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Home/Grand Canyon National Park/Mather Campground
Recreation.govAZ

Mather Campground

Grand Canyon National Park

Upcoming Availability

14 of 14 days currently show available sites.

View releasing sites

Sun, Jul 26

165

sites

Mon, Jul 27

178

sites

Tue, Jul 28

170

sites

Wed, Jul 29

180

sites

Thu, Jul 30

174

sites

Fri, Jul 31

153

sites

Sat, Aug 1

155

sites

Sun, Aug 2

158

sites

Mon, Aug 3

163

sites

Tue, Aug 4

176

sites

Wed, Aug 5

175

sites

Thu, Aug 6

171

sites

Fri, Aug 7

174

sites

Sat, Aug 8

175

sites

Campground guide

What to know before booking

The campground is at an elevation of approximately 7,000 ft. **Visitors are responsible for verifying that their vehicle(s) will fit within the size restrictions listed for the site they are reserving. Mather Campground lies beneath a tall canopy of Ponderosa pine, Pinyon, and Juniper trees that provide most campsites with ample shade.

max Stay

30 days

Official campground details, summarized

Concise planning notes based on the public Recreation.gov campground information.

Facilities

**Visitors are responsible for verifying that their vehicle(s) will fit within the size restrictions listed for the site they are reserving. Visitors are also responsible for reviewing the site map and site information to ensure that the doors of their vehicle(s) will open on the desired side. Vehicles must be parked on the pavement and facing the one-way direction of the campground loop. ** 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.

Campsite map

Site markers come from Recreation.gov campsite coordinates.

300 mapped sites

Campsites

A sample of official campsite metadata for scanning equipment fit before booking.

Site 098

Fir Loop (Sites 60-106)

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

21 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 041

Aspen Loop (Sites 1-59)

TENT ONLY NONELECTRIC

21 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 116

Juniper Loop (Sites 107-184)

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

21 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 317

Pine Loop (Sites 265-319)

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

21 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site A278

Pine Loop

RV NONELECTRIC

25 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 175

Juniper Loop (Sites 107-184)

TENT ONLY NONELECTRIC

19 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 147

Juniper Loop (Sites 107-184)

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

21 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 214

Oak Loop (Sites 201-264)

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

21 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 274

Pine Loop (Sites 265-319)

TENT ONLY NONELECTRIC

19 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 159

Juniper Loop (Sites 107-184)

TENT ONLY NONELECTRIC

21 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 297

Pine Loop (Sites 265-319)

TENT ONLY NONELECTRIC

19 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 251

Oak Loop (Sites 201-264)

TENT ONLY NONELECTRIC

21 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 261

Oak Loop (Sites 201-264)

MANAGEMENT

19 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 181

Juniper Loop (Sites 107-184)

RV NONELECTRIC

30 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 107

Juniper Loop (Sites 107-184)

TENT ONLY NONELECTRIC

20 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 192

Maple Loop (Sites 185-200)

TENT ONLY NONELECTRIC

21 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 245

Oak Loop (Sites 201-264)

TENT ONLY NONELECTRIC

21 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 001

Aspen Loop (Sites 1-59)

TENT ONLY NONELECTRIC

21 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 069

Fir Loop (Sites 60-106)

RV NONELECTRIC

30 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 046

Aspen Loop (Sites 1-59)

RV NONELECTRIC

27 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 307

Pine Loop (Sites 265-319)

STANDARD NONELECTRIC

23 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 199

Maple Loop (Sites 185-200)

TENT ONLY NONELECTRIC

21 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 042

Aspen Loop (Sites 1-59)

TENT ONLY NONELECTRIC

21 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

Site 242

Oak Loop (Sites 201-264)

TENT ONLY NONELECTRIC

21 ft

vehicle

6

people

Yes

shade

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 can be reported to on-duty NPS Rangers, volunteer campground hosts, or (after-hours) to GRCA dispatch: 928-638-7805 (police-fire-medical dispatch). 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 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.

More at Grand Canyon National Park

Other tracked campgrounds from the same park or area.

Surrounding campgrounds

Other tracked campgrounds within driving distance, nearest first.

Common questions

Is Mather Campground available right now?

Kestrel's most recent scan found openings on 14 of the next 14 days, starting Sun, Jul 26. Availability changes constantly — check the calendar above, then confirm on Recreation.gov.

How do I book Mather Campground?

Reservations are handled by Recreation.gov, not by Kestrel. Use the official reservation link on this page to book. Kestrel only watches availability and tells you when a site frees up.

How quickly will I hear about a cancellation?

Kestrel rescans every two minutes, and every 30 seconds during the provider's daily release window. Alerts go out by email as soon as a matching site appears.