Campground

Desert View Campground (Reservations Required)

Campground
An RV parked on a paved surface, nestled in a desert scrub forest.

Desert View Campground sits at the East Entrance of Grand Canyon National Park, 23 miles east of the busy Grand Canyon Village, and that distance is exactly why campers like it - the NPS describes it as a peaceful setting. You get 49 reservation-only sites, each with a picnic table and a fire ring with a cooking grill, plus flush toilets and seasonal water spigots. This is dry camping: no hookups, no showers, no dump station, and a hard 30-foot combined length limit. The Desert View General Store, gas station, and the Watchtower are a short walk or drive from your site.

Quick facts

Reservation System
Recreation.gov only - no first-come, first-served sites are held back
Reservation Window
Book up to 6 months out on Recreation.gov; same-day reservations possible online or by phone (877-444-6777)
Reservation Tips
Reservations only - no sites are held for walk-ups and there's no wait list. Book up to 6 months ahead on Recreation.gov or by phone (877-444-6777). Same-day reservations are possible online or by phone, and unoccupied sites without an occupied sign get released to same-day bookings.
Season Dates
Opens Saturday, April 11, 2026; last night to stay is Sunday, October 18, 2026. Closed in winter.

Reservations & season

Reservation System
Recreation.gov only - no first-come, first-served sites are held back
Reservation Window
Book up to 6 months out on Recreation.gov; same-day reservations possible online or by phone (877-444-6777)
Reservation Tips
Reservations only - no sites are held for walk-ups and there's no wait list. Book up to 6 months ahead on Recreation.gov or by phone (877-444-6777). Same-day reservations are possible online or by phone, and unoccupied sites without an occupied sign get released to same-day bookings.
Season Dates
Opens Saturday, April 11, 2026; last night to stay is Sunday, October 18, 2026. Closed in winter.
Fills Up Speed
High demand - the NPS moved it to advance reservations for a reason, and there is no wait list
Per Night Cost
$30 per night per campsite
Passes Accepted
America the Beautiful Senior and Access passes discount the campsite fee; park entry is $35 per private vehicle

Sites & RV fit

Sites Total
49
Site Types
Tent and RV/trailer sites (2 tents and 2 vehicles per site, or 1 vehicle with one RV/5th wheel/trailer)
Site Type Breakdown
49 sites total, mixed tent/RV use; 2 ADA sites closest to the restrooms
RV Max Length
30 feet combined total, front bumper to rear bumper - trailer itself maxes at 20 feet with tow vehicle included in the 30
Group Sites Available
0
Group Site Capacity
No group sites. Sites are limited to 6 people, and affiliated groups (clubs, Scouts, large family gatherings) cannot split across separate sites.
Hookups
Dry camping only - no hookups at any site
Site Features
Picnic table, fire ring with cooking grill, paved parking pad (vehicles must stay on the pavement)
Ground Type
Paved parking pads; vehicles must stay on the pavement
Site Privacy
The NPS bills Desert View as a peaceful setting and a more solitary experience than the Village-area campgrounds

Facilities

Bathroom Types
Flush toilets (seasonal), located between sites 9 & 11 next to the Camp Host's site
Showers Available
None - no showers at Desert View. Plan on a solar shower or a wipe-down.
Potable Water
Seasonal spigots between sites 8 & 10 and 34 & 35. They cannot be used to fill RV tanks, so arrive with your fresh tank topped off.
Dump Station
None on site - dump and fill before you arrive
Trash Service
Dumpsters provided for trash and recycling (seasonal). Don't leave trash unattended at your site.
Camp Store
Desert View General Store sells wood, ice, groceries, and camping supplies; gas station (pay-at-the-pump), trading post with coffee and ice cream, and a bookstore in the Watchtower nearby
Firewood Availability
Sold seasonally at the Desert View General Store, a short walk from camp. Don't move firewood - buy it here.
Cell Service
No reliable cell reception - connectivity is intermittent at best. Download offline maps before you leave town.
Nearby Facilities
Desert View settlement has the General Store (groceries, ice, wood, camping supplies), gas station, trading post, and bookstore. Fuller services are in Grand Canyon Village, 23 miles west.

Access

Road Type
Paved roads - all vehicles OK
Road Conditions
Fully paved access; the campground entrance road is the first right past the gas station in the Desert View settlement. Any sedan makes it fine.
Vehicle Restrictions
30 ft combined max length; 2 vehicles per site or 1 vehicle plus one RV/trailer; cars, trucks, motorcycles, and trailers must remain on the pavement
Clearance Needed
Standard clearance - paved all the way
Gate Hours
The East Entrance is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Distance From Entrance
Right inside the East Entrance, within the Desert View settlement; 23 miles east of Grand Canyon Village on Desert View Drive (SR 64)
Nearest Gas Services
Pay-at-the-pump gas station right in the Desert View settlement, a short walk or drive from the campground
Elevation
7,463 ft (2,275 m)
Accessibility
2 ADA sites sit closest to the flush-toilet restrooms, and a number of picnic tables are wheelchair accessible. Access roads and parking pads are paved.
ADA Accessible Sites
2 ADA campsites, the ones closest to the restrooms; a number of picnic tables are wheelchair accessible. With an Access Pass the site cost is reduced.

