Girdwood is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Alaska camping has to offer. Find the best campgrounds near Girdwood, AK. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
$5 - $100 / night
Eagle River campground is located along the beautiful Eagle River. The campground has 57 sites with picnic tables, fire pits, water, latrines, flush toilets and dump station. Overflow camping area of 10 sites, and a Campground Host. Downtown Eagle River is a short 5 minutes from the campground and has all the amenities of a small town. ★ ADA Facility - Yes ★ 57 Campsites (see fee page) ★ No RV size limit ★ Camping Limit - 4 nights ★ Daily Parking Fee - (see fee page) ★ Toilets - ♿ ★ Water - ♿ ★ Picnic Sites ★ Picnic Shelter (1) ★ Sanitary Dump Station
Girdwood Parks and Recreation offers tent camping opportunities during the summer months at the Girdwood Campground. To reach the campground, take Alyeska Highway and turn east on Egloff Drive. Follow Egloff Drive past the Glacier City Hall building, Girdwood Fire Department and Ball Field. The Girdwood Campground is located just past the Ball Field. Eighteen rustic camping sites are set amongst the tall spruce and cottonwood trees. The campground is open during the summer only, from May thru September. weather permitting. Overnight camping is available for a maximum of 14 consecutive nights. Camping spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Advance reservations are not available. Upon selecting a tent site, campers must proceed to the payment kiosk to make payment for their site. The Girdwood Campground is equipped with a cooking area and fire ring, located at the Nissman Pavilion, port-a-potties, and bear-proof food lockers. Drinking water is available one block away, from a spigot located behind the Glacier City Hall building. The Girdwood Campground is within easy walking distance to local restaurants, a laundromat with showers, store, health clinic, library, and post office. RATES: $10 per night, per tent For the benefit of all campers we ask that patrons obey the following rules: The use of fireworks and firearms of any type are not allowed in city parks. Pets must be leashed or confined at all times and must not disturb other campers. Please clean up after your pet - doo your duty, scoop the poop. Use bear-proof food lockers! Do not keep food stored in your tent or outside in a cooler. Discard garbage in the bear-proof trash containers provided. Respect wildlife. Don't put yourself, others, or them in jeopardy because of your actions. Children must be supervised by parents at all times. All vehicles must remain on roads or in parking lots at all times. Maximum of two vehicles per campsite are allowed. Quiet time begins at 10 p.m. nightly. Minimize noise or other disturbances in order to maintain the serenity of the park. Check-out time is 12:00 Noon
Porcupine Campground is located in the Chugach National Forest in south-central Alaska near the town of Hope. Visitors have a prime location to watch windsurfers in the bay and spot Beluga whales from the scenic overlook.
Popular activities include fishing, hiking, whitewater rafting and gold panning. Gull Rock Trail offers excellent hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. It extends for 5.1 miles along the south shore of Turnagain Arm from the end of the Hope Highway to a rocky peninsula. Snow usually melts in the area by early May and the scenic trail leads visitors over gradual hills with occasional steep sections.
Popular activities include fishing, hiking, whitewater rafting and gold panning. Gull Rock Trail offers excellent hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. It extends for 5.1 miles along the south shore of Turnagain Arm from the end of the Hope Highway to a rocky peninsula. Snow usually melts in the area by early May and the scenic trail leads visitors over gradual hills with occasional steep sections.
The remote campground, surrounded by a mostly birch forest, sits beside Porcupine Creek on the south coast of Turnagain Arm. Turnagain Arm is a branch of the Cook Inlet, the waterway that divides the Kenai Peninsula from the mainland of Alaska.
The town of Hope is considered the best preserved gold rush town in the region. Campers can head to town to explore the quaint historic streets and try their hand at gold panning.
$23 / night
Williwaw Campground, an idyllic area, sits beside Williwaw Creek near the town of Girdwood, Alaska. The campground boasts prime fishing, hiking and wildlife watching all within the Portage Valley. Next to the campground is the Williwaw Salmon Viewing Area, a top-notch spot for salmon viewing. In August, visitors can see these fish spawning in impressive numbers through the translucent waters. The area is a great place to view numerous glaciated valleys and the Portage Glacier. Over the past 80 years, the glacier calved large icebergs into Portage Lake, located just east of the campground.
