Mather Campground, near [Grand Canyon National Park](https://thedyrt.com/camping/arizona/near/grand-canyon-national-park), is a prime spot for those wanting to experience the breathtaking beauty of the canyon while enjoying the comforts of a well-equipped campsite. With spacious sites that come with picnic tables and fire rings, it’s perfect for gathering around the fire after a day of exploring.

This campground is known for its clean facilities, including restrooms with flushing toilets and nearby shower and laundry services. Visitors have mentioned the convenience of having drinking water stations scattered throughout the area, making it easy to stay hydrated during your adventures. One camper noted, “The car camping sites are spacious and conveniently located near restrooms.”

Wildlife is a highlight here, with elk often wandering through the campground, adding a unique touch to your stay. Plus, the easy access to shuttle services means you can quickly hop on and explore various lookouts and trails around the Grand Canyon without the hassle of driving.

While some campers pointed out that the sites can feel a bit close together, the overall atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned camper, Mather Campground offers a great base for your Grand Canyon experience.

## Overview

 Due to high demand, Mather Campground recommends reservations during peak season: March 1- November 30. You may book reservations up to 6 months in advance. Mather Campground is on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. Grand Canyon is one of the most inspiring landscapes on Earth and draws over five million visitors per year to its spectacular scenery. Mather Campground is large and can accommodate a variety of needs and comfort levels. It is the only campground within Grand Canyon Village. Scenic overlooks, the park's free shuttle bus system, the Visitor Center, the general store and hiking and biking trails are all within a few miles of the campground.. The campground is at an elevation of approximately 7,000 ft. (2134 m). Summers are sunny with high temperatures generally in the 80s. Thunderstorms frequently occur in July, August, and early September. Fall and spring are mostly sunny and cool with occasional snow. Visitors should come prepared for changes in [weather.][1] 
## Recreation

 From the campground, campers can access the Greenway, a paved walking and biking trail that leads to scenic overlooks and the Visitor Center. The Rim Trail, a paved walking trail, is one mile away and follows the edge of the canyon for 14 miles (23 km). Leashed pets are allowed on both trails, but are not permitted below the rim. Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails descend into the canyon from the South Rim (trailheads are a short shuttle bus ride from the campground) and other [Day Hiking][2] trails are available. The park's concessionaire also offers day and overnight [mule trips][3] into the canyon and along the rim. 
## Facilities

 The NPS strongly recommends advanced reservations for Mather Campground during peak season, March 1- November 30.\_\_Reservations can be made on [Recreation.gov][4] six months in advance. Mather Campground is the largest campground in the NPS system, with 327 campsites, including 7 large group sites and 2 equine sites. Each standard site (1-6 people) includes a campfire ring with a cooking grate, picnic table, parking space, room for up to three tents, and up to two standard vehicles. Group sites accommodate groups of 7-50 people, and three standard vehicles. Visitors without camping reservations may NOT take unoccupied sites. Sites must be purchased in advance on Recreation.gov, or in-person with NPS Rangers at the campground kiosk. Unoccupied sites may not be first-come, first-served, nor otherwise available. These sites may have reservations, but the campers may not have arrived yet. All visitors must check-in at the kiosk upon arrival. If arriving after-hours, you can check-in with volunteer hosts, or follow the instructions posted on the kiosk window. If arriving after 8:30pm, please check-in at the kiosk the next morning. During peak season, Mather Campground has approximately 20 first-come first-served campsites available for purchase day-of, in-person, for one night at a time. Check availability in person with NPS Rangers during kiosk open hours. During peak season, these sites usually sell out by 11:00am.\_\_There are flush toilets and drinking water spigots throughout the campground. Mather Campground does NOT have hookups available but there is a free dump station nearby at Camper Services.During peak season, generators are NOT permitted in Pine Loop (sites 265-319). Throughout the rest of the campground, generator-use is ONLY allowed from 7:00am to 9:00am, and from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Generators may be used in Pine Loop during winter operations, only during generator hours. Noise violations should be reported to on-duty NPS Rangers, volunteer campground hosts, or (after-hours) to GRCA non-emergency dispatch. All visitors are responsible for knowing the campground rules and regulations, which are listed on the Mather Campground Bulletin (emailed to you at time of reservation, available on the NPS GRCA website, available on [Recreation.gov][4] (see Additional Info Links tab), and available at the campground kiosk on the back of the site map handout). Failure to follow the rules and regulations may constitute a violation of your permit. 
## Natural Features

 Mather Campground lies beneath a tall canopy of Ponderosa pine, Pinyon, and Juniper trees that provide most campsites with ample shade. The campground is one mile (1.6 km) from the rim of the canyon. A visit to the canyon during sunrise or sunset yields spectacular views of yellow, orange, red and violet hues on the canyon walls. Layers of rock display billions of years of [geology.][5] Campers can take a short shuttle bus ride from the campground to the Visitor Center. Visitors can also visit [Yavapai Geology Museum,][6] where they learn about the forces that formed the canyon. Below, visitors can see the mighty Colorado River, which flows 277 miles (446 km) through the bottom of the canyon. [Wildlife][7] abounds on the South Rim, including elk, mule deer, coyotes, lizards, songbirds and the endangered California condor. Although condors nest below the rim, they can be seen soaring several thousand feet above the canyon in search for carrion. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Numerous visitor centers, restaurants, museums and shops are within a shuttle bus ride from the campground. Beyond the village, [Desert View][8] provides one of the widest views of Grand Canyon and the Painted Desert. The [Desert View Watchtower][9] displays the talent of architect Mary Jane Colter. [Tusayan Pueblo Museum][10] provides glimpses into the life of a small Ancestral Puebloan village 800 years ago. Both are within 25 miles (40 km) from the campground. 

[1]: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/weather-dangers.htm
[2]: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/day-hiking.htm#CP_JUMP_1910241
[3]: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/mule_trips.htm
[4]: https://Recreation.gov
[5]: https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/nature/grca-geology.htm
[6]: https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/20070524yav_rededication.htm
[7]: https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/nature/wildlife.htm
[8]: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/desert-view.htm
[9]: https://www.nps.gov/places/000/desert-view-watchtower.htm
[10]: https://www.nps.gov/places/000/tusayan-museum-ruin.htm

Mather Campground — Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Grand Canyon. Discover great camping spots near Grand Canyon, reviewed by campers like you.

Grand Canyon

The Best Camping Near Grand Canyon, Arizona

Located on the South Rim of Grand Canyon NP, Mather campground has all the amenities of a modern camp site, i.e., hot water showers, restrooms with designated sinks to wash dishes, fire rings and picnic tables. Camp site 145 is partly shaded, and a short walk from the  restroom. Like all sites at this campground site 145 is also within earshot of neighboring sites so it's easy to make new friends while sharing  stories of the day's activities over the campfire.

Site 145, Mather Campground, Grand Canyon National Park

Great camping spots.  Campground has very nice facilities.  Good starting point for hiking to different spots on South Rim.  

GREAT

Definitely a great place to camp in order to get the full outdoor GC experience. The sites are very nice, spacious with fire pits and picnic tables. The campground seemed clean and quiet. Restrooms in a good shape. The nights can get very cold (we camped there in early April and temps went down to 20's), since it's so high up (south rim elevation is about 7,000 feet above the sea level). So do some research before you decide to go camping in Grand Canyon. Tons of elk grazing in the mornings. Super serene place. Just like the rest of GC. We only stayed one night, so I didn't use showers, but I hear there is only cold water... Walking distance to the south rim of GC, makes it for easy sunrise or sunset photo opportunities. Grand Canyon Village has a decent grocery store and few fast food options. Don't speed through town... 

