So no, you don’t have to hike rim to rim, ride a mule, or go rafting to enjoy the views of the towering canyon walls from the flowing river. You can travel down in the comfort of your own car and have the unique experience of camping on the canyon floor listening to the roar of the river as you sleep.

This is the only place in the entire canyon that has a public road leading to the very bottom.

If this sounds like an adventure that you’re up for, then keep on reading as I tell you everything you need to know about visiting Diamond Creek Campground and driving to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

The above map shows Diamond Creek Campground in accordance with the North and South Rim National Parks.

The nearest town to the campground is Peach Springs, a small rural town also part of the Hualapai Reservation.

Best Time to Visit Diamond Creek Campground

December-March

If you want to drive to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, you’ll want to visit in the winter months to avoid dealing with any hazardous flooding. Winter is the driest season in Arizona.

And if you aren’t already familiar with summer in Arizona (May-September), it gets extremely hot. Dangerous heat with temperatures reaching well over 100°F each day. Expect nothing else during summertime at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

Summer also brings monsoons to the area which can be very dangerous in canyons. It can rain a lot in the springtime as well. So I would definitely recommend visiting during the winter months.

We visited Diamond Creek Campground the first week of January and it was beautiful. We had mild temperatures and no rain. 

Whether you’re coming from Flagstaff, Las Vegas, or Page, the drive to the campground is pretty nice and straightforward. Peach Springs is located on Route 66 so there will be tons of things to see on the way.

Once you’ve gotten to Peach Springs, you will take Diamond Creek Road which turns into Indian Rte 6. This is the gravel road that takes you to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

Our Experience Purchasing a Permit

When we stopped by the Fish & Game Store before taking Diamond Creek Road down to the river, the store was locked with a sign on the door that read something along the lines of “Store closed. Proceed to the river to purchase permits”.

So, we began driving down and once we got to the bottom, we met a Tribal Ranger who came up to us and asked us some things like where we were from, how we found out about them, how long we wanted to stay, and what we were going to do there. 

Then he let us purchase the permits we needed to stay the night and told us the rules about staying there before he drove off leaving us to set up camp.

I’m not sure how often something like this happens, it was a little shocking to me that they sold them right at the river. So just know if you also see this sign on the door when you visit, it’s okay to go head down.

But I would think that most of the time they have the store open where you can go inside and get your permit. 

Diamond Creek Permit Cost

The Hualapai Reservation charges $22 per person per night to camp at Diamond Creek Campground. 

This may seem a little steep, and it’s definitely more than I would usually pay to stay at a campground. But it is a really neat experience. It’s not everyday that you can drive to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and camp there along the river. So for us, it was worth it for a night.

If you just want to drive to the bottom and sight see without camping, you will still need to get a permit which will cost $16 per person.

What to Expect Driving to the Bottom of the Grand Canyon

The drive to the bottom of the Grand Canyon is nothing short of spectacular. It’s insane to watch how your surroundings slowly change from highland desert composed of hills and green shrubs to the jagged, layered, canyon formations that we all know.

When we first set out for this drive, I was expecting some crazy dirt road with steep and narrow switchbacks. (I was imagining a drivable version of the South Kaibab Trail).

Needless to say, that is not how it is at all. 

I’d just recommend taking note of the weather the days leading up to when you want to go and try not to visit after a period of heavy rain.

As long as you go in good weather, you’ll be fine on the drive. It’s pretty straightforward and anyone can do it.

Camping at Diamond Creek

Tent camping and car camping are both allowed here. So you can even stay in your van or trailer if it can make it down the road.

Near the end of the drive right before you reach the Colorado River, you will see several covered picnic tables up to your right on higher ground. This signifies the main area of the campground and where you’ll find several campsites suitable for tent camping.

Note that campfires are only allowed in portable fire pans. And you must bring your own firewood with you. Always follow tribal fire restrictions.

Where to Camp

You can pick wherever you want to camp. The tribal ranger does not assign a spot to you. Once you get your permit, you can drive around and find any spot you want that isn’t already taken.

The campsites aren’t labeled either. You just find an area that’s flat and open enough to set up a tent. Or if you’re sleeping in the car/van you can park wherever you think a good spot would be.

There are a couple good places to camp on the main beach near the river. This seems to be the most popular area. If those are all taken there are more sites up on the hill by the picnic tables that will give you a nice view of the river.

There were only a few other campers there when we visited. They were all camping at the main beach, so we decided to explore a bit. We found this secluded little beach at the end of a trail that started near the picnic tables.

We decided to set up camp here and it was absolutely perfect. It felt like we had our own private beach for the night!

Caution the River Water Levels

It’s recommended to camp as far away from the river as you can. This water is known to have a high and low tide effect like the ocean. It all depends on when they release water up at the Glen Canyon Dam. It is different for different times of year.

The beach we camped on was pretty small, but I still felt we camped far enough away. We saw no change in the water level throughout the day or overnight so it felt fine for us.

To play it safe, you can camp at the main beach which has sites much further away from the river.

Things to Bring Camping at Diamond Creek

Diamond Creek Campground is a primitive campground meaning there are no amenities. There is no potable water, bathrooms, electricity or any kind of hookups. So you’re going to have to bring everything you need with you.

I have an entire post going into detail on everything we bring on our camping trips which you can find here. But for now, here’s a brief overview of things you’ll want to bring to Diamond Creek Campground:

• Enough water to last however many days in a water jug, or a water filter to use in the river
• Layers of clothing (it’s warm in the day but cold at night)
• Bag for trash
• Cooking pots, pans, and utensils
• Camping meals and snacks
• Propane stove & tanks
• Flashlights
• Tent & sleeping bags if tent camping
• Toilet paper
• Towels

That concludes my complete guide to visiting Diamond Creek Campground! Driving to the bottom of the Grand Canyon was such a unique and awesome experience.

We totally think it’s worth checking out if you’re visiting in the right season and have a suitable vehicle. If you’re into off roading and scenic views, a drive to Diamond Creek Campground at the bottom of the Grand Canyon is a must.

It’s probably my favorite Arizona hidden gem, even after living there for 2 years! I know you’ll love it too.

I hope you found this post useful in planning your trip to this one of a kind destination and thank you for reading!