3 Days at the Grand Canyon South Rim: Our Family Camping Itinerary
We spent three days camping at the Grand Canyon South Rim, and it was exactly the trip we wanted. I love having a plan for trips, because the thought of wasting precious vacation time figuring out what to do or where to go next is my worst nightmare. We flew into Flagstaff, picked up a rental car, and set up camp at Mather Campground in Grand Canyon National Park - and from there, everything we wanted to see was a bike ride, a hike, or a scenic drive away.
If you're planning your own Grand Canyon South Rim itinerary - especially a Grand Canyon family camping trip or a Grand Canyon with kids itinerary - here's exactly how we spent our three days, including the sunrise and sunset spots, the trails we hiked, and the scenic drive that's an absolute can't-miss.
Welcome to the Grand Canyon, crew!
Day 1: Arrival Day
Our flight was delayed, so by the time we landed in Flagstaff, picked up our rental car, and made a quick stop at Walmart for camping supplies we had missed our window to catch sunset at Mather Point like we'd planned. Instead, we checked into our site in the Pine Loop of Mather Campground - the best South Rim campgrounds for families thanks to its central location - and made an absolutely banging dinner of grilled chicken salads before calling it a night. Curious what else we ate over the 3 days? We wrote up the full gluten-free food breakdown separately.
Day 2: Biking Hermit Road & Sunset at Mather Point
After breakfast at camp, we picked up a Grand Canyon bike rental at 9am - electric bikes, which turned out to be a great call once the July heat kicked in. Jackson rode in a trailer hitched to Matt's bike, which he loved, and made a lot more sense than trying to have him bike the distance himself. We rode Hermit Road out toward Hermits Rest, about 7 miles one way. It's closed to most private vehicles, so aside from pulling over occasionally for the shuttle bus, we had the road mostly to ourselves and this ended up being our favorite way to see the canyon. Bring plenty of water if you go this route; the heat sneaks up on you.
The electric bikes and bike trailer set up was top notch!
We stopped at pretty much every overlook along the way. They all offer stunning views of the canyon and you can’t go wrong with any of them.
Biking along Hermit’s road was our favorite way to view the canyon!
We ended the ride at Hermits Rest, the rustic stone structure at the end of Hermit Road. It has a cozy, cabin-in-the-woods feel inside, with a huge fireplace as the centerpiece. We ate our packed lunch there and grabbed ice cream before heading back.
With a few hours of daylight left, we decided not to turn our bikes in just yet. Instead, we picked up the paved Greenway Trail near the Visitor Center and rode out toward the South Kaibab Trailhead, then continued along Yaki Point Road to Yaki Point - a shorter, easier add-on than the Hermit Road ride, with canyon views the whole way.
After dinner at the Grand Canyon general store (yes- they had gf options!), we still wanted to catch a sunset, so we headed to Mather Point since we'd missed it our first night. It was worth it, but it was also very crowded - don't expect to have the spot to yourself, and be ready for people to get a little pushy chasing the "perfect photo." Next time, we'd probably choose a quieter sunset spot instead.
Sunset at Mather’s Point - be prepared for crowds…
Day 3: Sunrise on South Kaibab Trail & Desert View Drive
Day 3 also happened to be Jackson's birthday, and we couldn't have picked a better place to celebrate. We'd scoped out parking near the South Kaibab Trailhead during our bike ride the day before, so instead of catching the Hikers' Express Bus, we drove to our spot and walked in from there to watch the sunrise light up the canyon walls.
Name a more picturesque backdrop for your 6th birthday…am I right!?!?
The South Kaibab Trail is steep but well-maintained, and we hiked the 0.9 miles down to Ooh Aah Point - one of the most popular South Kaibab Trail hikes for families since it's short enough for kids but still delivers a 360-degree view of the canyon. It was still pitch dark on the way down, so Matt carried Jackson rather than risk a misstep on the switchbacks. By the time we hiked back up, the sun was out, and Jackson walked the whole way back up on his own - a genuinely impressive feat, since hiking up takes roughly twice as long as heading down.
Hike to Ooh Aah Point in the dark - worth it for the sunrise but the switchbacks can make it tricky in the dark - don’t forget your headlamp!
After the hike, we headed back to camp to make a hot breakfast on the camp stove before grabbing the car for the 23-mile Desert View Drive, which follows the canyon rim east from the village to the park's East Entrance. It's a scenic, easy drive - about 40 minutes without stopping - but we made a point of stopping often at the various overlooks and viewpoints.