Beautiful and Serene 

Solid Campground, right at the south rim of the Grand Canyon!!!

South Rim Grand Canyon

The campsite is great.   Clean, well maintained, but if you are looking to be out in nature this isn't the place.   You are very close to all the other campers.   If having facilities is crucial to you, by all means make a reservation (fills up fast).  But otherwise I'd suggest camping on forest land down the road

Great location, always crowded

Campground is in an excellent location, but is crowded year round. Decent sized sites that allow tents and RVs. Little to no seclusion or privacy. Sites are reservable. Firewood is expensive ($8 per bundle) so bring your own if you can. Pay $30 entrance fee + the cost of the site. Bathhouse costs extra $.

Excellent location, crowded

Conveniently located if you want to get to the park because you are right there but the place was not clean and noisy. Would not return and would recommend going out to TenX for the best experience.

site: decent sized sites. not very private. wooded.
amenities:  large campground. very busy. showers near. laundry facilities. near bus stop.
attractions: near the ‘action.’ wildlife milling around the campground.
I might camp here again, but preferred less busy.


average

Water was rationed when I went so little drinking water. The showers didn't work either.. The Grand Canyon was beautiful and the view was worth it but the camp was not in good shape when I went.

No water

I feel like this is a park that you give up privacy and a 'back to nature' experience, so you can be in the heart of Grand Canyon National Park. This campground is near the rim of the canyon, hiking, and other convinces. It's a great, close, place to spend the nights at during your park stay. 

close to the rim, lacks privacy

Everything close by, buses to Grand Canyon
 ( perfect for hikers)  campsites a little close to each other , but I understand they are trying to  accommodate  many travelers .  General store has everything .  Will stay again on my next hiking adventure of Grand Canyon

Mather's Grand Canyon

This was such a beautiful and well kept Campground however we have gone on a weekday and it seems pretty busy definitely not a campground if you are looking to be alone

Beautiful, yet crowded

Such a beautiful area and you're able to take hikes to get away from the people however in the campgrounds it is slightly crowd if they're not very big camp sites and the campgrounds seem like they fill up pretty quickly definitely worth it to see such a beauty as the Grand Canyon

Accommodates many people

Non electric but we had a great view of the stars, stayed in July hot during the day and cold at night, had trees around our site so we could have our live infinitely hammock! Very cute site 

Best view of the stars at night! 

Nice and clean campground. You'll need to make sure to book well in advance to reserve a spot here even though there are several hundred campsites in this spot. This is a convenient campground location close to park access and many many amenities! It can seem a bit crowded, but still caught a few glimpses of coyotes in the morning. I'd stay here again!

Convenience

This campsite was so big. This site is very popular so you should check in very very early. It was absolutely cold at night. The temperature dropped to 30 degrees and everyone wanted warm showers. The showers were 2 dollars for 8 minutes. The  site was 18 dollars and it was 30 dollars for entering the park. We had a nps annual pass. I recommend getting one if you go to any national Parks really often. You will save a lot of money. This place has a lot of campers so you will receive very little privacy. At night make sure to have a good sleeping bag because it can drop down to 18 degrees at night.

Nice and hot


Stayed at site 142.  Absolutely wonderful campground - largest in the Grand Canyon NP.  When we arrived, the campground was technically full with “No Vacancy” signs posted.  We actually pulled in thinking that we could ask them where else to stay for the night, but one of the park admins was kind enough to check for cancellations and told us that there was an administrative site available - wonderful!  My dad was able to use his National Park senior citizen pass, so we paid a whopping $9 for the site.  Very nice, private gravel tent sites with a great picnic table fire ring - all the standard stuff.  Really appreciated the quiet and respectful nature of the campground as well.  Right in the park, so obviously very close to everything that you want to do.  Amazing!

Wonderful campground

The campsite is typical for a national parl..Showers are avaliable using coin machine.

I was here during the government shot down and we had the park all to ourselves which was great.

Be aware of the Elk walking at night 



Grand Canyon 

We camped there the second week of March during spring break. It was perfect! Cold at night but the facilities were very nice and accommodating. Water, restrooms and showers were all provided, good table and fire rings as well. 

Cold but fun

We camped on the south rim of the Grand Canyon the night before our hike down.  Our hiking crew was arriving from a couple of different places, so this was a perfect place to meet up.  We had supplies for hiking down into the canyon for a couple of nights, but we ate at one of the cafeteria's in the south rim park just to keep things simple the night before the hike.

Camping on the Rim - Site 226

Mather Campground in withing the Grand Canyon South Village Area and very accessible to all that the park has to offer. With regular shuttle runs not far you can access just about anywhere easily. When we arrived the campground was full (early Sept) but the rangers were just great and told us our options. Showers are available for a fee and you can't beat being at the canyon rim for sunset! Elk and other critters are all around so keep an eye out (especially at night!) Sights are not very large but everyone was very respectful. Great way to just park and play - almost never having to move your vehicle for your whole visit :-)

Camping Close to the rim....

This campground seems to me the most popular at the South rim. It is in a great central location. Very close to The Rim Trail, Desert View Dr., Visitors center, and the town of Tusayan where you can find anything you might need, including the Imax Theater and helicopter tours. If you are lucky enough to visit here on a clear night, you can expect to see a spectacular night sky. Don't stay up too late though, you'll want to be up to watch the sun come up over the canyon. Probably the best sunrise I've ever watched. 

Close to South Rim. Amazing Scenery.

The tent sites are very nice, with lovely trees for shade. This is an amazing park, I can't wait to go back!

A great campground

This campground was a great way to start out our journey down into the canyon. There was running water in the bathroom and places to dispose of garbage as well as a place for campfires. Only down side was how crowded the campground got. 

Easily accessible with plenty of amenities

Beautiful sites but extremely over crowded .  Stayed 1 night to begin the rim to rim challenge. Showers and laundry.  too many people for me. But that is 1 hike off my list

South Rim camping

The Grand Canyon Natonal Park is spectacular! Me and my girlfriend camped at Mather Campground and enjoyed our visit very much! Facilities were above average for most primal sites. And the sites were breathtaking! We will be back for sure!

Mather Campground

This was my first time to the Grand Canyon and I was lucky enough to snag a last minute camping spot at Mather.   Mather is in the park and $18. Using the recreation.gov website to book was easy enough and the actual campsite was pretty good. Lots of dirt and pine needles and rocks so we needed to clear a pretty decent area before we could set up. It gets incredibly dark at night (within 45min of the sunset) but the stars are truly incredible. I'd advise cooking before sunset!   Each campsite had a grate covered fire pit. The general store is of course overpriced but literally had everything you could possibly need so don't fret if you forget lighter fluid, firewood, enough beer, etc.   Mather was pretty crowded but it was a great first experience at the Grand Canyon. We were there in mid-July (2016) and could sleep very comfortably at night. Will definitely be back!

Great but very crowded!

