GRAND CANYON - Good CG near by?

[fayliss]

In September, we are traveling from Kansas City to Bryce Canyon then heading to the South rim of the Grand Canyon before visiting relatives in Phoenix. Can anyone suggest a nice CG near the canyon with full hookups. We have a 30' fifth wheel.

[formerFR]

yep, the Grand Canyon TRAILER VILLAGE rv park is right in the park - you can't get any closer...matter of fact, the closest other 'parks' are about 60miles away in Williams!

full hookups, 50amp, water, sewer, everything...

https://www.visitgrandcanyon.com/tra...k/reservations

[BandJCarm]

We stayed at Railside RV Ranch. Great folks. We rode the train to the Canyon, a bit long but fun. Ask for Amberlee's car.

[Beachbourbon]

Originally Posted by formerFR

yep, the Grand Canyon TRAILER VILLAGE rv park is right in the park - you can't get any closer...matter of fact, the closest other 'parks' are about 60miles away in Williams!

full hookups, 50amp, water, sewer, everything...

https://www.visitgrandcanyon.com/tra...k/reservations

X2. You definitely want the campground right at the south rim IMO. Beautiful, close, elk and other animals roaming, just a great experience. Everything else we saw on our way there from I-40 to the south rim was far away, and many were very sketchy looking.

[mfMcFroggierPod]

Railside RV Ranch [emoji106]

[grumpy0374]

Trailer Village. Right in the park, and shuttles run all over the park all day.
Any other park, like Railside will be around a 50 mile trip to the park and then 50 miles back to the campground.
Trailer Village will be more expensive, but you will more than make it up in gas saved and time saved running back and forth to the Canyon.
We were there last year for 4 days and only used out toad a few times for some day trips. Everything in the park is easily reachable by the shuttles.
Grumpy

[JohnD10]

I stayed at the Camper Village Campground just outside of the park in the town of Tusayan, AZ (about a mile south of the south entrance).

Nice place, full hookups, and close to restaurants, stores and everything else that might be handy when traveling.

Grand Canyon Camper Village location and amenities

Better book your stay now...don't wait!

[NMWildcat]

Grand Canyon is always crowded, and the RV park inside even more so. Traffic in the park is always horrendous (similar to Yellowstone). You may see slightly lighter crowds in late September. March is our favorite time to go.

We have stayed at the trailer village inside the park and it's crowded and tight and not all that, but you need to do it at least once.

Now we always stay in Williams, AZ at the Railroad RV park, and either take the train into the park and stay at the hotel on the rim for a night or two (fantastic adventure) or drive in. https://www.thetrain.com/lodging/rv-...iAAEgIn-_D_BwE Very nice RV park and you can walk to restaurants.

We prefer Williams to avoid the crowds and there is some great restaurants and pubs with outdoor seating and entertainment that we really enjoy.

Everyone is correct in that no matter what you do, you need reservations as early as possible. Have fun!!

[Jim34RL]

I also agree with the Trailer Village campground inside the park for several reasons. One: you only pay one fee to enter the park or you do not pay at all if you have the senior pass. Two; you do not have to drive into and out of the park plus wait inline to reenter the park every time. My third reason is you do not need to drive your vehicle inside the park at all just park the vehicle at your camp site. The park service provides transportation to and from anywhere inside the park that you want to travel to.

[lablover]

Stay in the park. You won't regret it.

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by lablover

Stay in the park. You won't regret it.

While it is nice...it also is just one giant parking lot with hookups.

[67L48]

I have changed my plans and won't go to GC this year; however, here is a thread that poses a question about the two in-park CGs: Mather (primitive) vs Trailer Village (full).

I think I'd opt for Trailer Village, even though the camping in Mather looks much more my style.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by JohnD10

While it is nice...it also is just one giant parking lot with hookups.

Agreed. The location is great. The RV park itself, not so great.

[FORKLIFMAN]

Suggestion....

Over the years we have done the North and South Rims. Before the MH, when we did the motel traveling. If you have time, you may want to visit the Sky Walk. Its on the South west rim . Its an hour North of Kingman,AZ. The closest CGs are in Kingman, nothing closer to the sight.The Road is strictly to the location and back.

