Megan J.
Traveler
TravelerClearwater State Rec Area
Aptly named river
A nice campground with larger than average sites, and decent amount of privacy. River is great for kayaking and fishing. Toilets were clean. Bring bug dope.
Camping near Fort Greely, AK
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Campgrounds near Fort Greely, Alaska range from established state recreation sites to dispersed camping areas, spread across the Alaska Range. Several state parks like Donnelly Creek State Recreation Area, Delta State Recreation Site, and Clearwater State Recreation Site provide access to tent, RV, and cabin camping within the region. The area features both roadside camping opportunities along the Richardson Highway and more secluded options near rivers and lakes. Most established campgrounds maintain picnic tables, fire rings, and basic toilet facilities, while the dispersed camping options cater to those seeking a more primitive experience.
Access to camping areas varies seasonally with most established campgrounds operating from June through September when weather conditions are favorable. Many roads in the region contain potholes and rough sections, particularly at entrance points to recreation areas. "The entrance has a lot of pot holes," noted one Donnelly Creek visitor, though they still recommended the site for its "great view of Alaska Range." Winter camping is limited, with only select areas remaining accessible year-round. Cell service is generally available near larger campgrounds but becomes spotty in more remote areas. Travelers should prepare for temperature fluctuations and mosquitoes, especially during summer months when insects can be abundant in certain areas.
Campers consistently highlight the stunning mountain views available from many sites in the region. The Alaska Range provides a dramatic backdrop at locations like Donnelly Creek, which receives praise for its scenic value. Delta Junction Floodplain offers what one visitor called "an amazing view of the Alaska Range" for those willing to navigate the steep access road. Water features draw many visitors, with Clearwater State Recreation Site noted for having "the clearest bluest water" according to a review. Quartz Lake State Recreation Area stands out for its recreational opportunities, offering hiking trails, boat rentals, and family-friendly amenities including volleyball courts and a beach area. Most campgrounds provide adequate space between sites, with visitors appreciating the privacy and quiet atmosphere away from busier areas.
Best Campgrounds near Fort Greely (21)
1. Donnelly Creek State Rec Area
"We ended up here Memorial Day weekend because the other sites around Delta were full, but boy am I glad we made it."
"Convenient location near Delta Junction. Excellent camping spots with jaw dropping views on clear days. The Alaska Range is breathtaking. Bathrooms well maintained."
2. Delta State Recreation Site
"24 sites some big enough for RV some tucked away for cozy tent. Has faucet’s for running water."
from $45 / night
Check Availability3. Snowed Inn RV Park
"Well if it wasn’t for the beautiful scenery at this locations I would’ve been able to make it through basic training."
4. Delta Junction Floodplain
"This location is across the street from the Delta State Rec Site. You'll drive through the town brush dump site and then down to the river bed."
5. Clearwater State Rec Area
"We'd originally booked a campsite at Clearwater Lodge but changed our minds and chose to stay at Clearwater State Recreation site after doing a drive-thru. 16 sites with two pull throughs, toilets, tables"
"Nice campground overall, unfortunately not much to do around campground."
6. Cathedral Creeks Bed and Breakfast
7. Clearwater State Recreation Site
8. Quartz Lake State Rec Area
"Wonderful surprise right on the lake. Camp host, 16 great sites situated next to Quartz Lake, with a walking trail down to Little Lost lake which has it's own campground."
"Breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding area. The campsite might be basic but it's well worth it."
9. Richardson Highway Roadside Camp
10. Big Delta State Historical Park
Drive Time
- 1 hr 41 min from Fairbanks, AK
Recent Camping Photos near Fort Greely, AK
9 Photos of 21 Fort Greely Campgrounds
Recent Reviews near Fort Greely, AK
42 Reviews of 21 Fort Greely Campgrounds
- Megan J.Traveler
Delta State Recreation Site
Huge, private campsites
Right on the aptly named Cleatwater River. Great kayaking and fishing. Clean toilets.
MickandKarla W.