This was my first time to the Grand Canyon and I was lucky enough to snag a last minute camping spot at Mather. Mather is in the park and $18. Using the recreation.gov website to book was easy enough and the actual campsite was pretty good. Lots of dirt and pine needles and rocks so we needed to clear a pretty decent area before we could set up. It gets incredibly dark at night (within 45min of the sunset) but the stars are truly incredible. I'd advise cooking before sunset! Each campsite had a grate covered fire pit. The general store is of course overpriced but literally had everything you could possibly need so don't fret if you forget lighter fluid, firewood, enough beer, etc. Mather was pretty crowded but it was a great first experience at the Grand Canyon. We were there in mid-July (2016) and could sleep very comfortably at night. Will definitely be back!

Great but Crowded!

My mom and I were not campers before we took off on our 3000 mile journey strictly sticking to camp grounds for our accommodations. Therefore we were unaware of the whole idea of campgrounds being booked a year in advance. Fortunately we were able to slip in because of a cancelation- but I would advise reservations!! This was a great spot other than being a bit crowded. We had some awesome camp neighbors within view- so if you're looking for privacy this isn't the place. Having the bus system was a nice asset, along with being among the first to be able to creep out and catch the sunrise in the morning. It's nice to be right in on the action- would definitely suggest this over staying outside the park! 

Lucked out.

If you come here at the ends and beginning of the seasons.  It is awesome.  Hardly anyone here and its the Grand Canyon son!

What is not to like?

Go!  Actually for how big the campground is, it doesnt feel too crowded or crunched.  

Its the Grand Canyon folks!

You're right off the south rim and have easy access to the views and lots of amenities. 
This crampground will get crowded and if you want to get a spot definitely try making a reservation online before heading over. Although there are hundreds of sites. If you're in a tent try for the pine loop as it is supposed to be generator free.

Lots of restroom, running water and pay showers/laundry. You get your standard fire ring and table and while you are in the desert the tree coverage isn't awful and helps a little...

Could use a little more privacy. 

Easy access, but crowded

This was a great campground! A solid plot to set up camp and relax for the night before hiking all day. Had nice facilities to go the bathroom as well as a large supply area to get fire wood and any other supplies that you may have forgotten anything. 

Great! Look forward to going back!

Spent a great weekend Camping in the GCNP at Mather Campground while teaching a wilderness medicine course.  Campsites were clean and bathrooms also were well kept and stocked!  Built a campfire and cooked out with friends.   Shuttles to the canyon and trailheads run all day!  Patrolled regularly and always felt safe and sound!  Some creature ate a hole in the water jugs...but hey...there was water available close by :)

Weekend at Mather

Mather is a campground in a location that is absolutely magnificent. The view that you can get of the Grand Canyon at the south rim is like no other. As you look over the 18 mile canyon, you think you are dreaming because of the vast size of it and how huge it really is! This is a location that I would highly recommend traveling to if you can!

Mather Campground - Grand Canyon

Because it's a large, park, multipurpose campground, it can be crowded and noisy. Especially if you are tent camping. Easy access to all amenities and rim of canyon.

Large campground, still fills up, access to park

Stayed here in March of 2016\. The campground was clean and well kept. The lots were well sized and located close to the general store. The campground is also very close to the rim trail making hiking easily accessible.

Great campground

Great campground in RMNP. I stayed at site 6 towards the end of April for 2 nights. Mather' sites are well spaced with great tree coverage for shade. The campground is close to showers and the store fore supplies. Water and toilets are centrally located for easy access. I would recommend this site because of its location in the park.

Mather CG GCNP

We stopped in at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon for a night and it was breathtaking. The views are absolutely amazing and let you know how small you really are. There were tons of Elk running around there too, and they had no problem ignoring us and going about their business. The facilities are clean and convenient. The lodges and hotels offer dining if you don't want to cook over the campfire -- the Maswick Cafeteria even has a locally-sourced veggie burger for vegans and vegetarians.

We can't wait to go back for a longer visit and really enjoy the trails.

Epic Views and Lots of Elk

Good plot with a firepit, picnic bench, and plenty of trees to hang up our hammocks! The bathrooms were nice and clean and had access to water.

Awesome Campsite! 

I consider myself some what ocd when it comes to preparing for camping trips, although on this occasion, of all things to forget, the tent was left behind! That's all part of the adventure though, right? Great location, close to the rim of the canyon, convienent bathrooms although the shower was a bit of a walk from the campsite. How can you complain about having access to a shower though when camping? Overall, great experience.

Mather Point Campground

Beautiful spacious campground. Mule deer hanging out near by. Quiet and bathrooms clean with flushing and running water. Able to purchase food at the general store for affordable prices!

Best campground

This is a HUGE campground (over 300 sites), but very clean and well maintained. Make reservations in advance (like, months in advance) or you might not be camping tonight. Clean bathrooms, pay showers are close by as well as a very well stocked general store for anything you are lacking. One of the best parts of this campground is the free shuttle that takes you to the rim and visitors center. It makes the mile one less that you need to hike after pounding the trails all day (I'm not sure how late the shuttle runs, but it seamed to go until at least 9 pm). It gets dark here, like, really dark, so be sure to get your campsite set up before the sun goes down so you can see where the fire pit and picnic table is in relation to your tent. Decent tent pad, fairly level. The campground quieted down around 10pm, but you could still hear vehicles on the nearby roads until about 11pm.

Crowded but convenient

While this is like many National Park campgrounds - crowded and not very wild - the grand canyon is spectacular and this was an awesome place for us to stop on a road trip.

Grand Canyon is a STUNNER! 

Mather campground offers very spacious sites, with clean bathrooms, showers &amp; laundry facility within walking distance. There is also a shuttle station to take you to all of the attractions throughout the park. Mather campground is only a short drive from the General Store, which has a water refill station, grocery store, and camping supplies with very reasonable prices. Overall, a wonderful experience!

Wonderful!

This campsite was perfect in every way. The site was spacious, had a store near by, close to shuttle services and the canyon. The bathrooms were clean as well. Highly reccomend!

Best campsite I've stayed at 

**Campsite Review:**

If you prefer to camp in locations where you can't see your nearest neighbor this is probably not the campsite for you. With over 300 campsites your neighbors are plenty and close.

Now, if you're fine with close neighbors then this is an amazing site. With a general store, laundry mat, flush toilets and pay showers, this camping area is pretty cool. But the best thing is that there are shuttles that take you to throughout the area around the canyon for FREE.

Most of the campers that were there while we were there camped in tents, but there is room for the smaller RVs and campers to be able to camp here without much problem. Biggest thing is GET A RESERVATION EARLY, and I don't mean a month before you go early. I mean 6 months before you plan on going to the canyon. There is a first-come, first-served site (Desert View) about 30 miles north of Mather, but it usually fills up about 10 am every morning.

For a video review of this campsite [click here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8YuJQc9CA8&amp;feature=youtu.be).

**Product Review:**

As a Ranger for TheDyrt, I occasionally get products to test, and on this trip I was able to test the [Double Hammock](https://www.grandtrunk.com/collections/hammocks-1/products/parachute-nylon-hammock) form [Grand Trunk.](https://www.grandtrunk.com/) I've had other single hammocks from Grand Trunk before and loved them. So, I was excited to try out the double hammock. I had heard that regardless of if you plan on using the hammock by yourself or with another person the space in the double is the way to go and boy were they right.

I love laying out in this double hammock whenever I get the chance. Whether that is out in the courtyard during lunch or out in the backcountry on a camping trip, I love hammock.