Rules & safety

Food Storage Requirements
Store food and trash in your vehicle or hard-sided containers. Do not leave pet food outside.
Fire Restrictions
Fires in fire boxes/rings only - each site has a fire ring with a cooking grill
Pets Allowed
Yes
Pet Restrictions
Pets must be leashed at all times and may not be left unattended
Generator Hours
7-9 am and 6-8 pm ONLY
Quiet Hours
10 pm to 6 am
Max Stay Limit
14-day continuous limit and 30 days per year
Alcohol Permitted
0

What it is like

Onsite Activities
Seasonal amphitheater ranger programs; a short walk to the Desert View Watchtower, trading post, and general store
Noise Level
Quiet by design - generators limited to 7-9 am and 6-8 pm, quiet hours 10 pm to 6 am, and it sits 23 miles from the Village bustle
Best Time To Visit
Late spring and early summer for the driest weather; if you come July through September, plan around afternoon monsoon thunderstorms and set camp early
Vibe Check
This is the quiet corner of the South Rim. You're 23 miles from Grand Canyon Village in a small settlement with a store, gas, and the Watchtower - and that's it. The NPS calls it a peaceful setting, and the strict generator windows and 10 pm quiet hours keep it that way. If you want shuttle buses and restaurants outside your door, this isn't it.
Camp Here If Skip If
BOOK IF: You want a quieter Grand Canyon basecamp near the East Entrance, you're in a tent or a rig under 30 feet combined, and you're comfortable dry camping with flush toilets and a camp store nearby. SKIP IF: You need hookups, showers, a dump station, or a rig over 30 feet - Trailer Village RV Park or Mather Campground on the Village side will fit you better.
Tips Advice
  • Arrive with your RV fresh-water tank full - the spigots here can't be used to fill tanks.
  • There's no dump station, so dump before you roll in and plan your gray water.
  • Book right at the 6-month mark on Recreation.gov, and check for same-day openings online or at 877-444-6777 if you missed it.
  • Cell service is unreliable - download offline maps and your reservation confirmation first.
  • Buy firewood at the General Store instead of hauling it in; don't move firewood.
  • Keep an occupied sign from the Campground Host posted if you leave your site, or it can be released to same-day reservations.
  • Nights get cold at 7,463 ft even in summer - pack wool socks and a warm bag.

More details

Park Area
Desert View (East Entrance, South Rim)
Family Friendly Notes
Good family setup: flush toilets, a camp store with ice cream a short walk away, seasonal ranger programs at the amphitheater, and quiet hours enforced 10 pm to 6 am. Sites are limited to 6 people.
Senior Access Discounts
$15 per night with a Senior or Access Pass (half price)
Amphitheater
Yes - seasonal amphitheater on site
Nearby Attractions
Desert View Watchtower, Desert View Trading Post (coffee and ice cream), Desert View General Store, and the Grand Canyon Conservancy Bookstore - all within the Desert View settlement. Grand Canyon Village is 23 miles west on Desert View Drive.
Terrain Type
Desert scrub forest at 7,463 feet on the South Rim
Temperature Ranges
Late spring and early summer are the driest stretch, with daytime humidity often below 10%. Nights start cooling off in late August and early September - pack warm layers for 7,463 ft.
Snow Season
Winter precipitation usually falls as snow on the rims; the campground is closed during winter months
Monsoon Season
Early July through September - strong ground-level heating builds powerful afternoon thunderstorms when moisture moves in
Setup Strategy
Paved roads all the way in and paved pads at the sites - keep every wheel on the pavement, it's a rule here. The hard number to respect is 30 feet combined length, bumper to bumper, with trailers capped at 20 feet. No hookups anywhere, so arrive leveled-up on water and empty on tanks. Generator windows are short: 7-9 am and 6-8 pm only.
Bath Laundry Recon
Flush toilets (seasonal) between sites 9 & 11 next to the Camp Host - that's the whole bathhouse story. No showers and no laundry at Desert View, period. Bring a solar shower or plan a stop in Grand Canyon Village, 23 miles west.
Review Summary
Campers pick Desert View for the quiet - the NPS itself describes a peaceful setting and a more solitary experience than the Village campgrounds. The trade-off is bare-bones amenities: flush toilets and water spigots, but no showers, hookups, or dump station.

Location

Frequently asked questions

Can I show up without a reservation?

No. Desert View is reservation-only through Recreation.gov, and the park holds back zero sites for first-come, first-served. Your best fallback is a same-day reservation online or by phone at 877-444-6777 - unoccupied sites without an occupied sign get released to same-day bookings.

Will my 35-foot RV fit?

No. The maximum is 30 feet combined total length, front bumper to rear bumper, including your tow vehicle. Trailers themselves max out at 20 feet. If you're over, look at Trailer Village RV Park on the South Rim instead.

Are there hookups or a dump station?

Neither. This is dry camping - no hookups at any site and no dump station. The water spigots can't be used to fill RV tanks either, so arrive with a full fresh tank and empty waste tanks.

Is it quiet at night?

Yes - that's the draw. Quiet hours run 10 pm to 6 am, generators are limited to 7-9 am and 6-8 pm, and you're 23 miles from the Village crowds. The NPS describes it as a peaceful setting.

Can I bring my dog?

Yes. Pets are allowed but must be leashed at all times and can't be left unattended at your site. Don't leave pet food outside either.

Is there anywhere to shower?

Not at Desert View - there are no showers or laundry here, just seasonal flush toilets between sites 9 & 11. Pack a solar shower or plan a run to Grand Canyon Village, 23 miles west.

Can we book several sites for our Scout troop or family reunion?

That won't work here. There are no group sites, each site is limited to 6 people, and the park's rules say affiliated groups - clubs, Scouts, organizations, large family gatherings - cannot break up into separate sites.

Sources

Information is compiled from official sources, verified traveler reviews, and editorial research. Learn how YourNPGuide works.

Last updated July 2026. Report an issue.