Looking for the best options for tent camping near Grand Canyon National Park? The Dyrt can help you find the best tent campsites for your next trip. From remote to easy-to-reach, these Grand Canyon National Park campsites are perfect for tent campers.
The area is characterized by the river delta where Bright Angel Creek meets the Colorado River. There is a ranger station, emergency phone, pay phones, year-round potable water, and toilets. To reach this campground you can travel the South Kaibab Trail (and cross the black bridge) or the Bright Angel Trail (and cross the silver bridge) from the South Rim, or travel the North Kaibab Trail from the North Rim. Cottonwood trees shade Bright Angel Campground and the creek is a wonderful place to cool off. Deer, ringtail cats, gray foxes, and squirrels are often seen. Popular activities include relaxing, wading in Bright Angel Creek, stargazing, fishing (license required), and day hiking. Day hike destinations include the River Trail and Phantom Overlook. Seasonal ranger programs are offered. Snack items and meals are available for purchase at Phantom Ranch Lodge (meals must be reserved in advance 303-297-2757).
$140 / night
Phantom Ranch is a historic oasis nestled at the bottom of Grand Canyon. It is on the north side of the Colorado River tucked in beside Bright Angel Creek. Make sure to put in your Phantom Ranch reservations, as its the only lodging below the canyon rim, and can only be reached by mule, on foot or by rafting the Colorado River.
The rustic cabins and main lodge are built of wood and native stone blending with the natural beauty of the setting.
Our cabins and dorms do not have phones or televisions, but a pay phone is available at Phantom Ranch (credit card or phone card ONLY).
The Phantom Ranch Canteen serves breakfast and dinner, which must be reserved in advance. If you have special dietary needs, such as glucose intolerance or food allergies, please advise the reservation agent at the time of booking. Phantom Ranch will do their best to accommodate all special requests.
You must hike out your own trash.
$52 - $253 / night
$10 - $40 / night
Cottonwood Campground is a small campground 6.8 miles below the North Rim of the Grand Canyon on the North Kaibab Trail. Bright Angel Creek runs nearby. Seasonally (mid-May to mid-Oct) potable drinking water is available, but at other times of the year campers must be prepared to filter/treat water obtained from the creek. Cottonwood has an emergency phone and toilets. From the campground, day hikes may be made to Roaring Springs, Ribbon Falls, and Manzanita Canyon.
The vast majority of all three ranger districts of the Kaibab National Forest is open to dispersed camping unless specifically restricted for reasons such as proximity to developed campgrounds or other natural or cultural resource concerns. Dispersed camping is the term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest outside of a developed campground. If you plan to disperse camp on the Kaibab National Forest, please review our Dispersed Camping Guidelines and Restrictions.
Indian Hollow is a first-come, first-served, free-use, primitive campground with 3 sites. It is not suitable for large RVs or large groups of people. "Indian Hollow Campground" Images Album
Guide
Just a short distance from the overlook there are five campsites. Primitive. No tables. Fires are not allowed. Requires permit from Grand Canyon National Park to camp. Long dirt roads to access may be impassable during rainy weather. Also watch for flash flooding. Also known as Tuweep.
Ranger
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.
TravelerThis 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.
Guide
This is a great place to camp on the south rim! Walk to Navajo point snack bar/camp store and watchtower! Tent camp sites have shade and a picnic table. Go catch sunset at the tower! But get there before 6! Very quiet campground off tourist path just far enough out of high traffic areas. Highly recommend!
Traveler
I took away one star because there is no showers. This was our favorite campground on our trip through Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon and Sedona. We were tent camping. The campground was very quite and the tent sites level with table and fire pit. There are pit toilets which can really smell bad in the summer. It was really cold when we were there and we were across from the toilets and it was not a problem. In the summer I would make sure to pick a site far away from the toilets. This place was much nicer than the Park campgrounds we stayed in. Also there is a small town near by for food and restaurants. Only a short drive to the South Rim.
Ranger
Most amazing experience we’ve ever had tent camping. Right on the edge of the Canyon, watching the Arizona sunrises every morning. It was truly heaven on earth.
TravelerPerfect little spot right outside of the Grand Canyon National Park. Picnic tables, fire rings, charcoal grill, and bathrooms. Everything you need right here.
RangerThis was a fabulous place to set up camp. We love this spot it's 10m to Grand Canyon National Park a short drive. Nice and clean.
Guide
Good campground in the Grand Canyon National Park. Great bike trails to get around. Bathrooms could use update but clean. Elk right in the campground… And I mean right in the campground!
GuideThis was a really nice and surprisingly affordable campground inside Grand Canyon National Park. Amazing location for distance. There’s showers and laundry (paid, unfortunately, but I won’t complain too much). Friendly staff and easy access.
