Best Campgrounds in Alaska

Alaska is the biggest state in the U.S., more than twice the size of Texas. Yet it’s the least densely populated state in America, and one of the most sparsely populated areas in the world. There’s a lot of land waiting to be explored. It can be overwhelming trying to figure out the best place to go if you’re thinking about camping in Alaska. Fortunately, we’re here to help.

Located within a short day’s drive from Anchorage, Denali National Park covers six million acres of wild, untamed land. A destination for mountaineers, explorers, photographers, and nature enthusiasts, the park is home to North America’s tallest peak, Denali—formerly Mount McKinley. The mountain alone attracts visitors from all over the world to climb its rugged peaks, ski its snowy slopes, and take in all the natural wonder camping in Alaska has to offer.

Established by Congress in 1917 as a park to conserve Dall sheep from hunting, Denali is home to all sorts of wild animals, such as wolves, bears, moose and reindeer. The park has six campgrounds but keep in mind there is no National Park Service-run lodging. But tent and RV camping are welcome.

If fishing is part of your camping experience, then the Russian River is the perfect place for you. Rated the most popular sockeye salmon stream in Alaska and one of the top-rated spots for rainbow trout, the Russian River is located on the Eastern Kenai Peninsula in the Chugach National Forest, which spans more than five million acres of raging rivers, mountains and beautiful terrain.

More than 100,000 people visit the Russian River area annually and enjoy activities such as hiking the Russian Lakes Trail, visiting the K’beq Interpretive Site—where tribe members guide visitors through interpretive walks showcasing archaeological sites, stories and culture—along with biking and boating. The campground has 83 campsites and is open from May through September.

As one of the ultimate bucket list camping destinations for campers like you, finding camping in Alaska can be overwhelming and, at times, competitive. Trust authentic campground reviews on The Dyrt to guide you through the wilderness in the 49th state.

Best Camping Sites in Alaska (777)

    1. Homer Spit Campground

    46 Reviews
    Homer, AK
    Website
    +1 (907) 235-8206

    "Homer Alaska. It is a very small town that gets lots of visitors in the summer months."

    "We enjoy being on the beach for our endless Alaska summer nights with the views of Kachemak bay as a backdrop. The tidepooling was fun this weekend with the low tides."

    2. Eklutna Lake Campground — Chugach State Park

    40 Reviews
    Chugiak, AK
    Website
    +1 (907) 345-5014

    $5 - $100 / night

    "Trails to hike or play on the lake! This campground is situated with access to Eklunta Lake and boy is that perfect. Tons of campsites to choose from both double, single and handicapped."

    "If you get there at the right time, there are a few sites with a view of the lake thru the trees. Requires a very short hike to get lakeside but the view is worth it."

    3. Riley Creek Campground — Denali National Park

    36 Reviews
    Healy, AK
    Website
    +1 (907) 683-9532

    "The sites are nicely maintained with nice, edged out tent pad areas. The surrounding trees provide a nice barrier between sites so you don't feel crammed into the campground."

    "We were visiting Denali from California and was our first time in Alaska. We were not only blown away by the beauty of Denali, but the campground was stunning as well."

    4. Eagle River Campground — Chugach State Park

    33 Reviews
    Eagle River, AK
    Website
    +1 (907) 694-7982

    "Multiple trails travel along the campground and the river. Beautiful Alaskan experience right next to Alaska's largest city."

    "Bring your fishing pole as you're close to the river. Enjoy what Alaska has to offer!"

    5. Seward City Campgrounds

    31 Reviews
    Seward, AK
    Website
    +1 (907) 224-4055

    $10 - $20 / night

    "They had last minute room to boondock in an adjacent parking lot, which was also full in August. We stayed 2 nights, the second in an rv site in Resurrection."

    "It is so relaxing having your coffee at the oceans edge in the morning. You can see otters and eagles. So much to do and enjoy in Seward. The Sealife center is only a mile away."

    6. Bird Creek Campground — Chugach State Park

    27 Reviews
    Indian, AK
    Website
    +1 (907) 269-8400

    "Stayed at Bird Creek for 2 nights while car camping/traveling through Alaska. Very clean faculties, lots of space between sites and countless activities."

    "This campground is only a short drive from Anchorage, but far enough so you feel like you are away from the hustle and bustle of town. There are great trails for hiking."