LegendDelta State Recreation Site
Site Size Limits Worth Knowing
We originally planned to stay at Delta State Recreation Area on a first-come, first-served basis after reading several online reviews suggesting that a 40’ RV could fit into some of the sites. After scouting the campground in person, we decided not to chance it and instead stayed at Big Delta State Historical Park nearby. That said, we wanted to share our impressions to help fellow campers make an informed decision. In our opinion, Delta State Recreation Area is not suitable for 40' fifth wheels—primarily for two reasons: 1: Narrow roads with tight turns where overhanging tree branches could easily scrape your rig. 2: Short, narrow sites that don’t provide enough swing room for a 62’ truck and trailer combo. There may be a couple of sites that could fit a rig up to 35’, but even those had branch clearance concerns. Some of the longer-looking sites are actually“buddy” sites labeled A and B, which are meant to be shared and aren’t ideal for big rigs. This campground is best suited for smaller setups—Class B and C motorhomes, small travel trailers, and tent campers. Tent sites looked inviting, and the area has a quiet, wooded charm. There are vault toilets and a camp host cabin onsite, though it appeared unoccupied during our late June visit.
- MickandKarla W.Legend
Big Delta State Historical Park
Historic Setting with Simple, Overnight RV Convenience
Junction on the Richardson Highway heading toward Fairbanks. The turnoff is well signed, and the campground operates on a self-pay system with a kiosk located in the outer parking area. Our travel partners arrived about an hour before us and talked to the historical park's caretakers/camp host to get the scoop on how the campground works. They gave us a call with the details and when we arrived we pulled in next to them in the area marked"Pull Through Sites" by a sign. The camping area is essentially a large gravel parking lot with minimal site definition. Other than the Pull Through Site sign there's no map or marked boundaries. The official website says 23 any size rig can fit and you can pull through or back-in where convenient. For review purposes, we're calling our travel companion's site#1 and ours#2. We were the only rigs in the campground area overnight. A Class C parked in the outer lot near a picnic table that was clearly marked"No Overnight RV Parking, " but a park ranger drove through and didn't ask them to move so enforcement seems relaxed. There's a second parking lot down by the river that is technically private property (as reported by the camp hosts) that is owned by a local commune living on an island in the river. There were no"No Parking" signs, and it was actively used by both park visitors and the commune residents, who used it to catch their small boats to and from the island. The historical site is open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Around 56 PM, traffic picked up along with dust as the island residents came back from work and passed through the camping area on their way to the river. It quieted down by evening. We didn't get much of a phone signal, but Starlink worked great as there are no trees in the camping area. There's a dump station available down the road leading to the back of the park, along with a potable water spigot. The adjacent historic park and Rika’s Roadhouse exhibits are worth exploring and close by on foot. In addition, a portion of the Alaska pipeline runs behind the campground area. You can get a great photo of the pipeline going across the Tanana River by going down to the boat ramp.This camping area was good for an overnighter.
- Steve L.Traveler
Isabell Pass, Gulkana Glacier Area
We have an all wheel RV you can make it in if you do too
Amazing area in front of the glacier. We went over some glacier run off streams in the road. Very cool. No one is here and the views and weather are amazing. Week some haze from the fires. So sad.
- RRonda D.Traveler
Delta Junction Floodplain
Boondocking with an amazing view of the Alaska range
This location is across the street from the Delta State Rec Site. You'll drive through the town brush dump site and then down to the river bed. There is a steep hill to access the location so I wouldn't recommend large RV's. We drove in with a truck camper with no issues. It's a large open area with an amazing view of the Alaska Range.
- Birgit V.
GuideQuartz Lake State Rec Area
Small paradise at the lake
Breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding area. The campsite might be basic but it's well worth it. It also has picnic tables, a tiny beach, a beach volleyball court, and a sandpit for the little ones.
- ccindyTraveler
Quartz Lake State Rec Area
Has a little of everything
Has great trails, RV and tent camping. 16 sites in wooded circle( 4 double sites) plenty of sites in gravel lot by water. Boat rental on site plus GREAT fishing!! Also by beach there’s volleyball, tetherball and sand box!!
- ccindyTraveler
Delta State Recreation Site
Close to town but private
24 sites some big enough for RV some tucked away for cozy tent. Has faucet’s for running water.
Guide to Fort Greely
Dispersed camping opportunities surround Fort Greely, Alaska, with options spread throughout the Richardson Highway corridor and Alaska Range foothills. Winter temperatures regularly drop below -20°F, while summer brings extended daylight with 20+ hours during peak season. Mosquito activity typically peaks between mid-June and late July when standing water from snowmelt creates ideal breeding conditions.
