Mather Campground - South Rim
The Quick Take
Mather is the South Rim's basecamp -- sprawling, well-located, and about as convenient as camping gets at one of the world's most visited natural wonders. You're a short walk or shuttle ride from the rim, the village stores, and the trailheads that drop into the canyon. The trade-off is exactly what you'd expect: this is not a wilderness experience. With hundreds of sites packed into ponderosa pine forest, you'll hear your neighbors and share the bathroom with a crowd. But the Pine Loop offers a reprieve -- tent-only, no generators, and noticeably quieter. At thirty bucks a night, you're paying a fraction of what the lodges charge while sleeping under the same sky. Choose Mather if you want a full-service staging area for rim hikes and canyon exploration without the sticker shock of in-park lodging.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 327 sites are reservable.
Book at Grand Canyon LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. Maximum length: 25 feet. No electrical hookups. Generators permitted during designated hours.
Accessibility
Accessible restrooms available. Restrooms have paved ramps to bathroom entrances. Each restroom has an ADA compliant stall. Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Rules to Know
- Generators:Quiet hours: 10 pm to 6 am.
- Checkout:Check in/out time: Check in at noon; check out at 11 am.
- Occupancy:Maximum vehicle length: 30 feet (9 m).
- Stay Limit:Stays limited to 14 consecutive days and 30 days per calendar year.
Pro Tips
Reservations open six months out and sell out fast for summer and holiday weekends. Set a calendar reminder for your booking window and be ready at the exact opening time -- hesitating even a few hours can mean missing your dates entirely.
Request a site on Pine Loop if you're tent camping. It's generator-free and set apart from the RV traffic, which makes a real difference during those early morning hours when someone on the main loops inevitably fires up a diesel rig at 7 am sharp.
The campground has no showers, but the Camper Services building near Mather Point has coin-operated showers and laundry. Stock up on quarters before you arrive -- the machines don't make change, and the camp store runs out of coins by midweek in peak season.
Photos
NPS Photo
NPS photo by Kristen M. Caldon
NPS/M. QuinnGetting There
Directions
GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude): 36.04972, -112.12047 -- 36°2'59"N, 112°7'14"W From the south entrance, follow the road for about three miles and turn left on Center Road. Travel 1/4 mile and turn right onto Market Plaza Road. The campground is about one mile down Market Plaza Road on the right.
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