Best RV Parks & Resorts near Auke Bay, AK

Mendenhall Lake Campground provides RV sites with several hookup options during its May 15 to September 13 season. The 70-site campground accommodates large rigs with designated big-rig-friendly sites featuring full hookups including water, electric, and sewer connections. "We were just looking for the least expensive place that was close to the ferry terminal in Auke Bay, but struck gold in the hills just above," noted one visitor about the campground's value and location. Eagle Beach State Recreation Area offers electric hookups with both 30-amp and 50-amp service along with water and sewer connections for RVs. At Auk Village Campground, RV sites are available without hookups in a more rustic setting, with the campground operating from May 1 through September 30.

Near the Juneau ferry terminal, most RV campgrounds maintain clean facilities with varying levels of amenities. Mendenhall Lake provides showers, flush toilets, and a dump station on-site—particularly valuable since dump stations are limited in the region. Cell service varies significantly between locations, with reviewers noting no coverage at Eagle Beach State Recreation Area. Advance reservations are essential during peak summer months, especially for Mendenhall Lake where sites fill quickly due to proximity to the glacier. One reviewer mentioned bringing sufficient solar panels or power banks when staying at sites without electrical hookups. Bear activity is common throughout the area, with several campgrounds providing bear boxes at each site for proper food storage.

Best RV Sites Near Auke Bay, Alaska (5)

    1. Mendenhall Lake Campground

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

    $20 - $36 / night

    "Excellent location on lake offering a spectacular view. Nice campground, cozy and only offers less than 70 sites. Full hookups are available at some."

    "Easy access to epic beauty from the airport."

    2. Auk Village

    10 Reviews
    Auke Bay, AK
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (907) 586-8800

    $20 / night

    "This campground has 11 sites and we were lucky to get #5, right across from the pit toilets so we didn’t have to walk far."

    "It is easy to get to the water or trails. There was a guy renting kayaks out of the back of a truck which made our whole day."

    3. Hollywood Farms RV Park Gustavus AK

    1 Review
    Gustavus, AK
    40 miles

    "Many people choose to leave their RVs in Juneau and walk on the ferry to Gustavus and stay at the lodge in the National Park."

    4. Peterson lake campground

    2 Reviews
    Auke Bay, AK
    5 miles
    Website

    $75 / night

    "4 spots with picnic tables and fire pits. Clean bathrooms and big trash cans that got emptied while we were there for 4 nights. Low GCI service. Water spout that didn’t work for us."

    "This campground has one site with a picnic table and a fire ring. However you can camp anywhere that there is parking. This is on a well-maintained road and would be great to bring a kayak."

    5. Eagle Beach State Recreation Area

    1 Review
    Auke Bay, AK
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (907) 465-4563

    $60 - $100 / night

    "Absolutely no cell service. There are some sites not completely in the trees. We were able to get good solar and Starlink service. There are pit toilets on site."

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Recent RV Camping Photos near Auke Bay, AK

2 Photos of 5 Auke Bay Campgrounds


RV Park Reviews near Auke Bay, AK

37 Reviews of 5 Auke Bay Campgrounds


  • Lisa S.
    Apr. 26, 2019

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Great place to take scenic photos

    Excellent location on lake offering a spectacular view. Nice campground, cozy and only offers less than 70 sites. Full hookups are available at some. Picnic tables and fire rings are available at sites. There is also a dump station and restrooms available. Hiking trails are close. As is the Mendenhall Glacier accessible from the Visitor Center

  • Josiah P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2018

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Conveniently located & Beautiful

    Easy access to epic beauty from the airport. The glacier brings the temperature down significantly from the surrounding area ❄️ All of the campsites are furnished with picnic tables, tent pads & fire rings with grills. Water faucets & accessible vault toilets are provided, as are two accessible flush toilets and shower facilities. A dump station & trash dumpster are located on-site.

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2022

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Big Surprise!

    We’ve been full-time camping in our vintage camper for over10 years, and in that time we’ve taken some “camping trips” without our rig, Hamlet. This time we hopped on the ferry from Haines down to Juneau and pulled out the tent for a few days in this amazing campground. We were just looking for the least expensive place that was close to the ferry terminal in Auke Bay, but struck gold in the hills just above. This might be one of the best traditional campgrounds we've ever stayed in with some of the most stunning views in our "backyard."