What to do
Fishing for grayling: Clearwater State Recreation Site provides direct access to crystal clear waters ideal for fishing. "Wonderful surprise right on the lake...with a walking trail down to Little Lost lake which has it's own campground," notes one visitor to Quartz Lake State Rec Area, where boat rentals are available for anglers.
Beach activities: "The campsite might be basic but it's well worth it. It also has picnic tables, a tiny beach, a beach volleyball court, and a sandpit for the little ones," writes a camper about Quartz Lake State Recreation Area. The recreation site includes water-based amenities not common in interior Alaska campgrounds.
Historic site exploration: Big Delta State Historical Park combines camping with educational opportunities. "The adjacent historic park and Rika's Roadhouse exhibits are worth exploring and close by on foot. In addition, a portion of the Alaska pipeline runs behind the campground area," explains one camper about the unique dual-purpose facility.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Donnelly Creek State Rec Area, campers appreciate the thoughtful layout. "Nice space between sites for quiet and privacy. Restrooms, bear proof trash. One public use cabin. A great place to get away for quiet to reconnect and think," writes one visitor who rated their experience positively despite noting entrance road conditions.
Creek walking paths: "Behind most of the sites is access to Donnelly Creek and boy oh boy the views of the Alaska Range are magnificent. We had a beautiful walk along the path and while it was windy, it was a beautiful day," notes one camper who discovered the walking opportunities that extend beyond the campground boundaries.
Proximity to amenities: Delta State Recreation Site receives praise for its location. "Right outside Delta Junction this campground has a great day use area with multiple picnic tables and grills. A small picnic pavilion also adds to the day use appeal," writes one reviewer, highlighting the dual camping and day-use functionality.
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds near Fort Greely operate from June through September with limited winter access. "This is a large open area with an amazing view of the Alaska Range," notes a visitor to Delta Junction Floodplain, one of the few areas accessible beyond peak summer months.
Road conditions: Several campgrounds have challenging access roads. "The road through is full of pot holes but don't let it deter you, it just requires a little navigation," advises one camper about Donnelly Creek State Recreation Area, echoing similar comments about other sites in the region.
Bathroom maintenance: Facilities receive varied reports depending on timing and visitation. "Bathrooms were not maintained well during our visit," notes one camper at Clearwater State Recreation Site during peak season, while another visitor to the same location during off-peak times found them satisfactory.
Tips for camping with families
Recreation options: Clearwater State Recreation Site provides water-based activities for families. "The name says it all, clearest bluest water I've seen in a long time," writes one visitor, though noting limited amenities beyond the water access points.
Hiking trails: "Clean campground, incredible views and hiking trails," reports a camper about Quartz Lake State Recreation Area, with family-friendly paths rated as moderate difficulty suitable for older children.
Wildlife viewing: Several campgrounds offer opportunities to spot moose, eagles, and smaller mammals. "We really loved it here! The campsites were huge and there was a lot of privacy between spots. The lake is lovely," describes one camper about their experience with natural surroundings at Quartz Lake.
Tips from RVers
Site limitations: Big Delta State Historical Park offers RV camping with some caveats. "The camping area is essentially a large gravel parking lot with minimal site definition. Other than the Pull Through Site sign there's no map or marked boundaries," explains one RVer, noting the informal nature of the parking arrangement.
Dump station access: "There's a dump station available down the road leading to the back of the park, along with a potable water spigot," reports a visitor to Big Delta State Historical Park, providing crucial information for self-contained RVers planning extended stays.
Size restrictions: Many campgrounds have limited space for larger rigs. "Delta State Recreation Area is not suitable for 40' fifth wheels—primarily for two reasons: 1: Narrow roads with tight turns where overhanging tree branches could easily scrape your rig. 2: Short, narrow sites," cautions one RVer who scouted the area before attempting to park their large setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Fort Greely, AK?
What camping is available near Fort Greely, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, Fort Greely, AK offers a wide range of camping options, with 21 campgrounds and RV parks near Fort Greely, AK and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Fort Greely, AK?
Which is the most popular campground near Fort Greely, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Fort Greely, AK is Donnelly Creek State Rec Area with a 4.3-star rating from 7 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Fort Greely, AK?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Fort Greely, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Fort Greely, AK.
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