Jacob Lake Recreation Area
Jacob Lake Recreation Area is conveniently located in Jacob Lake, Arizona, the gateway to the Grand Canyon's North Rim. The campground is nestled among the towering Ponderosa Pine trees of the North Kaibab National Forest, where ample opportunities to enjoy nature abound, from hiking and mountain biking to birding. Summer temperatures are pleasant during the day and nights are cool, while several feet of snow cover the landscape in winter. The campground is open on a seasonal basis, though the national forest remains open year 'round.
More like this: reservable in Arizona · big rigs in Arizona · pets allowed in Arizona · group sites in Arizona
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 51 |
| Group sites | 2 |
| group picnic area | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 100 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
54 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | LOPA | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 002 | LOPA | Standard | Pull-through | 45 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 003 | LOPA | Standard | Back-in | 36 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 004 | LOPA | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 005 | LOPA | Standard | Pull-through | 42 | Gravel | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 006 | LOPA | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 007 | LOPA | Standard | Pull-through | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard | |
| 008 | LOPA | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 009 | LOPA | Standard | Pull-through | 30 | Gravel | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 010 | LOPA | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 | Yes | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 100 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Accessibility | Site 016 is listed accessible |
The group campground is adjacent to Jacob Lake Campground and features two group sites that can accommodate up to 100 people each. The facility offers ramadas, grills, tables, toilets and water. Jacob Lake Recreation Area is very accessible. It is located on 89A, a paved U.S. highway, yet set far enough back from the road to provide privacy. The roads within the campground are gravel. The facility is across the street from Jacob Lake Inn, which has a restaurant, gas station, gift shop and limited groceries, and the Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center. The nearest full facilities are 30 to 40 miles away in Fredonia, Arizona and Kanab, Utah.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Kaibab National Forest |
| Rules | Check out time is 2 p.m. Pets are welcome but must be kept on a leash. It is strictly forbidden to drain wastewater onto the ground. All campgrounds limit campers to a 14-day stay. Tents, trailers and small motor homes are allowed, but there are no utility hookups available. |
Weather by month
Getting there
The facility is 30 miles southeast of Fredonia, Arizona on U.S. Route 89A. It is 0.1 miles from the intersection of U.S. Route 89A and State Route 67.
| Coordinates | 36.7000° N, 112.2097° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- While perfect for weddings, family reunions and other large group events, this campground is not intended for traditional camping with small groups of people.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Willow Canyon Outdoor ↗ | 29.5 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 34.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Jacob Lake Campground Review
Trails nearby
- 0.7 miCeballos2.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 miNorth Timp Snowmobile Trail ↗42.3 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
- 1 miKai-Vav-Wi Nature Trail0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.5 miJacob Canyon ↗5.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Vermilion Cliffs begins about 11 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 11 miVermilion Cliffs ↗National Conservation Lands unit · Bureau of Land Management · 293,904 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Jacob Lake Lookout TowerStructure · Jacob Lake · 0.2 mi
- Jacob Lake Ranger StationBuilding · Jacob Lake · 1.3 mi
- Cooper Ridge Lookout TreeSite · Fredonia · 3.3 mi
Natural features
Jacob Lake is at an elevation of 7,920 feet. The Kaibab Plateau is an area uplifted by geologic processes, making it higher in elevation than the surrounding deserts (the closest town of Fredonia, Arizona is 28 miles away and nearly 4,700 feet). The nearby lake only fills up with water occasionally, but marsh areas along the edges of the lake are great bird habitats.
Recreation
Grand Canyon National Park is a popular destination for campers staying at Jacob Lake Recreation Area. But from the campground itself, visitors can walk a pleasant one-mile loop trail, or take a 10 minute drive to the Kaibab Plateau Trail a section of the Arizona Trail, which runs north-to-south across the entire length of the state. The national forest also has a variety of mountain biking trails ranging from beginner to advanced levels. There is no fishing at Jacob Lake. Reservations for horseback riding and chuck wagon rides, as well as bike rentals, are available at Jacob Lake Inn across the street.
Nearby
The campground is 44 miles north of Grand Canyon National Park's rustic and less populated North Rim - home to abundant wildlife, hiking trails, spruce-fir and Ponderosa pine forests and unparalleled views of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Enjoy a visit to the North Rim from mid-May through mid-October; the road is closed during winter. Grand Canyon National Park>
Guidebooks for Arizona
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Best Backpacking Trips in Utah, Arizona, and New MexicoMike White and Douglas Lorain, 2016Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Jacob Lake Recreation Area?
Sites at Jacob Lake Recreation Area are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Jacob Lake Recreation Area?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Jacob Lake Recreation Area open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Jacob Lake Recreation Area have?
54 sites, including 51 standard sites without power, 2 group sites, and 1 group picnic area.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Jacob Lake Recreation Area?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Jacob Lake Recreation Area?
Yes, pets are allowed at Jacob Lake Recreation Area. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Jacob Lake Recreation Area?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Check out time is 2 p.m.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Jacob Lake Recreation Area?
Site 016 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Jacob Lake Recreation Area?
Grand Canyon National Park is a popular destination for campers staying at Jacob Lake Recreation Area. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Jacob Lake Recreation Area is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Jacob Lake Group Campground & Picnic Site (0.9 mi, first-come), Demotte (20.4 mi), and Stateline Campground (22.9 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby