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Mather Campground

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Mather Campground is the largest campground and most popular spot to call it a night in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

The campground is well shaded and offers spacious sites for RVs, plus cozy tent-only sites. Views of the South Rim are only a mile's walk from the campground, and you can easily hop on the Grand Canyon shuttle right near the entrance to be whisked away to all the South Rim's grandest sights. Although there are no hookups here, you’ll find hot showers, super clean restrooms, laundry facilities, and a water-filling station for RVs all near the Camper Services building.

Tips for Snagging a Campsite Reservation

  • Most Mather Campground sites can be reserved up to six months in advance online.
  • Advanced reservations are strongly recommended from March through November. Campsites often book up months in advance, especially for the busy summer season.
  • Only a handful of sites are available each day on a first-come, first-served basis. For the best chance at scoring one, arrive at the campground first thing in the morning. 
  • During the winter months, from December 1 through February 28, all sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 
  • When to Go

    Late spring and early fall, when the weather is not too hot and crowds are less intimidating, is the best time for camping at the Mather Campground. Reservations are still strongly recommended but are easier to come by, especially mid-week. Avoid holiday weekends altogether if you can. Mather is the only Grand Canyon campground that remains open in winter, when all sites are first-come, first-served.

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    Available campgrounds nearby

    Top-rated for location, privacy, and amenities near Grand Canyon National Park

    More to explore nearby

    96%
    161 ratings · 26 reviews
    Avatar
    Colin K.recommends
    February 13, 2019
    Do not be stingy on layers!
    Avatar
    Caroline A.recommends
    November 21, 2018
    We lucked out and came at a slow/coldish (low teens at night) time in November. There were only a few other campers in sight.
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    David W.recommends
    October 5, 2018
    Stay longer than you usually do
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    Ryan K.recommends
    October 4, 2018
    Great views and awesome weather in July. I would wake up early and walk down to the bottom.
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    Elisabetta Fox P.recommends
    September 13, 2018
    Breathtaking location!
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    Alice L.
    August 29, 2018
    This campground is very nice, considering it’s in such a busy National Park. We stayed in site 190, which was surprisingly private! Pretty far from a bathroom, but not a big deal. We couldn’t have a campfire when we visited in June, but we knew that in advance and it’s not too unusual. The grocery store near this campground is out-of-control. It has just about everything you could ever want, and the food and drink isn’t too marked up. (Though the camping supplies are.) This is a great base from which to access the glories of the Grand Canyon, but it’s not a campground you’ll want to spend time at specifically. It’s a place to pitch a tent, prepare your meals, and maybe hang a hammock for a little nap after your hike.
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    Nicholas H.recommends
    March 3, 2018
    Book as far in advance as you can. We were in Pine Loop, which is tent only and generator free. All of the sites there are pretty good for what you need.
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    Kourtney W.
    January 18, 2018
    Can be a bit busy.
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    Catherine H.
    November 28, 2017
    For a campground in such a popular place I feel that it is “campy” enough to get the camping experience. Spaces are fairly close together but this is a very established campground so trees are large, sites are well defined, washrooms are clean. We dumped at the dump station. There was a bit of a line-up due to elk wanting water. Easy access right by the laundromat.
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    Heidi S.recommends
    October 11, 2017
    Avoid site 26 in loop A... you will have the shower house for a view, and people cutting through your campground
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    Richard C.recommends
    August 25, 2017
    Bring your bike
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    Heather N.recommends
    July 12, 2017
    Cannot recommend mather enough! Loved this campground. Expect large crowds...it is the grand canyon after all. But the bathrooms are some of the cleanest I have ever seen and the surrounding guest are respectful of your space and time of night/day.
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    Nicholas T.recommends
    June 3, 2017
    Book early, pack warm, take down your hammocks when you leave for the day - otherwise they may be ripped apart by wildlife.
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    Nicole M.recommends
    May 31, 2017
    A little popular but very convenient and accommodating.
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    Isaac H.
    May 31, 2017
    Mather campground is just awesome! As soon as you enter the park, all signs to all places are well placed to not get easily lost, and there is a check in/checkout station with really friendly rangers to help you in any way possible. They do warn about the ravens getting into your food so pack your stuff in hard side containers and all trash needs to be taken to the bins right away. There are super clean restrooms pretty close by with dishwashing stations and where you can get potable water. We reserved our spot in mid april for a stay in Mid May and most sites were booked up already, make sure you get yours with time.
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    Melinda H.
    May 7, 2017
    We really enjoyed camping at Mather. We got lucky and booked some last-minute cancellations about a week before we headed to the Grand Canyon. The campground is really big. Even if you feel like your neighbors are a bit close, the sites are deep enough that you can put some space between your tents. We spent one night at site 90 in the Fir Loop which was a beautiful spot. Our next two nights were spent at site 313 in the Pine Loop. That site was a bit more rocky, but still lovely. Lots of trees to hang your hammock from! There were a bunch of elk that wandered through the Fir Loop in the morning too. The facilities are great. Bathrooms are clean with lights at night and even have soap dispensers/hand driers.
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    Danica L.
    March 19, 2017
    We stayed here over Thanksgiving weekend, and it was amazing. Waking up to Elk going across the campsite, walking distance to the South Rim activities, and the general store is a quick 5 minute drive. We will definitely be coming back and recommend it to everyone!
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    Canaan H.recommends
    March 15, 2017
    Dawn is incredible
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    Xanthe &.recommends
    February 19, 2017
    Stayed here during a summer rainstorm and our tent was almost washed away. In case of inclement weather, find an upstream site or at least a good patch on your lot!
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    Tierra F.recommends
    February 13, 2017
    ELKS! Everywhere in the campground. Watch the Ravens, they will steal your PB and Jay!
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    Nathan H.recommends
    February 3, 2017
    We went when it was snowing, bring a warm sleeping bag and plenty of hand warmers.
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    Anne W.
    November 17, 2016
    Very clean, pretty quiet and perfect for tent camping! The campground is massive and a little hard to find so make sure to pay attention to all the signs once you enter the park. There are shuttles to take you to trail heads and look-out points, but we found that driving was just as easy and allowed us to go on our own schedule, this was key for our sunrise hike to Ohh Aahh Point. Our spot had plenty of space for 2-3 tents, a fire pit, and was right near the bathrooms--just what we needed!
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    Jason H.
    November 16, 2016
    This campground is pretty massive and busy but fairly easy to reserve if you plan far enough in advance. There's some cell service with AT&T but mostly a dead-zone. I prefer camping on the North Rim but the South Rim definitely has a lot to offer.
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    Kristin W.
    October 20, 2016
    Wonderful campground. Very busy during peak season (reservation only) but very spacious and quiet (my experience anyway). We stayed in the Pine Loop which is tent only but there were a couple campers in the loop anyway. Our site (#309) had enough room for 4 tents, tons of trees for me to hang my hammock, and had easy access to restrooms and water. The only downside was the amount of large rocks that were in the ground surrounding the fire pit and picnic table. Shuttle stop right outside campground and the market is right down the street for all your camping needs. Happy camping!
    Avatar
    Corene P.
    September 28, 2015
    Awesome campground. There's a shuttle system that is included in your park entrance fee, which allows you to get around the park very easily. There's a shuttle stop right outside of the campground. The shuttles run frequently so you can explore a lot of the park in good time. The bathrooms in the campground are very clean.
    Avatar
    Jaymie S.
    August 19, 2015
    Mather Campground is GREAT. It's a little hard to find when driving from the entrance so check your map a head of time and pay attention to the signs. The bathrooms are great, very nice and clean (even heated during the winter/spring!), there may be occasional elk that romp through the grounds but that's what makes it fun. I would definitely recommend this camp ground for group camping!

