Desert View Campground

National Park Service campground, 50 sites

Overview

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. 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.  

You may book same day reservations here on Recreation.gov or through the toll-free call center at 1-877-444-6777.

Recreation

• Wildlife Viewing
• Bicycling 
• Photography 
• Star Gazing and Night Sky Events 

Facilities

• 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.

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.

Nearby Attractions

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. 

Charges & Cancellations

Reservation adjustments are made online through www.recreation.gov. or by phone (877)444-6777.