    7. Mendenhall Lake Campground

    24 Reviews
    Auke Bay, AK
    Website
    +1 (907) 586-8800

    $20 - $36 / night

    "This is a very nice campground set back from Mendenhall lake and the famous Mendenhall Glacier.  Bears frequent this area and sometimes wolves too.  "

    "The proximity to the glacier and the views from around the lake are astounding. Mt McGinnis on the west and Mt Bullard and Thunder Mountain to the East."

    8. Porcupine Campground

    17 Reviews
    Hope, AK
    Website

    $23 / night

    "We wish we had gotten a better site, but there is plenty of hiking around to see the water and mountains."

    "There are two great hikes nearby within driving or walking distance. A perfect weekend getaway from Anchorage! You'll adore this beautiful spot."

    9. Byers Lake Campground

    17 Reviews
    Trapper Creek, AK
    Website
    +1 (907) 745-3975

    $80 / night

    "We are so glad that we got this advice from our cousins before heading to Alaska!"

    "This canoground’s lake has a good supply of trout. Even found a greyling! The back country camp sites are in a remote walking distance."

    10. Wonder Lake Campground — Denali National Park

    16 Reviews
    Denali National Park and Preserve, AK
    Website
    +1 (907) 683-2294

    $16 / night

    "Yes, the mosquitoes are bad, but I honestly didn’t find them to be that much worse than elsewhere in Alaska."

    "Camping at Wonder Lake in Denali National Park, close by the tallest peak in North America, seemed like the perfect way to end our trip to all 59 national parks. It was even more than we expected."

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Recent Reviews in Alaska

1636 Reviews of 777 Alaska Campgrounds


  • kThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Gulkana River Access

    Great Spot!

    Rock fire pits lined along the river. Bathrooms about 0.5 miles away up in a separate parking lot. Not a lot of privacy, but if you need a good place to sleep for a night on your journey up or out, this is a good choice. Free!

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Tanana Riverside Camp

    Just a rest area, no camping

    This is not a camping spot, just a rest area with pit toilets and some day-use picnic tables.

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Bear Paw RV Park

    Convenient Basecamp for Exploring Valdez

    We followed our GPS straight into the middle of town and right to the campground. Check-in at the office was quick, and we pulled into Pull-through Site 43 with FHUs (30 AMP). The campground was essentially a large gravel parking lot with sparse patches of grass and weeds between a mix of pull-through and back-in sites. While the sites were very close together, the spectacular mountain views in every direction made this CG special. The utilities were well placed in the center of the long pad, allowing us to drop the patio on our 40’ toy hauler and still park our F450. Water pressure was steady at about 50 PSI, and each site had a small picnic table. Connectivity was mixed: 4 bars on Verizon extended network, 3 bars on T-Mobile (sometimes workable), and above-average campground WiFi. With no trees on-site, Starlink had a clear shot from the roof, though placing it on the ground wasn’t practical with other rigs and vehicles moving about. The domestic rabbits that roam all over Valdez were an unexpected and fun addition to our stay. We usually don’t choose in-town campgrounds, but Bear Paw worked well for us. Its location made it easy to explore everything Valdez had to offer, and the surrounding mountain views made the close sites and gravel lot worthwhile.

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2025

    The Springer RV Park & Campground

    Decent Campground

    We followed our GPS without issue to the campground near the Palmer golf course and municipal airport. The turn into the CG was a little tight but manageable with our 40’ toy hauler and F450. Check-in was quick and friendly, and we proceeded to pull-through site 24 with FHUs (50/30 AMP). When we made our reservations online, they asked for the exact length of both our RV and tow vehicle. We were definitely assigned one of their longer pull-throughs, as we could center our rig on the pad for the utilities—well-placed near the middle—while still dropping our patio and parking our truck on either side. The sites were very close together, with only a slender strip of grass and a picnic table between them. Water pressure was steady around 45 PSI. We got 2 bars on Verizon and 1 workable bar on T-Mobile. Because of the close spacing and perimeter trees, we placed Starlink on the roof and had a good connection, though many RVers set theirs on the ground. The campground WiFi worked well for browsing, with speeds of 8.69 Mbps. The laundry room was a standout: two washers and two dryers,$5 per load (pay at the office), and they provided soap and dryer sheets—easily the best laundry deal we’ve seen to date. The large overflow/tent camping area doubled as a dog run, with additional space to walk pups around the property. In our opinion, the back-in sites offered better spacing and mountain views. We also enjoyed watching small planes and helicopters come and go from the nearby airport. Overall, this campground met our needs for our five day stay.

