Which campground is the best in Grand Canyon National Park?

We are taking are family to the Grand Canyon and I am so confused? I keep reading things like the south rim and the north rim of the canyon? Which is better? Is one rim better then the other? Does anyone know which camp site is best for RV’s. Where is the best place to go in general there?

The South Rim and North Rim of the canyon are two very different places and because there are no bridges across the Grand Canyon it is a long 5-hour drive around to get from one to the other.

The South Rim of the canyon is more developed (more lodges, stores and overlooks) and is easier to reach because it is nearer to Phoenix and I-40. The North Rim has only one lodge and there are no major cities nearby (even the small towns of Fredonia and Kanab are a good 1.5 hours away). Because the North Rim is a 1000 feet higher in elevation, it is cooler in summer and has more pine trees. However, for the same reasons (colder and less developed), it is closed from mid-October to mid-May. So unless you are planning on going during summer, the South Rim is your only option.

As far as RVs and camping goes. Both the North Rim and the South Rim have large nice car-camping campgrounds with designated spots, picnic tables and bathrooms. If your RV is small enough to fit in a regular spot, than you could go there. However, if it is a large RV that needs a true full-size RV spot and hookups than your only option is going to be the South Rim where they do have a full size trailer park where visitors can rent a space (see links below).

As for which rim is better to visit (aside from RV options), that sort of depends on your interests and when you are visiting. I personally greatly prefer the North Rim during the summer because it is cooler and much more peaceful, while the South Rim can be a zoo between Memorial Day and Labor Day with difficult parking and crowded attractions. However, if you are going outside of summer, need to a full RV hook-up or want more shops and attractions than the South Rim is your best bet.

Note that you can make reservations for both the campground and trailer village and it is a good idea to do so well in advance as getting last minute spots (especially as summer gets closer) is difficult.