What the Heck Did We Eat at the Grand Canyon for 3 Days? (Gluten-Free Edition)
We're gluten free, which always adds a layer of planning to any trip, so here's exactly what we ate over 3 days of camping at the Grand Canyon South Rim - including where we found gluten-free options we weren't expecting, and what we'd do differently next time. Don’t worry, if you’re not gluten-free, this article will still be helpful for you!
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A quick but important note: This reflects our own experience, not medical advice. I manage gluten-free eating for an autoimmune condition, and my husband has a gluten intolerance; neither of us has celiac disease or a high level of reactivity. If you have celiac disease, a severe allergy, or any condition where cross-contamination is a real risk, please don’t rely on this alone. Speak directly with restaurant staff about your specific needs every time, and use your own judgment.
Day 1: Arrival and a Walmart Stop in Flagstaff
Our flight landed in Flagstaff, and before making the drive to Mather Campground, we stopped at a Walmart to grab groceries and, importantly, a cooler so we could keep cold items fresh at camp. Since we're gluten free, we weren't sure what our options would actually look like once we got to the campground, so we stocked up in Flagstaff just in case - better to over-plan than end up stuck.
Good news if you're in the same boat: we can now confirm the general store (Canyon Village Market & Deli in Market Plaza, a short walk from Mather Campground) has plenty of gluten-free options too, so if you'd rather not make the Walmart stop, you really don't have to. There's even a little cafe inside the general store with gluten-free options on the menu - more on that below.
For our first night of camping, we kept it simple with grilled chicken salads: lettuce and chicken that Matt grilled on our camp stove. Nothing fancy, but after a travel day, an easy first dinner was exactly what we needed. Simple but so good! There isn’t much that can beat a meal cooked over a camp stove.
Day 2: Grits for Breakfast, Ice Cream at Hermits Rest, Pizza for Dinner
Breakfast was grits, sausage, and gluten-free toast, all cooked on our camp stove. For lunch, we packed food to go since we were biking Hermit Road that day, and stopped to eat at Hermits Rest - lunch meat and chips from our cooler, plus a Coke and ice cream we bought at the store there. Lunch with that view - chef’s kiss (even if we were only eating lunch meat)! You can read more about that ride (and the rest of our days) in our 3-day Grand Canyon itinerary.
For dinner, we tried the little cafe inside the general store. You place your order at a kiosk and they cook it fresh - you can take it to go or eat at the tables inside, which is what we did. Matt ordered the pizza, and I had a Reuben. Both gluten free. Genuinely didn't expect that level of gluten-free option at a general store, but it was a nice surprise, and a welcome break from cooking after a full day of biking. Heads up: the deli closes early in the evening, so check the hours and plan an early dinner if you want to eat there.
Day 3: Bacon Over the Campfire and Foil Packs for Dinner
Breakfast was bacon cooked over the campfire, with more grits and toast on the side - campfire bacon, another thing to add to our “hard to beat” list. We enjoyed this breakfast after our sunrise hike to Ooh Aah Point. If you're planning this with kids too, we wrote up our honest take on whether the Grand Canyon is good for kids, including how that hike went for our son.
Read More: Hiking to Ooh Aah Point for Sunrise at the Grand Canyon (With Kids)
Lunch was easy: gluten-free ramen noodles and canned chicken, nothing glamorous, but it did the job.
For dinner, we did foil packs over the campfire - sausage, potatoes, and peppers, wrapped up and thrown right on the coals. Low effort, easy cleanup, and oh, so yummy!
Day 4: Departure Day
Our last morning, we finished off the last of our grits and gluten-free toast before heading to the airport - a good reminder to plan your last morning's food around whatever you have left, rather than buying more than you'll actually use.
The Best Part: Campsite Coffee
Every morning, I made pour-over coffee at the campsite, and it might be one of my favorite parts of camping. The coffee itself is never anything special, but there's something about that early morning cup at a campsite that brings me a specific kind of joy I don't get anywhere else. If you don't share that particular pleasure, don't worry - the general store sells coffee too!
A Few Gluten-Free Camping Tips
If you're gluten free and planning a trip like this, a few things we'd pass along: Bring a few backup GF snacks anyway, just in case a particular item is out of stock. And if you're eating at the cafe, it's worth asking about their gluten-free process directly, since kitchens that cook GF and regular food side by side can vary in how careful they are about cross-contamination, even when the menu says gluten free. As we mentioned up top, what’s safe for us may not be safe for you, so always double-check!
Shop Our Camp Kitchen on Amazon
What we cooked with (and snacked on)
Camp StoveGrits, sausage, and grilled chicken, every day→ Camping CookwareOur pots and pans for camp meals→ Camp Cleaning SetMakes campsite dishes a lot easier→ Camp Coffee CupFor that pour-over every single morning→ Gluten-Free RamenOur easy Day 3 lunch→ Gluten-Free Granola BarsBackup snacks, just in case→As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Quick 3-Day Meal Recap
Day 1: Grilled chicken salads for dinner.
Day 2: Grits, sausage, and toast for breakfast; lunch meat, chips, and ice cream at Hermits Rest for lunch; gluten-free pizza and a Reuben from the general store cafe for dinner.
Day 3: Campfire bacon, grits, and toast for breakfast; gluten-free ramen and canned chicken for lunch; sausage, potato, and pepper foil packs for dinner.
Day 4: Leftover grits and toast before heading to the airport. Coffee: pour-over, every single morning, no exceptions.
Bottom Line
If you're gluten free and worried about eating well at the Grand Canyon, don't be. Between what you can pack in a cooler, what the general store carries, and the surprisingly solid gluten-free options at the cafe inside it, we ate well for 3 days without much stress. Bring a cooler, pack a few backup snacks, and don't overthink it - you'll be fine.
Want More Gluten-Free Travel Tips Like This?
We built a free Gluten-Free Travel Starter Kit with a printable allergy card, key GF phrases, and a rating system we use to vet restaurants before we ever set foot in them — grab it here and take a lot of the stress out of finding safe food on your next trip.
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More From Our Grand Canyon Trip
3 Days at the Grand Canyon South Rim: Our Family Camping Itinerary→ Is the Grand Canyon Good for Kids? Our Honest Take→ Where to Stay at the Grand Canyon South Rim With Kids: In the Park, Nearby, or Camping→ Hiking to Ooh Aah Point for Sunrise at the Grand Canyon (With Kids)→Free for the Crew
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