  • K
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Chicken Gold Camp & Outpost

    Home away from home

    We spent the whole summer here working for the camp. The amenities are great for being way out of town. Showers are available, but for a fee. Lots to do like hiking, touring the historic dredge, and mining your own gold. Plan ahead and bring food, there’s no grocery nearby. Expect limited internet connectivity, and no cell service.

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Seward KOA

    Nice KOA

    Our GPS took us straight to this campground just before Seward on Glacier Road. Check-in was quick and easy, and we headed to Deluxe Patio FHU Site 14 with 50 AMP. From the Journey signage, it appeared this KOA had recently been upgraded to a Holiday. The campground was laid out nicely, with sites not squished together. The gravel pad was long enough for our 40’ toy hauler, allowing us to drop the rear deck and still park our F450. Utilities were well-centered on the pad, and having two sewer hookups was especially convenient since we have two black tanks. Along with the usual deluxe patio amenities, we appreciated the astroturf lawn for our pups. Trees lined the side and back perimeters, but with none along the road side we had a clear Starlink shot. The campground also provided Starlink WiFi with download speeds around 22.8 Mbps. Water pressure was steady at 35–40 PSI. Verizon gave us 2 bars, while T-Mobile had none. Amenities included a tidy laundry with three front-load washers and three regular-sized dryers. A fun bonus was hearing sled dogs barking at Turning Heads Kennel next door, an Iditarod competitor offering kennel tours and sled dog rides both there and on the glacier. We also enjoyed watching eaglets in the nest right across from our site. The staff were very accommodating, even moving a grill for us and delivering a propane fill back to our site. Overall, this was a well-run campground with thoughtful upgrades and memorable surroundings.

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge & RV Park

    Met Our Needs

    We followed our RV GPS and turned off AK-1 at Bean Creek Rd, which brought us to the Kenai Princess RV Park. A steep left turn led to the office, where we had a super friendly check-in. There was an RV in our site when we arrived, but the office quickly moved them to the overflow. The sites were split on two sides of a wide road with a large turnaround area, so backing into Site 35 with FHUs (30 AMP) was easy. The site was long enough for our 40’ toy hauler, including dropping the patio, and we could still park our F450 crosswise. Sewer connections were at the back center of the pad, with water and electric at the center—no issues. Water pressure was about 40 PSI. Because of perimeter trees and fishermen’s vehicles, we set Starlink on the roof for a clear sky shot. Verizon gave us 2 bars, while T-Mobile had no service. There were paths around the campground to the lodge and down to the lake, which we enjoyed walking with our pups. There weren’t many grocery options in Cooper Landing. The nearest major amenities were about an hour away in Soldotna. Overall, this was a decent campground that met our needs.

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Whiskey Point Cabins & RV Park

    Outstanding Experience

    Traveling south on AK-1 was busy but straightforward, and the campground was easy to access on the right just before Anchor Point. Since we were going to arrive early, we called ahead to see if we could come in at 12:30 PM instead of their 3:00 PM check-in. They said yes, and check-in was a breeze at the small office, which also sold T-shirts, hats, fishing supplies, and a few sundries. We stayed in Site A, a back-in with FHUs (30 AMP). The gravel/sand area in front of Sites A, B, and C was wide enough for easy maneuvering, though because it had been raining we used 4-wheel drive so our 40’ 5th wheel toy hauler wouldn’t leave ruts. The sites were fairly close together, but not uncomfortably so. What made Sites A–C special was the ocean view from the patios. Site C only fit a short rig. Site A, on the end, also bordered a shared common area where guests could gather to enjoy the water views and sunsets from a high hill perch. Utilities were well placed, with water pressure at 35–40 PSI. Verizon service gave us 2 bars of LTE, while T-Mobile was limited to 1 bar roaming. The campground did not have WiFi, but Starlink had a clear shot thanks to the open sky and trees only along the perimeter. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay—especially the ocean view from Site A.

  • m
    Sep. 10, 2025

    Diamond M Ranch Resort

    Great place

    Lot of space , all media , everything clean , very good price. Also they have an animal farm, a lot of memorabilia, etc


Guide to Alaska

Camping in Alaska offers breathtaking views and a chance to connect with nature like never before. From stunning mountains to serene lakes, there’s something for everyone, but it’s important to know what to expect.

