149 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Cooper Landing in Alaska serves as a base for exploring multiple campground options within the Chugach National Forest and Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. The area features established campgrounds like Cooper Creek North and South, Quartz Creek, and Russian River Complex, which accommodate both tent and RV camping. Some locations offer additional accommodation types, including cabins at Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge and yurts at Cooper Landing Fishing Guide. Most campgrounds provide basic amenities like toilets, trash disposal, and picnic tables, while several sites are positioned along the Kenai River or Kenai Lake, making them popular destinations for fishing enthusiasts.
Camping season in this region typically runs from mid-May through early September, with most facilities closing after Labor Day weekend. "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," noted one camper about Cooper Creek South. Many campgrounds operate on a mixed reservation and first-come, first-served basis, with popular waterfront sites filling quickly during peak salmon fishing season. Bear activity requires proper food storage, with many campgrounds providing bear-proof lockers. Weather conditions can change rapidly in this mountainous region, and visitors should be prepared for cool temperatures even during summer months. Limited cell service exists throughout the area, particularly at more remote sites.
Riverside camping opportunities attract many visitors to Cooper Landing, particularly anglers pursuing salmon runs. Campers consistently mention the convenience of staying near premier fishing locations as a significant advantage. The campgrounds along Kenai Lake provide scenic mountain views with aqua-colored water that receive high ratings from visitors. Larger campgrounds like Quartz Creek feature both lakeside and creek-side loops with varying levels of sun exposure and bug activity. According to one visitor, "This USFS Campground is right off the highway at Kenai Lake near Coopers Landing. Easy access for most any size RVs or trailers, well spaced, improved, level sites with big wooden tables and metal fire pits." During red salmon runs from mid-July through mid-August, campgrounds experience their highest occupancy levels, and wildlife viewing opportunities increase as bears frequent fishing areas.
"If you asked me where my favorite spot in Alaska is, I might just choose the Russian River."
"Many Alaska campers know that one bar of cell service is a luxury but being able to get your email too. This is glamping. Tent camper please check any restrictions."
from $23 - $33 / night
Check Availability"This USFS Campground is right off the highway at Kenai Lake near Coopers Landing."
"Quartz Creek Campground is a lovely little spot, situated between Quartz Creek and Kenai Lake. There are 45 spaces at this campground, so it's one of the larger ones."
from $23 - $33 / night
Check Availability"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 main lodge is just a short walk away too. Grocery store, shower, laundry ADA accessible, Ice and Propane make this a wonderful stop."
"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."
"We stayed in the first site and while it was sort of close to the road the noise wasn’t bad because you have the river so close. Perhaps not the best site for small children."
from $33 / night
Check Availability"Cooper Creek is a great, smaller campground to choose when the popular nearby spots fill up with anglers."
"Large spaces right next to the Kenai River. Easily get to places that do rafting trips and fishing right from your camp site! Beautiful aqua water with mountain views!"
from $23 - $33 / night
Check Availability"Hidden lake campground is a family friendly campground. Located on the kenai peninsula, you are sure to see some awesome wildlife. Lots of hiking and water sports at this campground."
"Hidden Lake canpground is made up of three sections."
"Honestly, you can't go wrong - especially if you're utilizing the Forest Service cabins sprinkled all over Alaska. This particular cabin was in amazing condition, and very clean."
"The US Forest Service owns little cabins all over AK and each varies in amenities, age, distance, etc."
from $75 / night
Check Availability"The stunning lake view and access made the campsite worth dealing with the bugs and bears."
"We just stayed here one night, But they were beautiful wooded campgrounds right next to the lake."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"The lake is one of the most beautiful views in alaska in my opinion. facilities are clean and spacious. Picnic tables and fire pits at each spot."
"The campground provides ample space for large group activities around the pavilion or your own little nook, tucked along the banks of the lakes. this campground was so fun to have our gatherings at!"
from $23 - $200 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $100 / night
Check Availability
GuideCool and quirky campsite names. Some nestled in the trees and some side by side waterfront. Cabins of various levels of accommodation are available. All kinds of fishing charters directly available from office. Good gift shop and a nice little Bistro, coffee place.
