Looking to find an RV campground, RV park, or private campsite near Ester? Find the best information on RV campgrounds near Ester, including sites, reviews, and tips. The Dyrt can help you find the perfect RV campsites that are scenic and easy to access.
Imagine that at the end of a long day you find a place where you can rest and relax, a place where the quiet sound of a flowing river joins with the rustling birch leaves, and a place where flowers bloom under the midnight sun as the beauty of Alaska surrounds you. You must be at the River’s Edge RV Park, located on the banks of the Chena River in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Acclaimed as one of Alaska’s premier RV Parks, the River’s Edge Resort RV Park features 157 sites, wide pull-throughs, and full and basic hook-ups. All you have to do is pull into your spacious site, sit back and relax. We’ll take care of the rest. Our goal is to provide you with an RV Park experience you will long remember.
The perfect campground in Fairbanks with large and easy access pull-through full-hookup sites to set up your base to explore the Interior of Alaska. Only 2 hours from Denali Natl. Park and the base for a trip to the Arctic Circle. Lots to explore in the area, such as taking a narrated Riverboat cruise on the Chena River, finding out more about gold mining at Gold Dredge8, visiting the Alaska Pipeline viewpoint, soaking in warm Chena Hot Springs, visiting Pioneer Park with a mouth-watering Salmon Bake dinner and show, learning more at the Museum of the North in Fairbanks, or visiting Santa Claus House in the North Pole. Until May 21st and after August 21st, there may be a chance to see the Northern Lights. Need some rest? Plan for a lazy day at the campground - sit and relax at the patio by the river, play some outdoor games, or enjoy one of our propane fire pits while watching beautiful sunsets - but be advised - you may need to stay up late for that. Welcome to the Interior of Alaska!
$50 - $80 / night
A quiet, relaxing stop between Fairbanks and Denali State Park. A great place to stay and get the laundry done, catch up online, bike around the village, and still have less than a hour access to the major attractions of Fairbanks and Denali Park. In Athabaskan, Nenana means “a great place to camp between two rivers”. We agree!
$15 - $42 / night
Self contained recreational vehicles are welcome at Pioneer Park in the designated parking areas at a cost of $12.00 per night. Camping is dry camping only as there are no hookups (sewer, electric etc.) available.
These are not RV spots - but a parking lot with designated spaces that allows parking/overnight for a small fee.
$12 / night
Chena River State Recreation Area is a park for all seasons, with 397 square miles of forests, rivers, and alpine tundra. Whether you prefer a day hike or rock climb at Granite Tors, to harness up the dog team and escape into the snowy horizon or ride a 4-wheeler along a forest trail, this recreation area has something for everyone.
$15 - $50 / night
We as of right now can provide a 12x 12 wall tent, which will eventually be on a raised platform. 2 more to be added by end of summer 2021. We also offer a couple of flat areas were you can pop up your own tent or park your RV.
We are centrally located between Fairbanks, North Pole and Chena Hot Spring Resort. We have fishing guide business and love to spend time in the great outdoors. We can offer advice on interesting things to do and see. Give us a call!!
$40 / night
Legend
This RV park sits right on the banks of the Chena River. They are open June 15 through October 15. The river spots are a little extra a night but well worth it. With full hook ups, and RV wash, shower facilities, and a gift shop this is a great place to RV. There are also lodging and tent camping options. Super hook ups are $64.95, Full $59.95, Basic $54.95, Tent sites $34.95 all offer showers, subject to change as this new world we live in evolves. It is always worth it to reserve your site online before you get there. Cell Service: yes Internet: yes 2020 Cost: $64.95-$34.95 Distance from Anchorage: 365 miles Best sites: Along the River Bug Factor (1 minimal to 10 too many to enjoy): 5
LegendWhereas the campground map may make these sites look tight we were pleasantly surprised to find most of them had trees and brush separating each site. On-site laundry and showers this makes for a great longer-term spot. Located right along the Chena River this RV Resort has a gift shop for when you need a candy fix or warmer swearer and the availability to book direct for Riverboat Discovery, historic Fairbanks tour, and gold dredge 8 tours. They also offer shuttle service for both the historic tour and Riverboat discovery. Restaurant located right next door is also part of the River's Edge family has wonderful food and riverside deck.
