Camping in Grand Canyon National Park

There are a number of campgrounds and RV parks along the road as you approach Grand Canyon National Park. I’m sure they all have their advantages, but we loved the idea of being able to just park the car for a few days and get around on foot and using the shuttle bus system. There are several campground options within the national park itself, but only Trailer Village has hook-ups. So we chose Trailer Village and it worked out great!

Campground Review: Trailer Village at Grand Canyon National Park

Price: $35/night
Location: Within GCNP on the South Rim, just outside of the Market Plaza.
Facilities: Full hook-ups, bathrooms and showers. Trailer Village has its own shuttle bus stop along the blue line.
Site-description: Sand/gravel. Paved driveways. Some shade trees scattered throughout.
Neighborhood: An interesting mix of tourists and longer-term residents. It was the only campground on our trip where a school bus pulled in and dropped off a bunch of kids in the afternoons.
Website: http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/trailer-village-705.html
Comments: The Grand Canyon Visitor Center is an easy walk and sometimes a good alternative to taking the shuttle bus. Rather than turning toward the entrance and the shuttle bus stop, there is a paved path in the opposite direction, toward the “back”. You pass some of the longer-term residences on the way. Also, even in this relatively developed part of the park, it’s important to be wary of wildlife. One evening I exited the bathroom to be greeted by a large buck standing uncomfortably close to the bathroom door. I didn’t stop to count the points, but he was impressive. And he wasn’t going anywhere. I slid with my back against the wall down to a corner and went the long way around the building back to our campsite. A heart-thumping close encounter right there in the middle of “civilization”

We forgot to get pictures before the camper was packed up again but here’s a couple of different angles on the campsite.

Additional Note: Free wifi at Grand Canyon National Park

This information is usually available in the park newspaper that you receive at the entrance stations, but it’s worth noting. While we didn’t mind being disconnected for a few days at Trailer Village, we also didn’t have our next destination quite figured out so we wanted to get online and do a little homework. The Park Office and Community Library offer unsecured wifi. They also have computers available to borrow if you don’t have your own. For whatever reason, the wifi signal wasn’t strong enough in the park office that day so they sent me through a courtyard to the library. In this tiny, tiny library, a very helpful librarian unlocked a private room where I could sit down (no room for chairs in the main library!) at a table and research undisturbed. I didn’t see any tourists in this area at all, and all the staff were extremely friendly and helpful.