Desert View Campground
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.
More like this: reservable in Arizona · pets allowed in Arizona · dark sky in Arizona
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| RV, no hookups | 49 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
49 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | None | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 2 | Pull-through | 30 | Paved | Partial | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 3 | Back-in | 28 | Paved | Partial | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 4 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | None | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 5 | Back-in | 28 | Paved | Partial | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 6 | Pull-through | 30 | Paved | Partial | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 7 | Pull-through | 30 | Paved | Partial | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 8 | Back-in | 28 | Paved | Partial | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 9 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | None | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 10 | Pull-through | 30 | Paved | Partial | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 30 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Campsites at the Desert View Campground are $18.00 per night. The Interagency Senior Pass, Interagency Access Pass, Golden Age Passport, and Golden Access Passport entitle the pass owner to a 50% discount on camping fees. No discounts on camping for any other Federal Pass holders. |
| Dark sky | Inside Grand Canyon National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
| Accessibility | Site 11 is listed accessible |
- 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.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
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.
| Nearest town | Grand Canyon, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 36.0389° N, 111.8226° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- 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.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedKendrick Park Piles Rx
44 mi from the campground · 17 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 16.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Desert View Campground Walkthrough | Grand Canyon National Park
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, which overlaps Kaibab National Forest.
- inBaaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument ↗National Monument · Bureau of Land Management · 960,963 acres
- inKaibab National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,581,388 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
Historic landmarks nearby
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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.
Recreation
- Wildlife Viewing
- Bicycling
- Photography
- Star Gazing and Night Sky Events
Nearby
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.
Guidebooks for Grand Canyon National Park
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Desert View Campground?
Sites at Desert View Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Desert View Campground?
Campsites at the Desert View Campground are $18.00 per night. The Interagency Senior Pass, Interagency Access Pass, Golden Age Passport, and Golden Access Passport entitle the pass owner to a 50% discount on camping fees. No discounts on camping for any other Federal Pass holders.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Desert View Campground?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Desert View Campground have?
50 sites, including 49 RV sites without hookups.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Desert View Campground?
The longest site here provides 30 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Desert View Campground?
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.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Desert View Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Desert View Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Desert View Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Desert View Campground?
Site 11 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
Is Desert View Campground good for stargazing?
Yes. Desert View Campground sits inside Grand Canyon National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: DarkSky International
Is there cell service at Desert View Campground?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Desert View Campground?
Wildlife Viewing The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation