Barringer Crater near Flagstaff, Arizona
Photo by: Mike Gieson (Stock Exchange)

Good morning from AllCampgrounds!

In our effort to find the best camping trips around North America, we’ve gone above and beyond– literally. Today’s blog will show you around tent camping and RV camp grounds outside Flagstaff, Arizona, near the impact site of the Barringer Meteor.

This natural marvel “dropped in” from space some fifty thousand years ago, but its now-famous Crater was only studied intensively starting in the 1800s. Considered a “national natural landmark”, it’s a little under three-fourths of a mile around and almost 600 feet deep. It also serves as the backdrop for all kinds of camping!

Meteor Crater RV Park: At the heart of Crater tourism is Meteor Crater RV Park. Completely fenced and gated, this place has 71 full-service pull-through sites with two ADA-compliant bathroom and shower facilities. Besides the fantastic Mexican restaurant, Meteor Crater is known for stargazing on beautiful, clear desert nights. On a full day, you can take in the Petrified Forest, Painted Desert, and yes, the Meteor Crater – and still be in time to have dinner at Hole Enchilada and catch a falling star. Online reservations are available!

Woody Mountain Campground: This ‘ground offers the shady grandeur of cool pine forests, making for a nice defense from the Arizona heat. A general store, sandwich shop, and playground give the place a secluded, down home appeal, but it’s actually at the crossroads of dozens of great local attractions. Both tenting and RV camping is reasonably priced, and come with free wireless internet. If Meteor Crater isn’t a big enough dent for you, you can also check out the Grand Canyon (which we covered in depth in a previous AllCampgrounds post.)

J and H RV Park: Tucked away in the hills of Flagstaff, J and H is an award-winning RV site that’s been recognized time and time again by organizations like the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, the Arizona Travel Park Association, and Outdoor Hospitality Magazine. Equally friendly to seniors and children, it prides itself on a warm and welcoming atmosphere away from modern hassles. Free cable TV and free wireless internet grace every one of the 50 full hookup sites, and the staff use the friendly, community feel of this small park to keep quality sky high.

Arizona State Parks System: Sad to say, the former state park closest to the Crater has been shut down due to budget restrictions. The nearest current state facility is Riordan Mansion State Park, which has just been rescued from closure with a three-year agreement with the Arizona Historical Society. Riordan Mansion, in Flagstaff, is centered around homes belonging to the two Riordan families who resided here from about 1904.

The nearest state park with overnight tent camping facilities is Dead Horse Ranch State Park, which has four separate camp grounds: there are 100 total RV sites and a variety of primitive and developed sites. Each separate area is serviced with top-quality camping bathrooms that are ADA-compliant and feature hot showers

Sunrise over the Grand Canyon in winter
Photo by: Nafrea (Stock Exchange)

Hello and welcome to today’s edition of the AllCampgrounds blog.

Today’s trip brings us to hot, flat, sunny Arizona to visit one of the world’s greatest natural wonders: the Grand Canyon.

In certain areas you can actually pitch a tent inside the Canyon, which plunges almost a mile deep from its highest peak to its floor!

Most of the Canyon is encompassed by Grand Canyon National Park, which is one of the oldest, most developed, and most versatile national parks in the United States; comparable with the first, Yellowstone.

A Brief History of a Six Million Year Old Canyon

The Grand Canyon probably began to form over six million years ago, though scientific estimates vary. Erosion by rain and flash floods, combined with occasional freezing, formed the Canyon slowly over all of that time, creating its current 4-to-18 mile width and over 250 mile length. Much later, the Canyon became a favorite spot of “Rough Rider” President Theodore Roosevelt, who first visited around 1903. After over a decade of efforts by the president and others, the area around the Canyon became a national park in 1919, and has been one of the most visited sites in the National Park System since.

What to Know About Camping the Grand Canyon

Usually, there’s good reason to compare camp grounds outside of and around a national park to get the “full experience.” In this case, though, you’d be hard pressed to find any features you can’t get in the park itself; and because of the unique geology of the region, you’ll have to pass through it to get to the “heart” of things. Camping “at large” is allowed in the Kaibab National Forest that surrounds the camp grounds; there are also tent camping and RV camping facilities on the South Rim, which is the more popular of the two “sides” of the Canyon for most visitors.

On the North Rim, you can expect fewer people and more wild. Facilities on the North Rim have a short season, from the middle of May to the middle of October, because of the possibility of hazardous weather and sudden road closures. The camp grounds are less accessible, and should generally only be chosen by experienced campers who are familiar with the location and the special concerns of setting up camp in a truly remote area; though the park offers services, for many things “civilization” is all the way in Phoenix.

Going “Below the Rim”

With a permit, camping overnight inside the Canyon itself is possible. The terrain leading down into the Canyon floor is narrow and dangerous, and requires either a horse or a lot of stamina for hiking. Special restrictions prevail; you can’t bring pets below the rim, for example. There are three backcountry camp grounds with over 50 sites total, but the biggest challenge might be getting a backcountry camping permit: park authorities deal with an enormous volume of requests and, at last count, honor less than 50% of them, granting permits for one or two-day stays. Fill out this form and cross your fingers! (Note, the demand for permits is so high that NPS does not accept these requests by email; fax may be your best bet. Request early for best results!)