Ranger
Beautiful RV park, clean bathrooms, right on the river and super helpful staff. Most sites are pull through
Traveler
We stayed here in a 40' 5th wheel. We parked in the west row along the trees. This was a good spot, but the sun goes behing the trees about 5 in summer, if you are looking for solar charging. We noted that the parking rules are pretty loose as to where you stay. If the RV spots are full, we saw several just pick a spot in the regular lot. If you keep a clean area you may be able to stay more than 5 days, we did. The water spigot is on the south side of lot near the turn in. The trash cans can get full quick. The pay stand is on the north side of lot near the first entrance to Pioneer Park, by the small shack. No out of state checks. You can also pay in the office inside the park during business hours.
It can be noisy at times because of the close intersection. Some generators are LOUD and one guy ran his about 12 hours a day. I would think an extra battery would be cheaper than all that fuel.
It is a very busy place with the park and Alaska Bake activity. Lots of cars and the lot gets pretty full with that sometimes.
Free dump and water fill at the Sourdough gas station located at Van Horn and Lathrop streets just a few miles south, with easy rig access.
We would stay again if we ever go back to Fairbanks.
Legend
I was concerned when I first looked at reviews when I booked this campground. It seemed to be split 50/50. Some would stay here again and some wouldnt. The KOA resort people probably wouldn't. I feel like you get what you pay for here. It was super convenient to stores/restaurants in Fairbanks.
The fairgrounds is right next door so I can see that when events take place it could be loud and bring in all sorts of people (could lead to people drinking and stealing). I saw some people mention airport noise with planes flying over, but I didn't notice the noise at all.
It's a small campground so close to your neighbors but it's in a big town. You are still in the woods. They had firewood available to purchase, a dump station, electric hookups, laundry (cheap - $2 each machine) and showers/bathrooms aren't beautiful but the showers clean and I got a nice lot shower and I hadn't had a good shower in a while! Quick RV wash offs aren't the same as a nice long hot shower. I would stay here again, oh and spot was level :).
Legend
This very Alaskan campground has lots of options. You can camp at the river bed or in some sites with hookups. When we went there in mid September it was deserted. There is a gun range. This campground is on a large parcel of land so what the backroads they get bumpy. RVs should stick to the main roads.
Legend
Ashley here with The Dyrt. I'd like to extend a warm welcome to your host, Ray. Camping is offered on a flat area, perfect for your tent or RV. There are no hook-ups, so be prepared to have all that you need. Enjoy the peace and calm of this little slice of heaven. We're so excited to have them on The Dyrt!
Ranger
This was a nice campground with a friendly couple hosting. The spaces were spaced out with privacy trees. I think we scored one of the best spots number 11. The mosquitoes were unbearable outside and in 73 degree weather you needed to be completely covered. The water was so high that the only water play area was the boat launch area. The kids still had a great time but I would check the water level before coming back. There is a dump station, water, and plenty of bathrooms throughout the campground. It is a party campground for water activities so expect noise well after 2am. There are no electric hookups. The closest store is about 10 minutes down the road and has your basic essentials. There are other lakes to visit within an hour radius which makes this a fun location. There is a baseball/soccer field on site which was a lot of fun for the children to run off so energy and it wasn’t very buggy. The water pump was turned off due to Covid19. There’s a water toys rental by the boat launch that offers paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards $25/2 hours or $35 for all day. They are only open Friday-Sunday or by appointment.
LegendWhen in Fairbanks this is my families go to spot. There is often stuff going on here so be prepared for music. When we were here in July the Rodeo was going on so there was loud music the whole day. Saved us having to run our radio. But if you just want quiet you may want to look at a different place. The cost is not back and you have all the things you need within driving distance. You can reserve sites which is nice especially if you are traveling some distance and just want to pull in and sleep.
