Canyon de Chelly NM — Cottonwood Campground

Highlights

• ▶ Free NPS camping with no nightly limit — one of the only remaining no-fee campgrounds in the national park system
• ▶ Cottonwood-shaded loop adjacent to the canyon rim; White House Overlook and South Rim Drive accessible without a guide from camp
• ▶ Canyon floor access requires a licensed Navajo guide — arrange tours in Chinle or at the visitor center; White House Ruin Trail is the one self-guided exception (3 mi RT)

Planning Notes

96 paved sites in a loop; some sites accommodate large trailers but call ahead for the longest pull-through options. Water and flush toilets at the campground. Canyon de Chelly sits on Navajo Nation land managed cooperatively with NPS — Navajo guides are required for any canyon floor access beyond the White House Trail. From Austin: ~15 hrs via I-10 W through Tucson, US-191 N through Safford and Chambers, then US-191/US-160 to Chinle.