Wildlife viewing includes moose, brown and black bears, mountain goats, lynx, bald eagles and wolves. The Williwaw Nature Trail can be reached from the campground. It heads to the Williwaw Fish Viewing Platform, passes under the highway bridge and follows Williwaw Creek to a series of ponds. The trail then connects to the Trail of Blue Ice, which accesses the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. The Trail of Blue Ice is also popular among mountain bikers.
The campground sits in the Portage Valley of the eastern Kenai Peninsula in the Chugach National Forest. The Forest, spanning 5,361,803 acres is comprised of arid tundra wilderness, jagged mountains, deep fjords and glacier-fed rivers that surround the Prince William Sound.
For local information, please call (907) 522-8368 or call (907) 288-3178 for general information.
Consider visiting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage Glacier, the town of Whittier and Byron Glacier.
$33 / night
Granite Creek Campground is set in the captivating Kenai Mountains on Turnagain Pass, surrounded by wildflowers and spruce forests. The campground, about 1 hour south of Achorage, AK on the Seward Highway, boasts prime fishing, hiking, packrafting, and wildlife watching.
Biking is a popular activity at Granite Creek Campground. There is a paved bike path along the Seward Highway that extends for five miles south to the Hope Higway and Johnson Pass North Trailhead just north of the campground offers a 23 mile mountain biking or hiking opportunity. For the packrafters, Granite and Six-Mile Creeks offer world class opportunities. Whatever recreation activity you choose, look for raspberries to pick and wildflowers to smell. Fishing is considered intermediate, and Dolly Varden trout are among the tasty fish you might catch. Look for wildlife like moose, snowshoe hare, black and brown bears, marmots, and mountain goats, or sit back and listen to water rushing through the glacier-fed Granite Creek.
Set in the Chugach National Forest, Granite Creek Campground nestled among the spruce near the confuluence of Granite Creek and Six-Mile Creek. These roaring glacier-fed creeks provide wonder recreational opportunities. From many place in the campground, one can see the towering Kenai mountains and other spectacular sights that await.
For local information, please call (907) 522-8368 or call (907) 228-3178 for general information.
A mile east of Granite Creek Campground is the Johnson Pass North Trailhead with a well-maintained 23-mile trail with breathtaking vistas. Parking for Turnagain Pass trail is located 6 miles north of the campground entrance. Also nearby is Six Mile Creek, with Class V whitewater for rafting and kayaking. Consider spending the day in Portage Valley visiting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage Glacier, the town of Whittier, or Byron Glacier.
$19 / night
This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
Bertha Creek campground makes a convenient base for berry picking, hiking, biking and exploring the area. The family can try out gold panning on unvegetated gravels along Bertha Creek.
Bertha Creek campground makes a convenient base for berry picking, hiking, biking and exploring the area. The family can try out gold panning on unvegetated gravels along Bertha Creek.
Bertha Creek Campground is located just south of Turnagain Pass on the Seward Highway in the Kenai Mountains. The campground is tucked into an open forest beside the confluence of Bertha and Granite creeks at the base of steep mountains.
This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (907) 783-3242.
Explorers can travel 1.5 miles south on the Seward Highway to the Johnston Pass Trailhead. From this trailhead you can hike or bike either the trail or the paved bike path that stretches roughly seven miles south to the wayside near the intersect of the Hope and Seward Highways. One can also head north on the Seward Highway 3 miles and reach Turnagain Pass. The parking area on the south side of the Highway offers access to the Turnagain Pass Trail to hike or bike and has ample opportunites to see wildlife and wildflowers in bloom.__
This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
Wildlife viewing includes moose, brown and black bears, mountain goats, lynx, bald eagles, and salmon. The Trail of Blue Ice that stretches almost the entire length of Portage Valley can be reached from the campground. From this trail you can acces the Williwaw Nature Trail, Williwaw Fish Viewing Platform, Moose Flats Area, Begich Boggs Visitor Center, Byron Glacier Trail, and Portage Glacier Cruises. Portage Lake, at the head of the valley, allows access for kayaking and packrafting.__
Wildlife viewing includes moose, brown and black bears, mountain goats, lynx, bald eagles, and salmon. The Trail of Blue Ice that stretches almost the entire length of Portage Valley can be reached from the campground. From this trail you can acces the Williwaw Nature Trail, Williwaw Fish Viewing Platform, Moose Flats Area, Begich Boggs Visitor Center, Byron Glacier Trail, and Portage Glacier Cruises. Portage Lake, at the head of the valley, allows access for kayaking and packrafting.__
Black Bear campground sits in the stunning Portage Valley in the Chugach National Forest.