TravelerThis is a nice campground just outside Grand Canyon National Park. It has lots of nature pine trees and some good space between campsites. Lots of yellow jackets in July so those with allergies beware.
Guide
Remote, quiet, free. Three campsites with picnic tables and fire rings. One vault toilet. 1/2 mile from Thunder River trailhead which takes you to rim of Grand Canyon. Note: overnight in Grand Canyon National Park requires a permit!
TravelerGreat location outside of Grand Canyon National Park. Site 51 on the loop has no clear area of where to park. Campsite is very out in the open next to the camp road. Close to bathrooms. Facility seemed a little dated.
Traveler
Just south of the Grand Canyon National park. It was a breeze to go back and forth between the campground and park. Nice and quiet and the people in the office are nice. We loved eating dinner and watching the elk every evening.
Traveler
Just spent one night tent camping, but it was a wonderful experience.
Guidesite: wooded. pretty large site.
amenities: quieter than Mather. fills fast. clean facilities.
attractions: wildlife around campground. close to Grand Canyon National Park. bus to Canyon stop near.
I would go camping here (just drove through the campground since the campground we chose was ok, not great).
LegendI 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.
Guide
You turn off for this site in the Grand Canyon national park. The road then takes you just off the national park onto national forest land - make sure you go through the gates and see the forest signs. Room in the trees for a few vehicles, it was just us for the night and silently quiet.
Guide
We stayed here four nights while visiting Grand Canyon National Park. The site was spacious, well separated from other sites, level, and directly adjacent to a network of easy hiking trails that we took our dog on every day. Water nearby, clean vault toilets, and a very short hop across the highway for gas, food, and essentials. Hosts were very friendly.
GuideBecause 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.
GuideThe tent sites are very nice, with lovely trees for shade. This is an amazing park, I can't wait to go back!
Scout
Clean, hidden sites away from others to camp. Be careful of driving far in as there are many rocks and holes. Filled up fast by the time we got there at 7pm on a Thursday. Good free place to tent camp!
GuideAnyone interested in National Parks has the Grand Canyon on their list. But, I’ll admit, that it wasn’t one I prioritized.
It far exceeded my expectations, especially the North Rim and the campground associated with it. It’s a must see for anyone with a love for the outdoors. It’s stunning.
The campground itself was the best campground I’ve ever been to, at least for what it is trying to be.
This isn’t a rough-it campground. It has immaculate bathrooms with flush toilets, dish cleaning stations, a general store just a few hundred feet from campsites with virtually anything you would need from groceries to camping supplies, the sites are decently dispersed, and the staff is attentive and caring. The setting is beautiful. You are surrounded by pine tree forest at 8,000+ elevation. You can tent camp or RV camp. We tent camped.
For a camping experience that still feels like camping but has amenities too, this spot can’t be beat.
RangerLong drive over some rough gravel road, but what a view at the end. Big enough site for shorter off-road trailer. No toilets. Pack-in, pack-out.
Trailhead at the end of the road. Great for tent camping, car camping, campervans, short trailer.
30 degree difference in temperatures hi-lo.
Wonderful sunset.
ScoutReally enjoyed this place. As our first time tent camping (as apposed to RV-ing) we had an awesome time here. Loved how spacious the sites were. Far enough from neighbours so there wasn’t too much noise. Bathrooms were clean and staff was friendly. Not too far of a drive from viewpoints. Would absolutely stay here again.
ScoutThe camp ground was not very well Maintained but check in was easy. All AMPs are 50 so they give you a converter if you have a 30 amp RV. If you do you end up having a converter the circuit may trip. You would still need to pay the entrance fee into Grand Canyon National Park. Our site was 62 and we were close to the bus stop for the free shuttle bus around the park. If your RV does not have a shower when you check in they will provide you shower tokens which is about 1/4 mile away from the site. The weather is cold and can be as low as 20 degrees at night.
LegendDrive down road. No camping in Grand Canyon National Park, but about half a mile down the road you cross a cattle grid. You’re now in Kaibab Forest and can camp here. We drive 2WD F250 with 30ft fifth wheel
Two ways in. We came thru Grand Canyon Village, so only 0.7 mile on dirt road - but you need to pay for GCNP access ( or use America the Beautiful)
T-Mobile, Verizon and Visible and Cricket all excellent in this area-so good that I don’t see the need to unpack Starlink. But between here and the village we had no cell coverage
Filled water bladder at Mather campground. Looks like I can use their dump station also
Tent camping near Grand Canyon National Park offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in stunning landscapes and enjoy the great outdoors. With various campgrounds to choose from, each providing its own set of amenities and activities, you'll find the perfect spot for your adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Grand Canyon National Park?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Grand Canyon National Park is Bright Angel Campground — Grand Canyon National Park with a 4.6-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Grand Canyon National Park?
TheDyrt.com has all 23 tent camping locations near Grand Canyon National Park, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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