The national park has three campgrounds: two near the South Entrance Station and Grand Canyon Village, and the other at Desert View, near the park’s East Entrance.

Mather Campground (877/444-6777, www.recreation.gov) accepts reservations up to six months in advance. Though it’s the park’s largest campground, with more than 300 sites, Mather is usually fully booked during busy summer months. Often, however, campers leave early and spaces open up. There’s no waiting list—check in person for last-minute availability.

The campground is located in Grand Canyon Village near Market Plaza, half a mile from the rim. Sites ($18/night) accommodate tents and RVs (up to 30 feet, no hookups), with grills, picnic tables, and paved parking. You can have up to two vehicles, three tents, and six people per site.

Group sites ($50) are available for groups up to 50 people, with a maximum of three vehicles. Discounts are given to Golden Age and Golden Access pass holders. From mid-November through February, fees are lower and reservations aren’t accepted. The Campground Services building has coin-operated showers and laundry.

Trailer Village (888/297-2757 or 928/ 638-2631 for same-day reservations, www.grandcanyonlodges.com), half a mile from the rim in Grand Canyon Village, has 84 paved RV sites with full hookups ($28/two people) for vehicles up to 50 feet long. Sites have picnic tables, grills, and cable TV hookup. Showers and laundry are available at the Camper Services building, and a dump station is located next to Mather Campground.

Desert View Campground (May–mid-Oct.), 26 miles east of Grand Canyon Village near the park’s East Entrance Station, has 50 first-come, first-served campsites. During the busy summertime, the campground usually fills by afternoon. Each site ($12/night) has a grill but no water. Two faucets are available in the campground, and there are restroom buildings nearby with sinks and flush toilets, but no showers.