Your Guide to Grand
Canyon Camping.

North or south rim Grand Canyon camping can be a nightmare with the crowds. Tips to get more from your trip...

Park permits range from $10 if you walk, ski, bike, or horse it in for seven days to $50 for a permit that enables you to get into all the National Parks for a year. Although if you arrive on August 25 you'll get in free because it's the day the National Park Service celebrates it's birthday. Grand Canyon camping fees are of course in addition to the entrance fee.

The park is a very busy one with 5 million visitors per year, so if you want to do some Grand Canyon camping you'll also want to make reservations. If you're camping outside the park you'll definitely want to arrive early because parking can be challenging. The park is slower during the early spring and late fall, so if you think less people is more, schedule your trip accordingly.

You may also want to have a look at my grand canyon hiking page.

The Grand Canyon Handbook: An Insider's Guide to the Park, by Susan Frank: This is my first choice but not my only choice, for either camping or hiking. If you're going to the Grand Canyon get this book, otherwise you'll miss something. This book is original in that it's based on frequently asked questions asked of rangers. When you want to know something ask an expert. They suggest where to stay, where to eat in nearby towns, what to do around the park and more.

Frommers Grand Canyon National Park, by Alex Wells: Get a complete list of campgrounds, best hikes, where to stock up on supplies, rafting trips, and mule excursions. If you're looking for a deep backcountry hiking guide though this probably isn't the book you want. See my Grand Canyon hiking page for recommendations.

Grand Canyon Trail Map, by Kent Schulte: If you're only camping you might not need this map, but if you do plan to hike you'll want it. The map highlights 291 miles of trails, points out springs, and drinking water. It covers 308,000 acres at a 1:40,000 scale vs. National Geographic's version at 1:73,530. Somebody put some thought into it as the materials used are water and tear-resistant. Think safe, get it and a compass or Global Positioning System if you do any hiking.

Moon Handbooks: Arizona: Including Grand Canyon National Park, by Bill Weir: This book is not focused just on hiking and camping in the Grand Canyon, it covers restaurants and city life in Arizona. I didn't feel right leaving it off the list though because most people will be doing quite a bit of driving in Arizona while visiting the Grand Canyon. The author spent 8 months and over 10,000 miles on rivers, roads, and trails for content for this book. It's not perfect as it could use more directions on 'how to get there...' but really that's a small complaint when most travellers should have a good road map anyway.

Grand Canyon Camping Areas

Camping anywhere besides developed campgrounds requires a permit, so if you want to camp at the bottom of the canyon get ahold of the Backcountry Information Center. Phone: (928) 638-7875, hours are 8am-12pm and 1-5pm. Make sure to make reservations well in advance if you're serious, otherwise you might have to wait until you're next Grand Canyon camping trip. If you're looking to camp in the park you have four choices.

Grand Canyon camping in the park at the South Rim includes (this is not an endorsement, it's only for your reference): Desert View Campground, Mather Campground, and Trailer Village. Pets are allowed if on a leash and if they're attended to. Pets aren't allowed below the rim though unless they're service dogs and they should be checked in at the Backcountry Information Center.

Desert View Campground is open mid-May through mid-October as the weather allows. There are no hook-ups, sites are on a first-come-first-serve basis (no reservations).

Mather Campground is open all year, takes reservations for tent and RV camping (trailers 30 foot max.) up to 5 months ahead, but there are no hook-ups. You'll want reservations if you're going in the early spring right up until winter. Fee laundry and shower facilities are nearby. Accessible restrooms and campsites available.

Trailer Village is actually next to Mather Campground and offers hook-ups for RV's. Again you'll want to make advance reservations. There's a dump station by Mather Campground but it is closed during the winter.

North Rim Campground is open mid-May to mid-October. There are no hook-ups but there is a dump station. Laundry and showers... bring your change, there's a fee for each. Click here for online reservations for Grand Canyon Camping. Reserve up to 5 months in advance. Phone: 1-800-365-CAMP

Outside the park South Rim

Ten-X Campground is 2 miles south of Tusayan and is operated by the U.S. Forest Service. Amenities are pretty sparse so make sure you bring all the camping equipment you'll need: No showers, vault toilets (mmmm, isn't the air lovely today ;-) ), and cold water. These Grand Canyon camping sites are also first-come-first-served but they rarely book completely.

Camping "At-Large" or dispersed Grand Canyon camping is allowed by permit. Contact the Tusayan Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest, P.O. Box 3088, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023 or you can call (928) 638-2443.

Outside the park North Rim Grand Canyon camping.

DeMotte Campground is run by the U.S. Forest Service and is 16 miles north of the North Rim. Be aware that it's only open in the summer and it doesn't have hook-ups. They don't take reservations and if you're not there by high-noon you can typically assume they're booked.

Jacob Lake Campground is also run by the Forest Service and is 45 miles north of the North Rim. It's like DeMotte in that they are only open during the summer and don't take reservations either. They also don't have hook-ups.

Camping "At-Large" is also permitted but again make sure you get your Grand Canyon camping permit.