Jack Fletcher| Campground | Miles from Grand Canyon | Managed by | Sites | Fee per night | Booking | Max RV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mather Campground | 0.1 | Grand Canyon National Park | 288 | $6-50 | Recreation.gov | 30 ft |
| Trailer Village RV Park - South Rim | 0.6 | Grand Canyon National Park | - | - | First come | - |
| Tusayan - Montane | 12.6 | Kaibab National Forest | 160 | $10-20 | Recreation.gov | 45 ft |
| Hull Cabin | 18.1 | Kaibab National Forest | 1 | $140 | Recreation.gov | - |
| North Rim Campground | 18.6 | Grand Canyon National Park | 87 | - | Recreation.gov | 40 ft |
| Desert View Campground | 26.8 | Grand Canyon National Park | 49 | $30 | Recreation.gov | 30 ft |
Sources: Recreation.gov, National Park Service, state and county park pages. "-" means the operator does not publish it.
South Rim Choices
Choose Mather if you want the simplest South Rim base with shuttle service. Recreation.gov lists 288 campsites at Mather, with nightly fees of $6 to $50 per site.
Your standard Mather site includes a campfire ring with cooking grate, picnic table, parking space, room for up to three tents, and up to two standard vehicles. You get flush toilets and drinking water spigots throughout the campground.
Pick Desert View if you want a smaller dry campground east of Grand Canyon Village. Recreation.gov lists 49 campsites at $30 per night, and your site has no utility, water, or sewer hookups. Two water faucets serve the campground, and you reach flushing toilets with sinks that have no hot water.
Tusayan Forest Choices
Choose Tusayan Montane if your trip works better outside the park. Recreation.gov lists 160 campsites at $10 to $20 per site, and the campground sits in Ponderosa pine and Gambel oak forest at 6,600 ft.
Your single campsite fits a maximum of 8 people and 2 vehicles. A double campsite fits a maximum of 14 people and 3 vehicles. Limited water supply means you should not plan to fill RV holding tanks there.
Choose Hull Cabin if your party wants walls, showers, and a single private booking. Recreation.gov lists 1 campsite at $140 per night, and the cabin sleeps up to six people. Use water conservatively because crews haul it from Grand Canyon National Park.
North Rim Commitment
Choose North Rim Campground only if your route already points north. You drive five hours over 215 miles between South Rim Village and North Rim Village. Grand Canyon National Park manages 87 reservable sites there.
Your high elevation plan matters because the campground sits at 8,200 ft. Use a tent or smaller RV, since large and high-profile RVs do not fit. The campground bans all wood burning and charcoal fires, including campfires.
Rigs at the Rim
Measure your full motorhome or trailer before booking inside the park. Mather and Desert View cap motorhomes or trailers at 30 feet, while North Rim Campground accepts a maximum vehicle length of 40 feet.
Tusayan Montane can help if your larger rig needs a forest base. Recreation.gov lists a maximum vehicle length of 45 feet, though pull-through sites fit RVs up to 35 feet in length.
Plan side trips before you unhitch. Cape Royal Scenic Road, Widforss Trailhead, and North Kiabab Trailhead cap your vehicle at 22 feet.
Weather at 6,978 Ft
At 6,978 ft, your campsite can turn cold after sunset even when the day feels mild. Grand Canyon Visitor Ctr records a January average high of 42°F and average low of 26°F.
May gives your spring trip an average high of 68°F. October drops to an average low of 41°F, so pack warm sleep layers even after pleasant afternoons.
June has an average high of 80°F, and September has an average high of 75°F. The South Rim stays open all year, so your season choice depends on cold tolerance and campsite access.
Average daily high and low, °F, NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Grand Canyon Visitor Ctr station.
Booking Grand Canyon Dates
Start your grand canyon camping reservations as early as your dates allow. You can reserve campgrounds up to 6 months in advance online through Recreation.gov or by calling Recreation.gov at (877) 444-6777.
Mather treats March 1 through November 30 as peak season, so your warm season dates need early attention. Desert View usually runs from mid-April to mid-October and requires advanced reservations during that season.
Tusayan Montane keeps 30 campsites for first come, first served arrivals, while you reserve the other sites through Recreation.gov. Your extra vehicle adds $5 per vehicle, per night, and check-in runs between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Kaibab Forest Camping
You can use dispersed camping at-large in the national forest outside the park. Kaibab National Forest requires your camp to sit at least 0.25mile/ 0.4 km away from Highway 64.
If you want services outside the park, Grand Canyon Camper Village operates seasonally in Tusayan. Your serviced option sits 7 miles south of Grand Canyon Village, with hookups and coin-operated showers.
Gear Picks for Grand Canyon
A water filterYour filter helps at North Rim because the campground has no potable water.
An insulated sleeping padYour pad adds insulation for December's 24°F average low.
A camping fanYour fan helps on July days with an 84°F average high.What Campers Ask About Grand Canyon
Where should you camp on the South Rim?
You should start with Mather if you want the main South Rim campground with shuttle service and no hookups. Choose Desert View if you want a smaller dry campground east of Grand Canyon Village.
Can you camp in Grand Canyon National Park?
Yes, you can camp at developed park campgrounds including Mather, Desert View, and North Rim. Your Trailer Village plan needs a current closure check because the park lists it closed due to water shortage.
Do Grand Canyon campsites have RV hookups?
Most park campgrounds do not give your RV hookups. Trailer Village has full hookups in the park description, but the park lists it closed due to water shortage.
When should you reserve a campsite?
Reserve as soon as your date opens. The National Park Service says park campgrounds book well in advance, and Recreation.gov opens many campground reservations up to 6 months ahead.
Can you camp for free near Grand Canyon?
Yes, you can use dispersed camping at-large in the national forest outside the park. Keep your site at least 0.25mile/ 0.4 km away from Highway 64.
Nearby Arizona Guides
Sources
- Recreation.gov: Mather Campground: sites, fees, vehicle length
- Recreation.gov: Trailer Village RV Park - South Rim: sites, fees, vehicle length
- Recreation.gov: Tusayan - Montane: sites, fees, vehicle length
- Recreation.gov: Hull Cabin: sites, fees, vehicle length
- Recreation.gov: North Rim Campground: sites, fees, vehicle length
- Recreation.gov: Desert View Campground: sites, fees, vehicle length
- nps.gov: camping: official page
- NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020: monthly temperatures
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service: elevation
- OpenStreetMap: roads and rivers