Cell Service: Yes Internet: Yes 2020 Cost: $30 electric hook up Distance from Anchorage: 365 miles Bug Factor (1 minimal to 10 too many to enjoy): 8
RangerWe stopped by before the season started but would go back in a heart beat. Small playground. Rustic campsites and RV sites. Bathrooms and showers. Hosts shooting weekends and bluegrass festival
Guide
We camp here every fall. The drive from FAIRBANKS is absolutely gorgeous, especially when you turn off at Davidson Ditch to drive into Ophir Creek Campground. There are great hikes on the way to the campground and when you drive in almost all of the spots have water in their “backyard” since the sites are usually situated on a bend near the creek. There is usually a good mix of RV’s, trailers, and tents. The grounds are kept up nicely and it’s usually pretty quiet.
TravelerHarding Lake State Recreation Area is a shady and scenic site about twenty minutes from North Pole. The lesser-known and elder cousin of the many water-themed state recreation areas that trace the Richardson Highway from Fairbanks to Delta Junction.
This large and accommodating campground boasts a boat launch into Harding Lake, a baseball field, a large group recreation area near the water, a self-guided nature trail, a trailer dump site, and unpotable bulk water--along with various bathrooms with trash receptacles.
Our family of 5 tent camped in May and had a fantastic weekend. The sandlot-reminiscent baseball field was a rare and magical find that suited our family's wiffleball addiction perfectly. It's like wandering through a moss grove and emerging into a boreal. baseball field. A subarctic Field of Dreams. I also hit two first-pitch homeruns off my 9 and 5 year old--which may or not be related to the magic of this field--but I choose to believe.
The spacious and thoughtfully-designed campground certainly feels beyond its prime--old, unserviceable water pumps (perhaps not yet operable for the season); aspen saplings dotting the baseball infield; and many downed spruces over the nature trail. The posted maps are a little outdated. However, the campground boasted some of the cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen, anywhere-with a very friendly on-site host who came by to chat and kept the facilities in pristine condition. The camping spots are well-placed along the loop to allow for varying degrees of privacy between sites.
Mosquitoes are everywhere in springtime Alaska--please let me know when you find a campground in a birch forest without them. That said, bring all the bug repellant and preventative measures you can muster. I was swarmed by a biblical cloud of man-eating Culicidae when we first pulled in--but they soon dispersed and only became annoying for intermittent periods.
Overall this was a magnificent campground, quiet and clean, with plenty for the kids to do. Fantastic and memorable experience.
GuideI stayed there for a couple of weekdays in mid-July, and was had the place largely to myself except for a fairly substantial porcupine that wandered through one morning. The spots are well-spaced but most of them are pretty shallow, and not suitable for larger rigs or trailers. I did see one large class C using the group camping area, which is basically a large parking lot with an outhouse and trash bin. But, because many of the spots aren't great they look like they're not getting a lot of use (overgrown). Still, the good spots are great and the campground is as tidy and well-kept as we've come to expect from BLM Alaska campgrounds. Easy creek access!
Legend
Love how well maintained this campground was even during the pandemic. We came at the end of the season but I am sure this campground gets plenty of use during the peak season. This is one worth coming back to. There are a number of larger parking spots and a great place to bring your kayak. Lots of ATV trails.
ScoutParked a 37 foot trailer in a 30 spot next to the office. Not a quiet campground but it isn’t bad. This was 50 amp spot for $45/night. Restroom/showers not modern but adequate.
RangerMy first thought when we drove into the campground was wow, this is nicely maintained. We had just stayed at Whitefish Campground about 2 miles away and driving into Olnes Pond Campground was beautiful. The electronic option to pay here is the first time I’ve seen that in Alaska. The pond is stocked with rainbow trout but we were a little too early in the season on this visit May 29, 2020. There a nicely sized pond in the middle of the campground and the camping sites are situated around the entire pond. There were day visitors who brought paddle boards and kayaks to enjoy the weather on the pond. People say you can swim in this pond put be weary of duck/swimmers itch. There are picnic tables, bathrooms, trash cans, and lots of grassy area to just enjoy a day visit. This seemed more as a party spot sort of camping oppose to enjoy the view and relax so be ready to hear ATVs and friendly conversations late at night. I would definitely come back with a kayak and fishing pole once the pond is stocked for the children to enjoy a relaxing day on the pond.
