Grand Canyon Neighborhoods, Locations and Districts

(Grand Canyon, Arizona - AZ, USA)



The awesome Grand Canyon has some very impressive vital statistics. It is nearly 300 miles / 400 km long, up to 18 miles / 29 km wide and 1 mile / 1.5 km deep. Visitors who come to see the Grand Canyon in all its glory for the first time, usually from Mather Point, are overwhelmed at the sheer magnitude and beauty of it and may marvel at what water can do to rock over time.

On either side of the Colorado River are the South Rim and the remote North Rim areas of the Grand Canyon, each with a number of campgrounds where visitors can prolong their stay. The South Rim is the business end of the canyon and includes Grand Canyon Village, Desert View Drive, numerous lookout points and just the right number of shops and restaurants, while the North Rim has much less in the way of facilities, but this does not distract from its beauty.


Desert View Campground

The Desert View Campground is located on the South Rim, about 25 miles / 40 km to the east of Grand Canyon Village. It only operates from mid-May through to mid-October and does not take advance reservations, with all sites being available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Historic District

The Historic District is located near the Grand Canyon Village's visitor center and is well-known for the 1905 El Tovar Hotel, Hopi House and the Grand Canyon Railway. The renovated engine number 18 runs between here and Williams town.

Mather Campground

The South Rim's premier campground, Mather Campground is located in the Grand Canyon Village on Market Plaza Road and offers the most comprehensive facilities of all of the Grand Canyon's camps. Mather is open year-round and offers tent and RV camping, with group sites available. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.

North Rim Area

Located on the lofty Kaibab Plateau, the North Rim area of the Grand Canyon is seemingly a stone's throw from the South Rim, yet it is a 200-mile / 320- km journey by road, meaning far fewer visitors come here than visit the South Rim, due to its remoteness. The Grand Canyon's North Rim also undergoes heavier snowfalls because of its average 1,000-foot / 300-meter higher altitude than the South Rim and as a result it remains closed from late October to mid-May.

North Rim Campground

The North Rim Campground in the Grand Canyon is within 12 miles / 19 km of the boundaries of the North Rim entrance of the Grand Canyon National Park, not far from the North Kaibab Trailhead parking area. Open mid-May through to mid-October, sites at the North Rim Campground should be reserved well in advance. The Grand Canyon's North Rim Campground stays open beyond mid-October, until snow eventually closes highway 67, during which time sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

South Rim Area

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park is by far the most heavily visited of the two rims due to its accessibility from major centers and the array of facilities for hikers and day-trippers. Places such as the Grand Canyon Village, Grand Canyon Railway, Mather Point and El Tovar Hotel are big South Rim attractions and facilities, shops and restaurants are also plentiful.

Ten-X Campground

Ten-X Campground is the closest campsite to Grand Canyon National Park Airport, 2 miles / 3 km south of Tusayan. It opens from mid-April through to September and sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. However, there are no hookups or showers, but group sites are available with advanced reservation.