Desert View Campground

The quiet side of the Grand Canyon — East Rim, Watchtower, half the crowds of Mather

Location: Grand Canyon National Park, AZ, AZ

Price: From $25 per night

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (1842 reviews)

Season: Mid-April to mid-October

Sitting at the far eastern edge of the South Rim at 7,463 feet, Desert View draws campers who want the Grand Canyon experience without the Mather crush. Sites are shaded by pinyon and juniper, the Desert View Watchtower is a short walk, and on a clear night you can see the Painted Desert from your sleeping bag. No hookups, no showers, no dump station — but the tradeoff is fewer crowds and one of the widest views of the canyon and Colorado River on the entire South Rim. Open mid-April to mid-Octo

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.

Amenities: Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Bear Boxes, General Store Nearby, Gas Nearby, Pet Friendly

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/desert-view-grand-canyon to be notified when sites open up.

The quieter East Rim experience — steps from the historic Desert View Watchtower, half the crowds of Mather Campground, and some of the widest views of the Colorado River and Painted Desert on the entire South Rim.

The East Rim viewpoints between Desert View and Lipan Point at sunrise — a series of pullouts where the Colorado River is visible thousands of feet below. At 6am you can drive this 25-mile stretch and stop at every overlook without passing another car.

What is new at Desert View Campground: Desert View Watchtower renewed interpretation program 2023. New Indigenous cultural programming on weekends.

Wildlife alert: Rock squirrels extremely aggressive around food — they bite. California condors circle the rim regularly. Elk present on the South Rim plateau.

Fire rules: Campfires in provided fire grates only. Check nps.gov/grca.

Things to do near Desert View Campground: Desert View Watchtower (adjacent) — 1932 Mary Colter-designed tower with 360 views of canyon and Painted Desert. Desert View Drive to Lipan Point — best river views on the South Rim. Tusayan Ruin (3 mi west) — 800-year-old Ancestral Puebloan village and free museum.

Insider tips for Desert View Campground: The Desert View store and gas station are the only fuel on the east end of the park Mather Campground (25 mi west) is often fully booked — Desert View is your best South Rim walk-up option

Skip Desert View Campground if: You need hookups or showers — no electric, no showers. You want walking distance to the main South Rim Village — 25 miles west.

Best time to visit Desert View Campground: Apr–May — Wildflowers, mild temps, open for the season.. Sep–Oct — Summer crowds gone. Perfect canyon photography light..

Common issues at Desert View Campground: No showers or hookups. Showers available at Mather Campground (25 mi west) for a fee.

What campers say about Desert View Campground: "We walked to the Watchtower at 7am before it opened and watched the sunrise over the Painted Desert from the base. No other people for an hour." — Recreation.gov reviewer "Half the price, half the crowds, and actually a better canyon view than the Mather area." — Recreation.gov reviewer

Nearby campgrounds: Hull Cabin (Grand Canyon, AZ), North Rim — Grand Canyon NP (Grand Canyon National Park, AZ (North Rim)), Mather Campground (Grand Canyon Village, AZ), Tusayan - Montane (GRAND CANYON, AZ).