Searching for a tent camping spot near Chugach National Forest? You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. Each tent site offers quick access to one or more of Chugach National Forest, Alaska's most popular destinations.
Exit Glacier has a 12-site, walk-in, tent-campground. Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no reservations or camping fees. There is a fourteen-day stay limit. The campground frequently fills by early evening in July and August. A central food storage, cooking and dining shelter is provided. Cooking and/or storing food in campsites is prohibited. There is a pump for drinking water and pit toilets are available. Pets are not permitted in campsites.
Crescent Creek Campground is open. As of May 17, 2019, fees are being charged and services are available. Reservations are made though Recreation.gov (1-877-444-6777) and recommended for summer camping. Fees are charged during the summer season. Reservations may be made up to180 days prior to your desired arrival date in the summer season (Memorial Day through Labor Day in September). A small campground with 9 sites. $14 (single)/$28 (double)
Coeur D'Alene Campground is open. A small campground with six walk-in tent sites. This site is not recommended for large RV's or trailers. Water is not available at this campground. There are toilets, fire pits, and tables at the site.
$5 / night
Hop off the Train at the Spencer Whistle Stop! Take a tour with a Forest Service interpreter around the foot of Spencer Lake and then float among the icebergs that have calved off of the great glacier while the guide steers an Alaskan Native canoe. Or take a leisurely journey by raft down the Placer River toward Turnagain Arm.
Scout
Wonderful stay at 50 site primitive campground. Big rig friendly, clean, private sites. Clean vault toilets, pump for water, trash, no dump station. Lots of wildlife - moose with calves in cg. Great fishing in Cooks Inlet, Stormy Lake, and Swanson River all steps from the campground. Beachcombing and rockhounding on beach. Stunning views.
Guide
In mid August we had very few mosquitoes. We also had our pick of some of the best camping spots I’ve ever seen. We became spoiled boomers and kept passing up sites until we got a close walk to the lake, a close walk to the well pump, and a close walk to the pit toilet(very clean). Also a short drive to Seward for all the tourist amenities.
Scout
We were lucky enough to get a spot here! It was a perfect place to stop on our way from Homer back to Anchorage.
Traveler
Went there for the weekend. It was really nice. Right along the river and there are picnic tables and bear boxes around. You’re a really short walk to the lake and there is soft rocky beach you can enjoy the views on. The sites are pretty well established and it is a first come first serve basis. We got lucky and got the last spot in the lane. There isn’t too many sites. I think 8 total? It’s a smaller one. Two restrooms vaults at each end.
Scout
Rustic 50 site campground. Several sites suited to large rigs. Well kept campground with immaculate vault toilets. Fantastic views, great fishing, and trails. Beachcomb for agates, spirit stones, and wishing stones.
Legend
Although we didn't camp here overnight, we ended up staying in the campground for a couple hours waiting out the rain. The vault toilets and covered group cooking/eating areas were in great shape and stayed dry.
From the campground, we hiked up to explore the abandoned WWII fort, Fort McGilvray. Super interesting and much bigger than I expected! See the full hiking route here: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/alaska/caines-head-trail
You have two options for getting here:
Legend
We didn't get to stay in the cabin this time, but it looks nice! It was built recently. The cabin can be reservered in advance, see more info about it here: https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspcabins/tonsinacabin.htm
You have two options for getting here:
Rainy weather is common here, but fortunately there are covered areas for cooking/eating.
Scout
The roads were paved okay, the sites are more gravel. It was a (narrow) but 30 second walk to the private lake access we had. The campsite overall was the biggest one we’ve been in. The flys were so awful, the mosquitos seemed invisible. The lake is clean and amazing, there was road noise but didn’t bother us, we’re loud anyway. It was so beautiful. But the bathrooms were useable. If you try to get food at summit lake lodge, don’t, they suck and are overpriced. Maybe French fries and onion rings but nothing else.
Guide
It was 54 Degrees in July…… and Mosquitoes ate us alive Great Lake but forget to be outside your Camper. The Spots were not Level at all
GuideBeautiful lakeside setting, inexpensive well maintained facilities. Lots of camp sites, both rv and tent. Sites are fairly private. Quiet. Lots of families. Good camp host.
Scout
It’s crowded and I’m not even sure what to do because it’s a big mess but I’m gonna go ahead and do the same
Guide
The stunning lake view and access made the campsite worth dealing with the bugs and bears.
We arrived at Upper Skilak Lake Campground on a sunny Friday afternoon and managed to get the last site available. The campground was packed, including all the RV sites. We ended up in one of the walk-in tent sites. There are a total of 10 walk-in tent sites, with six right on the lake and the rest just a short walk away.
Each campsite is equipped with bear-proof storage for food, which is essential considering the active bear presence in the area. There is enough space for two tents, and the fire pits are new with adjustable grill racks, which made cooking easy. Buckets were provided to safely extinguish fires.
The campsites are a short walk from the parking lot, involving a small hill, except for one (maybe two) handicap-accessible site that offers easier access.
During our stay, we saw black bears and grizzly bears every day. Bear scat was common on the trails and beach, adding to the sense of adventure but also requiring constant vigilance regarding food storage and safety.
The park rangers were friendly and stopped by our site each night to check in and talk about bear sightings. However, one morning, a ranger accompanied by a few volunteers walked into our site while we were eating, which felt somewhat invasive.
The main downside was the state of the bathrooms. They were extremely dirty, with one stall that didn’t lock and another that had no toilet paper. The smell was terrible, and overall, the facilities were not well-maintained.
