Best Tent Camping near Girdwood, AK

Recent Tent Reviews near Girdwood, AK

357 Reviews of 12 Girdwood Campgrounds

• 

  Michael V.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 11, 2022

  Crescent Creek

  Great Hiking and Bears!

  This place is secluded, and magical. Tent camping works best here, sites are pretty small for anything bigger than a sprinter van.

  Very beautiful

• 

  Lacey S.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 6, 2018

  Coeur D'Alene Campground

  The Back Country Campers Paridise

  No amenities. What you pack in you pack out. 6 tent camping spots before the gate, back country camping after the gate. Look for the posts with yellow reflectors for camping sites past the gate. beautiful sunrise and sunsets.

• c

  christine

  Guide

  

  Jul. 13, 2024

  Trail River

  Great forest service spot $23

  Beautiful 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.

• 

  Tanya B.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 28, 2020

  Kepler Lake Campground

  Closing July 6, 2020 for the season

  Due to construction this campground is closing for the 2020 season. Reservations are required 2 weeks in advance. (907) 240-9797 or reservations@greatholidaycampgrounds.com Gates close you in from 8 am - 8 pm. Rentals for canoes and paddle boards.

  With only 10 sites they fill up quickly.

  RV and tent camping sites.

• 

  Tanya B.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 21, 2020

  Eagle River Nature Center (public use cabins/yurts)

  Worth the walk in

  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.

  Many choices for length of hikes depending on which loop you choose. This is bear county so bring your bear bells. Loved the hikes so much we decided to rent the cabin for my birthday.

• 

  Dan N.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 1, 2016

  Eklutna - Chugach State Park

  Beluga whales

  Perfect place to camp if you're looking for belugas! We rented a kayak nearby and explored the bay. Surreal. The camp sites all had amazing views and the tent sites were forested and pretty private. Lots of locals camp here and offered insider tips about where to see wildlife, eat, etc.

• 

  Karen D.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 4, 2022

  Eagle River Campground - Chugach State Park

  Lovely campground

  This campground has nice size sites for RV's. If you are tent camping (I am), there's one pull in to 3 sites so you are close to strangers if your friends don't come. The toilets are clean but smell awful. One can also hear quite a bit of road noise and military aircraft all day because the campground is near both. Nice quick stop. $20 a site per day.

• 

  Tanya B.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 7, 2020

  Granite Creek

  Great views

  Great campground. But you need to reserve a spot if showing up on the weekend. Brought our bikes which worked great for the trip to the outhouses or to throw out the trash. We tent camp and a friend car camped. Spots are tight. Water available to wash dishes or hands with a hand pump. This was site 001. 008 and 013 are pretty good and centrally located to the river, restrooms and pump water.

• 

  Tanya B.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 2, 2020

  Girdwood Campground

  Watch the reviews

  Some of the reviews are not for this campground. These are walk in tent sites. There are no spots for RVs or trailers. Firewood is a fun place and not too far from Anchorage.

  Make sure if you are coming from Anchorage you stop off at Potters Marsh and check out the boardwalk. So many hiking trails no matter what way you go.

• 

  Melissa W.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 29, 2023

  Matanuska Lake State Recreation Area

  Excellent tent spots

  I 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!

• 

  Shadara W.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 3, 2019

  Granite Creek

  Beautiful Mountains

  Beautiful mountain views 18 sites good for RV and campers and 19 tent sites. $14 a night, only dry sites. Located along granit Creek which has Dolly Varden. Food lockers, dumpster, hand driven water pump. These are reservable online but I have never seen this campground completely full. Off season there is no trash service or water. Great place to spot mountain goats too.

• 

  Shadara W.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 13, 2019

  Centennial Camper Park

  All you hear is highway

  All you can hear is Highway. This Campground may be considered the better of the three main choices for Anchorage however after asking around with my Anchorage friends I've heard that the homeless over takes this campground at night. After driving through the campground I did notice several questionable tent sites and also several questionable run-down RVs that looked as though they had been there for quite a while.

• 

  Taylor B.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 30, 2019

  Black Spruce Campground

  Lots of fun

  I live on base and recently purchased a pop up. Took a maiden voyage here to feel out the beast and work out the kinks. Kids had a great time. All sites were back in other than the tent sites. Walking distance from commissary, bx, and shoppette but still felt like wilderness. Really had a good weekend and would recommend to anyone with base access. Will go again

• 

  Shadara W.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 9, 2019

  Eklutna - Chugach State Park

  Gorgeous any time of year

  Trails to hike or play on the lake! This campground is situated with access to Eklunta Lake and boy is that perfect. Tons of campsites to choose from both double, single and handicapped. First come, first served. Fire rings, tables, restrooms, firewood for purchase ($15) and camp host. Two sets of walk in tent sites with food lockers also available. Well water available too. Come spend a weekend exploring Eklunta Lake!

• 

  Sara S.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 22, 2016

  Granite Creek

  remote feeling...

  One our trip to check out the peninsula we considered stopping here for a night, but opted against it. It looks like an okay campground with large sites, but there is not a ton of privacy between the sites. Also, the whole place just seemed a bit run down and out of date. The views/scenery were nothing spectacular. I think having an RV might make this a more attractive place to stay, but for tent camping it just didn't have what we were looking for.