    The campground is laid out along the southern bank of Mendenhall Lake, and offers drinking water, flush, and vault toilets and hot showers -- at no extra charge. Did I mention that camping here will only set you back $10 per night? We cannot remember such an inexpensive camping experience that offered showers. These $10 sites don’t offer electrical hookups, so bring your solar panels and solar generator or power bank and you’ll be all set. 

    The western trailhead is a short walk from the campground, but the Mendenhall Visitor's Center on the east side of the lake is just a few miles away. There are many trails, photographic viewpoints and opportunities to paddle on this side of the lake, but parking is competitive because it is such a popular area- including with the busses from the cruise ships docked in town. So, get there early. We enjoyed paddling on the lake where we got great views of the glacier and Nugget Falls, but keep your distance from icebergs. We watched one crack and roll not too far from where we were paddling, had we been closer I might not be writing this review. 

    The Mendenhall Valley has all the amenities you could expect from the Juneau suburbs, grocery stores, malls and restaurants. Downtown has a few more options as well as Douglas Island, just across the bridge.

  • Bradee A.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 20, 2022

    Peterson lake campground

    Beautiful views

    4 spots with picnic tables and fire pits. Clean bathrooms and big trash cans that got emptied while we were there for 4 nights. Low GCI service. Water spout that didn’t work for us. Beautiful central location for the Kenai peninsula. Highly recommend.

  • Angie G.
    May. 26, 2024

    Auk Village

    Wilderness Bliss

    This campground has 11 sites and we were lucky to get #5, right across from the pit toilets so we didn’t have to walk far. We had a great site, bear box, campfire pit, and a fabulous view when you walk to the edge right behind your site! We didn’t put any hammocks in the trees or do any cooking on site, as it is black bear country and you don’t want any uninvited guests. We went to the picnic shelter at Lena Cove for our morning breakfast and hung our hammocks in the shelter for the morning. We had great views of Auke Bay and Lena Cove.

    I could not find any reviews to pick a site but I reserved this one and it was gold! We had a water spigot close to us in the campground, but there are no electric or water supplies at the sites. You need to bring your own firewood because some sites say it was supplied, however, due to low crew numbers they can’t keep up with demand.

  • J
    Jul. 28, 2017

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Staring Into The Past

    After a month of kayaking in Glacier Bay, stumbling off the ferry and taking the bus to the campground Mendenhall campground felt like luxury. Without a doubt the best hot showers I've ever had camping. 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. The shark fin and the towers piercing out of the ice field. It's all jaw dropping regardless of what direction you turn your head.

    The campground is walking distance to multiple trails including the west glacier trail that approaches the glacier or splits off and climbs to summit Mt McGinnis as well as the visitor center. Also big heads up there were the famed ice caves but those have long collapsed and as of my visit no new caves have formed.

    Bear boxes are at each campsite as well as fire pits. By far my favorite established campground in Juneau. Only downer in my opinion is having to reserve online first.

  • Angie G.
    May. 27, 2024

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Glacier View in the Tongass

    After being unable to find good reviews of campsites here, I took what I could find and gambled on a site. We were in tent site 021. It was a gorgeous site, had a large picnic table, bear box, water spigot between us and the site next to us, fire pit, clean pit toilets and a clean bath house. This campground has backpacker sites, RV sites, and car sites as well. We had a short walk through the moss on a trail that led down to Mendenhall Lake. It had a gorgeous view of the glacier. We enjoyed listening to all the birds and it was a pretty quiet campground.

    There are a few sites close to boggy areas and they can be mushy and muddy, especially after a rain. There is a map on the reservation website where you can kind of see it. Our site was fabulous.

    The trails are not far from the campground, so they are walkable.

  • James L.
    Jun. 17, 2018

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Mendenhall campgrounds

    This place is great!!!! Close to town yet out in nature.

  • Sierra  S.
    Jul. 13, 2018

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Crystal blue just for you

    Must see beauty in Juneau. This beautiful site is not only spectacular but conviently close to town. After setting up camp you can explore the trail to get close to the glacier and see beautiful waterfalls!


Guide to Auke Bay

Camping sites near Auke Bay, Alaska provide direct access to southeast Alaska's temperate rainforest ecosystem with annual precipitation averaging 92 inches. Campers find old-growth Sitka spruce and western hemlock forests surrounding most sites, with camping season generally running May through September when temperatures average 50-65°F during daytime hours. Most campgrounds maintain modest amenities with varying levels of privacy between sites.