GuideThis is a great location, right in Fairbanks by the fairgrounds. Don’t book site 28 or 27 as you will end up camping in a parking lot. Also, the bathrooms are closed for the season so to take a shower, we had to walk through a dog show in the fairgrounds to get ourselves clean. Laundry is good!
Guide
While there may not be a large number of site, if you get a site you will have lots of space. We were able to fit a 26' travel trailer plus the truck and not be in the road. 1/2 mile walk down to the river and several nature trails
RangerElectric at site, water and dump stations. Bathrooms & laundry and for 1/2 the price of everywhere around. But bring bug dope!
LegendVisited in March 2022.
Pioneer park is really just a parking lot. No bathrooms, electricity, or reservations.
They keep it plowed in the winter so we stopped here for a night. There’s a McDonald’s literally a block away you can use for restrooms and morning coffee/breakfast:)
Legend
Great location. Level. Water available. Stopped to restock after Denali visit. Pioneer Park also has some food vendors - had me done tacos
Next to fairly busy road - quietens down overnight, but not completely
5 day limit
GuideThe camping is just a parking lot. It’s 12 bucks a night, which in Alaska in the summer in a city is cheap. The park is like an old time amusement park without rides. It is really cool though. There is a Salmon Bake restaurant that seems very popular. We stopped in for an adult refreshment and they are very dog friendly.
Traveler
This is the 1st campground my family and I stayed at Alaska. The Chena Lake is great! The beach area is great fun for all with grassy and sandy areas. There is a bunch of trails to hike around, paved biking trails, a basketball court, volleyball courts and of course a playground. There are some really cool camping spots along the river as well. Highly recommend to families!
Guide
We camped here just this past week and it was wonderful. There are a variety of campsites, some large enough to accommodate an RV, as well as well-maintained restrooms, well-water, a dumpster, and every site had a picnic table and fire pit with grate. Some of the campsites are on the river and some are across the street from it, but there is access to the Clearwater river from the day use area for all visitors. The campsite is still close to town if you need supplies, about a 20 minute drive. This is now one of my favorite sites in the state. A quiet, beautiful spot to camp, engage in water sports, and fish.
GuideCampground Review:
This was the first two nights of our 8 night Alaska trip. The campground is called Rosehip, but it's apart of the Chena River State Recreation Area. We arrived late (midnight) and were surprised that even a week before July 4th, that there were only 3 other campers at the campground (all RV's). The wooded areas are composed of mostly white birch which we took its bark when we saw downed trees. Birch bark is great for starting fires. The pit toilets are maintained and do not smell. For water, there are several pumps that you have operate yourself, but our only issue with it was the color of the water, which comes out a little yellow/orange. For two days, we used this site as a base camp to venture out to hiking (Angels Rock) and to Chena Hot Springs, which is about an hour away. Both are worth it. No encounters with wildlife except for the mosquitoes. This site is your typical state run facility and was clean, equipped, and cheap.
Product Review:
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products. At Chena River State Recreation Area, I tested gear from Snapbuds.
The Snapbuds are magnetized clips that, when attached to your headphones, aim to make it easier to coil the headphones up and make them tangle-free. I give the Snapbuds a 2/5 for a couple of reasons:
I understand how this product works and in some cases, why it's needed, but the Snapbuds were shipped to me with the white Apple headphones. I've been using these headphones for several years now and really haven't had them tangle, even if I bunch them up in my hand and stuff them in my pocket. Perhaps the Snapbuds would be more effective on non-Apple headphones?
ScoutIt was pretty good, my scout troop met there for a meeting
TravelerThis is a tight campground, but it does have the river, cabins and a restaurant close by. The campground offers wifi.
RV camping near Ester, Alaska offers a unique blend of natural beauty and convenient amenities, making it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Ester, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Ester, AK is Rivers Edge RV Park & Campground with a 4-star rating from 5 reviews.
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