Desert View Campground

Grand Canyon National Park

Located on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park at an altitude of 7,463 ft (2,275 m), Desert View Campground is located 23 miles (37 km) to the east of Grand Canyon Village. The Desert View area offers a peaceful setting. Most sites are sized to accommodate tents or smaller RV’s, or vehicles with travel trailers (30 ft./9 m total length). Vehicles over 29' in (8.8 m) total length may not be able to negotiate turns without damaging resources and/or vehicle/trailer.

Due to high demand, Desert View Campground requires advanced reservations during its season, usually mid-April to mid-October. You may book reservations up to 6 months in advance. Desert View Campground does not hold back any campsites for first-come, first-served camping during peak season and does not have a wait list or call back system.

You may book same day reservations online on Recreation.gov or through the toll-free call center at 1-877-444-6777.

There are a total of 50 campsites in the Desert View Campground.
Most sites can accommodate tents or SMALL RV's or travel Trailers.
Sites can not accommodate RV's or travel trailers over 30 ft. maximum length - Front bumper to rear bumper).
Limit of six persons; two tents; two-vehicles or one RV/Travel Trailer per site.
There are no Group Sites. Affiliated Groups cannot break up into separate sites. Examples of Affiliated Group: clubs, Scouts, organizations, group of friends, large family gatherings.
All campsites are dry sites. No utility, water, or sewer hook-ups are available.
Each site does have a campfire grill for fires and cooking use and a picnic table.
There are two water faucets located within the campground.
There are men's, women's, and accessible restrooms in the campground.
The restrooms have flushing toilets and sinks (no hot water).
Desert View has no showers, laundromat, or dump station. The nearest are at: Mather Campground, in Grand Canyon Village, 26 miles/42 km west of Desert View.
A General Store and a Gas Station are in the Desert View area; with limited groceries and firewood.

Notifications and Alerts

Check the campsite's parking/vehicle dimensions BEFORE you make the reservation! Each site has its own length and what will fit into that site. The Total/Combined/Maximum Vehicle length is from the FRONT bumper of the towing vehicle/RV to the REAR bumper of the trailer or single vehicle w/o a trailer/towed vehicle. The Maximum/Total/Combined length of a vehicle or combination is 30 feet; to fit and maneuver in the campground. A 24' trailer/5th wheel would need a 6' truck to fit our largest site (24 + 6 =30'). A 25' RV w/ a towed vehicle will not fit; and would need to leave the towed vehicle outside the campground. Ignoring the size limitations will likely result in damage to your vehicle or the natural landscape; and could result in you being asked to leave the campground due to being oversized.

Need to Know

Reservations required. Due to high demand, Desert View Campground requires advanced reservations during the season from April to October. You may book reservations up to 6 months in advance. Desert View Campground does not hold back any campsites for first-come, first-served camping during peak season and does not have a wait list or call back system.
Sites accommodate tents or small RV's. RV's or travel trailers may not exceed a maximum 30 ft (9 m) total length, measured from the front bumper to the rear bumper of vehicle or trailer. Additionally, a vehicle or combination of tow vehicle and trailer that exceeds 29 feet (8 m) total length may not be able to negotiate turns without damaging resources and/or the vehicle/trailer. In addition, some campsites will NOT accommodate vehicles over 19 feet (5.8 m). Check the site details for each campsite to ensure compatibility with your vehicle(s). Oversize vehicle(s) may be turned away.
There are no sites at Desert View for groups of more than 6 people. Campsites are limited to 6 campers per site. Do not book multiple campsites for the same dates for your group (one campsite per night per individual). Affiliated groups (clubs, scouts, organizations, group of friends, large family gatherings, etc.) may not break up into separate sites. Gatherings of multiple campers from different sites at a single campsite are not permitted as they leads to increased noise and resource damage.
Maximum Stay. There is a 7-day camping limit. Check out is at 11:00 AM.
Pets. Pets are allowed, but must be leashed at all times and may not be left unattended.

Natural Features

Desert View Campground lies beneath a mixture of pinyon and juniper trees, providing most campsites with ample shade. The campground is less than 1/2 mile (.8 km) from the rim of the canyon. A visit to the canyon during sunrise and sunset yields spectacular views of yellow, orange, red and violet hues in the canyon walls. Layers of rock display billions of years of geologic history. Campers can take a short walk from the campground to the historic Desert View Watchtower. 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 of carrion.

Nearby Attractions

Desert View provides one of the widest views of Grand Canyon and the Painted Desert. The Mary Colter's Desert View Watchtower displays this architect's talent. The Desert View area offers an aviation memorial, a trading post and market, and Tusayan Ruin and Museum which provide glimpses into the life of a small Ancestral Puebloan village 800 years ago, all within 5 miles from the campground.

Recreation

Wildlife Viewing
Bicycling
Photography
Star Gazing and Night Sky Events

Changes & Cancellations

Reservation adjustments are made online through www.recreation.gov. or by phone (877)444-6777.

Contact Information

Mailing

PO Box 129 Grand Canyon AZ 86023

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: (928) 638-7081

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

The Desert View Campground is located in the Desert View Area; 23 miles (37 km) to the east of Grand Canyon Village and 28 miles west of Cameron; near the Desert View Gas Station.

Available Campsites

Photo Gallery

Camp, RV, and Explore Outdoors

Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore America's outdoor and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country. We provide tools and tips to discover new adventures through a one-stop shop for inspiration and ideation, trip planning, information sharing, and reservations. Find incredible places and experiences that help you bring home a story through Recreation.gov!