North Rim Campground

Far from the crowds of the South Rim and set amidst the towering Ponderosa pines of the Kaibab Plateau, the North Rim Campground is a profoundly satisfying destination. Perched right near the rim of the canyon, the campground is near incredible views and many of the North Rim trailheads. Just a short hike or drive away, the Visitor Center and the historic Grand Canyon Lodge offer additional amenities like mule rides, fine dining, a saloon and coffee shop, and a gift shop. Right next to the campground is a small store, a laundry, and showers. There is an RV dump station. The campsites nearest the rim (sites 11 through 23) even get decent cell and 4G reception from the South Rim towers.

The campground is laid out along a main oval road with five crossing roads like the stripes on a decorated Easter egg. All roads are one-way and fairly wide. The campground is heavily forested with a sprinkling of meadows and very little underbrush. In spite of there being little privacy, the campground is quiet and feels very spacious. The RV/tent sites are all pull-throughs and range from small turnouts by the side of the road to 100-foot-long spurs that could accommodate any size RV. The tent-only sites are very large with flat tent spots, and many have incredible views. This is one campground where both RV campers and tent campers have excellent sites. There is also a hiker/biker camping area with eight sites that is large enough to accommodate more and has the very best canyon views in the whole campground. 

The Transept Trail leads from between sites 15 and 16 and leads to the Grand Canyon Lodge, following the rim and providing spectacular views along the way. The North Kaibab Trail, which leads 14 miles down to Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon, begins just a half mile away. In the summer there are ranger programs at the amphitheater and also at the lodge.

At 8,300 feet elevation, the campground is seasonal and normally opens mid-May and closes by the beginning of October. It is in high demand for its entire season. Reservations are highly recommended, but like most National Parks, there is high turnover and you might get lucky finding a spot.