12 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Eagle River Campground in Chugach State Park and Eagle River Nature Center house some of Alaska's most accessible glamping accommodations near Elmendorf Air Force Base. The Nature Center offers public use yurts situated along scenic riverside trails, providing a wilderness experience without sacrificing comfort. At Centennial Campground, upgraded accommodations include electrical hookups, showers, and picnic areas for a more comfortable outdoor stay. The Historic Hope Cafe & Campground features glamping options with electricity, firewood, and proximity to both water recreation and dining options. Each location maintains picnic tables and fire rings while offering varying levels of amenities from basic to more luxurious outdoor accommodations. "This was a close 10 minutes from my home and helped satiate my desire to get away from town for the night."
Chugach State Park's glamping locations provide immediate access to some of Alaska's most remarkable wilderness experiences from May through September. The River Yurt at Eagle River Nature Center comes "fully stocked with wood and camping chairs" and serves as "a great destination for the novice hiker who wants to feel like they're in the middle of nowhere." Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with guests frequently spotting moose, eagles, and occasionally bears from the safety of their accommodations. Winter visitors should note most facilities operate seasonally, though some yurts remain available year-round with proper reservation. The proximity to Anchorage (approximately 20-30 minutes) makes these luxury outdoor stays particularly convenient for those flying into the region, while still providing authentic Alaskan wilderness experiences with comfortable sleeping quarters after days spent exploring mountain and river trails.
"Great spot close to our home of Anchorage for when we don't want to go too far. Large pavillion great for get-togethers right along the river and includes it's own bathroom."
"Located around 5 minutes to Eagle River. Beautiful location on River. ADA accessibility. Dump station on site. Restrooms available. There is a fee and a limit on how long you can stay."
"Roomy camp sites, fire pits and clean. Bears do roam from time to time so food storage away from your sleeping area is a must! Rangers here will ticket if you leave food out around your site."
"You want water access on a glacial lake? How about numerous hiking, biking skiing and horse trails?"
from $5 - $100 / night
Check Availability"Well maintained trails but a walk to the cabin or yurts. Accessible by foot year around. No horses or bikes allowed on trails. Tent camping along the Crow Creek Pass Trail."
from $85 / night
Check Availability"Pavillion with fire pit, two grills si you dont have to unpack yours, and hammocks to laze away the day. Laundry and showers look like an old west town, too cute!"
"The park had helpful and friendly staff, clean bathrooms, a nice laundry facility, and even a playground with a communal pavilion for people to gather round together. We would stay here again."
"Only down side is that there is a lot of private property around the lake so one would need to be aware of docking kayak/boat to go off trail hiking."
"Quiet place near water, boat ramp, had toilets. Had water to fill your RV or bottles but no water or electric at campsites"
from $25 - $100 / night
Check Availability"This campground is available by reservation or walk/drive in. There are only about 10 campsites but a few of them have a terrific set up. This is quiet, small and right on the lake."
"Some sites have direct lake access, others more back into the trees. Camp sites are TIGHT- watched a few RVs and 5th wheels struggle into spots on the one way road. Bathrooms were well maintained."
"Big Lake is so fun during all seasons (aside from breakup). We meet friends here frequently to ride jet skis, kayak, jet boat, swim, snowmachine, ski and most importantly enjoy each others company."
"We stayed here using a pull through site, no power with a walking path directly to the lake. It ended up raining the whole weekend but was still a great trip."
"6 miles of canoe trails on Nancy Lake to keep you nice and busy all weekend long."
"Public bathroom less than a block away. Loved it!"
from $10 - $30 / night
ScoutEasy payment system right at the entrance which takes card. No issue finding a site and there was overflow camping on the way out. Toilets were clean. Definitely go check out the river!
LegendWe followed the website instructions and took Fireweed Road off AK-3. Arriving early cost us a $20 fee, and check-in was unpleasant as the front desk person was snippy, didn’t recognize our confirmation for a deluxe site, and gave no amenities or rules briefing. We had asked if there was somewhere we could go park until check-in time, but didn't get a response. She just kept checking us in and charged us the $20 fee. We were assigned pull-through site 8 with FHUs and 50 AMP. Since we had reserved a deluxe site back in January, we expected enough length for our 40’ toy hauler and patio, but the pad was too short and forced us to park our F-450 diagonally and still no room to put the patio down. Utilities were placed in the middle of the pad with good water pressure, but the KOA Wi-Fi never connected despite repeated attempts. Starlink had a clear shot to the sky. The next day we spoke with the manager about our experience. She offered firewood as an apology, but then discovered they were out, so we asked for our $20 early-arrival fee back instead. She agreed, but the refund never came. The campground does have two small fenced dog areas. On departure day we had a slide issue that prevented us from leaving, and the manager was very accommodating, providing the number of a local RV tech who came out that day and moving us to back-in site K4 so we could stay another night for repairs. Mobile RV and Toyostove, 907-745-0468, gave us fast, reliable service. Site K4 was definitely a much better site with plenty of space for our size rig. In the end, our stay had both frustrations and positives, with poor check-in and site issues offset by a helpful manager when we ran into problems.
ScoutEklutna lake is just beautiful. Its several miles up the mountain but the view there is just gorgeous. The camp sites r nicely placed apart to not be right on top of ur neighbor. Firewood is available & it costs involved think 20$ a night but worth it & just down the way u can take showers, do laundry & get some killer home made Alaskan flavored ice cream. It has rentals & many amenities. Truly a very nice place to go & if ur really in for an interesting adventure. Down at the bottom of the mountain there is a Russian Orthodox Cemetary that's just amazing. Its got plaques telling of earlier years & the people who came. Creepy, Cool & Powerful all in a beautifully peaceful off the beaten path & only a mile, mile & 1/2 down the road historic adventure
GuideGreat spot to camp when you don't want to travel too far from home. Would recommend!