GuideOnly accepts cash. Must be bear aware. Bears every time we’ve been there. Would not recommend soft side campers or tents. Use available bear proof food safes.
LegendIdeally situated at the far end of town, this site offers easy access to the old part of town. This campground is far away from the cruise ship terminal and only the most DieHard tourists make it to this end of town.
Having said that this is a primitive campground that is nothing more than a gravel lot with a couple of picnic tables and fire rings. Being self-contained is an absolute must!
Unfortunately for me I arrived in the middle of a rainstorm and the gravel lot is more than a bit muddy. Please see attached photos and video for more details about this campsite.
GuideLoved staying here. Tons of spaces among several campgrounds, many right along the beach. We stayed in Harborside because we booked last minute and it was the only area that had a beachfront spot available. Recommend booking early for that reason. But our spot was great.
Dry camping. Spots are $40+ nightly but they do have a central dump station available, multiple potable water areas available and dumpsters throughout. Sites have picnic tables and fire rings. They are fairly level and wide but it’s basically a parking lot in Harborside and many spots are like a parking spot where you pull straight in. We actually liked this because our motorhome windshield faced the ocean.
Short walk to town, national park visitor center and harbor. We saw seals daily, bald eagles and even a whale directly in front of our campsite. The access to a lot of Seward and the beach is really nice. A lot of people were surf fishing.
Little pricey for dry camping but the views and location are worth it.
LegendLocated just across the street from the Seward MWR military campground, this facility represents what's typical of public campgrounds in Alaska.
Sites are nicely wooded and spacious. The campground also has an on-site host.
The public restrooms however leave a bit to be desired. It should also be noted that the train goes past this campground with some regularity.
Finally, I'm a firm believer in the idea that a pictures worth a thousand words so please see my attached photos.
LegendLocated just outside of Seward this MWR campground/resort offers basic amenities. The laundry room and restrooms are clean and the overall condition of the facility is good.
Please be aware that if you are camping here the sites are extremely close together and there is no privacy except that which you find in your own RV.
Also as noted in the title of this review you must be DOD affiliated to use this campground. That means users must be active duty, National Guard, Reserves, retired military, DOD civilian or authorized DOD contractor and veterans with a VA disability rating of greater than 5%.
Finally as always, I believe pictures are worth a thousand words so please see attached photos and video.
GuideAll sites can view the water and mountains. Beautiful! It is dry camping with flush toilets and showers. Daily clean. Good water. And a city dump station. We were on the back row next to the road and didn’t hear road noise.
ScoutWe have now been misled by Dirt 3 times.
ScoutNice variety of spots. Lots of RV and tent spots. The dry only tent spots are decently private, not like being deep in the woods, but the edge of trees to camp in for tents. Has porta potties and showers, plus each spot has a fire ring and table. Overall a pretty decent place, especially if you want to fish. There is a trail that goes directly to the bay/a creek to fish in. Plus you can rent fishing poles and waders there if you didn't bring anything.
Cooper Landing sits at the confluence of the Kenai and Russian Rivers in Alaska's Chugach National Forest at about 500 feet elevation. Campsites near Cooper Landing, Alaska remain accessible from mid-May through early September when temperatures range from 45°F at night to 65°F during the day. Local campgrounds provide strategic access to premier salmon fishing locations while offering varying levels of amenities for different camping styles.
Canoe or kayak on Kenai Lake: Quartz Creek Campground offers direct lake access with aqua-colored glacial waters. "This site has it all. Camping, day use and boat launch. We enjoyed our spot here even though we couldn't get on right on the water so we spent most of our time in the day use area fishing," notes Riley N.
Hike to Russian Falls: The Russian River Complex provides access to several notable trails. "Try the Russian Lakes Trail if you are interested in a short hike to see salmon jump into the Russian Falls. The Angler's Trail will take you right to the Kenai-Russian River Confluence - one of the most unique sights in the world!" advises Taylor W.
Fish for seasonal salmon runs: Cooper Creek North Campground caters to anglers with riverside sites. "During the height of the fishing season this campground fills up fast. Get there early in the week for a chance for a spot," recommends Tanya B. The fishing season peaks in July-August when red salmon runs attract both anglers and bears.
