Best Cabin Camping near Fort Wainwright, AK

Cabin options near Fort Wainwright include both rustic and modernized accommodations throughout the Interior Alaska region. Chena Hot Springs Resort offers electricity-equipped cabins with DVD players, though furnishings tend toward the basic side. The Olnes Pond Public Use Cabin at Lower Chatanika River State Recreation Area and cabins at Salcha River State Recreation Site provide more secluded experiences with varying amenity levels. Most public use cabins require guests to bring sleeping bags and cooking supplies. Electricity availability varies by location, with some cabins providing modern conveniences while others maintain a more traditional rustic experience. "The cabin itself was very rustic and outdated, but a great size for two couples."

Reservations for public use cabins are essential, particularly during summer months when tourism peaks. White Mountains National Recreation Area cabins provide year-round options for those seeking more remote experiences accessible by hiking trails. Many cabins permit pets, though policies vary by location. The Chena River SRA Cabins and Birch Lake Cabin offer additional options within established recreation sites. Harding Lake State Recreation Area provides cabin accommodations as part of its larger recreation complex with waterfront access. Winter visitors should confirm heating options, as cabins range from well-insulated with wood stoves to more seasonal structures designed primarily for summer use.

Most public use cabins require visitors to bring bedding, cooking equipment, and all necessary food supplies. Potable water is not available at many cabin sites, so guests should plan to bring sufficient water or water treatment options. The nearest supply points for groceries and other necessities are often in Fairbanks, approximately 45 miles from some of the more remote cabin locations. "The nearest services for groceries are about 45 miles back down the road toward Fairbanks, or North Pole, AK." Firewood may be provided at some locations but bringing a small axe or saw is recommended. Cabins at Chena Hot Springs Resort offer the most amenities with access to the resort's restaurant and facilities, while more remote public use cabins provide a true wilderness experience with minimal conveniences.

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Best Cabin Sites Near Fort Wainwright, Alaska (10)

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Cabin Reviews near Fort Wainwright, AK

19 Reviews of 10 Fort Wainwright Campgrounds


  • Samantha F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 26, 2022

    Chena Hot Springs Resort

    Rustic Cabin Winter Getaway

    We came here a month ago in November for a last minute winter getaway. We rented the Forget-me-Not cabin. It’s a dry cabin with an outhouse, but it does have electricity and a DVD player. Just make sure you bring your own DVDs if you plan to use it.

    The cabin itself was very rustic and outdated, but a great size for two couples. The provided toaster caught on fire as soon as we turned it on. We told the front desk and they didn’t seem surprised.

    Obviously the Hot Springs was the main attraction. It was AMAZING! Definitely a must see. Their restaurant was really good too. No cell service, but WIFI in the main lodge.

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2022

    Chena Hot Springs Resort

    Forest Camping + Hot Springs = Heaven!

    Chena Hot Springs offers a full resort experience with hotel rooms, cabins, restaurants, and a host of activities including soaking in the infamous hot pools. It also offers camping with and without electrical hook-ups in either creek side privacy or open lot RV parking. It is a world-famous destination with shuttle buses to and from Fairbanks daily. You will meet people from all over the world. 

    Camping and soaking are charged separately, as are any extra experiences like the Ice Museum (glad I did it, not sure I would again).  Vault toilets, rubbish and recycling bins, and potable water are all available in the campsite, flush toilets and showers are a part of the pool/hot springs facility. Hiking, biking, boating and fishing are all available close by in addition to the experiences offered by the resort. 

    The nearest services for groceries are about 45 miles back down the road toward Fairbanks, or North Pole, AK. We camped in the primitive area, which was lovely, forested and right along the creek, but the opportunity for solar power collection was limited by the trees, so plan ahead.  We parked in the main lot for awhile to recharge, then took our rig back into the campground.  Worked well!

  • Jill T.
    Nov. 2, 2020

    Chena Hot Springs Resort

    A Winter Wonderland

    We had so much fun at Chena Hot Springs. There is so much to do! Aurora viewing, cozy cabins, hot springs, pool, Ice Museum, dog sledding, dining, and so much more.

    The resort could use a major refresh and there were busloads of tourists when we visited in November, but it is still worth checking out if you can.

    The aurora is spectacular and I would love to go back for a trip in the summer.

  • Samantha M.
    Jun. 15, 2020

    Harding Lake State Recreation Area

    Mosquitoville

    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.

  • Samantha M.
    Jul. 22, 2018

    Harding Lake State Recreation Area

    Swim area

    This was a campground with a fun water area for the children. There was a boat launch and water that we could walk very far out in with the children. There were about 70-80 site options, nice walking/bike trails, picnic areas, fire rings, water play area. It felt like there were plenty of camping options with privacy. There were plenty of opportunities to view wildlife as moose came running through our campsite. There was a field through the woods that people were playing softball in late which was fun to watch. I feel like this was a pretty basic campground but the children loved getting into the water.

  • M P.
    Aug. 12, 2022

    Chena Hot Springs Resort

    Boondocking with plenty to do

    20 a site, dry. There are a few sites that have trees surrounding the sites, offering a bit of privacy. A few sites are open and face the resort and road. Potable water and dump station on grounds. 15 per adult (over 18, per day) to get into the hot springs. Pool and hot tub also available. Hiking trails, fishing in the Beaver Lake, and a tour of the ice castle. Restaurant/bar has great food and all of the workers were congenial. We enjoyed our time and will stay again!