I love that this hammock comes standard with a set of straps so you are ready to go as soon as you get it. But, I definitely recommend purchasing a set of [Trunk Straps](https://www.grandtrunk.com/collections/suspension-systems/products/trunk-straps) when you get your hammock. They will definitely make life with the hammock a lot easier!

For an extended video on this product [click here](https://youtu.be/6XTp3QIRBLU).

**Camping with the GO: Day 6**

During our road trip around the US, I was able to try out the [GO](https://www.sylvansport.com/go/) camper from [SylvanSport](https://www.sylvansport.com/). Today was one of the warmer nights that we've had while sleeping in the GO, but we weren't affected to much because of how well the GO is ventilated. Fall in love with something new each day!

Ranger Review: Grand Trunk Double Hammock at Mather Campground, AZ

We stayed at Mather Campground in mid-September, and the weather was (mostly) perfect! The park itself and the campground were fairly calm by Grand Canyon standards, and the campground especially was very quiet. We stayed in Juniper Loop, which is a tent-only nonelectric loop. We definitely saw our fair share of vans and small RVs, but we didn't hear a single generator, which is always a plus!

The campground itself is very accessible to most of the activities on the South Rim, and there are shuttle stops near the campground if you choose to take the shuttles rather than driving your own car (a good idea, especially in the summer when the park is PACKED). There are nice big concrete picnic tables (which I like, because you can actually clean if you spill or there's bird poo) and nice fire rings in every site. The roads throughout the campground, including parking areas at each site, are paved.

We were there right in the middle of the elk rut, and it was fun to hear elk bugling and see them wandering through the campground. When we went to shower one morning there was a bull elk hanging out in the parking lot too!

The bathroom facilities here are flush toilets, and the bathrooms are kept clean and well-stocked. The shower facilities are coin operated, but clean and warm and well planned out with good curtains between the actual shower area and the changing area. The coin operated laundry is in the same building as the showers, near the entrance to the campground.

The only bummer we personally experienced was that it started raining early (4am ish) on the day we left, and continued to rain for the rest of the day. This certainly isn't a reflection on the campground at all, in fact the hosts were very generous about letting us stay a little past normal checkout time to see if it would clear up and allow our tent to dry before putting it away. We were a little surprised to experience so much rain, but we still had a great time at the park!

Perfect Campground for South Rim Exploration

When I visited Grand Canyon as part of my national park road trip, I decided to try my luck to find a site near the south rim. I figured it would be a long shot, but I asked the attendant if they had any cancellations and sure enough, they did! I'm glad I asked. This campground is directly on the main drag in the south rim village.

It's nice how they have a bus shuttle at the entrance to the grounds that will take you to rim proper. It also connects you with the shuttle up to hermits rest. This place is unbelievable! The sunsets almost can't be beat (oregon coast is best). There is so much to do here; hiking, backpacking, bike rentals... next time I visit I will have to backcountry camp, there are miles of open wilderness to explore. There is also a nice restaurant with full bar and small shops around to get some last minute items and snacks.

Back at camp they have many amenities, including a full service laundry mat with plug-ins for charging. Big bathrooms with showers as well as give and take supply drop. This is one of America's must see destinations and now I know why. I must return with a week or more of time to play.

I was unfortunately only able to stay one night as the grounds were fully booked. So, in the morning I packed up to start my next leg. As soon as i was loaded, I looked back to my tent area to find an Elk eating its breakfast right where my tent was. Apparently I was sleeping on her food. An experience I wasn't expecting with so many people around. Gotta go back!

**PROS:**

*   access to rim and other areas
*   Services on site
*   Unreal landscape

**Cons:**

*   Busy, busy, busy

Unreal beatuy

Very very busy, must make reservations well in advance. We were lucky to get one weekday with only 2 weeks notice. Sites are comfortably spaced, and Elk roam freely. Check the weather because it can be sunny &amp; warm today, and be snowing with hail tomorrow. Convenient dump station too!

Mather Campground, Grand Canyon, AZ

Plenty of bathrooms within walking distance. Freshwater available at spigots but check with camp host of it's turned on.

showers and laundry located at campground entrance . You can also purchase ice here during buisness hours.

3 Day trip in October. The temps dropped into the teens so be ready for some cold temps at the rim of the canyon.

5 people - 2 two man and 1 one man tents. Plenty of room but be careful not to camp outside your sites boundry as they're not clearly sectioned between sites.

Loads of elk walking through the campsite!

Beautiful Sites

This is near the main place that people visit and it is always full you need to make reservations very very far in advance (months). If you can get a reservation it is a very nice place to stay and convenient to the rim and museums with the free bus system. This is somewhere every American should visit and this campground is the perfect place to stay...relatively clean (given all the people), well organized, a store, many trees, so much wildlife. This is a very large campground with a very “classic” national parks camping feeling. You will love it, but if you want more solitude and remote wilderness experience you may want to look elsewhere...or I have heard it is less crowded in winter (Dec-Apr). Enjoy!

Grand Canyon South Rim 

We stayed here in December and it was wonderful during the day. Nice and warm but then at night holy guacamole did it get cold. We weren't allowed to collect wood inside the national park campground..so we drove outside the campground and filled our entire SUV with wood and had a raging fire the entire night. There were not many people camping while we were there so the few people near us who saw our fire came and joined us the evening.

We met an awesome couple from canada. They brought over the bottle of fire ball while we got the fire going and then we proceeded to drink fireball and heat up. The camp site was huge. And the views of the grand canyon are just amazing. Obviously hiking, rafting, mountain biking. The grand canyon is wonderful.

Cheers!

Its cold in December!

First time to Grand Canyon. We stayed two nights in Mather Campground on the South Rim in October. It was easy to navigate the south rim, so getting in after dark, it wasn't a problem finding and setting up camp. Mather is fairly close to the overlooks so we had gotten up early to catch the sunrise and it did not disappoint. This was followed by making breakfast using our BioLite Campfire Stove 2\. There are numerous wildlife that make their way around the campground that are somewhat foreign to east-coasters (elk), and it was amazing to see them somewhat up close. We camped with parents and even though a canyon hike was out of the question, we were able to tool around on the south rim by taking the hop-on/off bus to checkout the various stops. Highly recommended are: getting up early to see the sunrise, NPS-led talks/hikes, a good camera, and cooking at the site.

Not Just a Hole in the Ground

A friend and I stayed at Mather for two nights in January on our cross country road trip from NC to CA. The temperature got into the 20’s at night, so it was chilly, but we had layers, sleeping bags, and blankets. The campsite had a picnic table, a fire ring, a grill cover for the fire ring, and bathrooms nearby. The bathrooms had flush toilets and sinks along with a water spicket outside. There was also a facility near the campground with pay hot showers, laundry, and nicer bathrooms. I loved the location of this campground because it was so close to everything! It was near the market, bus stop, visitor center, and the middle of the South Rim. Would definitely stay there again!

Cold but fun! 

My father came to town &amp; none of us have ever seen the Grand Canyon so we decided to camp at Mather. It was my husband's &amp; my toddler's first time camping. My daughter wanted to chase the elk, build rock towers, &amp; explore EVERYTHING. It was amazing to watch her learn &amp; explore. During the day we saw elk raming around the grounds &amp; through our site. At night we heard the elk walking around in our campsite &amp; calling across the grounds. We had a fantastic time, even in the cold, &amp; my husband is now very very excited to plan more camping &amp; hiking trips.

