Grand Canyon Campgrounds: the Best Camping Adventures for 2025
Wondering which of the Grand Canyon campgrounds is right for you? This guide highlights the best options throughout the park, including both the South Rim and North Rim, along with a few hidden gems just outside the park boundaries.
Regardless of which site you choose, camping in the Grand Canyon is an unforgettable adventure. Long after the day trippers have gone home, you’ll get to experience the wonder of shimmering night skies and radiant sunrises – just as the park has endured for millennia.
Jump to:
- Which Campground Should I Choose?
- How to Book a Campsite
- Grand Canyon Campgrounds: South Rim
- Grand Canyon Campgrounds: North Rim
- Campgrounds Outside the Park
Which Campground Should I Choose?
Each campground in the Grand Canyon has its own benefits, depending on what you’re looking for.
With more amenities, accessibility, and a milder climate, the South Rim accounts for 90% of the park’s visitors each year. Only 10% of guests make it to the North Rim, where the wilder, more remote terrain may dissuade some, yet reward others who seek out the solitude.
Note: Mather Campground, located on the South Rim, is the only campground open year-round. All other Grand Canyon campgrounds are open seasonally, typically between mid-May to mid-October (you can view each campsite’s 2025 dates in more detail below).
How to Book a Campsite in Grand Canyon National Park
All sites can be reserved via recreation.gov up to six months in advance. Simply type in the name of the campsite you wish to book, along with your chosen dates.
Note: campgrounds typically fill up well in advance. We recommend booking as far out as you can.
Grand Canyon Campgrounds: South Rim
Mather Campground
Open: year-round
Reservations: required between March 1 – Nov. 30 each year; there are also 15 walk-up sites that become available at 8 a.m. each day (first-come, first-served).
Mather Campground is the park’s primary campground – centrally located, with 327 sites and numerous amenities.
Mather is located in Grand Canyon Village, and boasts everything from flush toilets and hot showers, to laundry services.
The park’s free shuttle bus stops also at the entrance to Mather Campground, making the rest of the park’s top landmarks, hiking trails, and viewpoints easily accessible.
Note: for a more peaceful experience, we recommend tent campers aim to reserve a site in the Pine Loop section, where generators aren’t allowed.
Desert View Campground
Open: seasonal (April 12 – Oct. 12, 2025)
Reservations: required
Located along the park’s eastern entrance, Desert View is removed from the hubbub of the South Rim’s center.
The campground’s smaller size (just 49 available sites) provides an added layer of solitude, while its proximity to the famous Watchtower (and corresponding stunning views) is an added bonus.
There are no showers at Desert View, but it does have flush toilets and drinking water.
Grand Canyon Campgrounds: North Rim
North Rim Campground
Open: seasonal (May 15 – Oct. 15, 2025)
Reservations: required
The North Rim Campground is a great option for those who want to be immersed in nature, but still have their comforts. The 87-site campground offers both flush toilets, hot showers, and laundry services.
Sitting at an elevation of 8,200 feet, campsites are enshrouded in ponderosa pines and aspen trees, creating a forested setting that feels worlds away from the stark desert just across the way.
Campgrounds Outside the Park
Tusayan – Montane (South Rim)
Open: seasonal (May 14 – Sept. 30, 2025)
Reservations: available, along with walk-ups
While technically located 4 miles south of the park entrance, Tusayan’s location in Kaibab National Forest makes it just as special as any campground within the Grand Canyon itself.
There are 160 single and double campsites available, while the campground’s 3-mile hiking trail allows you to enjoy the national forest without straying too far.
Note: no showers or flush toilets (pit toilets only).
DeMotte Campground (North Rim)
Open: seasonal (May 16 – Oct. 14, 2025)
Reservations: recommended; while there are not set walk-ups available, guests can theoretically try their luck at snagging any reserved spot that was never claimed from the day before
Located 7 miles from the North Rim park entrance, DeMotte sits in the Kaibab National Forest, with tall pines creating a serene escape. Each of the 38 available sites have their own fire pit, cooking grill, and picnic table.
Note: There are no showers or flush toilets (pit toilets only), but drinking water is available.
Have more time to explore Grand Canyon National Park? Check out our guides to the best things to do, top South Rim hikes, and itineraries for 1, 2, and 3 days.
Featured image courtesy NPS.
