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Best Tent Camping near Gray Mountain, AZ

1,205 Reviews

Multiple dispersed tent campgrounds dot the landscape surrounding Gray Mountain, Arizona, with options ranging from primitive backcountry sites to more established tent camping areas. Forest Service Road 328 Dispersed and FR 222 Dispersed offer free tent campsites in the Kaibab National Forest, both maintaining high ratings from previous campers. These primitive tent camping areas provide accessibility for both drive-in and walk-in tent campers seeking proximity to Grand Canyon National Park and Flagstaff attractions.

Most tent campgrounds near Gray Mountain feature basic amenities with fire rings but lack drinking water, toilets, and trash collection. A camper noted, "Remember to practice Leave No Trace principles, disposing of trash and human waste appropriately, so we can all continue to enjoy the places we love so much." Tent sites typically sit on hard-packed dirt or forest floor with minimal improvements. Campers should pack ample water supplies and waste disposal tools for these primitive areas. Road conditions vary seasonally, with some forest service roads developing ruts and becoming impassable during wet weather. Most tent camping locations permit dogs and allow campfires when no restrictions are in place.

Tent sites at Forest Road 305 and around Sunset Crater Volcano offer solitude and dark night skies ideal for stargazing. These tent campgrounds provide scenic views of surrounding volcanic landscapes and mountain ranges. In the higher elevations, tent campers experience significantly cooler overnight temperatures compared to lower desert regions. During peak season, experienced campers recommend arriving early to secure preferred tent campsites, particularly at locations closest to park entrances. One visitor at Forest Service Road 328 observed, "We chose site #4 next to the creek mostly because it was very secluded," highlighting the opportunity for privacy despite proximity to popular attractions. Cell service remains spotty across most tent camping areas, allowing for a disconnected wilderness experience with varying reception depending on exact location and carrier.

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Best Tent Sites Near Gray Mountain, Arizona (26)

    1. Forest Service Road 328 Dispersed

    120 Reviews
    Grand Canyon, AZ
    41 miles

    "So glad we found this place since Mather campground was full when we arrived into town around 6pm."

    "Really close to anything you could need and your entrance to GCNP is covered for a week after paying the one time."

    2. FR 222 Dispersed

    36 Reviews
    Bellemont, AZ
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 527-3600

    "Very upsetting to see most of the sites are littered with trash."

    "Picturesque forest boondocking not far from Flagstaff off of highway 180. Turn onto Forest Road 222 and take the first road on the right."

    3. Lockett Meadow Campground

    12 Reviews
    Flagstaff, AZ
    28 miles
    Website

    "The aspens were beautiful and the campsites gave enough spacing for other campers. The meadow is decent, not too big. There is a trail to hike, which is free."

    "Great place to camp near the pay for sites but it’s near the road and a lot of the sites are on a slope."

    4. Dispersed Camping around Sunset Crater Volcano NM

    7 Reviews
    Flagstaff, AZ
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 526-0866

    "Just outside flagstaff. Ita much cooler at night than surrounding areas so a huge plus. Simple dirt road with some bumps and ruts but any 2wd car will be okay. The sites are spread out."

    "This was one of the quickest and easiest dispersed camping spots I've set up in.  In the morning, it's super easy to get back onto the road, hit the trails, or head into Flagstaff."

    5. Coconino Forest Road 9125F

    7 Reviews
    Flagstaff, AZ
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 526-0866

    "The road was primitive but in very good shape. Maybe about a 15 minute drive from Flagstaff. Park next to campsite. Fire ring available 😊😊 very pleased"

    "It was about 25° cooler than Phoenix and was gorgeous!"

    6. Old Route 64

    2 Reviews
    Grand Canyon, AZ
    23 miles

    "Very close to Grand Canyon Only downside was our first spot we picked some one had decided to break some glass wine bottles in the fire pit, so we had to go find a second spot."

    "Late arrival after dark but had several options nearby so felt okay taking the chance on finding a spot in the dark. The first few spots were occupied and the road got progressively worse."

    7. Freidlein Prairie Dispersed Camping

    17 Reviews
    Bellemont, AZ
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (928) 527-3600

    "This place was great, quiet, lots of space for our kids and dog to explore. The camping is in designated spots only which are really spaced out."

    "One of my first options in Flagstaff...now, don't share it or the crowds will come..."

    8. Sunset Crater

    2 Reviews
    Flagstaff, AZ
    27 miles

    "Added bonus next morning to find we were so close to Sunset Crater National Monument. Well worth the time to visit!"

    "Nice Area with plenty of pull-offs if you don't mind hundreds of people constantly driving by. I'm not exaggerating lol. Seems kinda cutthroat so get here early and on weekdays."

    9. Arizona Nordic Village

    5 Reviews
    Bellemont, AZ
    32 miles
    Website

    "Arizona Nordic Village, previously known as Flagstaff Nordic Center, has a lodge, front country cabins and yurts (which are all within a few hundred feet of the lodge and nearby the highway), as well as"

    "It was quiet, especially considering it was NYE (no wild parties, noisy neighbors, etc) which was nice and what we were hoping for."