ScoutElectric , water and dump. Bathrooms barely adequate, dirty, wet floors, hard to use showers. Combination door lock which was changed mid stay to keep out the homeless. Overall i would stay here again given the location and low price $35 electric
GuideVery clean campground right next to Finger Lake. Vault toilets were spotless, campsites were clean, host puts reserved tags up on your camp post.
TravelerThis is a lovely campground. They have great amenities. The only 2 reasons I gave jt 4 ⭐️ is because half the washers are out of order leaving only 3 working and the sites are close together.
TravelerWe stayed here twice in our travels on Alaska. First appearance, the grasses are overgrown at the “entrance” and i was concerned. The fee both looks abandoned. But we actually saw there were some beautiful camp sites. Nice size for rvs if all lengths. Our table needed some help and it is obvious the camp is not being maintained. The bathroom was clean. Some sites you can hear the river and some road noise. The river is beautiful. There is a dumpster but it is on an upper level next to the dump station which is closed. The first time we did not realize this and took our garbage with us. All in all, it is not a bad campground. The trees are beautiful. We also had a moose and calf hanging around. We came back for a second visit. We used it as a jumping off point for Anchorage. Also the Eagle Nature Center and its trails are amazing! Saw a bull moose there. Would use again if not super picky. We are camping folks! For $20 I would not complain.
RangerWe stayed here one night. Lots of mozzies. There are pit toilets and lots of sites to choose from. The campground is great if you like fishing or canoeing.
Camping options near Elmendorf Air Force Base range from basic tent sites to full-amenity RV parks. Located in south-central Alaska at approximately 200 feet elevation, the area experiences summer temperatures averaging 55-65°F with nearly 19 hours of daylight during peak season. Most campgrounds operate from May through September with limited winter access due to snowfall that averages 70 inches annually.
Fishing access points: Finger Lake State Recreation Site offers excellent fishing opportunities with reviewers noting, "fish were biting every 5 seconds. It was like they have never eaten before." The lake provides year-round recreation with ice fishing popular in winter months.
Canoe trails: South Rolly Lake Campground connects to "6 miles of canoe trails on Nancy Lake to keep you nice and busy all weekend long." The campground rents canoes and kayaks on-site, with a dock "great for fishing or swimming" and multiple lake-access day use areas.
Wildlife viewing: Big Bear Campground provides opportunities to see local wildlife in their natural habitat. Most camping areas require proper food storage as "there are a ton of bears" in the region, and moose sightings are common at dawn and dusk.
Lake activities: Eklutna Lake Campground visitors appreciate the "amazing views everywhere" and water recreation. A camper noted it's "perfect for biking, hiking, kayaking, or camping" with trails that follow along the campground and river. The glacial-fed lake remains cold year-round.
Privacy between sites: Eagle River Campground offers spaces that "are large and well-maintained" with enough separation for comfort. Reviewers appreciate the "quiet and respectful" atmosphere and how the "sites are spread out well" making it "fairly comfortable and quiet."
Clean facilities: Rocky Lake State Recreation Site maintains well-kept amenities. A visitor mentioned, "Bathrooms were well maintained. Our big bummer was a hornets nest underneath the provided picnic table," showing the generally positive maintenance despite occasional wildlife issues.
Weather preparedness: Summer conditions can change rapidly with rain common even in peak season. One camper at South Rolly Lake Campground reported, "It ended up raining the whole weekend but was still a great trip." Pack waterproof gear and layered clothing regardless of forecast.
Insect protection: Bring adequate mosquito repellent as summer brings significant mosquito activity. A reviewer warned to "bring bug spray as the mosquitoes can be quite viscous. I bring a bug net for my head too, this way when they are extremely bad, I can still enjoy being outside."
Reservation timing: Most popular sites fill quickly, especially on weekends. For Finger Lake State Recreation Site, a visitor suggested, "I would try to show up closer to noon after people are leaving those sites. All of the non-reserved sites were full by about 3p."
Beginner-friendly options: Eagle River Nature Center provides accessible wilderness camping experiences for new campers. One visitor described the river yurt as "worth the walk in" with "well maintained trails but a walk to the cabin or yurts" making it suitable for families seeking a controlled introduction to outdoor stays.
Swimming areas: Several campgrounds offer designated swimming areas for children. Historic Hope Cafe & Campground sits "right on the Cook Inlet" with easy water access, though parents should note there are no lifeguards on duty at any of the area swimming spots.
Playground facilities: Some locations provide dedicated play areas for children. Anchorage N KOA Journey features "a playground with a communal pavilion for people to gather round together," making it suitable for families needing additional entertainment options during their stay.
Size limitations: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles. While Big Lake North State Rec Area offers waterfront access, a reviewer noted it's "set up as more of a large parking lot" with "close tight spots and literally a parking lot for RVs with no room for pop outs or tables."
Electrical availability: For those needing hookups, Centennial Campground provides electrical connections at affordable rates. A camper mentioned, "$35 for hookups for the night whereas the other campground in town was $80. Huge difference," making it a budget-friendly option for overnight stays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Elmendorf Air Force Base, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Elmendorf Air Force Base, AK is Eagle River Campground — Chugach State Park with a 4.1-star rating from 34 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Elmendorf Air Force Base, AK?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 glamping camping locations near Elmendorf Air Force Base, AK, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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