Elk Everywhere!

The tent sites are big, and the sites in general are well spaced. The campground was pretty quiet, even though it was fully booked. The bathrooms are clean, but spare - typical NPS bathrooms. We enjoyed the birdwatching in the campground, and the elk that came to graze. There are tons of trees in the sites, great for hammocks! Each site has a big concrete picnic table, and a fire ring with a grill. Showers are available for a fee at the entrance to the campground. We spent some time sitting amongst the trees in our site, and escaping the crowds on the South Rim.

One of my favorites!

We stayed for 2 nights in late April. Chilly at night and in the mornings, which was expected. Large campground with multiple loops, typical of most NPS campgrounds. Lots of sites but we didn't feel like we were on top of our neighbors. Plenty of trees. We stayed in the Pine Loop (site 295) in a campervan. Parking area was level. No generators on this loop, which made it a little quieter than being next to larger RVs. Picnic table and fire ring at each site. Bathroom was a short walk, they were clean (typical campground bathrooms). Showers were a bit of a longer walk (rough after a 20 mile hiking day, but they aren't too far - maybe a half mile from our site?) This campground was a perfect convenient home base for exploring the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. It's busy and books up well in advance, so be sure to make a reservation if you need to guarantee a spot. Park shuttle is a short walk and can take you all of the viewpoints, visitors centers, and major trailheads easily.

Quiet, Clean, Very convenient for exploring the South Rim

We loved our stay in this campground, short walk to the shuttle bus. The campground is well kept and the restrooms are clean.

Staff was very friendly and helpful during our stay.

Clean and Convenient 

Happy to have a campsite in the park, the convenience was worth it. The kids loved exploring, there is a lot of space for kids to explore without bumping into other sites. The bathrooms did not have running water during our stay.

Our site was in a mixed area (tent/rv), the generators seemed to run later into the evening then I would have liked but not a huge problem. Also be mindful of the ravens, they are just waiting to snag your food- do not leave food unattended.

Convenient and mostly clean

This campground has everything you'd need for your typical camping trip. We rented a campervan in March and it was perfect. The location itself lends to easy access to the entire park with use of the park shuttle. The bathrooms were clean and at that time of year, never crowded. The campsite itself was not over crowded, we felt like we had our privacy even with full vacancy. I'd definitely come back.

Perfect little spot

Great campground for location purposes, easily walkable to the shuttle which takes you right up to the Grand Canyon, we even walked back after and did not take the shuttle and that was very do able. Also the campground was full of beautiful elk ! Only con no showers on site.

Tent camping

If you stay at Mather, you'll see enough elk that it won't even seem like a big deal after a while! They wander the campground and hang around the entrance. They're looking for water. We saw a couple in a backyard of the residential area while we were biking.

Loved this campground. We were there 4 nights - first night at one site and three more at another. We're not planners, so we snag our reservations on recreation.gov when other people cancel - and they do! And sometimes they don't; it's a shame that people make a reservation and never show up. Other people end up heading out for dispersed camping even though sites are not used. I think some people show up around 10 or 11 at night, camp on an unused site, and leave by 6 am. (Not endorsing this...it would be embarrassing to get caught!)

Biking! The only time we used our car was to go to Tusayan for dinner one night. You can even bike on a paved path to Tusayan. We covered that as well as the entire South Rim via bike. Best biking is the Hermit Road; only shuttle buses and bikes are allowed on this road. In the early morning, you can pretty much have this road to yourself. Amd I think this western side of the South Rim is better than the crowded Eastern side.

Ok....back to the campground. It's quiet; people are tired at night because they've been out all day. Bathrooms are fine, potable water is available, and showers ($2 for 8 minutes) are at the campground entrance. If you want electric/water/sewer hookups, you need to go to the RV campground in the park. It's close to Mather. You won't see elk there.

Wi-Fi - best reception is at the park headquarters. It's not great at the store, but the store has a good craft beer selection at decent prices.

This is what Grand Canyon camping should be - and you WILL see elk!

This campground is in a great location in the park and is very close to the South Rim. It is pretty and well kept. It can be very crowded though!

Great location, pretty

there is a lot of traffic but that’s to be expected at a place like the Grand Canyon. they do a great job of keeping the place secluded, despite all of the people. Elk and mule deer also roam around the campground frequently. 

great place

We really enjoyed our time here at Mather. If you plan on staying more than 2 days visiting the Grand Canyon, stay in the park.

We were in Loop B, which was plenty far from the showers, laundry and shuttle. If I were to plan again, I'd try and get loop A, as we did so much walking and hiking aside from just in the campground. If you are walking to the shuttle to go west, just keep walking to the market and get on that one, as it's 4 more minutes of walking and the bus there cuts out 3 extra stops.

All sites are pretty well spaced out, enough privacy. Hammocks allowed so that was great.

My biggest gripe is the lack of funding for this park. The showers and bathrooms desperately need updating. Additionally, the campground boasts WiFi in the laundry/shower house in all literature and pamphlets, but they don't have it. The workers say they have never had it and don't know why it's listed. Considering that there is barely any cell coverage, WiFi is helpful for people who are staying here for long periods of time and need to check in with others. For example, we always let someone know our hiking plans for safety reasons, but couldn't send any type of message due to lack of coverage. Again, this is a funding issue. The employees were always helpful.

Great location.. needs updating.. 

Ponderosa Pines makes the campground feel isolated and secluded but you're incredibly close to the camp store and South Rim.

Very clean bathroom facilities, picnic tables and fire rings.

Very dark and quiet at night - an awesome campground all around 


Wake up to Elk!

This campground has well over 200 sites for hikers, bicyclists, backpackers, car campers etc!

RVs have a separate camping area for some sites in Mather can accommodate a small trailer without hookups.

It is not too expensive just expect it to be up to $20 or $22 a night. Multiple tents can fit in each site but parking is not always the best. Carpool when you can!

The South Rim general store is within easy walking distance depending on where your site isn,half a mile or less.

Grand Canyon's South Rim is also within a mile,there are some great bicycle/walking paths that are paved from the campground to the Visitor Center and Rim.

Very cold in the winter and very warm in the summer by the way!!

WONDERfully close!

This campground had everything we needed! There was A fire pit and grill , restrooms just across the travel road from our site with water and electric. It was acceptable, clean, quiet and shower close to the south rim.

Ideal campground

This campsite was a highlight of a roadtrip i took in April this year. There were elk everywhere, the campsite was beautiful and clean. Definately reccomend it. Some tips: when I went it got pretty cold and windy so just make sure to be prepared. ROCKS on stakes and all that. No fires were aloud because of the wind advisories.

There is a bus that pickes you up for free right outside the campground that you can use to travel all over the grand canyon to various spots. It made it a lot more convienient to travel around the parks.

enjoy your trip!

Road trip highlight

This is an awesome campground within a short walk to the south rim of Grand Canyon. RVs and tents are allowed. There’s no electrical hook-up at tent sites, but you have fresh dirt, a picnic table and a small charcoal pit with grill rack. Bathrooms are centralized and showers cost $2\. Dog friendly, and fun! Just be advised it’s monsoon season in the summer if you plan to tent camp. Also, when we went no campfires were allowed.

Camp at the South Rim of Grand Canyon!

Drive in spots for tents and RV camping. Restrooms available with water access. Perfect place for a quick walk to the canyon for sunrise or sunset. Very family friendly!

