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Kaibab/DeMotte
Overview
Overview
Located within the Kaibab National Forest, the DeMotte Campground offers a serene, high-elevation retreat for those looking to connect with nature. It is widely considered one of the most accessible camping areas near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. With its stunning mountain scenery and cool climate, this rustic campground provides an authentic forest experience, far removed from the noise and commercialization often found at larger, modernized RV resorts.
Location & Surroundings
Situated just south of the North Rim entrance to Grand Canyon National Park, the campground is surrounded by vast ponderosa pine forests and lush meadows. The location is geographically significant for travelers navigating through Northern Arizona. You will find yourself nestled at an elevation of approximately 8,700 feet, which offers a refreshing escape from the heat during the summer months while providing a gateway to high-altitude wilderness adventures.
Amenities & Park Features
DeMotte is a primitive forest campground designed for self-contained units. It features spacious pull-through sites that accommodate various sizes of RVs and trailers. While the park does not offer electric, water, or sewer hookups, it does provide essential facilities such as potable water spigots, vault toilets, and trash collection services. This setup is ideal for those who prefer dry camping in a tranquil setting where the sounds of the forest dominate.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
The primary draw for visitors is the proximity to the Grand Canyon North Rim, which is only a short drive away. Guests can easily access scenic hiking trails that offer breathtaking vistas of the canyon and surrounding plateau. Nearby attractions include the Bright Angel Point trail and various overlooks that showcase the majestic beauty of Northern Arizona. Nature photographers and wildlife enthusiasts often find the meadows surrounding the campground perfect for spotting local fauna.
Who This Park Is Best For
This campground is perfect for the independent RVer who values solitude and natural beauty over luxury resort amenities. It is a fantastic choice for travelers who are fully self-contained and want a base camp for exploring the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. If you enjoy crisp mountain air, stargazing under clear skies, and a quiet atmosphere, DeMotte serves as a premier destination for a memorable outdoor excursion.
Features & Amenities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
Reviews
Vincent Sheridan
The campsite has a paved entrance with (dusty) gravel paths to the loops. There are very clean, accessible vault toilets that are lit at night in various places within the park and large trash dumpsters. There are spigots for potable water near the restrooms. The sites are of various sizes and depths but it appears few if any are level. Our site (#34) easily fit our 40 foot Class A but required eight inches of cribbing under the front tires to achieve level. Some of the sites looked great for tent camping. Sunlight for solar is limited due to the trees. StarLink functions without buffering but again, the trees do cause obstruction. Traffic through the campground is slowed by some serious speed bumps. They don’t seem to affect pickup trucks much but they’ll tip a fridge in an RV if not careful. Make sure everything is secure as it doesn’t matter how slow you go, it’s akin to rolling off a curb. Highway noise is present throughout the day but it isn’t intrusive. It goes away at night and is replaced with sounds of the forest. The pine smell was amazing. This campground has no hookups (unless you’re the host). Bring your own water in as the spigots are not intended to fill RV tanks. For power, you’ll need a generator as recharging from solar is pretty hit and miss. There is no dump station so you’ll need to make other arrangements. The overall campground is very clean and well tended. The hosts were friendly and quite visible. The ground squirrels are numerous and just as friendly. They didn’t chew anything that we owned which is good but they do like to climb on things. Don’t leave food or trash outside as I suspect they’ll pilfer anything edible or usable in their burrows. Although there’s quite a bit of dispersed campsites in the area and a FHU RV Park nearby, I’d stay here again as my first choice.
Katie Klas
Great Boondocking campground. Clean, quiet and great location. Beautiful trees and good space between sites. Great trail in the campground. Right across the street from Jacob Lake Inn, with the Best cookies anywhere. Also the Forest visitors Center is right next door to the Inn and it is great but very limited hours. More hummingbirds than you can count at the visitors center. Hosts were great and toilets were very clean and no smell inside.
Carolyn Watson
Don’t get out of your car unless you plan to pay. We just drove through to check it out and to use the restroom. The campground host pulled behind our car and made us pay $8 because we used the restroom.
Stacey Thomas-NIEBEL
My husband and I pulled in and stayed the night on May 23-24th/26. The campground is lovely, the campground hosts on duty were awesome!! Very welcoming and helpful!! Campground is well taken care of, bathrooms were clean and lots of access to drinkable water. There is a lovely walking/running trail along the edge of the campground. Only reason I gave the campground a 4 star rating instead of 5 is because there was no shower facilities. Otherwise, this place is a gem!
Shield Haven
Stayed here in Oct. 2025 and everything is open! We even got one of the camp host spots when they didnt return after evacuating for the fire. The vault toilets on site are spotless and there is potable water for filling if needed. The Jacob Lake Inn & Restaurant is right across the street and is DELICIOUS! Get the pot pie and some cookies while youre here. We were able to drive to all of the lookouts on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.