    Your guide to camping in Mather Campground

    Overview

    Fishing

    Over 200 miles of the Colorado River flow through Grand Canyon National Park. Fishing is best before its confluence with the Little Colorado River. Trout fishing is also great on Bright Angel Creek in the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, although a long hike is required to reach its waters.

    Hiking

    The South Rim of the Grand Canyon has so many incredible hikes. For a memorable view of the inner canyon, take the South Kaibab Trail down to OoAh Point. If you’re feeling more adventuresome, take the Bright Angel Trail all the way down to Plateau Point.

    Horseback riding

    Venturing into the depths of the Grand Canyon on the back of a mule is one of the most memorable ways to enjoy the park. South Rim mule rides may book up a year in advance so book well ahead of time. Both scenic rim rides and overnight trips to Phantom Ranch are offered.

    Paddling

    Rafting the entire Grand Canyon is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it's not the only way to paddle the canyon. Several outfitters offer half- and full-day, smooth-water paddling trips from Lees Ferry, as well as paddling adventures on Lake Powell and to Horseshoe Bend.

    Climbing

    The Grand Canyon's soft, crumbly rock is not the best suited for rock climbing but there still are a few established climbing spots in the canyon. The Zoroaster Temple and the O'Neill Butte are some of the most popular climbs in the park.

    Snow sports

    Snowsports are limited in the Grand Canyon, but diehards will find downhill skiing at the Arizona Snowbowl, just north of Flagstaff. During occasional years of heavy snow, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing may be available near the Grandview Fire Tower.

    Swimming

    The closest swimming holes you’ll find near Grand Canyon National Park are at Tusayan hotels. Although outside park boundaries, the turquoise pools in Havasupai offer some of the best swimming spots in the U.S. A permit and a long hike are required to reach the pools.

    Whitewater paddling

    Rafting the entire length of the Grand Canyon from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek is by far the most amazing way to experience the Grand Canyon. Trips last from 7 to 18 days, and it often takes years to score a spot on. Half canyon trips are available for those who want to hike out of the canyon at Phantom Ranch.

    Wildlife watching

    The South Rim is one of the best places to see the endangered California condor in the wild. They are the largest wild birds in North America and are often seen near the Bright Angel Trail. You may also see bighorn sheep, coyotes, mule deer, and gray foxes at the South Rim.

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