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03-04-2008, 09:10 PM
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#1
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4 Rivet Member
2007 27' Safari FB SE
Full Timers just passing through
, Arizona for a couple of weeks and then on to Utah!
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 325
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Where to stay on the Grand Canyon South Rim
I have read everything that I can find on camping in and around the South Rim. We will be there in April and would like some replies from those of you who have "been there and done that".
So..where did you stay and what are the advantages and disadvantages?
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03-04-2008, 09:24 PM
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#2
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Desert Fox
1985 31' Sovereign
Tucson
, Arizona
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 250
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hi,
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03-04-2008, 09:33 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
Hampton
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,126
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I would concur. I stayed at a campground close to downtown that was no scenic prize, but real convenient. I don't think there are any pristine campgrounds nearby, but the GC itself 10,000% makes up for that. Try to catch the GC at sunrise or sunset if you can. either way, enjoy!
__________________
Brad (The Slowsky's)
2019 Airstream Classic 30RBT, 2021 Ford F350 King Ranch 4X4 w/6.7L Diesel, Hensley, ACI #1313
travelwiththeslowskys.com
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03-04-2008, 09:35 PM
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#4
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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Great Ride
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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03-04-2008, 09:55 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1979 23' Safari
1954 29' Liner
Orange
, California
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,850
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If you are only planning on staying at the Grand Canyon for one day, stay in Williams. If you want to explore the South Rim of the Grand Canyon for several days or a week, then stay at the Trailer Village. If you stay at the Trailer Village, the tram is at the entrance to the Village and you won't need your tow vehicle for the balance of your stay.
Bill
__________________
Bill Kerfoot, WBCCI/VAC/CAC/El Camino Real Unit #5223
Just my personal opinion
1973 Dodge W200 PowerWagon, 1977 Lincoln Continental, 2014 Dodge Durango
1979 23' Safari, and 1954 29' Double Door Liner Orange, CA
https://billbethsblog.blogspot.com/
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03-04-2008, 10:02 PM
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#6
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2 Rivet Member
1999 25' Safari
Fairburn
, Georgia
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 74
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Hello,
Friends and I stayed in the new RV park next to the train station in Williams last June. It is paved, clean, and in a good location. Check the Grand Canyon Railroad online. Williams is 50 or so miles south of the canyon, and there is plenty to see in that area between there and Flagstaff. Check out Walnut Canyon and the town of Jerome south of Sedona.
There are campgrounds at the Grand Canyon which are part of the National Park, however I am unfamiliar with them. Check with the National Park Service. As for myself, I would like to stay near the canyon sometime to be able to spend more time there. It's a beautiful place.
Hope you enjoy the trip.
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10-12-2020, 08:05 PM
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#7
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1 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Georgetown
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 13
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Is early to mid December a good time to go to GC?
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10-13-2020, 05:28 PM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
2020 25' Flying Cloud
Chula Vista
, California
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 116
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I've been there in mid January. Quiet, with maybe 40-50 people at the South Rim. It was a beautiful day about 40* and a snow storm had gone through the area the day before. Very little snow at the South Rim but Flagstaff had about a foot of the stuff. With that being said I enjoyed it very much but you need to be aware of the weather even in early to mid December
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10-13-2020, 06:03 PM
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#9
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4 Rivet Member
2013 25' Flying Cloud
Crystal River
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 474
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I spent a few days at Mather. It was fairly early in the season so pretty cold and almost nobody there. Personally I like empty campgrounds the best. I would have stayed longer but the person who had 51% vote at the time wanted to push on. I'll be back.
__________________
“While you live, shine / Have no grief at all / Life exists only for a short while / And time demands its toll.”
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10-13-2020, 06:36 PM
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#10
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3 Rivet Member
2015 25' Flying Cloud
Redmond
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 164
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We got back yesterday from a trip to the Grand Canyon! We boondocked on Forrest Service Road 302, just outside of Tusayan. Our site was free and we were maybe 10 minutes from the park entrance. If we were planning as far out as you are I'd defiantly want to stay in the park though.
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11-20-2020, 07:27 AM
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#11
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30' 1999 Excella
Kingwood
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 295
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We were there in May of 2019 for several days - although we prefer secluded campgrounds, I thought we should 'do the tourist thing' and stay close to the main attraction.
We stayed in the Maher Campground, which is essentially dry-camping. Generators are allowed briefly in the morning and evening - but the campground was so quiet I was reluctant to use even our quiet Honda (we now have a solar panel - but that campground is heavily shaded). We're experienced boondockers, but after 3 days of limited electric use and grey tank constraints, I questioned my decision to stay there. If I had to do it again, I would stay at the nearby Trailer Village RV Park with full hookups.
We don't like sardine campgrounds, and to us, the campground is part of the destination. But in this case we were gone almost all day, every day, so the comforts of full-hookups would have outweighed the lack of ambiance.
We liked being on-site at the rim because of the flexibility it gave us. After hiking for several hours every day (always along the rim, not down into the canyon - those hikes are a decade or two behind us!) we liked being able to get back to the trailer in just minutes, relax, and then walk to the canyon rim with a beverage container to watch sunset.
Be aware that in Maher, there are very few sites that can accommodate a larger trailer (ours is 30'). We booked 6 months out, and got the last one! The reservation process will let you know the size of each site. Trailer Village has more sites for big rigs.
The train-ride from Williams looks cool! Wish I'd known about it. I would have considered it. However, for us, losing that much time each day might have been a non-starter. Also, the train schedule would seem to indicate you would miss sunset - you don't want to miss sunset!!!!
__________________
Hey, its the only way to be sure!
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11-20-2020, 08:10 AM
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#12
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4 Rivet Member
2014 25' Flying Cloud
Temple
, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 286
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This is easy - Trailer Village with the free shuttle and full hook ups is the best way to take in the sites on the South Rim.
__________________
2014 Flying Cloud 25FB
2018 Ram 2500; Cummins
Blue Ox WDH
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11-20-2020, 09:08 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 7,654
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Quote:
Originally Posted by musicman_786
Is early to mid December a good time to go to GC?
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I was there in early January and although there was snow outside the park, I didn't encounter any in the park.
IMO, the area with park services is very small, and the food is typical park vendor microwaved plates.
I'd stay either in Williams and take the train, or just outside the park where there's a lot of touristy services.
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11-20-2020, 10:25 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1971 25' Tradewind
1993 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Estancia
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,743
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Grand Canyon Village is hard to get a site. A random scoot down the road is 10X which usually has large spacious sites.
__________________
Sail on silver girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine.
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11-20-2020, 01:09 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2009 25' FB Classic
Scottsdale
, Arizona
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 850
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We have always stayed in the Rail Side RV in Williams.
__________________
Bob & Julie # 5587, 4CU in AZ
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