Look for wildlife: The Trail River Campground offers opportunities to spot eagles and bears. "Saw plenty of bald eagles and a black bear by the river," reports Dori S. about her experience camping in the area.
Spacious, private sites: Cooper Creek South receives praise for its layout and privacy. "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," explains Kristi D.
Mountain and water views: Upper Skilak Lake Campground's scenery impresses visitors. "Paved pads with gorgeous sites some right on the water. Tent sites at $5 a night and Standard sites for camper and RV's run $10," reports Shadara W., noting the exceptional value for waterfront camping.
Bear-proof facilities: Most campgrounds provide bear protection measures. "Bear lockers at every site. Bathrooms are just pit toilets. Love this place. Short hikes to the falls and the river," shares Dori S. about Russian River Complex.
Interconnected trail systems: Trail River Campground offers unique pathways between sites. "There are beautiful little paths between the camp sites that makes this place feel like a fairytale," explains Kyle F. These trails create connections while maintaining privacy between campsites.
Bear safety requirements: All Cooper Landing area campgrounds enforce strict food storage rules. "Sites have a picnic table and firepit. Nice separated some with views of the mountains and even a few with partial river view. Perfect fishing spot and also a nice paved home to the Russian River Falls. Watch for bears at all times and always have your fishing license on ya," advises Shadara W. about Russian River Complex.
Access road conditions: Some campgrounds require navigating unpaved roads. "It is a bumpy road to get to this campground. Skilak road is spotty on maintenance," warns Tanya B. about Upper Skilak Lake Campground.
Reservation systems vary: Campgrounds use mixed booking methods. "Online registration, Huge sites, Amazing views, and a well maintained campground this place has it all," notes Tanya B. about Russian River Complex. Many sites allow advance reservations while others remain first-come, first-served.
Limited services: Most campgrounds provide only basic amenities. "This is a dry campground, so all us camper/RV folks make sure to charge your phones up before coming out!" cautions Katie B. about Russian River Complex.
Look for group sites: Trail River Campground accommodates larger gatherings. "This is probably the biggest campsite I have ever been to. There is an area where you can have multiple cars (i.e. 4 families) with a playground and canopy area," shares Joshua L.
Consider ADA-accessible options: Several campgrounds offer accessible sites. "Cooper Creek is a great, smaller campground to choose when the popular nearby spots fill up with anglers... This campground is great for group camping trips, as each site is rated for 8 people and a few can have up to 12. There are many ada-acessible sites to choose from as well," explains Taylor W.
Pack for mosquitoes: Bug activity can be intense at certain times. "Bring a bug screen or bug dope," advises Tanya B., while Kyle F. notes "insane numbers of mosquitos" at Trail River Campground, making proper preparation essential for family comfort.
Select campgrounds based on size: Quartz Creek Campground accommodates larger vehicles. "Easy access for most any size RVs or trailers, well spaced, improved, level sites with big wooden tables and metal fire pits," notes JR M.
Check site configurations: Some sites have challenging layouts for larger rigs. "We ended up with a pull through spot that was a pain to get our rig into (26' pull behind). Luckily it was the first spot in the loop so we were able to back it in and have the door open to the footprint and the slide towards the road," shares Megan W. about Russian River Complex.
Look for dump stations: Some facilities offer RV services not advertised online. "We were surprised as we pulled in to the campground to see a sign for a dump station. All of our research showed no dump station or potable water. They have both! Looks pretty new," reports Jon L. about Quartz Creek Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Cooper Landing, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, Cooper Landing, AK offers a wide range of camping options, with 149 campgrounds and RV parks near Cooper Landing, AK and 9 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Cooper Landing, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Cooper Landing, AK is Russian River - TEMPORARILY CLOSED with a 4.8-star rating from 13 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Cooper Landing, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 free dispersed camping spots near Cooper Landing, AK.
What parks are near Cooper Landing, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 parks near Cooper Landing, AK that allow camping, notably Chugach National Forest and Kenai Fjords National Park.
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