By the time we left on Monday, we were the only campers remaining, which offered a peaceful end to our stay.
Overall, Upper Skilak Lake Campground offers a beautiful location and a genuine wilderness experience, the poor condition of the bathrooms and significant amount of bugs were the only drawback.
Be prepared for bears and lots of bugs. The lake, the trails, and experience were definitely worth the trip.
Ranger
This is what it is. It’s a gravel lot and you’re packed in like sardines. Go in with that knowledge and you’ll find it to be a great spot to stay a night or two. We stayed here two nights because we had booked a fishing trip. It’s close to the marina and easy walking distance to several shops.
Scout
Beautiful campground. Clean facilities. BUT the $23/vehicle/campsite killed the 5 stars this place deserves. Be aware that if you have a towed car or motorcycles with your camper they will charge you even though you are in one site. And this fee is not on the entrance sign nor the City of Soldotna website.
Scout
This place is very cold we climb and have some while watching movies
Guide
Hated having to be so close to everyone. Basically a parking lot that they squeeze everyone into.
LegendTent review. This would not be my first pick of campgrounds, however, travelling in shoulder season, options are limited. Since we are tent campers, we stayed in that section in Resurrection Sound. The sites are tight with zero privacy. As long as you have good neighbors, its not a problem. Our first couple nights were fairly enjoyable. The homeless family living in a site 2 down from us weren't too bad except for them splitting wood after dark when we were trying to sleep. It was labor day weekend and our last night was miserable. The campground filled up with locals there to party. They set up pop up tents, brought amplifiers, music, instruments and were up until 2 or 3 in the morning getting drunk. The views were okay. The walking path along the campground is very nice. The public park bathrooms were fairly clean considering their use. We had to drive into the city to use the harbor showers. They are coin operated. They were fairly clean.
Guide
There is a south campground along the river and a north loop along the creek. We stayed in the south camp at the end of September so it was “no services no fees” at that time. There’s a bbq restaurant across the street. There are food storage lockers at each site because of bears. Most other campers were there to fish.
Guide
Basically one big parking lot, but it has nice views of the surrounding mountains and harbor. They provide toilets and dumpster which is nice, also the spots have fire pits.
LegendRight on the Kenai river with a campground and boat launch. Tons of stores etc in Soldotkna minutes away to include a laundry mat five minutes away.
Road in is dirt and in good condition. They have people at the front that collect fees of people coming and goin. Lots of people coming through to use the boat launch, but you can't beat the beautiful turquoise of the Kenai river. Also, a beautiful mile or so trail along the river so people can pay $8 to park for the day. Plenty of restrooms and picnic tables. level camping spots and spots were nice and spread out so you aren't on top of your neighbor.
Also, close to Kenai Wildlife Refuge, a couple minutes away. So check out the visitors center and the trails off the visitors center. Well maintained and scenic!
LegendExtremely convenient place to stay. You can walk the boardwalk along Resurrection Bay and get to where a lot of the shops/restaurants/tourist attractions are and where the cruise ships pull into port. Super convenient. You could go the opposite direction and walk to downtown as well.
The campground is just a huge gravel parking lot with a ton of RVS.....it's $65/night partial hookup if you want to camp right on the bay. $55/night if you camp one row back. We chose $55 a night as we had plenty of good views but a lot of people chose that front spot. This is for electric only. There is a dump station/water down the road. The shower house was under maintenance which was unfortunate due to the price. They have portapottys out, so you can go to the bathroom, but the reviews I have seen said the bathrooms are gross. You would think the city could do better than this. They are rolling in the $$s as the campground is busy. Level spots too.
We were able to see birds and a sea otter steps from our camper. A neat place for sure! I guess it usually rains there as it foggy and rainy the two days we spent there.
LegendIt's salmon fishing season and you can tell people are staying here to fish the Kenai River, which is great. It was a very convenient campsite off the highway on the way to Homer, in the national forest. only $23 a night to camp or $11.50 if your a senior or have an access pass. Great prize for Alaska, but of course no amenities at site such as water, electric etc. It's a dry spot.
Good size sites and level spots with picnic table and fire pit. Enjoyed our night here ...
Legend
Small but lovely campground on a one way road right on the Kenai river. Sites are spread out, a couple tent spots and a couple of camper spots. There appears to be seven spots and if this is full, you can go just up the road to the next campground.
No electric, water etc but there is a dumpster, picnic tables and fire pits. Across the road is a BBQ spot and a store. You can easily walk to it, just be careful going across road as hwy. Is pretty busy!
Scout
It was quiet and from all aspects was exactly what we were looking for. As locals we just needed a quick and easy getaway for the weekend. Couldn't have picked a better place!
Scout
There were several nice spots in amongst the trees for tent camping, but for the RV spots, you would want a spot along the beach or next to the bath house. We stayed in the spot named “Amy” next to the bath house. It was flat, but could be difficult to back in to if adjacent spots were full. We will stay in the North Annex next year, a place ran by the same owners.
Scout
The camp hosts were exceptional, I am handicap and they found us a great handicap space for car camping at the time. This as Fourth of July weekend 2021
GuideVery basic campground with no amenities. Lots of space between sites with fast moving water on the north side.
Tent camping near Chugach National Forest in Alaska offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in stunning natural beauty while enjoying a range of outdoor activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Chugach National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Chugach National Forest is Exit Glacier Campground — Kenai Fjords National Park with a 4.8-star rating from 16 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Chugach National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 tent camping locations near Chugach National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