Begich Boggs Visitor Center lies at the head of Portage Valley where you can learn about glaciers and Alaska. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is located on near the intersect of the Seward Higway and Portage Highway. Here you can see all different kinds of Alaskan wildlife. Portage Glacier Cruises offers the chance to ride a boat and get up close to Portage Glacier.__
This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (907) 782-3242.
$25 / night
$5 - $100 / night
Eagle River campground is located along the beautiful Eagle River. The campground has 57 sites with picnic tables, fire pits, water, latrines, flush toilets and dump station. Overflow camping area of 10 sites, and a Campground Host. Downtown Eagle River is a short 5 minutes from the campground and has all the amenities of a small town. ★ ADA Facility - Yes ★ 57 Campsites (see fee page) ★ No RV size limit ★ Camping Limit - 4 nights ★ Daily Parking Fee - (see fee page) ★ Toilets - ♿ ★ Water - ♿ ★ Picnic Sites ★ Picnic Shelter (1) ★ Sanitary Dump Station
Girdwood Parks and Recreation offers tent camping opportunities during the summer months at the Girdwood Campground. To reach the campground, take Alyeska Highway and turn east on Egloff Drive. Follow Egloff Drive past the Glacier City Hall building, Girdwood Fire Department and Ball Field. The Girdwood Campground is located just past the Ball Field. Eighteen rustic camping sites are set amongst the tall spruce and cottonwood trees. The campground is open during the summer only, from May thru September. weather permitting. Overnight camping is available for a maximum of 14 consecutive nights. Camping spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Advance reservations are not available. Upon selecting a tent site, campers must proceed to the payment kiosk to make payment for their site. The Girdwood Campground is equipped with a cooking area and fire ring, located at the Nissman Pavilion, port-a-potties, and bear-proof food lockers. Drinking water is available one block away, from a spigot located behind the Glacier City Hall building. The Girdwood Campground is within easy walking distance to local restaurants, a laundromat with showers, store, health clinic, library, and post office. RATES: $10 per night, per tent For the benefit of all campers we ask that patrons obey the following rules: The use of fireworks and firearms of any type are not allowed in city parks. Pets must be leashed or confined at all times and must not disturb other campers. Please clean up after your pet - doo your duty, scoop the poop. Use bear-proof food lockers! Do not keep food stored in your tent or outside in a cooler. Discard garbage in the bear-proof trash containers provided. Respect wildlife. Don't put yourself, others, or them in jeopardy because of your actions. Children must be supervised by parents at all times. All vehicles must remain on roads or in parking lots at all times. Maximum of two vehicles per campsite are allowed. Quiet time begins at 10 p.m. nightly. Minimize noise or other disturbances in order to maintain the serenity of the park. Check-out time is 12:00 Noon
Coeur D'Alene Campground is open. A small campground with six walk-in tent sites. This site is not recommended for large RV's or trailers. Water is not available at this campground. There are toilets, fire pits, and tables at the site.
Guide
In mid August we had very few mosquitoes. We also had our pick of some of the best camping spots I’ve ever seen. We became spoiled boomers and kept passing up sites until we got a close walk to the lake, a close walk to the well pump, and a close walk to the pit toilet(very clean). Also a short drive to Seward for all the tourist amenities.
Scout
Saw two seaplanes take off from the lake (take the Southern spot for this).
Hwy is loud but manageable, train as well.
Recommendable overnight position on the way to SEWARD.
Traveler
Went there for the weekend. It was really nice. Right along the river and there are picnic tables and bear boxes around. You’re a really short walk to the lake and there is soft rocky beach you can enjoy the views on. The sites are pretty well established and it is a first come first serve basis. We got lucky and got the last spot in the lane. There isn’t too many sites. I think 8 total? It’s a smaller one. Two restrooms vaults at each end.
