Tusayan - Montane

Nestled in a serene Ponderosa pine and Gambel oak forest at 6,600 feet on the Colorado Plateau, Tusayan-Montane Campground offers something increasingly rare near Grand Canyon National Park: a peaceful, natural setting with good site availability just four miles from one of America's most iconic destinations. Unlike the often-crowded facilities inside the park, this Kaibab National Forest campground maintains a quieter atmosphere where the rustle of pine needles and evening wildlife sounds replace the hum of tour buses. The forest setting provides welcome shade during warm summer days, and a 3-mile nature loop trail winds through the campground, giving you immediate access to the area's distinctive high-desert woodland ecosystem without even leaving camp. The campground features 162 total sites spread across five loops, including 142 single sites (up to 8 people each), 18 double sites (up to 14 people), and two group sites that accommodate 50 to 75 people. While most sites are reservable, 30 remain first-come, first-served, giving spontaneous travelers a fighting chance during busy periods. Each site comes equipped with a picnic table, fire pit with grill, and vehicle parking, with pit toilets accessible throughout the campground. It's important to note that there's no potable water available for filling RV tanks due to limited supply, so come prepared with your own water for extended stays. The campground explicitly prohibits commercial tour groups, as the Forest Service is not issuing special use permits here—a policy that helps preserve the campground's family-friendly, non-commercial character. Beyond the on-site nature trails, the real draw is proximity to world-class recreation. Grand Canyon's South Rim lies just four miles north, making this an ideal base camp for exploring the canyon's viewpoints, rim trails, and ranger programs without paying park lodging premiums (though you will need the $35 park entrance pass, valid for seven days). The adjacent town of Tusayan, less than two miles away, provides all essential services—gas, restaurants, a small grocery store, and banks—plus adventure outfitters offering horseback rides, helicopter tours, and mountain biking trail access. The combination of convenient amenities and natural setting gives you the best of both worlds. Summer conditions bring daytime highs in the 80s to low 90s, cooling to comfortable 50-degree evenings perfect for campfires, though you should prepare for afternoon monsoon thunderstorms that build quickly during July and August. The campground is accessible during shoulder seasons when the Grand Canyon sees fewer visitors, but expect snow from December through March at this elevation. Whether you're planning a Grand Canyon adventure or simply seeking a quality forest camping experience in northern Arizona, Tusayan-Montane delivers accessibility without sacrificing the peaceful atmosphere that makes camping memorable.

Ten-X Campground caters to both individual and group campers. Options include single, double, and group sites, all without electricity and water hookups.