Looking for the best tent campgrounds near Grand Canyon? The Dyrt can help you find the best tent campsites for your next trip. From remote to easy-to-reach, these Grand Canyon 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).
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.
$140 / night
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.
Legend
We were so pleased to find this camp on the way to the South Rim (about 15 min from Grand Canyon NP). There was only 3 other campers on the entire site when we arrived in Sept. WE were greeted by a stunning stellar Jay at the sign in station (self pay). Sites were large and clean (we were tent camping) there are rural toilets. Other than that there are no facilities. There are 70 single sites and 2 group camping sites on the property. Beautiful hiking trails with elk and other wildlife all around. GPS Coordinates are 35.93694, -112.12306 35°56'13"N, 112°7'23"W Full information available at recreation.gov
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.
TravelerI 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.
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!
Scout
About 10min driving from Grand Canyon south rim entrance. Very close to the grocery store and coffee shop and other stores. Lots of spacious spots to choose from.
Legend
Ashley here with The Dyrt! We're happy to have this partner available for bookings. 25 miles from Grand Canyon, primitive and secluded. Give them a try and leave some reviews!
Legend
It's quite amazing to wake up in the morning with the Grand Canyon within a stones throw of your tent! Campsites are more secluded than I expected, but you can still see other campers. It is a great experience to sleep next to this fabulous part of creation, even if only for a night! I highly recommend seeing the Grand Canyon from the North Rim and camping if possible.
Scout
This is the perfect Rv/tent campground! Mixed uses and late night after hours first come first serve full hook up spots available! Conveniently located within walking distance to general store, restaurants and the shuttle service into the Grand Canyon! Highly recommend
Traveler
Very conveniently located just outside of the Grand Canyon’s southern rim. Stayed here due to Kaibab Nat. Forest being closed with forest fire. Easy after hours site reservation. Had to wait until the morning to buy shower tokens, but that was okay as they opened at 8am. Had an elk stroll right up to our tent site. Obviously very comfortable with people.
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.
Ranger
It was $18/night for a tent site with access to pit toilet bathrooms and showers (though if you want to shower you have to pay an extra $5). There was a large group there at the same time that I was, which made for a less peaceful experience. Offers full hook-ups for RV's, which made it popular with big rigs. The best part about it was the proximity to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, which is said to get only 10% of the crowds compared to the much more crowded South Rim.
Guide
This was such a quaint friendly campsite. The woman here was by far the sweetest. They sell ice cream treats and ice too, with pristine vault toilets and sinks. We had such a nice quiet stay. The tent sites are all very close together but because it was empty, we had a wonderfully quiet stay camped between some trees. And yes fire rings were amazing considering the no fire restrictions all around the area. It’s about an hour from North Rim Grand Canyon which is highly recommended. We went out onto Bright angel point. There were other camp sites further in toward the rim, but they didn’t come up on the Dyrt so not sure their availability. Overall it was a great spot.
RangerThis campsite is so convenient and very close to the South Rim, while being away from the chaos taking place in the Grand Canyon Village. After one exhausting day of dealing with a ton of tourists and another day of hiking, it was wonderful to come back to this peaceful retreat. It has more going for it than meets the eye; although the sites are plain and don't offer much in terms of scenery, the campground is large, which allows campers to be blessed with a good amount of space. I never felt like I was stacked up against anyone else, and it was incredibly quiet. If you use a tent, the ground is covered in pine needles, but the ground is very firm, so bring a hammer for your stakes. The whole campground is filled with trees, which makes each site feel nestled and cozy, and at night the moon is beautiful as it peeks through. Don't expect much in amenities either; there are only pit toilets, water faucets, and campfire pits, but there is a campground in the Grand Canyon Village that has coin-operated showers. Though there are a number of reservable sites, quite a few of the single-family tent sites are non-reservable, which is what I did. Check-in starts at 2pm, so we got there 30-60 minutes early to make sure we could secure a site. The day we arrived it wasn't really necessary to get there that early, but it wasn't a risk I was willing to take. There is an Information stand with maps and camping rules at the front of the campground, and you place the cash for your site in an envelope and slip it in the reservation box ($10/night for tent sites). Campsite hosts were incredibly kind and helpful. One more thing: not only does the campsite get very, very dark at night, but it gets COLD (so bring layers)!! This campsite was very nice and affordable, and it was so worth it to not be amongst the tourist chaos within the park. It is just a quick drive into the Village, and it was great to have this retreat to look forward to after a few busy days exploring the Grand Canyon.