We ended the drive at the Desert View Watchtower, a tall stone lookout tower near the park's East Entrance, built in the 1930s by the same architect behind Hermits Rest. From the top, you can look out over the Navajo Nation to the east. Access to the upper floors is free but limited to small groups at a time, so it's worth timing your visit if you want to go inside. We grabbed more ice cream and sang happy birthday to Jackson with the canyon as a backdrop - a certified core memory. From there, it was back to camp for one last camp stove dinner under the pines.
Birthday celebration at the overlook from Desert View Watch Tower overlook.
After dinner, we drove to the parking lot near Verkamp's Visitor Center. From there, it's just a few steps to an expansive overlook and it turned out to be a lovely spot to catch the sunset.
Sunset near the Verkamp’s visitor center - easy to get to and beautiful!
Day 4: Departure Day
Our last day was all travel - flying out of Flagstaff, connecting through Dallas, and heading home. Three days at the Grand Canyon South Rim felt like just the right amount of time to hit the highlights without feeling rushed, especially with camping inside the park as our home base.
Grand Canyon South Rim Trails for Kids
A few notes on the main South Rim day hikes, in case you're planning your own Grand Canyon hiking trip:
Rim Trail - An easy, mostly paved trail running from the Village to Hermits Rest, with canyon views the whole way and shuttle access so you can customize the distance. One of the best Grand Canyon hikes for families with young kids. We biked and walked along this trail.
South Kaibab Trail - Steep and exposed with no water, but some of the best views for a shorter hike. Accessible by shuttle bus only. This is the one we did at sunrise. We hiked to Ooh Aah Point and then hiked back out after the sun came up (roughly 1.8 miles round trip).
A word on safety with kids (since I’m a mom and I can’t help myself): you know your kid best. If you're not confident your child would stay back from the edge, it's worth sticking to the Rim Trail and the sections with guardrails. Plenty of spots around the canyon - especially on the hikes - have no barrier at all, and it's not a risk worth taking if you have any doubts about your kid staying clear of the edge.
For our full honest take on whether the Grand Canyon is a good fit for kids - what worked and what we'd do differently see our kids post here.
They are being funny here, but some of the drop offs along the canyon’s rim are no joke!
Booking a Site at Mather Campground
Heads up: snagging a site at Mather Campground can be tricky during busy months, so it's worth planning ahead. Here's what helped us:
Book through Recreation.gov or by phone - either works, but online is faster.
If you're going between March and November, reservations open exactly 6 months ahead of your date, and they go live at 10am Eastern (8am Arizona time). Popular dates can fill up within minutes, so have an account set up and your payment info saved before that morning.
Visiting in winter (December through February)? You'll still need to book ahead since there's no walk-up or first-come, first-served option during those months.
Standard sites run around $30 a night (half price for Senior or Access Pass holders).
There are no RV hookups at Mather itself, though pull-through sites exist. If you need full hookups, Trailer Village next door has them.
Stays are capped at 7 nights in a row, with a 30-night limit per year across the whole park.
View of our campsite in Mather Campground. Happy Birthday, Jackson!
Mather Campground Tips
A few things worth knowing before you camp at Mather Campground:
You'll likely see elk wandering through the campground and it's one of the best parts of camping here, but keep kids at a distance, especially from calves, since a protective mother elk can get aggressive.
Keep hammocks and clotheslines packed away when you're not at your site so wildlife doesn't get tangled in them.
Store all food in your car when you're away from your site as ravens and other wildlife will make off with anything left out.
The ground is rocky, so bring a sleeping pad if you're tent camping.
Restrooms near the campsites have toilets and sinks, but showers are at the campground entrance and cost $2.50 for 5 minutes. Bring quarters, or buy tokens at the camp store.
The camp store (next to the showers) carries basic supplies, snacks, ice cream, ice, and firewood, plus there's a laundry facility on site.
There's no electricity or water hookup at the individual campsites.
If you're planning a Grand Canyon South Rim itinerary of your own - whether it's a Grand Canyon family camping trip or a Grand Canyon with kids trip using a hotel base in Tusayan - this itinerary covers the highlights without over-scheduling every hour. Camping at Mather Campground put us close enough to everything in Grand Canyon National Park that we never felt like we were racing the clock, even with a delayed flight and a rearranged first night.
Safety first!
