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. 

Facilities

The NPS strongly recommends advanced reservations for Mather Campground during peak season, March 1- November 30. Reservations can be made on Recreation.gov 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 (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.

Campers can take a short shuttle bus ride from the campground to the Visitor Center. Visitors can also visit Yavapai Geology Museum, 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 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.

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 trails are available. The park's concessionaire also offers day and overnight mule trips into the canyon and along the rim.

Nearby Attractions

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

Important Notices

• Campers must check-in at the campground kiosk upon arrival. Staff will orient you and answer questions. If you arrive after business hours, your campsite information is posted on the window of the kiosk. Take a map, review and follow the rules and regulations which are posted on the back. Check in at the campground kiosk the following day.

• Check-in, Check-out, Generator and Quiet Hours. Check in begins at noon. Check out by 11:00 a.m. Generator hours are 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. only. Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Noise and generator-use violations should be reported to on-duty NPS Rangers, volunteer campground hosts, or (after-hours) to GRCA non-emergency dispatch: 928-638-7805. Pine Loop is generator-free from 3/01 through 11/30. During winter, generators are allowed in Pine Loop during generator hours only.

• Food storage. Store food in your vehicle or hard-sided containers with lids. Keep styrofoam coolers in your vehicle. Deposit trash and recycling in the single-stream dumpsters provided. Do not leave food or trash unattended or hang it from trees. Ravens and other animals will eat and scatter food and other small objects. This can be harmful and possibly cause them premature death. Please keep wildlife wild.

• Parking. Up to 2 standard-sized vehicles are allowed per site. See each site description for details. Park all vehicles in the parking spot provided and keep them on the pavement. Do not park on the road.

• Campfires. Campfire rings are provided at each site. Collecting wood is strictly prohibited. Never leave a fire unattended, even for a short while. Drown fires completely before leaving the site. Fireworks are prohibited.

• Potable Water. Drinking water spigots are provided throughout the campground. Do not bathe, wash dishes, or do laundry at water spigots. Wash at your site and flush tainted water down the toilet. Do not scatter waste water.

• Campground terrain is hard and rocky. Sleeping pads are suggested and leveling equipment for RVs is recommended.

• Large groups (7-50 people). Book the group sites in Sage Loop up to 6 months in advance. Each group site accommodates parking for up to three standard-sized vehicles. Groups arriving by large buses MUST stay in Sage Loop group sites 1, 6, or 7. The remaining group sites do not have bus parking. Sage Loop group sites 4 and 5 are smaller and allow 25 people & 2 vehicles. Senior and Access pass discounts do not apply to group sites. 

• RVs & Trailers. One RV per site (based on size). Maximum motorhomes or trailers length is 30 feet (9 m). If your trailer is 30' long, book sites 120, 121, 128, 172 or 185 (other sites will NOT fit a 30' trailer). The campground does not offer electric, sewer, or water hook-ups. A dump and water fill station is available nearby at Camper Services ). 

• Pets. Pets must be kept on a leash and under physical control at all times and may not be left unattended, even in vehicles.

• Clotheslines, hammocks, and sports nets. These must be taken down when not in use. Do not pierce trees with nails or other sharp objects.

• Pass discounts. Only the Access and Senior passes offer a camping discount (Annual passes do not). Present your valid pass with photo ID during check-in. Pass discounts do not apply to group sites.

• Hiker/Biker sites. Hiker/biker sites are provided only to campers who arrive on foot or bicycle. Hiker/biker sites are a communal tenting area with shared picnic tables and fire ring. Registration price in this area is $6 per person per night.

• Entrance & Camping Fees. Grand Canyon National Park charges an entrance fee separate from camping fees. You may pay the entrance fee upon arrival at the entrance gates or at the campground kiosk. For more information on entrance fees, visit the park's Fees & Passes web page. Camping fees must be paid on Recreation.gov or in-person at the campground kiosk. Payment is required for use of campsites.

• Commercial Groups: Conducting business at Mather Campground requires a Commercial Use Authorization. Commercial groups with 7 or more people are required by their CUA agreement to use the group sites in the Sage Loop. Commercial groups with 6 or fewer people may book only one family site per night. All guides must present their reservation number when checking in at the campground kiosk. For more information visit Grand Canyon National Park's Do Business With the Park web page.

• Reservations (Winter: 12/01-2/28; Rest of the year: 3/01-11/30) are available on Recreation.gov. Any campsites not booked through Recreation.gov will be available first-come, first-served, in person at the kiosk. These are available one night at a time. For winter: Prepare for Visiting Grand Canyon During Winter. Roads into the campsite might not be plowed until long after a storm (campsites are never plowed). Pack a winter travel kit that includes a shovel. First-come, first-served sites sell out quickly; plan to purchase FF sites as close to 8:00am as possible.

Notifications and Alerts

• Mather Campground winter operations in effect 12/01/2025 through 2/28/2026. Only Pine and Sage Loops are open. Generators allowed in both loops during generator hours only (7am to 9am and 6pm to 8pm). Water spigots throughout campground are off. During winter operations, all sites are Reservation only. Reservations can be made on Recreation.gov or in-person at the kiosk.

  Advanced reservations for peak season (3/01/2026 through 11/30/2026) are strongly recommended. Reservations are available 6 months in advance.

  • There will be 20 First-Come-First-Served (FF) sites available during peak season only; FF sites are sold in-person at the campground kiosk for one night at a time.

Available Activities

• Wildlife Viewing - Wildlife Viewing
• Camping - Camping
• Biking - Biking
• Horse Camping - Horse Camping
• Photography - Photography
• Ranger Station - Ranger Station
• Star Gazing - Star Gazing

Directions

<p><strong>Address</strong>: 1 Mather Campground Road, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023. </p><p>Mather Campground is located within the park in Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim. </p><p><strong>From the south entrance station:</strong> proceed for about three miles (5 km) and turn left on Center Road. Travel 1/4 mile (.4 km) and turn right onto Market Plaza Road. The campground is about one mile (1.6 km) down Market Plaza Road on the right (Mather Campground Road). </p><p><strong>From the east entrance station:</strong> follow the road 25 miles (40 km) and turn left at the "T" intersection onto South Entrance Road. Travel about 1/2 mile (.8 km) and turn right at the intersection onto Center Road. Travel 1/4 mile (.4 km) and turn right onto Market Plaza Road. The campground is about one mile (1.6 km) down Market Plaza Road on the right (Mather Campground Road). .</p>

Contact Information

Phone: 1-877-444-6777

Rental Options

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