings and pits, bathrooms, and paved parking.
Ten X Campground
Address: Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, United States
Website: Ten X Campground
Price: 10 USD onwards
10. Indian Garden Campground
Another great camping spot for trans-canyon loops, Indian Garden is perfectly situated between the Colorado River and the South Rim. It’s located along the Bright Angel Trail as well, and puts you right in the middle of scenic vistas. This is a relatively small campsite - there are a total of 15 sites, 14 of which are for small groups and one for larger parties of up to 12 people. There are composting toilets, picnic tables, and metal food storage cans. The water here is drinkable all year round so you can refill your jugs here. There’s also a ranger station where you have access to an emergency phone.
Indian Garden Campground
Address: Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, United States
Website: Indian Garden Campground
11. Trailer Village Campground
We all know road trips are fun, so if Grand Canyon is part of your itinerary and you want to stay a couple of nights in the area, you can bring your RV at Trailer Village Campground at Grand Canyon Village. It’s paved all throughout, with full hook-ups for trailer vans and RVs up to 50 feet (15.24 meters). Open all-year-round, you can bring pets here (as long they’re leashed), light charcoal fires, and easily get to the South Rim. Do take note that washing your vehicle is prohibited (there’s not a lot of water to go around) and reservations are a must.
Trailer Village Campground
Address: 100 Trailer Village Rd, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, United States
Website: Trailer Village Campground
Price: 49 USD onwards
You'll have a grand time at any one of these campsites
Don’t forget to observe campground rules, watch the stars at night, be friendly and kind to the other guests, have fun, and leave no trace to keep the areas clean and beautiful. For more Grand Canyon travel tips, do browse our website for our comprehensive guides.
Frequently asked questions about the best camping spots in the Grand Canyon National Park
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