Perfect night in the Grand Canyon 

Camping at the Grand Canyon is a must do for any traveler seeking the views of a lifetime. When I called to inquire reservations were highly suggested. When we arrived we understood exactly why, the campground at Mathers was at capacity.

When we pulled in there was a line assembled to check in during the late afternoon. Though long it went quickly and by the time I had made it to the front with my reservation the park ranger was quick to give me a map and directions.

Our site for the next two nights was 109, a primitive tent site on the third loop. When we arrived it was clearly marked and easy to navigate into with our small car. The only confusion came when attempting to identify where our tent was supposed to be positioned. There was no clear cut tent pad designated so we found the best area and set up for the stay.

The ground here was hard and rocky, much more difficult to drive in tent stakes. The grounds themselves contained nice tree coverage and a picnic table and fire ring.

Despite the harsh feeling of the rocky ground, when it was time to sleep we slept very well. The wind had been very aggressive when we first arrived but had died down since our arrival. I do recommend a bed roll or bed pas for sleeping which gives a little cushion. Our set up was perfect with some of the heavier blankets lining the floor for cushion.

Bathrooms were only about 75 yards from our campsite and were accommodating for both flushing toilets and pay showers. I do recommend bringing quarters if you plan on using the facilities for showers.

There is also an onsite laundry facility at the check in station.

The camping ground is positioned on the blue loop shuttle which will take you pretty much anywhere else you would like to go once you get into the park. I strongly advise using this system rather than driving to each lookout because parking can become difficult at lookouts.

Don't expect a ton of cell service in the mountain region. Cell service was hit or miss depending on what area of the camp or trails we were in, but that can be expected with the remote nature.

🐰🐰🐰🐰🐰

All in all we give this a 5 of 5 Bunnies for the well maintained roads, site spacing, clean facilities and helpful staff.

For more information about the campground and also the Grand Canyon adventure we took check out these videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byMOIVZxZe0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wUJGh4Cy1w

Loved it so much I went back a second time!

highly recommend camping in the park! we arrived pretty late at night and had to assemble the tent in the dark, but it was private and quiet, a plus. we were close to the bathrooms, which were clean. and we woke up early to catch the sunrise, would do again! 

private and woodsy 

Really big space - we had two tents with plenty more room! Fire pit and picnic table. Paved parking spot. Bathrooms closeby. Really far into park. Lots of amenities right outside the campground including groceries, restaurant and bar, and post office.

They do post your name on the pole with site # too which is nice.

Thunder is loud and scary. Just a heads up!

Spacious sites 

Campground was nicely kept and comfortably fit 3 tents, but also very crowded and could hear our neighbors on either size all night.

Nice size spots, but very crowded

Reserve your site early!!! We camped over spring break in March 2018 &amp; reserved our nights in October 2017. 
The primitive site itself is nothing all that special, but it’s everything you need. Despite the heavy traffic the Grand Canyon sees, the campsites are not crammed together. They are spacious &amp; well-kept. There are lots of big rocks embedded in the ground, so be mindful when you set up your tent—particularly if it’s a big tent—so that you can sleep well. The bathrooms at the campground are nice &amp; clean &amp; the showers are worth the quarters if you’re camping multiple nights. 
I heard footsteps one morning &amp; looked out to see elk outside our tent! They roam the campground pretty consistently so you can hope to see some during your visit. 

Wonderful Place to Camp!

This campground is the most pristine campground I’ve ever camped at. Gorgeous, great facilities, friendly elk. Great walking trails around and short drive to fantastic trailheads!

Pristine campground 

We camped there for 3 nights. In the first place we were surprised that you could camp at the Grand Canyon (not from a campers circle), we just thought you could stay at the lodges. Once we got there we found a great place where to put our tent, very spacious (its designed for max. 6 pax), park our car roght next to the tent and a picnic table and a fire ring. We had some neighbours, but they were far enough that you didn't need to hear their conversations. There were bathrooms and water pumps almost everywhere and showers at the entry (paid, $8 in quarters for 8 min) The store nearby (15 min walking from our campsite, wasn't expensive, in case you need something last minute) There were also free shuttles that would take you all around without having to move the car

Great experience!

We camped at Mather Campground a couple of years ago when my brother was driving from California to Boston, MA for his big move. He and his girlfriend reserved a site in Mather for a couple nights before heading to New Mexico to visit her family before the big move. My boyfriend and I️ decided to tag along LAST MINUTE for the first leg of their journey and join them in the Grand Canyon, as I️ had never seen it before.

Had we not been able to stay in the site my brother had reserved months in advanced, there is no way we would’ve gotten a site so last minute. GCNP is an extremely busy NP year round, and during the non-snowy months the campgrounds are packed with campers. With that being said, and considering how huge Mather Campground is (there’s hundreds of sites!), the campgrounds did not feel like a sardine can - I️ was surprised by the spacious site lots, we had plenty of room for two tents on the site, even having two vehicles.

Most of the campsite loops that I️ saw are amongst trees, but they do not provide total shade coverage or privacy from your neighboring sites. There were definitely enough trees to set up a hammock, so if you have one, bring it along! It would also be easy to string up extra tarps for shade or cover from potential storms.

Each site had a fire ring and a picnic table (be aware that fire bans are put into place at certain times during the year, so you may not be able to use that fire pit). The plumbed bathrooms were clean, and coin-operated showers are available right outside the campground, along with laundry facilities. There is a well-stocked general store inside the NP which is handy if you need to replenish your camp kitchen or if you forgot something. There are also restaurants available inside the NP village.

There is a shuttle station right outside of Mather, only a couple minutes away by foot. All of the NPS shuttles are efficient and timely, we like to utilize them whenever we are in a NP, wether you have to or not - using the shuttle decreases the congestion and pollution inside the national park, and keeps wildlife, cyclists, and pedestrians visiting the park safer. The GCNP shuttle can take you all around the Grand Canyon - it’s a great way to see the park!

The noise pollution from the road isn’t terrible inside the campground at night, road can be heard - there is a lot of travel in and out of GCNP. Also, campers rise early early to catch the sunrise over the canyon or to beat the heat while hiking, so there is definitely a bit of noise made about the campground in the early morning hours.

Be mindful that the Mather sites do not have any sort of food lockers, and there are a lot of critters running around the campground including rodents and elk! There are quite a few BOLD elk roaming around the campground and NP - they seem pretty darn comfortable around people, and go through campsites looking for food and water. Even though they seem relaxed and tame, the elk are still very large, wild animals, and can do some serious damage if provoked. **DO NOT** approach them, and be respectful and leave them plenty of space. The rodents are relentless, as they always tend to be - be sure to lock all of your food up inside your car at night!

This area is known to have scorpions, rattlesnakes, and other creepy crawlers roaming around. I️ wouldn’t be too worried about rattlesnakes within the campground area, but you never know; be alert, especially around rock piles and pits where they could be hiding. We did not see any scorpions in the campground, but I️ would still suggest keeping your tents zipped up tight at ALL TIMES and keeping your shoes inside your tent or the car - if you keep your shoes out overnight, or any time, really, be sure to knock them together a few times to make sure nothing crawled inside.

Be aware: the ground is HARD and ROCKY. The dirt is hard and packed in, so it was actually very challenging to drive the tent stakes into the ground, even with the help of the butt of a hatchet. Also - the ground is not smooth, and there’s a lot of rocks embedded in the ground. Be sure to bring a thick camp pad or an air mattress, otherwise you are in for an uncomfortable night. 