    10. Forest Road 305 - Dispersed Camping

    10 Reviews
    Grand Canyon, AZ
    37 miles
    Website

    "Here are the coordinates for the place I slept. 35.8428720, -112.1266171 There's a fire ring and privacy. I did not see any people. I arrived after dark and I left at dawn."

    "Doesn't look designated, but plenty of space to park in. Pretty close to the main road and town, so you're not too far away from everything."

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Gray Mountain, AZ

57 Photos of 26 Gray Mountain Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Gray Mountain, AZ

1205 Reviews of 26 Gray Mountain Campgrounds

  • Troy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2021

    Granite Rapids Area Campsites — Grand Canyon National Park

    Granite Rapids Primitive Campsite

    This is a common area for rafters to run the river and take a break. It's also a good place to witness the power of the Colorado River. There are only two ways to get to the Granite Rapids Primitive Campsite- ride a raft or hike a trail. We hiked from the Grand Canyon South Rim starting at the Hermit Trail trailhead, down the Hermit Trail, to the Granite Rapids campsite. The descent down the Hermit Trail requires hiking down a rocky trail with some rough dirt or stone steps. There are segments of the trail with exposure and steep drops.

    Along the way, you'll see dramatic views of the Grand Canyon and a variety of rock formations and geological features. In the spring there were some beautiful flowers budding on the cacti. There are no real facilities at this site, the beauty of this site is that it is rustic with great views and there will likely be no one else around. There is no water available along the trail until you reach the bottom of the canyon and the Colorado River. It is possible to take a detour to collect water near the Monument Creek campsite. 

    The NPS recommends that people do not try to day hike (in one day) to this location from the South Rim trailhead. The hike down is simple enough, but the hike up is steep, rocky, has no water and is not often traveled by other hikers or the rangers. The water and rapids are fast, so exercise caution if you enter the river.The site is a primitive campsite so you simply find a clear area and pitch your tent. Leave No Trace principles should be applied.

  • Clint G.
    Jul. 20, 2021

    Mather Campground — Grand Canyon National Park

    Location Plus

    This campground is very close to the south rim of the Grand Canyon which is great!  Camping here is dry, no hook ups at all, which was disappointing.  There is potable water to fill your tank and a dump at exit.  Our site was unlevel on asphalt  and tight to squeeze into.  There was a fire ring and picnic table provided as well as vault toilets.

  • Megan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 9, 2025

    Fire Rd 688 - Dispersed

    Quiet wooded camp site

    Easy to navigate even towing a vehicle behind our RV. Quiet, wooded site away from road noise. Our site had a fire pit and wood provided when we pulled in. Approx 11 miles from the town Grand canyon village/ South rim of the grand canyon. 14 days consecutive stay limit. Dry camping. Leave no trace.

  • Troy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2021

    Horn Creek Campsites — Grand Canyon National Park

    Horn Creek Primitive Campsite

    To get to this backcountry campsite one must hike along the Tonto Plateau to reach this primitive site. The site is nestled within a riparian zone. The site is a primitive campsite so you find a clear area and pitch your tent. There were some hard packed areas to pitch a tent on top of the flat rock and near the cottonwood tree. Leave No Trace principles should be applied. There is no water source at this site, so you must carry in your own water.

    We hiked from the Grand Canyon South Rim starting at the Hermit Trail trailhead, down the Hermit Trail, across the Tonto Plateau to this campsite. The hike from Monument Creek is mostly at the same elevation with some ups and downs. Be sure to load up on water when you leave Monument Creek.

    Along the way, you'll see dramatic views of the Grand Canyon and a variety of geological features such as copper shale and rock formations. In the spring there was some beautiful prairie grass along the plateau. There are no real facilities at this site, the beauty of this site is that it is rustic with great views and there will likely be no one else around.

  • Troy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 1, 2021

    Hermit Rapids

    Hermit Rapids Primitive Campsite

    There are only two ways to get to the Hermit Rapids Primitive Campsite - hike a trail or ride a raft. This campsite may be reserved through the National Park System (NPS). The NPS recommends that one not attempt to hike from the trailhead to this area and back as a day hike due to the steepness and potential mid-day temperature. You may see rafters passing through the rapids. Our group hiked from the Grand Canyon South Rim starting at the Hermit Trail trailhead, down the Hermit Trail, to the Hermit Rapids area. The descent is about 4000+ feet. The descent can be pounding on one's legs, so trekking poles are highly recommended.

    The decent down requires hiking down a rocky trail with some rough dirt and stone steps. Along the way, you'll see steep canyon walls, desert flora and amazing panoramic views of the Grand Canyon. There are no real facilities at this site, the beauty of this site is that it is rustic with great views and there will likely be no one else around. There is no water available until you reach the bottom of the canyon and the Colorado River so be sure to start your hike with 2 to 4 liters of water. It is possible to take a detour to collect water near the Monument Creek campsite.

