Forum Discussion

RoyF's avatar
RoyF
Explorer
Sep 21, 2020

35-foot fiver in Grand Canyon Mather?

Some ten years ago, I camped at Grand Canyon Mather with a 35-foot (including hitch) fifth-wheel. I showed up with no reservation, the Mather check-in person assigned me to a pull-through, and I had no problem.

I realize that today you have to have a reservation. But the on-line information is not very helpful, and I imagine that if I call for reservations then I will be talking to someone who is just looking at a computer screen. The sites all have limits of "30 feet or less".

Question: Have any of you recently been able to get into Mather with a 35-footer? Have any of your reserved a pull-through that you could not get into with a 35-footer?
  • mikestock's avatar
    mikestock
    Explorer
    Oct 05, 2020
    You may already know; a lot of the pull-through sites with shorter posted limits can be accessed by backing into the exit side as opposed to actually pulling through. I had a 38 footer and found this to work, when actually pulling through would be impossible. I found this worked in several national park campground sites that had smaller size designations than I needed.
  • magicbus's avatar
    magicbus
    Explorer II
    Sep 24, 2020
    I too had previously showed up at Mather in a 32 footer and had no problem. Fast forward 5 years and they wouldn't let me in because they said people had been complaining because they had scraped tree branches. The ranger I spoke with said limiting things to shorter RV's was easier than trimming the trees or listening to complaints.

    I agree with Veebyes... while it is really nice to camp in the park, you don't go to the GC for the camping experience.

    Dave
  • Veebyes's avatar
    Veebyes
    Explorer II
    Sep 24, 2020
    We also have a 35'LOA 5er.

    Last time at the GC we took a drive through Mather scouting the possibilities. The pickins were slim. There were a few, very few, long enough however there were very narrow access roads, tight turns & hazards like trees & boulders making using any of these sites all but impossible.

    We are not easily discouraged. 30' limit CGs have never stopped us.

    Get a site in carpark styled Trailer Village & be done with it. You don't go to GC for the camping experience.
  • RoyF's avatar
    RoyF
    Explorer
    Sep 22, 2020
    Thank you Thom02099, I did not know about that website.
  • Thom02099's avatar
    Thom02099
    Explorer II
    Sep 22, 2020
    RoyF wrote:
    Some ten years ago, I camped at Grand Canyon Mather with a 35-foot (including hitch) fifth-wheel. I showed up with no reservation, the Mather check-in person assigned me to a pull-through, and I had no problem.

    I realize that today you have to have a reservation. But the on-line information is not very helpful, and I imagine that if I call for reservations then I will be talking to someone who is just looking at a computer screen. The sites all have limits of "30 feet or less".

    Question: Have any of you recently been able to get into Mather with a 35-footer? Have any of your reserved a pull-through that you could not get into with a 35-footer?


    Haven't been to Mather, but H E R E - Mather Photos is a website that provides pics of each site within Mather. The pics were taken during colder weather when there's some snow on the ground, but I think you might be able to get a good perspective of the sites, such as that #103 that was noted in a post above.
  • RoyF's avatar
    RoyF
    Explorer
    Sep 22, 2020
    Two hands: I've camped in Trailer Village, but I would rather be in Mather if it is still possible.
  • TenOC's avatar
    TenOC
    Nomad
    Sep 21, 2020
    There are about 6 to 10 sites that will take a 35 footer. I think site 103 is one of the largest. The reservation.gov new website does not show a good map and I did not keep a record of where we stayed..

    See if you can get to talk to the actual person at the campground check-in place.
  • Two_Hands's avatar
    Two_Hands
    Explorer
    Sep 21, 2020
    Go to Trailer Village Campground in the Park. Plenty of spaces to hold your fiver. Make reservations.

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