Mather Campground
Step out of your tent and into one of the seven wonders of the world
Location: Grand Canyon Village, AZ, AZ
Price: From $18 per night
Price range: $18–$50 per night
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (3841 reviews)
Elevation: 6877 feet
Season: Year-round
Camp on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon — one mile from the canyon edge. Mather is the primary campground on the South Rim with 327 sites in a ponderosa pine forest. The Grand Canyon Village with restaurants, museum, visitor center, historic El Tovar Hotel, and the free South Rim shuttle is walking distance. Mather Point and Yavapai Point lookouts — with the most photographed views of the Grand Canyon — are 1 mile away. Open year-round.
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, Dump Station, Fire Rings, Bear Boxes, Picnic Tables, Laundry, Showers (nearby), General Store (nearby), Shuttle Stop, Recycling, Pet Friendly
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/mather-grand-canyon to be notified when sites open up.
One mile from the edge of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. From Mather Campground you can walk to Mather Point at sunrise and stand at the rim of a canyon 1 mile deep and 18 miles wide. The free South Rim shuttle eliminates all the parking problems that plague day visitors. At 6,860 feet elevation, the South Rim is 30°F cooler than the canyon bottom in summer. The village around Mather — restaurants, the historic El Tovar Hotel, Yavapai Geology Museum, general store — rivals any campground setting in the NPS system.
The Bright Angel Trail at dawn — before 7am — is completely different from the crowded midday experience. Mather Campground is the only accommodation that puts you close enough to start hiking before 6am. You can reach Indian Garden (now Havasupai Gardens) and be back at camp for breakfast before most day visitors have parked their cars. The morning light on the Redwall Limestone layer is one of the most extraordinary natural light shows on Earth.
What is new at Mather Campground: Grand Canyon NP ended its timed-entry day permit system in 2025 — day visitors no longer need advance permits to enter. $100/person non-resident surcharge effective 2026 (same as Zion and Yosemite). Bright Angel trailhead area refreshed with new shade structures.
Wildlife alert: California condors (10-foot wingspan) soar over the rim daily — look up. Mule deer and elk common in the village and campground. Rattlesnakes on inner canyon trails in summer — most active at dawn and dusk. Ringtail cats in the campground at night.
Fire rules: Fire rings at sites. No fires during periods of high fire danger — check nps.gov/grca. Fire grates elevated for comfort. Extinguish completely before sleeping.
Things to do near Mather Campground: Mather Point at sunrise — walk from camp, arrive 30 minutes before sunrise. Bright Angel Trail at dawn — descend before day visitors arrive for the best light. El Tovar Hotel dinner (0.5 mi) — 1905 historic lodge, rim-adjacent dining, book weeks ahead. Yavapai Geology Museum (1 mi) — best geology exhibit in the NPS system, explains what you're looking at. Desert View Watchtower (25 mi east) — Mary Colter masterpiece with Colorado River views.
Insider tips for Mather Campground: Trailer Village (adjacent) has full hookups for larger rigs — book through Xanterra separately Start Bright Angel hike at 5:30am — you'll descend into the canyon alone El Tovar dinner requires advance reservation — book the day you book camping
Skip Mather Campground if: You need hookups or have a rig over 30ft (book Trailer Village instead). You plan inner canyon hikes in summer midday (heat kills — go at dawn only). You're booking less than 6 months ahead for July–August.
Best time to visit Mather Campground: Mar & Oct — Ideal rim temperatures. Inner canyon hikes possible. Crowds 40% lower than summer.. Dec–Feb — Walk-up sites available. Snow on the rim. Canyon in winter light. Almost no competition for views..
Common issues at Mather Campground: No hookups and only 30ft RV length limit. Trailer Village (adjacent to Mather) has full hookups and accepts larger rigs — book separately through Xanterra. Extremely hot and dry in summer — dehydration is a serious risk. Carry and drink 1 liter of water per hour while hiking. Summer temperatures at the rim top 90°F; at the bottom they exceed 110°F. Start inner canyon hikes at dawn only. Books very fast for summer — 6-month advance booking required. December–February has walk-up availability, magical snow, and cold but manageable temperatures. Shoulder season (March, October, November) is best for combining availability with good weather.
What campers say about Mather Campground: "Walked to Mather Point at 5am. Sunrise light on the canyon walls — orange, red, purple, gold. No words. Book this campground." — The Dyrt 2025 "Mule deer walked through the campground every morning. California condors soar overhead. Free shuttle to every viewpoint. This is the Grand Canyon done right." — Campendium 2025 "El Tovar dinner reservation is worth it — historic 1905 lodge, canyon rim dining. Book weeks ahead." — Tripadvisor 2025 "Winter camping here: snow on the canyon rim, almost no other visitors, campfires at night. The Grand Canyon without the crowds is a different place." — Reddit Dec 2024
What are the best sites at Mather Campground Grand Canyon? Sites in loops C and D are most requested — they're closer to the rim trail and have more mature pinyon pine shade. Loop A is closest to the campground store and showers but can be noisy. Loop G is a good middle ground. All sites are within 0.5 miles of the South Rim trail. Request sites ending in even numbers on loops C/D for slightly more spacing.
How do I book Mather Campground? Mather Campground reservations open 6 months in advance on Recreation.gov. March–May and September–October are the hardest to get (spring and fall are peak season for the canyon). Summer (June–August) is hot (90°F+ on the rim, 110°F+ at the bottom) and crowds thin slightly. Walk-in sites are sometimes available for same-day arrival — check at the campground entrance before 9 AM.
Does Mather Campground have showers? Yes — coin-operated showers ($2 for 5 minutes) are available at the Camper Services building near the campground entrance. They are open 24 hours. Laundromat is in the same building. The visitor center, grocery, and general store are all within a 5-minute walk.
Can I drive to the Grand Canyon rim from Mather Campground? You can walk to the South Rim trailheads from Mather — it's 0.5–1 mile depending on your loop. In summer (May 1–Nov 30), personal vehicles are not allowed on Hermit Road — take the free shuttle from the campground. The Bright Angel Trailhead is a 15-minute walk from the campground.