Scout
The roads were paved okay, the sites are more gravel. It was a (narrow) but 30 second walk to the private lake access we had. The campsite overall was the biggest one we’ve been in. The flys were so awful, the mosquitos seemed invisible. The lake is clean and amazing, there was road noise but didn’t bother us, we’re loud anyway. It was so beautiful. But the bathrooms were useable. If you try to get food at summit lake lodge, don’t, they suck and are overpriced. Maybe French fries and onion rings but nothing else.
Guide
It was 54 Degrees in July…… and Mosquitoes ate us alive Great Lake but forget to be outside your Camper. The Spots were not Level at all
Traveler
This 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.
GuideBeautiful lakeside setting, inexpensive well maintained facilities. Lots of camp sites, both rv and tent. Sites are fairly private. Quiet. Lots of families. Good camp host.
LegendMoose Pass Trailhead
As with most BLM trailheads, zut services. Big area, some shaded mostly unshaded but big enough to have your own space
Seaplanes take off from lake during the day - pretty awesome
No onsite services. Seward offers free dump and potable water - near their RV parks
Starlink, Visible/Verizon and Cricket/Att all good
Scout
Funk v ung do
Traveler
We 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.
Scout
Camping is not allowed
Legend
Matanuska River Park campground
$20 to dry-camp. Water station and sani-dump usage included. There are also some sites with electricity - a few more dollars but extremely close together. Saw a few with overlapping awnings
72 is a great site, our 30 ft 5er and f250 fitted in fine, but some caution needs to be exercised when driving. Trees made Starlink coverage a bit spotty. Short walk to River
Small planes continually passing overhead during the day, but not too noisy ( apparently glide path is over us to land, and engines are apparently idling at this time )
Great friendly host
Guide
The stunning lake view and access made the campsite worth dealing with the bugs and bears.
We arrived at Upper Skilak Lake Campground on a sunny Friday afternoon and managed to get the last site available. The campground was packed, including all the RV sites. We ended up in one of the walk-in tent sites. There are a total of 10 walk-in tent sites, with six right on the lake and the rest just a short walk away.
Each campsite is equipped with bear-proof storage for food, which is essential considering the active bear presence in the area. There is enough space for two tents, and the fire pits are new with adjustable grill racks, which made cooking easy. Buckets were provided to safely extinguish fires.
The campsites are a short walk from the parking lot, involving a small hill, except for one (maybe two) handicap-accessible site that offers easier access.
During our stay, we saw black bears and grizzly bears every day. Bear scat was common on the trails and beach, adding to the sense of adventure but also requiring constant vigilance regarding food storage and safety.
The park rangers were friendly and stopped by our site each night to check in and talk about bear sightings. However, one morning, a ranger accompanied by a few volunteers walked into our site while we were eating, which felt somewhat invasive.
The main downside was the state of the bathrooms. They were extremely dirty, with one stall that didn’t lock and another that had no toilet paper. The smell was terrible, and overall, the facilities were not well-maintained.
By the time we left on Monday, we were the only campers remaining, which offered a peaceful end to our stay.
Overall, Upper Skilak Lake Campground offers a beautiful location and a genuine wilderness experience, the poor condition of the bathrooms and significant amount of bugs were the only drawback.
Be prepared for bears and lots of bugs. The lake, the trails, and experience were definitely worth the trip.
TravelerLimited water (20gal a day). No hookups, no trash service and no rv dumping, bathrooms are pit toilets and very dirty. I have been here 3 separate times across three weeks and noticed everything like that bathrooms were extremely stinky and dirty. Have to walk to the entrance of the campground to dispose of any trash.
GuideThis campsite has showers and really nice, quiet spots in the woods. The only downside was the mosquitos which were terrible.