There is more than just the Sky Walk of things to do, but an experience, like none other. Walk out on a balcony, with glass Lexan floor, looking down the canyon about 4,000 feet. Not for the squeamish, my DW didn't go on it at all! lol. We went in October, no crowds. From the looks of all the parking lots, it must be crazy , in the summer, guessing like Disney World or Land. And it's priced like one of Disneys' parks. but at least Lunch is included.

Chalk another off my Bucket List.

Happy Travels

[lablover]

Many RV parks that are privately owned are like parking lots. Wherever you camp near the GC will be crowded. We stayed at Mather CG inside the park and liked it just fine however there are no hookups. I would not say that it is primitive camping though. It is the destination that you are there for. It was our preference to not wait in line to get in to the park every day. There is a small town just outside of park with restaurants and a few things to do but basically the GCNP is in an isolated area. There are activities within the park all day and into the evening with ranger talks. There is a free shuttle service within the park so you don't have to drive if you don't want to. It will be crowded regardless of whether you stay in or out of the park. Last but not least, it is cost effective to camp in the park if you are a senior. Enjoy one of the wonders of our world.

[BADinNC]

Depending on how long you are staying. We spent a week a few years ago and stayed at the Canyon Motel RV Park in Williams. It IS a long ride to the park, but that can be fun if you like sight seeing beyond the canyon. We visited Williams, they had a nightly "gunfight" for the tourists,one of the towns on RT66 that still survive. Then, using Williams as a base. we took day trips to Sunset Crater in Flagstaff and returned via 89N to Cameron (nice trading post at the bridge with good food). There are some ruins along the way that are worth a visit, then back to the canyon from the east along a branch of the Grand Canyon that you can watch getting deeper and wider as you go. Next, a day driving thru beautiful Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona to Montezuma's Castle. Returning on a loop that took us thru the (almost ) Ghost town of Jerome I know these are long day trips and do mean multiple entrance fees if you don't have some type of National Park pass, we did, but compared to how far it was to get there, we wanted to see all we could. We traveled with 2 grand kids and they were quite impressed, also they really enjoyed Bearizonia in Williams.

We camped in a 34' fifth wheel and would love to do it all again. Happy travels

[Jeff95814]

We have stayed at both North and South Rim campgrounds. IMHO the North Rim far outweighs the South Rim in campground experience. The NRC is beautifully wooded right up to the rim, tons of wildlife including bison, with stunning views and it's less crowded. If you have time, I'd suggest you do both for your own experience, but the North Rim is awesome.

[Sandy B]

We were traveling with my nephew and wife, we in 30' motor home with toad, nephew in 30' fiver. We rarely dry camp, nephew does a bit. We elected for Mather just on the price difference and certainly weren't sorry. It was a great experience to arrive back "home" from a trip to the rim and have to wait for the elk to move to get in the camper. Water was no problem, we just went in full, and they do have "generating" hours which allows batteries to be topped off daily. All sites were full, but it did not feel crowded as the vast majority of campers were in tents.

[Vince and Charlette]

Rail Side RV in Williams, AZ. About 100' from the track of the train going to the south rim. Train only runs once a day on a private-access track, so don't worry about train noise. Great folks run the CG. Free eats in the mornings and free Bar-B-Q on Friday nights. Take the train just once in a lifetime. There is no more vehicle access to south rim..shuttle buses only. So, if you take the train, you don't need a car when you get there. Shuttles run from site to site along the south rim every 5 minutes in peak season.

[jbrosecity]

Originally Posted by 67L48

I think I'd opt for Trailer Village, even though the camping in Mather looks much more my style.

Seems like there is a lot of agreement for staying at Trailer Village and we have it booked in Sept... but while it is great for the GC Village viewing sites, it looks like a long way to the Skywalk? Yes? To that end we will be approach from Lake Mead area and have tentatively planned a first stop in Kingman for a couple nights to make the drive up to Skywalk. Seems like a lot closer than Trailer Village. Any thoughts on this? And how much time is really needed to do the Skywalk justice? Seems like a pretty quick experience? Or is there more to it?