Dogs were allowed in the campground, many of our neighbors had dogs. We happened to be camping with my brother’s bearded dragon, Iggy. She was used to adventuring with my brother on her leash, so she roamed around the rim of the canyon with us as we explored. She slept safe in my brother’s car at night, in the travel cage they arranged for her.

**CAMPSITE SPECS**

**Fees:** $18/night

**Plumbed Toilets**: Yes

**Drinking Water**: Yes

**Showers**: Yes - coin operated 

**Picnic Table**: Yes

**Firepit**: Yes

**Cooking Grate**: Yes

**Shade**: Some - limited

**Cell Service**: NO

**Trash**: Yes

**Animal Bins/Food Lockers**: NO

Mather Campground - Grand Canyon National Park 

We stayed here the night before and the night after we hiked down into the canyon. The spots are reasonably spaced out and serviced by several restrooms with flush toilets and sinks. Each site has a spot for a tent, picnic table, and fire ring. Firewood and everything else can be bought at the park store that can be driven to or you can take a shuttle to.

If you want a shower you have to go back down to the laundry area and they are $2 for 5 min. My husband's shower cut off early though, so don't bank on your full 5 min.

Great Place to stay to see the Canyon

Decent campground, I stayed here before hiking to Bright Angel Campground the next day.

It is a very large campground but the sites are well spaced.  Very close to the canyon, great place to stay regardless of your plans at the park.

Nice campground close to rim

Grand Canyon is a professional setup. They know how to do things, while this is the most popular park in the US, they are very organized. Yes, we had to make reservations and we were camping in a tent 3 nights and had to change campsites each night. Plenty of bathrooms with running water/flush toilets, showers are in a central location close to the check in site, and showers were $2.00 for 8 minutes. Shuttles arrive frequently to take you where you need to go, or the marketplace is a short walk. We got our water refilled at the marketplace for free.  Mather is a tent campground, RVs are at a separate site. 

Mather Grand Canyon sept 2018

Book ahead of time..maybe months before you go.

Last minute cancellation got us into the park RV spot.  

We stayed at this campground for two nights in September. Checking in was easy, informative and we also got a detailed map of the campground. Bathroom and drinking water is close by and every bathroom has an outdoor sink for washing dishes and animal proof trash cans. Campsites are nice, clean and big, every one of them has a picnic table and designated campfire. There is a campsite host on site 24/7. We had a nice, quet stay at this campground, and if you're lucky you'll see deer/elk early in the morning around your tent eating breakfast :)

Clean and simple

A large campground in the middle of the park. Pine loop is generator free so it was quieter than the rest. There are no quick walks to the rim from the camp but there is a bus system that can take you there. November was a quieter time but still fairly busy.

Close but crowded 

Really close campsite to the Grand Canyon. Nice clean restrooms. We went in November so it was cold(low 10’s and only up to mid 20’s during day! So be prepared. Sites had table and fire pit. And easy access roads to sides

South rim Grand Canyon trip

April was pretty cold at the Grand Canyon and we weren’t super prepared to have snow but it was a great location. Trails in the canyon and around the rim we’re close. There was a grocery store in the park and not too far from the campground. The facilities were very well kept. The camp spots were pretty open and were lacking in privacy but that’s not abnormal for a national park.

Great location 

It seems like the campground might be crowded, and you can see your neighbors in most sites, but there are trees and some privacy. Deer wander through, too, which is fun. There and sidewalks for the children to ride bikes and scooters. It can be a bit of a walk to reach the shuttle, but it’s worth the effort to avoid parking.

Quiet and flat

The campsite was cozy but you have to pay $2 in quarters for a "18min" shower which was more like 10mins. There was quite a bit of trash around the site. We picked up and threw away what we could. We camped there on a Monday then backpacked in the grand canyon and came back to Mather on thursday. Not very quite but great if you're wanting a cheap in the park option for sleeping.

Cozy but...

This. Place. Breathtakingly beautiful. Obviously the canyon stole the show, but Mather Park was a treat as well. It was jam packed with tourists, but still amazing! I loved being close to the general store and hotel, complete with a restaurant, coffee shop and cafeteria hall! We decided to go on a walk the next morning to view the sunrise and it only took us about 15 minutes from our campsite! Hiking down and back up the South Kaibab trail was a treat for the both of us as we got engaged near mid-point! The hike down was easy, but going back up was tough! Be sure to pack lots of water and carry minimally, and abide by the signs. The views are incredible and the park staff were all very nice! The weather during March was a bit nippy at night inside the tent, but during the day it warmed up. We can’t wait to go back and experience Horseshoe Bend! 

WOWZA!

I stayed here for 2 nights in October, during that time it was very cold in the Grand Canyon. This campground didn’t have many people staying in it, so it was very quiet. The bathrooms were close by and there was a laundry facility. There were large deer everywhere. 

Wooded sites

Lots of deer and very clean.  Gets very cold at night and early morning.

Bathrooms are clean.

Great camping location for couples and families.

Beautiful!

Hard to get a spot at this site during peak season.  We were lucky enough to get one night over Memorial Day weekend, but then had to find dispersed camping in the National Forest just outside the park for our second night.

  

Facilities were great, and easy access to the main areas of the park.  Saw lots of wildlife at the camp site, even had a few deer/elk pass right through our site while sitting in the hammock.

Amazing Campground if You're Lucky

The Maple Loop is the outer most campground loop. It is a hike if you choose to walk to the GC shuttle stop. We chose to drive to the nearby market and catch the shuttle there. We reserved our energy for hikes around the rim. Firewood is available at the market for $7.49 (the highest price we’ve ever paid for firewood). Elk roamed the campground. Flush toilets are available and an outdoor sink is available to wash dishes. Camp sites are close together but the trees offer privacy from your neighbors. We kept our campsite tidy and the ravens were not s problem. $2 8- minute showers and a laundromat are available at camper services at the entrance to the campground.

Maple Loop #198,199,200

Mather Campground Review

For some reason, despite never having been there before, I have always thought that the Grand Canyon is the most American of all national parks. So I planned my SW trip to start off here. We flew into Vegas and we got to drive through the Kaibab National Forest to get to Mather campground (if you can’t find any available campground reservations within the GCNP itself I would recommend checking for site availability at Kaibab). The surrounding area is much more forested than I had anticipated- so watch out for unexpected large wildlife! 

On our first night we arrived at site 260 in the oak loop slightly past sunset with enough light to find our site and set everything up. For sites 259-264 PLEASE LOOK AT A MAP to find your campsite, there is an unmarked turn to the right after site 213 to get to this section and we were quite confused when we drove through the entire main loop and then found ourselves back on a main road without encountering 260. Our site itself had a nice spread to it that made it feel relatively private despite clear visibility to the sites on either side of us. There was definitely enough room to set up 2 tents. The bathrooms were decent enough, however they are equipped with those fast-drying hand dryers that are LOUD and the noise carries well into the campground. For this reason alone I would try to avoid being in the near vicinity of the bathrooms, unless you can sleep with ear plugs in or are a heavy sleeper. 

