Mather Campground — Hotel in Four Corners States

It‘s pretty hard to even snag any reservation at this campground, so we had to book two different ones for our 2-night-stay here at Mather. First CG was in the Aspen Loop, Nr. 50. Perfect spot right by the toilets and water-station. Aspen is very close to the shower & laundry facilities aswell as to the bus-stop. Toilets were pretty clean. Our second CG was in the Juniper Loop; number 121. Again, right by the toilets and water-station, however pretty far from all the other facilities. A pro is that it’s quieter there and there‘s more Elks roaming around, which tend to visit your campsite at any time of the day - don’t worry though, they are pretty friendly aslong as you don‘t get too close! Toilets in the Juniper Loop were a little bit on the older side, and not as well maintained.

The showering-experience in these parks is always something new.. instead of having ONE consistent system, they are all different. The showers & laundromats here only take TEN QUARTERS (10x 0,25). There are change-machines; however they don’t give you any other change back except quarters, so you might end up with way too many of them in your wallet. The showers open at 7AM close at 6PM!! And there are 3 additional cleaning-times listed; 9AM, 12PM and 3PM. It appears however that these cleaners don’t know how to do their job - hair everywhere in the drains, dirty floors and a weird smell.

You can buy laundry detergent for $1.45 (or 1.75?), however you need coins for that aswell..

Rangers are really...

Absolutely wonderful campground. I have been all over Arizona and this was the best campground I have been too in this State. The grounds are maintained very well. Staff and People where friendly, it was so welcoming.

The Elk and other wildlife where uninhibited by humans. It was so uplifting to experience the connection with nature so up close without animals having any trepidation towards human life form. You could be in your campground and Elk and Mule deer would walk right through your campground. The Birds (Ravens) where typical thieves, you turn your back for a second with food on the table and they will be stealing it. I was eating my lunch and I had a Squirrel jump up on the table with us and eat his little Pine Nuts while we where eating dinner. Just absolutely incredible interaction from Wildlife.

If I had to give one concern, (it is not a complaint) but it was a bothersome situation for myself. I am disabled and was in a disabled campground (site 303) as well (which was awesome by the way very clean). My discontentment to the whole place was, that there is NO Disabled shower stalls in the female showering area. I was told by Boyfriend there was none in Male showering area either. So this could be a concern for other disabled people. All the stalls are "VERY" compacted and not to have a disabled shower stall was a bit...

The traffic noise is a bit intrusive in Aspen Loop as you are right near the road. We had some lovely visitors to the camp in the form of elk and elk babies, mule deer and even a javelina. They will quietly browse through and be very photogenic if you remain quiet and do not approach them. I think the javelin may have been an accidental tourist as he disappeared in a hurry when he realized he wandered into a nest of campers. He did not hang around long enough for anyone to get their cameras focused on him. The restrooms were clean and stocked with toilet paper and hand soap. They have showers and laundry facilities. There is a general store and deli nearby. The staff are very friendly and helpful. You will be amazed at how many different languages you will hear. There are concrete picnic tables and fire rings at each site, and you can make reservations online very easily. It's a very enjoyable and reasonably priced way to enjoy the beauty of the awesome national park. I recommend, though, that even in the middle of summer you take a sweatshirt and long pants along with the shorts. The nights and early mornings can be quite cool. I love the free, pine-and-cedar-scented air conditioning! Grab the family...