What to do

What campers like

  • Scenic Views: Campers rave about the views. One camper at Byers Lake Campground said, “Some of the best views of the tallest mountain in North America can be seen from hiking within Denali State Park.”
  • Clean Facilities: Many campgrounds are well-maintained. A review from Nenana RV Park & Campground highlighted, “The shower house was very clean with a new shower mat provided for each shower.”
  • Friendly Hosts: Campers appreciate the hospitality. One review from King Mountain State Rec Area noted, “The host was nice and there to greet us.”

What you should know

  • Mosquitoes: Be prepared for bugs. A camper at Wonder Lake Campground warned, “The mosquitoes are INSANE. Just unreal.”
  • Weather Variability: The weather can change quickly. A review from Riley Creek Campground mentioned, “The weather is quite variable. We had sunny days with AMAZING mountain views and driving rain downpours.”
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds lack certain facilities. A camper at Teklanika River Campground pointed out, “None of the campsites offered electrical hookups, so bring your solar panels.”

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for spots with amenities for kids. One review from Nenana RV Park & Campground mentioned, “My kids enjoyed the park across the road and had mini golf and a Rhoades car available for use.”
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to have activities lined up. A camper at South Rolly Lake Campground said, “There are tons of hiking trails accessible from the campground.”
  • Pack for Comfort: Bring items to keep everyone comfortable. A review from K’esugi Ken Campground noted, “This place was so clean and well taken care of.”

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Matanuska River Park Campground mentioned, “Some caution needs to be exercised when driving. Trees made Starlink coverage a bit spotty.”
  • Book in Advance: Popular spots fill up quickly. A review from K’esugi Ken Campground advised, “You have to book these sites well in advance.”
  • Utilize Dump Stations: Make use of facilities like dump stations. A camper at Matanuska River Park Campground noted, “Water station and sani-dump usage included.”

Camping in Alaska can be an unforgettable experience if you’re prepared and know what to expect!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any campgrounds in Alaska with full hookups for RVs?

Yes, Alaska has several RV-friendly campgrounds with full hookups. Fox Run Lodge & RV Campground offers full RV hookups right off the highway, making it convenient for travelers. The Springer RV Park & Campground provides full hookup sites with access to amenities like a community fire pit and nearby attractions. For those needing military access, Seward Military Resort offers various accommodation options including RV sites. Many Alaska RV parks are strategically located near popular attractions, though availability is typically seasonal with most operating from May through September. Reservations are strongly recommended during peak summer months when Alaska's camping spots fill quickly.

What are the best camping spots in Alaska for tent camping?

Alaska offers exceptional tent camping experiences with scenic views and natural settings. Donnelly Creek State Rec Area provides spacious sites perfect for multiple tents, complete with fire rings and picnic tables. For a more remote experience, Deadman Lake Campground offers lakeside sites with a secluded feel, situated within the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge. Many tent campers also enjoy dispersed camping along Gold Creek, where established sites often feature rock fire rings. When tent camping in Alaska, come prepared for weather changes and insects - bug shelters are highly recommended, especially in mid-August when gnats can be prevalent.

What are the state-operated campgrounds in Alaska like?

Alaska's state-operated campgrounds offer well-maintained facilities in spectacular natural settings. Squirrel Creek State Recreation Site features clean facilities, beautiful lakefront views, and active wildlife like beavers. Tangle Lakes Campground provides clean sites, hiking trails, and a boat launch, though bathrooms may be a walk from some sites. State campgrounds typically include fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets. Most operate on a first-come, first-served basis, though some accept reservations. Fees are generally reasonable, ranging from $10-25 per night depending on amenities. While most lack hookups, they compensate with scenic locations and wilderness access. State campgrounds are typically open from May through September, weather permitting.

When is the best time of year to go camping in Alaska?

The prime camping season in Alaska runs from late May through early September, with mid-June to mid-August offering the warmest temperatures and longest daylight hours. Centennial Park & Campground and other Kenai Peninsula locations are excellent in August when salmon are running. Signal Creek Campground near Ward Lake is ideal in summer when trails are accessible and wildlife viewing opportunities abound. Late August brings fewer insects but cooler temperatures and shorter days. May and September offer less crowded campgrounds but prepare for cooler weather and potential snow at higher elevations. Winter camping is possible for experienced adventurers but requires specialized gear and knowledge of extreme cold weather survival techniques.