There are apparently coin operated showers at the beginning of the campground area, but we didn’t even know they existed at the time so I can’t comment on those. The bathrooms DO have an outlet between the two sinks that people use for various purposes- one morning a lady was brewing coffee, another morning I used it to quickly blow dry my hair after spritzing it (I just have a pixie, don’t hog the sink area if you are going to take more than a few minutes!). 

Here are some tips that I have to share from my trip

\-We were there the first weekend of June and it was perfect!  Cool temps at night, relatively hot during the day, and since a lot of schools aren't out yet the tourist situation was never bad. We never had to wait on a shuttle.

\-Wake up early for the sunrise! If you are a light sleeper you will probably be woken up an hour before sunrise by your fellow campers getting ready to go watch it rise. You might as well join them. If you’re planning on hiking down into the canyon you should do it soon after the sunrise so your hike will be shaded and cooler than mid-day. We really liked the South Kaibib trail- we only went to Ooh-Aah point and back and that was a fulfilling hiking experience for us.  The signs about going up being hard are all true.

\-There is a nice coffee shop by the visitor center that has reasonable prices on some grab and go type food- they even have a microwave to heat up sandwiches

\-Only have one night to catch the sunset? Catch it in two places! We started our sunset viewing by hopping on the red shuttle, getting off at Hopi point to watch the colors in the canyon change(the shuttle does NOT pick up at this location going back towards the visitor center), then once you have had enough of watching the colors in the canyon change color hop back onto the shuttle to Mohave point to watch the sky colors change. You have a pretty view of the sunset over the river and the furthest outlook point here. Once the sky colors are past their peak hustle back to the shuttle pickup area to try to prevent having to wait too long for a ride back. By doing this you avoid the huge crowd of people waiting to be shuttled back to the visitor center at Powell Point (Powell point is right next to Hopi point so you have crowds from both locations trying to get back).

\-Are you looking for a place to charge your phone and have wifi? The nearby Starbucks does NOT have public outlets.

\-Elk are abundant! Leave them alone! Do not get close to them to take a picture- you will more than likely never look at it ever again so it’s not worth the risk of getting hurt!

\-Do the Desert View drive and get a fry bread taco from the restaurant located in the desert view tower area (the taco wasn’t fried like you can get elsewhere, but it was still really good and toppings tasted better than any other fry bread taco I have had)! My favorite Grand Canyon overlook was at the tower area- really great view of the river. Pay attention to which parts of the park you are entering and leaving though. We did the drive on our first full day there, then found out we had to go the same route the next day to exit the park towards Page. It takes a while to exit the park going this way since the speed limit starts off pretty slow. Also, going east on 64 after you leave the park is stunning. There is an official scenic overlook that you can pull off and hike a ways to and putz around at the top of a canyon.

\-We found that a two-night stay was the perfect amount of time for us since we didn’t want to do a ton of hiking into the canyon (the cautionary signs are a very good deterrent) and we were still able to spend a decent amount of time at many of the overlooks.

\-If you are renting a car check to make sure that you can drive to all of the states on your itinerary! We rented our car from Budget at the Las Vegas airport location that you take a shuttle to and had no idea until we got there that we were only allowed to drive to Arizona, Utah, California and Nevada!  Luckily we didn't add on Mesa Verde like we were trying to at the last minute. The cars have a sticker notifying you that they have a tracker in them.

\---------------------------------------- 

Icemule Pro Large Cooler review 

As a Dyrt Ranger I got the opportunity to test out exciting camping gear from time to time. For this camping trip I was provided an [Icemule Pro Large backpack cooler](https://icemulecoolers.com/collections/coolers/products/the-icemule-pro-large?variant=39083721100) to review. I was extremely excited to try this out because the only cooler that I have is a cheapo 6-pack holder that you can pretty much just use to keep a few drinks cold for an evening. I liked that this was a backpack instead of a traditionally shaped cooler or a tote bag since lugging a cooler full of consumables AND ice isn’t the most ergonomic thing in the world when you are carrying it on one side of your body or if you need to hoist it up in front of you. Wheeled coolers are also great when you have a smooth surface to pull them across, but you definitely wouldn’t bring one on a trail!

Another nice thing about using this pack instead of a cooler is that it easily fits in places that coolers don’t. We had our car pretty full of suitcases and camping gear, so this just sat on the floor behind the passenger seat for most of the trip. This is currently the smallest bag that they have in this style, and it is huge! I was considering getting a larger size, but I’m so glad that I didn’t. These are the details on the site: Capacity: 23L/ 18 cans+ ice In Use Dimensions: 17" x 11" x 14" Weight: 3.2 lbs 

I used this cooler on my weeklong Southwest trip last week. For the first 3 days it was used solely as a car cooler and was filled with about 3/4 of a plastic grocery bag’s worth of food and drink and a big bag of ice that had it completely full. I would not want to carry this full on my back for a significant amount of time. The ice lasted almost 3 days when it was filled to the top with ice on day 1, which is pretty impressive considering that it was in a hot car most of the time. I am looking into loose ice alternatives since it was a pain to try to hack the ice cubes apart (they had fused together on day 2) to try to find what I wanted. Also, there isn’t a spout to release any of the melted water so you need to carefully empty the bag while preventing your stuff from falling out. I’m probably going to experiment with frozen water bottles or with the flexible ice pack sheets. 

I really enjoyed this cooler when I had just a short layer of ice at the bottom and a few drinks in it for hiking. It was an odd experience hiking in the treacherous heat at the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada (go here in the early early morning or after 5pm its amazing!) and having brain freeze from extremely chilled water. 

Room for improvement

\-The pads that are against your back while wearing this are quite scratchy- the first time I brought this on a hike I had to have my husband wear it since I was wearing a tank top that exposed my back to the pads.

\-The chest strap(like on the majority of packs) is too low. When I have the chest straps joined together at their highest setting it cuts across my chest in an unfortunate way

\-Like I said before- this thing is enormous AND there are even larger sizes!!! They only offer smaller bags in a crossbody style, but I prefer a backpack style.

\-I think this line of backpack coolers is geared towards men and the crossbody style is geared towards women. This is evident in the color selection- this pack style currently comes in black, duct tape gray, olive, and camo. I like the black style the most, but I find it easier to find colored things in my storage room so I went with the olive. I do appreciate how little room it takes to store!

I would give this 4/5 stars on account of the minor details that prevented this cooler from being as comfortable as it could- mainly the itchy padding and the chest strap location. I probably would have given it 4.5/5 had there been a better color selection too (shallow, I know).  This definitely isn’t a replacement for my regular hiking pack, but I’m definitely glad to have it since I’m usually hiking with my husband so we can each have a pack. There are some accessories that you can purchase to use with the icemule that I think are worth checking out. I bought their drybag for storing unsealed food in the cooler and there is also a Icemule Pro Pack dry storage compartment that you can stash on the outside of the cooler. 

This item has a 15% price increase from the time I ordered it to the time that I am writing this review, so if you're interested in picking one up do it sooner than later and you should be able to get 10% off currently on your first order.

Ranger Review: Icemule Pro Cooler at Mather Campground

The best site on a national park yet!! Theres electricity hook up tho for those wanna be on a wild side away from city id suggest a 6 month reservation to havasupai falls.  

Cleanliness at its best

Great camping spot. Lots of spaces. Coin operated showers and laundry. This campground is literally within walking distance from the Grand Canyon Village which was very nice. Beautiful place. 

Photos of Mather Campground — Grand Canyon National Park

Real photos from real campers