Scout
This place is very cold we climb and have some while watching movies
Traveler
We visited here for two nights with our children in our tow-behind trailer. There wasn't a lot to do for the kids, but we were able to enjoy the grassy area, make s'mores in the community fire pit, take a nice walk next to the golf course nearby, and make laps around the campsite's driveway. They otherwise played card games, read books, and made "nature recipes". It was quiet except for birds rising with the sun and airplanes landing at the nearby airport. The kids loved watching the planes land. It was nice having access to the toilets for when we had more than one person needing it at the same time. Another great part was the very good quality water, electric, and sewer hookups! The entire grounds was very well maintained, impeccably clean, and provided a very nice place to enjoy the breathtaking mountain views that rural Palmer, Alaska has to offer! Unfortunately I did not get enough photos!
ScoutCampground was undermanned, underfunded, dumping station, broken bathrooms, dirty the trail, though followed the Eagle River and was nice lots of mosquitoes 
Scout
Great fishing guides
Scout
"Situated along the waterfront, this property boasts unparalleled views of the sparkling ocean, creating a tranquil and luxurious atmosphere that enhances the overall living experience.
""Nestled in the heart of nature, this secluded property features expansive windows and balconies showcasing stunning mountain vistas, ensuring residents enjoy a picturesque and immersive connection with the scenic beauty that surrounds them."
LegendI needed a place to stay between Anchorage and Glen Allen. I was shocked this campground wasn't in Dyrt (found it on google). We actually ended up staying here two separate times- on our way North east and coming back South West. This State Rec Area is extremely clean. It's nice that there are tent sites separated from their RV sites (nothing worse than being in a tent and stuck hearing an RV's generator or TV all night). The RV lot is basically a parking lot but without many other options it would probably do the trick for an RV. The tent sites in the back are great. They are huge and have privacy between them. There's a vault toilet which is kept clean. No services or amenities but it's not far to the town of palmer. Despite being right off the state route, it stays pretty quiet from the road traffic because of all the trees. There's a pay station to pay when you arrive and pick your site. This was perfect in the shoulder season and in-between cities. I apologize I didn't get any campground pictures to post!
Guide
There is a south campground along the river and a north loop along the creek. We stayed in the south camp at the end of September so it was “no services no fees” at that time. There’s a bbq restaurant across the street. There are food storage lockers at each site because of bears. Most other campers were there to fish.
Guide
Basically one big parking lot, but it has nice views of the surrounding mountains and harbor. They provide toilets and dumpster which is nice, also the spots have fire pits.
ScoutSpencer Bench Cabin offers a stunning location at 1,900 feet elevation, providing breathtaking views of the Placer River Valley, Spencer Lake, and Spencer Glacier. The mcdvoice surrounding alpine meadows boast beautiful vegetation, including low shrubs, grasses, and summer wildflowers. This cabin is available for rent throughout the year, allowing visitors to enjoy the beauty of the area in any season.
Scout
The only bad we could think of was sports are close together. The hookups are on the opposite side if you back in. It is not an issue if you bring an extra extension cord.
LegendIt's salmon fishing season and you can tell people are staying here to fish the Kenai River, which is great. It was a very convenient campsite off the highway on the way to Homer, in the national forest. only $23 a night to camp or $11.50 if your a senior or have an access pass. Great prize for Alaska, but of course no amenities at site such as water, electric etc. It's a dry spot.
Good size sites and level spots with picnic table and fire pit. Enjoyed our night here ...
Legend
Small but lovely campground on a one way road right on the Kenai river. Sites are spread out, a couple tent spots and a couple of camper spots. There appears to be seven spots and if this is full, you can go just up the road to the next campground.
No electric, water etc but there is a dumpster, picnic tables and fire pits. Across the road is a BBQ spot and a store. You can easily walk to it, just be careful going across road as hwy. Is pretty busy!
Camping near Girdwood, Alaska, offers a fantastic mix of stunning scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking to hike, fish, or just relax in nature, this area has something for everyone.
Camping near Girdwood, Alaska, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, but being prepared will help you make the most of your trip!
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Girdwood, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, Girdwood, AK offers a wide range of camping options, with 111 campgrounds and RV parks near Girdwood, AK and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Girdwood, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Girdwood, AK is Bird Creek Campground - Chugach State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 26 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Girdwood, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Girdwood, AK.
What parks are near Girdwood, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 parks near Girdwood, AK that allow camping, notably Chugach National Forest and Kenai Fjords National Park.
