Grand Canyon Camping Vacations

Grand Canyon Camping Travel Guide

Other Guides for Grand Canyon

Camping Destinations Near Grand Canyon

Southwest Camping States/Provinces

Parks and Outdoors Travel Destinations
Hikers in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (Ken Samuelsen/Stockbyte/Getty)

Grand Canyon Camping Highlights

By Travel Expert: Kim Lipker

  • Outside the park near Williams are several campgrounds that are open primarily May through October. Cataract Lake, Kaibab Lake, Dogtown Lake, and Whitehorse Lake are recommended sites.
  • Inside the park on the South Rim are two campgrounds. Mather Campground in Grand Canyon Village has more than 300 campsites. Reservations are available for stays between April and November. Desert View Campground is 26 miles east of Grand Canyon Village and does not accept reservations. There are 50 sites available from mid-May through October.
  • The North Rim Campground is located north of Grand Canyon Lodge and has 75 campsites open mid-May through October. Reservations are available up to five months in advance.
  • Outside the park on the North Rim are the DeMott Park Campground just outside the entrance with 23 sites, and the Jacob Lake Campground, 30 miles north of the park entrance with 53 sites.
  • Ten-X Campground is run by the National Forest Service two miles south of Tusayan. Open April to September, it has 70 campsites and is a good choice for late-in-the-day arrivals.
  • In the Kaibab National Forest you can camp just about anywhere as long as you are at least a quarter mile from a paved road or water source.
  • The Hualapai allow camping with a permit on the tribal lands at Diamond Creek. Permits are available at the Hualapai Lodge.

Grand Canyon Overview

Years ago, upon completing a hike in the Grand Canyon, I stood at the rim, gazing one last time at the colors below, and vowed right then to inform everyone I knew how lucky they were to be alive. My good intentions lasted for only a day, but it was an unforgettable one, and when it was over I realized that the canyon had moved me the way religion moves fervent believers. At the time I wasn't sure why. Only after I began work on this guide did I begin to understand all those things that, for me, make the canyon not just a beautiful place, but a sacred one as well. Read More

Hotels

from: $18
GOOD FOR CAMPING
Mather Campground
Grand Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 129
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
Distance: 1.7 Miles
(from destination center)
Parks Expert Rating
4.0 out of 5
4.0 out of 5
Traveler Rating
Not Yet Rated
Recommended for:
Parks and Outdoors travel Active and Adventure travel
expert favorite hotel
Phantom Ranch
Canyon Floor at Bright Angel and Kaibab Trail intersection
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
Distance: 1.9 Miles
(from destination center)
Parks Expert Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0 out of 5
Traveler Rating
Not Yet Rated
Recommended for:
Parks and Outdoors travel
expert favorite hotel
El Tovar
Xanterra South Rim, L.L.C., PO Box 699
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
Distance: 11.2 Miles
(from destination center)
Parks Expert Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0 out of 5
Traveler Rating
Not Yet Rated
Recommended for:
Parks and Outdoors travel Active and Adventure travel
All Grand Canyon Hotels
advertisement

Great Hotel Deals in Grand Canyon, AZ

compare rates

Attractions

Good For CAMPING
Bright Angel Trail
Grand Canyon South Rim
Grand Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 129
Grand Canyon, Arizona 86023
Distance: 1.2 Miles (from destination center)
Description:

The Bright Angel is the most popular and well... Read More

Parks Expert Rating
Not Yet Rated
Traveler Rating
Not Yet Rated
Recommended for:
Active and Adventure travel
Good For CAMPING
Point Sublime
west of Bright Angel Point
Grand Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 129
Grand Canyon, Arizona 86023
Distance: 5.0 Miles (from destination center)
Description:

Point Sublime extends far out into the Grand... Read More

Parks Expert Rating
Not Yet Rated
Traveler Rating
Not Yet Rated
Recommended for:
Active and Adventure travel
Good For CAMPING
Havasu Canyon
Havasupai Indian Reservation
P.O. Box 10
Supai , Arizona 86435
Distance: 33.9 Miles (from destination center)
Description: Towering cliffs hold a seemingly magical world of... Read More
Parks Expert Rating
Not Yet Rated
Traveler Rating
Not Yet Rated
Recommended for:
Active and Adventure travel
All Grand Canyon Attractions

Feature Articles

See All Feature Articles on Grand Canyon

GORPTravel Trips

See All GORPTravel Trips

Grand Canyon Parks and Outdoors Travel Guides

Camping | Fishing | Hiking and Backpacking: Nature: Paddling: Road and Rail Journeys:
» All Parks and Outdoors Guides
advertisement
take me fishing
Select a state:
advertisement

Travel Interest Guides

fall driving guide
Fall Driving Guide
From weekend escapes to weeks-long asphalt exploration, our experts map your dream itinerary.
New York guide
New York Guide
An interactive guide to the Empire State proves that there’s more to New York than the five boroughs.
Ski & Snowboard guide
Ski & Snowboard Guide
Top resorts, best-value spots, the latest gear, complete resort profiles, and more.
beach guide
Beach Guide
Suspend the seasonal shift by plotting a warm-weather escape to one of our expert-selected beach locales.