What to do

Wildlife viewing at shorelines: At Auk Village Campground, visitors can spot abundant marine life. "Great place to go whale watching. Seriously! I went for two hours and saw 30 ish breaches. It was incredible," reports one camper. The protected cove near camp provides opportunities for wildlife observation without needing a tour boat.

Kayaking local waterways: Rental options sometimes appear directly at campgrounds. "There was a guy renting kayaks out of the back of a truck which made our whole day. It's not a far walk to the water, where you could see otters, seals, whales, cool ducks, starfish, etc," notes a visitor about Auk Village.

Glacier trails exploration: The Mendenhall Lake Campground offers access to multiple trails with varying difficulty levels. "Half way up nugget falls trails there are a few cut through's to the lake where you can find nice private beaches," shares one camper. Visiting early morning or evening helps avoid crowds from cruise ships.

What campers like

Campsite privacy: Campers consistently praise site separation at local campgrounds. "The camping spots are very spread out and private. Some have views and some don't. We did see bald eagles right on site," reports an Auk Village visitor. Many sites incorporate natural rock features or vegetation barriers between spaces.

Access to beach areas: Peterson Lake Campground provides water access appreciated by campers. "This is on a well-maintained road and would be great to bring a kayak. I look forward to spending a lot of time at this campground," notes one reviewer. Most waterfront campgrounds have designated paths to shorelines.

Proximity to Juneau while feeling remote: Campers value the balance between accessibility and wilderness. "The campground is nice, with great tent sites! The car sites looked nice too, but I didn't stay there. The tent sites were nicely separated, giving you that feeling that you're further away than you really are," explains a Mendenhall Lake camper.

What you should know

Bear activity throughout the region: Black and brown bears frequent campgrounds seasonally. "Great place for the family, bears do frequent the area so keep site clean," warns a Mendenhall Lake visitor. Most sites provide bear boxes, but some smaller campgrounds require bringing your own storage containers.

Limited cell coverage: Service varies dramatically between locations. At Eagle Beach State Recreation Area, one camper noted "Absolutely no cell service. We were able to get good solar and Starlink service." Signal strength typically improves closer to Juneau proper.

Reservation requirements: Most established campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "Before you go: you must reserve a spot online in advance & spots tend to fill up quickly in July & August," advises a Mendenhall visitor. Smaller campgrounds like Peterson Lake operate on first-come, first-served basis with limited sites.

Tips for camping with families

Utilize picnic shelters: When camping with children, designated eating areas provide better options for meal preparation. "We didn't put any hammocks in the trees or do any cooking on site, as it is black bear country and you don't want any uninvited guests. We went to the picnic shelter at Lena Cove for our morning breakfast," recommends an Auk Village camper.

Seek tent-specific areas: Some campgrounds separate RV and tent camping zones. "The campground has 11 sites and we were lucky to get #5, right across from the pit toilets so we didn't have to walk far," notes a family staying at Auk Village. Sites nearest bathroom facilities often work best for families with small children.

Plan around cruise ship schedules: With large tourist influxes during daytime hours, timing activities matters. "Best way to avoid the cruise ship crowds is to go early or late. Photo point trail and Nugget Falls trail are a must and have the heaviest foot traffic from 10am to 2pm," advises a Mendenhall visitor.

Tips from RVers

Solar preparation for non-hookup sites: RV camping near Auke Bay, Alaska often requires energy independence. "We were able to get good solar and Starlink service" at Eagle Beach State Recreation Area, according to one RVer. Most campgrounds have partial shade, so positioning for maximum solar collection requires planning.

Ferry logistics for RV travel: When visiting Glacier Bay National Park, some RVers use Hollywood Farms RV Park as a base. "Many people choose to leave their RVs in Juneau and walk on the ferry to Gustavus and stay at the lodge in the National Park. The lodge has a shuttle for guests arriving by plane or ferry so this is easy to do," explains one visitor who opted to bring their RV across.

Limited dump station availability: RV travelers should plan waste management carefully. "There is no dump site," notes a camper at Eagle Beach State Recreation Area. The nearest dump stations typically require returning to Juneau proper, which may necessitate planning stays around dump schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular RV campsite near Auke Bay, AK?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Auke Bay, AK is Mendenhall Lake Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 24 reviews.

What is the best site to find RV camping near Auke Bay, AK?

TheDyrt.com has all 5 RV camping locations near Auke Bay, AK, with real photos and reviews from campers.