Best Campgrounds near Copper Center, AK

We recently stayed at Ranch House Lodge in Tolsona, AK, and it was hands down one of the most memorable RV experiences we've ever had— not just because of the beautiful setting, but because of the incredible kindness and hospitality of the owners. They went out of their way to make our daughter’s birthday truly special. Without us even mentioning it in advance, they surprised her with a thoughtful gift, decorated a space in their dining room just for her, and gathered to sing Happy Birthday. It was such a genuine and touching gesture, and it made the day unforgettable for our whole family. The RV park itself is excellent— clean, spacious, and well laid out. The sites are level, with full hookups, and you can choose whether you want to be right along the river or a little further back in a quieter area. The bathrooms and showers were impressively clean and clearly very well maintained. The on-site lodge serves delicious food, and quickly became a favorite hangout spot during our stay. What really sets Ranch House Lodge apart, though, is the history and character of the place. The owners gave us a tour of the property and shared its fascinating backstory. The lodge and grounds are filled with antique items— old cars, vintage washing machines, cash registers, and all kinds of machines true to the era when the lodge was originally built. It felt like stepping back in time, and you could tell how much love and care has gone into preserving that history. Ranch House Lodge is more than just a stopover— it’s a destination full of charm, warmth, and stories. We felt so welcomed and truly appreciated the personal touches throughout our stay. We can’t recommend it highly enough and are already looking forward to coming back!

We planned on staying here to break up our travel along the Glenn going from Palmer to Valdez. This was the perfect place for the night. We had the pleasure of being there on the last day they were open for the season. It was pouring down rain so we joined the owners in their roadhouse for a bowl of chili and pizza instead of sitting outside in the rain. We ended up chatting with them for hours and enjoyed sharing stories about camping and campers we're encountered. As the only tent campers left, they told us to pick any site that looked nice. They were all great tent sites with a stream that runs behind them. Even though it's right off the main highway, the traffic noise is minimal. The tent sites are large with a picnic table, fire ring, and plenty of trees. The shower houses were clean and water warm.

You can not beat your surroundings and the view!! I would give it 5/5 stars for that..

I asked the guy at the counter if the Basecamp is private. He said yes. It's unfortunate that you have to drive down the terrible, McCarty road. It was bad. They just grated it and if we didn't have a raff adventure booked my husband would have turned around since we are hauling a camper. I'm surprised nothing broke but we still need to get back :(

Considering we are in the park, I wish they had more camping options. I gave it 3/5 stars as I'm comparing to other campgrounds...$35 for NO amenities is a lot.....if it was going to the national park to pay for the footbridge maybe my opinion would be different. You get a spot with no electric or water, no bathrooms, no trash. I asked the guy at the counter and he said "no trash is our biggest complaint". So $35 is a bit much for where we are, but since this is a once in a lifetime trip for us, I get it. We enjoyed the remoteness of the town and the idea of this small community. Usually when you end up in areas this remote, you end up with free camping or cheap camping via the national park service....

We biked five miles to Kennicott mine, we got picked up at footbridge for our raft adventure and it wasn't far to eat at "the potato" for lunch.