RV Camping near Grand Canyon

Deciding to take your RV rental for a journey around the Grand Canyon is exciting! There is much to see, to do and experience while visiting this wondrous setting in an RV rental. Furthermore, visiting the Grand Canyon in a motorhome rental or camper rental makes the adventure that much more convenient. Now that you’ve decided to take the voyage, it is time to start planning. Following is everything you need to know about camping in the Grand Canyon.

According to Wikipedia, Grand Canyon National Park is managed by the National Park Service. It is a giant canyon located in Arizona carved over many millions of years by the Colorado River and the elements. The canyon is over 277 miles long, 18 miles wide and one mile deep.

The Grand Canyon is located about 15 hours from Fort Worth in a camper rental, 16 hours from Dallas in a rented recreational vehicle, 17 hours from Austin, Texas in a campervan hire and 19 Hours from Houston, Texas in a Class C motorhome rental. Basically, from most of Texas it is about 1,000 miles more or less and takes about 2-3 days to drive one-way in a motorhome rental or pulling a camper rental in your own vehicle. The Park is only about 485 miles or 8+ hours from Los Angeles, California in a motorhome rental.

Renting an RV near the Grand Canyon

The two major cities closest to the Canyon for renting an RV are Phoenix, AZ and Las Vegas, NV.  Also, Flagstaff, AZ is only 1.5 hours from the South Rim and although it is a smaller city, it does have an airport. 

Which Campsites to Park Your RV Rental?

Whether you decide to camp in your motorhome rental inside the park or outside it, there are plenty of options for you to choose from. The park itself and the surrounding areas outside the park are broken up into the North Rim and the South Rim sections and each has nice campsites to park your RV rental. Here is a breakdown of both areas to help you decide which one to select.

South Rim

• Open year-round
• On the Arizona side of the canyon
• Closer to I-40 and transportation centers
• Most visited so campgrounds fill up fast

South Rim Campground- Inside the Park

Trailer Village (RV park with full hook-ups)

• Paved RV sites, up to 50 ft. in length
• Allows pets
• Has a dump station nearby
• Open all year
• Allows charcoal fires
• Make a reservation here

South Rim Campground-Outside the Park

Camper Village (RV Campground with full hook-up)

• Has either 50 or 30 amp hookups or 30 amp water and electricity only
• Small camp store
• Coin operated laundry and showers
• Located one mile south of park entrance
• Located walking distance from a town and shuttle service into the park.
• Reservations can be made here.

North Rim

• Most visitor services are only open during May thru October
• On the Utah side of the canyon
• More wild and secluded
• Has a short season so campgrounds fill up fast 

North Rim Campground-Inside the Park

NPS North Rim Campground (Tent and RV campground with no hook-ups)

• Dump station located on grounds
• Restrooms are available
• Pets are allowed
• Wood and charcoal fires are permitted
• Coin operated laundry and showers are located at the entrance
• Reservations can be made here

North Rim Campground- Outside the Park

Kaibab Camper Village (Full hook-up campground)

• Can accommodate RVs up to 40 ft.
• About a 40 mile drive to the national park
• Open from May to October
• Pets are allowed
• Has toilets, laundry and shower facilities
• Has a convenience store located on the property
• Make a reservation here

Once your campground is settled, it is time to start planning the activities. There is something for everyone. You can go trekking and hiking around the canyons or head to the bottom and take a rafting cruise through the Colorado River. Perhaps rent a bicycle and hit the trails, go geo-caching, take a helicopter tour or just check out the historical sites and nearby towns. And at the end of your day, you can relax in your RV rental and enjoy the moment with your family and friends. Whatever you choose to do, you are sure to have an unforgettable time on your RV vacation to the Grand Canyon.

For more ideas on vacation destinations in an RV rental check out these articles.