    The site is a primitive campsite so you find a clear area along the beach and pitch your tent. Leave No Trace principles should be applied. The water and rapids are fast, so exercise caution if you enter the river.

  • Megan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 9, 2025

    Fire Road 688

    Quiet wooded camp spot

    Very quiet wooded camp spot off of the highway, away from road noise. Shades by all the large trees. A fire pit with fire wood was already here when we pulled up. Lots of extra spots along the dirt road. Depending on your length of rig could fit several rigs within a mile stretch of dirt road. There were other campers along the road. Be respectful and leave no trace!!

  • c
    Aug. 10, 2021

    Tusayan-Montane — Grand Canyon National Park

    Premier Forest Service Campground

    Just outside of the entrance to the Grand Canyon National Park, Ten-X is tops. This place is undergoing significant expansion with new infrastructure. It looks like by 2022, there will be electric and water at the new sites (I counted at least 120 more). Right now, there is only one fill point for water and it is only for toting away water not filling RVs. I was concerned because the USFS website did not accurately describe this campground. There is indeed room for a 43 foot rig in maybe 8 spots. The expansion will include more as well. The sites are nicely spaced for privacy. I hate vault toilets but these are brand new and very clean. No dump site here but I saw indications there may be one with the expansion. This was an extraordinarily clean campground and well laid out. There are some walking trails and that was a nice touch. Big elk walking through camp! Update September 2022: expansion occurred, decent sites, no water expansion to new loops, still same set up, no hookups. Still very well maintained although they could maintain the walking trails better. Yes, yellowjackets.

  • Kayla M.
    Apr. 28, 2018

    Mather Campground — Grand Canyon National Park

    Cold but fun!

    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!

  • Russ M.
    May. 12, 2015

    Mather Campground — Grand Canyon National Park

    Site 145, Mather Campground, Grand Canyon National Park

    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.

Guide to Gray Mountain

Dispersed camping near Gray Mountain, Arizona provides accessibility to multiple public lands at elevations between 5,000-7,000 feet. These higher elevation campsites experience temperature swings of 30-40°F between day and night, even during summer months. The volcanic geology and ponderosa pine forests create distinctive camping environments with hard-packed soil that may require heavy-duty tent stakes.

What to do

Visit Grand Canyon National Park: Forest Service Road 328 Dispersed offers camping just minutes from the South Rim entrance. "Great spots. Long road with lots of pull offs. I doubt you would have any issues ever finding a spot here no matter how busy it gets. Closest free camping to the entrance of the grand canyon," notes Cole P. Arrive early to avoid entrance lines, as one camper advises: "If you stay here on the weekends and plan to go to the park, get up early. The lines are insane!"

Mountain biking on forest trails: Freidlein Prairie Dispersed Camping provides direct access to numerous trails. "This spot is great since there was amazing access to trails right from our campsite, we were in site 3, including the Arizona Trail. So if you're a hiker, mt biker, or runner this is an excellent spot!" reports Jeanie P.

Stargazing in dark skies: The remote locations around Sunset Crater provide excellent night sky viewing. "We had a nice night there. There are a few spots along the service road. A lot of dust there," mentions Leonid R. from Forest Service Road 328 Dispersed. The distance from urban light pollution creates exceptional astronomical viewing opportunities.

What campers like

Wildlife encounters: Tent camping sites offer opportunities to observe native wildlife. "We had a huge bull elk with his cows walk right past our camp," shares Hugh M. about his experience at Forest Service Road 328 Dispersed. The meadows and forest edges are particularly active with wildlife at dawn and dusk.

Secluded camping spots: Many dispersed areas provide isolation despite proximity to attractions. "Our spot was very isolated had a great sunset and was very quiet. Road was a little bumpy and not suggested for passenger cars!" reports Wally B. Similarly, at Forest Road 305, one camper noted: "Perfect spot for my bf and I. It was secluded and beautiful! We stumbled upon this dirt road on our maps and just drove to it. Worked out awesome."

Cooler temperatures: The higher elevation camping areas maintain significantly cooler conditions compared to lower desert regions. "It was about 25° cooler than Phoenix and was gorgeous!" remarks Sydnee G. about Coconino Forest Road 9125F. This temperature difference makes tent camping near Gray Mountain comfortable even during summer months when lower elevations become unbearably hot.

What you should know

Road conditions vary significantly: Access to many sites requires careful driving. "The road is a soft gravel that you can easily sink in like sand if you're not careful but my rwd transit did alright!" explains Scott K. about Forest Road 305. Some forest service roads develop deep ruts after rainfall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Gray Mountain, AZ?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Gray Mountain, AZ is Forest Service Road 328 Dispersed with a 4.8-star rating from 120 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Gray Mountain, AZ?

TheDyrt.com has all 26 tent camping locations near Gray Mountain, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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