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Camp at Mather Campground, Grand Canyon NP

Grand Canyon Village, Arizona

4.5/5
based on 2 reviews

Description

Added by Dan Deublein

Mather campground offers an opportunity to camp right next to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World - The Grand Canyon!

Mather campground provides forest camping at its best while visiting the beautiful South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Spacious RV, tent, group and even horse sites are available in this well kept facility. The area also provides clean restrooms, water, dump station and showers (additional cost) if you don't like staying clean in the wild. 

The stars are bright as they illuminate the elk that tend to wander throughout the campground while forging. Most sites offer a tall canopy of Ponderosa pine trees, thus providing ample shade during the summer months. 

With 327 sites, this is a fairly large facility which must be reserved in advanced. Each sites includes a campfire ring with cooking grate, picnic table, parking and room for three tents. Almost all RV spaces are pull-through. 

Make reservations here: https://www.recreation.gov/cam...

A few tips:

  • Pine Loop (265-319) are tents only with no generators allowed
  • Reserve a spot away from the bathrooms as they can get busy and the hand blowers can be loud
  • Be sure to reserve a spot with full or at least partial shade
  • Don't leave any packs or food out, the ravens tend to pick apart fabric and even flew off with a gps device!
  • Market plaza is close which offers groceries, camping gear, wood and a deli
  • If you arrive early and your spot has yet to check out, drive to the the location as people don't checkout with the ranger and just leave
  • Yavapai lodge is also close and has pizza to go which makes for awesome camping
  • Obtain shuttle schedule if you plan on hiking. Shuttles do run near Mather, but if you arrive at the rim before 9:00 am you can often secure a spot at the visitor center and take shuttles from that point 
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Features

Camping
Photography
Running
Hiking
Bathrooms
Dog Friendly
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Food Nearby
Forest
Picnic Area
River
Romantic
Scenic
Wildflowers
Wildlife

Camp at Mather Campground, Grand Canyon NP Reviews

Taking my first trip to the Grand Canyon this December so I will check this place out!

Enjoyed a couple nights at Mather before and after an overnight hike down into the canyon. Great location to get an early start in the morning, and great to relax after you've finished hiking. Big trees provide nice shade from the sun. An elk even walked right past our campsite during an afternoon nap! Showers and laundry facilities were busy, but much appreciated after a few weeks on the road.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Bike the Hermit Road at the Grand Canyon

Bright Angel Trail to Indian Garden and Bright Angel Campgrounds

Plateau Point via Bright Angel Trail

Explore the Grand Canyon in Winter

Backpack the Bright Angel Trailhead to Indian Garden Campground

Backpack the Grand Canyon's South Rim