  • Kristi D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2023

    Chena Hot Springs Resort

    Awesome spot

    Awesome to be able to camp at the resort with easy access to the Hot Springs. Dry camping no amenities except a outdoor bathroom. River behind the spots though, spots close together and close to camping. Level spots but wet from rain. Puddles etc....no internet. You got 10 free minutes by the lodge but then you are prompter to start paying. Did get to see the Northern lights so that was a bonus. Missed the ice museum as it said closed for maintenance on the website and when we got there is appeared you could get in by tours. It was too late by that time.

    Hot springs are nice but it was chaos! Line to get in and the locker rooms are a nightmare. The springs had a lot of people in them but it wasn't terrible and you could still relax.

  • Tanya B.
    Sep. 6, 2020

    Chena Hot Springs Resort

    So worth it-kids not allowed in Hot springs

    Kids cannot go in the hot springs This campground is first come first served.  If you don’t mind walking, then you can stay anywhere in the campground.  If your main reason for visiting is the Hot Springs, then closer to the resort is best.  If you are traveling with children, they can go in the swimming pools but not the hot springs them selves which is really why we all go here.  I have been here in the dead of winter in the bitter cold and there is nothing like jumping in the Hot Springs even if its overcast.  The springs are AMAZING.  There are plenty of things to see if you are traveling to or from Anchorage.  The pipeline runs up the Richardson Highway, you can tour the ice house, and if you have time a stop at the world famous Skinny Dick’s Halfway Inn is worth a stop and a t-shirt.   Cell Service: no Internet: no 2020 Cost: $30 Distance from Anchorage: 426 miles Bug Factor (1 minimal to 10 too many to enjoy): 5  

  • Andrew V.
    May. 23, 2023

    Harding Lake State Recreation Area

    Fantastic and Clean Campground, Great for Kids

    Harding 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.


Guide to Fort Wainwright

Cabin camping near Fort Wainwright, Alaska provides access to the Interior region's mixed spruce and birch forests. Winter temperatures in the area regularly drop below -30°F, requiring specialized cabin preparations during cold months. Most public use cabins in the region maintain rustic amenities focused on providing shelter from extreme weather rather than luxury accommodations.

What to do

Hiking trail access: White Mountains National Recreation Area cabins serve as basecamp for exploring extensive trail systems that remain accessible year-round. These cabins require advance planning as they connect to remote areas with limited facilities.

Hot springs soaking: Chena Hot Springs Resort offers mineral pools that maintain 106°F temperatures year-round. "Defined try the ice museum tour it was so cool! The appletinis are great too. The hot springs were so hot we definitely recommend visiting in cooler weather to really enjoy them," notes Riley N.

Wildlife viewing: The Summit Trail Shelter provides a strategic rest point for wildlife observation along connecting trails. Joe C. describes it as a "Cool place to relax for a bit" while scanning for moose, foxes and migratory birds common to the area.

What campers like

Northern lights viewing: Winter cabin stays provide optimal aurora viewing opportunities from September through April. "We had so much fun at Chena Hot Springs. Aurora viewing, cozy cabins, hot springs, pool, Ice Museum, dog sledding, dining, and so much more," says Jill T.

River access: Salcha River State Recreation Site cabins provide direct water access. "Caught my first fish ever here! It was a catfish I think," reports Joe C., highlighting the fishing opportunities available directly from cabin sites.

Self-sufficiency: Most cabins require guests to pack in all supplies. "We parked in the main lot for awhile to recharge, then took our rig back into the campground. Worked well!" explains Shari G., describing how she managed power needs at her cabin site.

What you should know

Supply planning: Pack all necessities as services are limited. "The nearest services for groceries are about 45 miles back down the road toward Fairbanks, or North Pole, AK," notes Shari G.

Weather preparedness: Summer temperatures can reach the 80s while winter drops well below zero. Cabin wood stoves require proper operation knowledge.

Limited connectivity: Cell service is unavailable at most cabin locations. "No cell service, but WIFI in the main lodge," reports Samantha F. about her stay at Harding Lake State Recreation Area.

Tips for camping with families

Designated swimming areas: Summer cabin stays with kids benefit from lake access. "This was a campground with a fun water area for the children. There was a boat launch and water that we could walk very far out in with the children," describes Samantha M.

Bug protection: Alaska's summer mosquitoes can be intense near cabins. "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," warns Andrew V.

Age restrictions: Verify facility rules for children. "Kids cannot go in the hot springs. If you are traveling with children, they can go in the swimming pools but not the hot springs themselves which is really why we all go here," cautions Tanya B.

Tips for RVers

Electric availability: Most public use cabins lack hookups. "20 a site, dry. There are a few sites that have trees surrounding the sites, offering a bit of privacy," explains M.P. about camping options at Chena Hot Springs.

Dump station access: Plan waste management carefully as facilities are limited. "Potable water and dump station on grounds," notes M.P., referring to Chena Hot Springs Resort facilities.

Weather impacts: Spring conditions can affect site conditions. "Level spots but wet from rain. Puddles etc." warns Kristi D., describing how seasonal moisture impacts cabin access areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Fort Wainwright, AK?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Fort Wainwright, AK is Olnes Pond Public Use Cabin — Lower Chatanika River State Recreation Area with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

What is the best site to find cabin camping near Fort Wainwright, AK?

TheDyrt.com has all 10 cabin camping locations near Fort Wainwright, AK, with real photos and reviews from campers.