LegendStayed 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!
GuideThe staff was so sweet and friendly, felt welcomed from the start. Beautiful wooded area, fire rings but no grates, we brought our own.. (still great to have fire ring considering the no fire restrictions for boon-docking anywhere else). Camp was pretty empty for tent campers so we easily got a spot. Normally all tent sites are very close together, but not much traffic or people up here so it was perfect to ourselves with hardly anyone around us in June. Pristine vault toilets and sinks. Ice and ice cream treats can be bought on property, made for a great treat after a campfire dinner. The campsite is about an hour from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and we passed other campsites closer to the canyon that weren’t on The Dyrt and meant to go back to get the names, sorry. But overall we would highly recommend and loved our quiet pretty stay. Visit bright angel point at the rim. Insane and this north rim is underrated! Less people and more nature. Five stars.
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.
TravelerJust spent one night tent camping, but it was a wonderful experience.
LegendThis campground is right next to the Rim walk and village so it is the perfect basecamp for heading into the canyon.
There are bathrooms, firewood, separated sites, multiple loops, and large sites. We were able to do a group camp here multiple times. Feb, May, and October.
Be prepared for wildlife and crazy weather though. It snowed in May and was 80 degrees in October. There is always a constant flow of people coming in and out of the park so it was nice to have a bit of quiet in the campground just knowing what was on the other side of the trees.
The bathrooms are well taken care of and if you are missing anything you can hit up the general store to grab it...including ice cream after a long hike. This campground is perfect for the new camper. It has EVERYTHING you may need.
The Grand Canyon shuttle is really helpful for traveling to Hermit's gulch quickly bit otherwise they designed this campground great for getting around easily.
I would advise booking as far in advance as you can get! During Winter months the hiker/biker sites aren't available but normally they are $15. During the Winter months the tent sites are only $18 and are usually available last minute. Summer costs jump up to about $50 per night.
Legend
I have camped at a number of campgrounds near the Grand Canyon in pursuit of finding the best fit for my many travel associates and followers of my blog. I found that this campground checked a lot of boxes for me in that it wasn't directly in the Grand Canyon and was a little smaller than the popular sites which can become a little overcrowded feeling during peak seasons. It is located in the Kalibab Forest just outside the of the Canyon area.
The area is green and full of life with nice pad sites equipped with fire rings and picnic tables. The area I pulled into was tent site #32 which was a couple sites over from the toilets and trash station. I like to be close enough to walk but not right beside where the traffic of other campers walking by constantly keeps me awake. This site was backed right into the trees and pretty clear overall.
The sites here feature drinking water near the restrooms but no hook ups on sites, which is perfect for my needs. I really enjoyed the layout of the campground and the loops which made it feel a bit smaller than many other campgrounds I had checked out.
I did notice this campground isn't one you can check out after mid October because of the weather in this area and road conditions, so I wouldn't recommend trying it out close to that deadline but when I was there in May it was perfect!!
TIPS:
Walk in VS Reserved is a big question people will ask so I always suggest doing your research in advance especially if you are traveling in the more limited RV sites. All reservations for this site are made through recreation.gov and I did notice that while several of the tent loops are walk in only the RV site are not.
There are animals in the area so remember to leave no items loose in your camp overnight. We saw several elk and raccoons.
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!
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.
LegendCamping 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.
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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:
GuideTent camp in an officially recognized International Dark Sky Park!
Bathrooms and drinking water are located through out each loop. Shower and laundry a little walk at the entrance to the campgrounds.
By day there is plenty of shade and trees. The National Park shuttle system has a stop a the front of the campsite to get you anywhere you need to go.
Nights are cool and the starts are incredible, one the the best star gazing locations in the nation.
Tent camping near the Grand Canyon offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in stunning natural beauty while enjoying a range of amenities and activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Grand Canyon, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Grand Canyon, AZ is Bright Angel Campground — Grand Canyon National Park with a 4.6-star rating from 12 reviews.
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