• 

  Shadara W.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 4, 2019

  Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

  Outdoor Heaven

  Fishing, hiking, boating galore. Paved pads with gorgeous sites some right on the water. Tent sites at $5 a night and Standard sites for camper and RV's run $10. This beautiful lake was hit by the Swan Lake fire this year and the campgound has been closed, however we drove through last weekend and the campground survived the fire! Still nicely surrounded with trees for privacy we were very happy to see it undamaged.

• 

  Hannah W.

  Legend

  

  May. 17, 2019

  Porcupine Campground

  Gorgeous views

  We came here in mid-May and everything was beautiful and green. I've read this campground can be busy but it was not at this time. Everything was well taken care of and you could tell the hosts make sure everything is in order. Each site has parking, fire rings, and picnic tables (excluding some tent sites). The picnic tables are large and have spots for someone in a wheelchair. The views of Turnagain Arm are stunning! Sites cost $9.

• 

  Megan W.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 12, 2022

  Black Spruce Campground

  FamCamp

  Open year round with 50/30/20amp sites (seasonal water hook up as well) and tent sites, this small campground is a great place while waiting for a house or on your way out. The bathhouse is super clean, there's dumpsters close by, spaces are decently sized with a picnic table and charcoal grill set up, and trees offer some privacy. There's a playground for the kids, a bike path that can be taken to the shopette or one of the neighborhood playgrounds. Close to the hospital, PX/commissary, and the Muldoon gate.

• 

  Shadara W.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 3, 2019

  Tenderfoot Creek

  Summit Fishing

  This campground located on Summit Lake may not have hookups but the views and the fishing are worth it. $18 a night, with 35 sites to choose from. Our favorites are #1, 6, 8 10-12 due to water access. #24 is a beautiful mountain view pull through. The o ly downside as that most sites have picnic table and firepit behind the site and with a ramp up to them. Vault toilets, boat ramp, and drinking water all available. Tent sites with pads are over a quaint foot bridge to allow some separation from the road.

• 

  Vicki S.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 10, 2018

  Bertha Creek Campground — Chugach National Forest

  Great view!

  Small campground on the Kenai Peninsula. We've stayed here and at the nearby Granite Creek (one of my favorites) when we wanted a place to tent camp while we fished the Russian for salmon. You can fish both Bertha and Granite Creeks, but not for Salmon.

  Sites are well-spaced and come with the standard Chugach National National Forest amenities: fire pit, picnic table, garbage, water pump, pit toilets. Unlike Granite Creek, you cannot reserve sites in advance, but this is a smaller and lesser known campground and often I have found a space here when others are full.

  Be bear-safe and be sure to lock up all your food and toothpaste when away from your campsite.

• 

  Tanya B.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 23, 2020

  Williwaw Campground

  Always bring a rain jacket

  Campground: Portage – Williwaw   So many nice things about this campground and the other portage campgrounds.  I always like to give the warnings but hope this does not keep you from coming here.  Be prepared for WIND.  I mean big wind.  Bring extra stakes if you are tent camping.  Be prepared for rain, lots of rain.  Be prepared for wildlife encounters.  I cannot tell you how many times I have seen black bear along this road.   It is centrally located between Anchorage and the Peninsula but has so many things to offer.  Trip through the Whittier tunnel is a definite.  If you are a hiker Byron glacier in good weather is decent hike.  If you have kids and even if you don’t then the Wildlife Conservation Center of Alaska is great way to get close to the biggest animals Alaska has to offer.   Cell Service: No Internet: No 2020 Cost: $18-$28 Max stay: 14 days Distance from Anchorage: 55 Best sites: Premium sites $28 – 20, 21, 30, 34, 41, 50, 57 Also good are spots 24, 25, 26, and 38 Bug Factor (1 minimal to 10 too many to enjoy): 5 if it gets sunny the bugs come out

• 

  Laura H.

  Ranger

  

  Aug. 28, 2016

  Porcupine Campground

  Perfect family friendly campsite

  This campsite fills up fast! We happened to get the last available tent campsite right on the water and it was GORGEOUS! This is the more peaceful campground in Hope (there's another one in town that seems more fun but more noisy too). They have large picnic tables, one spot seemed handicap accessible even. There was a nice fire pit that helped for us novice fire makers. The camp hosts were super helpful and informative. There are two great hikes nearby within driving or walking distance. A perfect weekend getaway from Anchorage! You'll adore this beautiful spot.

• 

  Tanya B.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 14, 2020

  Whitter Parking and Camping

  If you are in a tent camping stay here

  This campground features 50 camping sites some are along the creek side. Make sure you plan ahead since the tunnel runs one way once an hour. Check your departures times. The tunnel is always a fun trip.

  The cost is good at $20 an RV and $10-$20 for a car and tent depending on the number of people in the party. With level spots and little other tent camping choices these spots can fill up. There are no reservations and sites are first come first serve. There is plenty to do in Whitter, the drive, the tunnel, and the price make this a great option to stay.

  Always plan for rain.

  Cell Service: yes Internet: Yes 3G 2020 Cost: $10-$20 Operates: April to October depending on snow clearance Distance from Anchorage: 58 miles Bug Factor (1 minimal to 10 too many to enjoy): 3

• 

  Tanya B.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 14, 2020

  City of Whittier Campground - Whittier Bay

  Wet

  This is Whitter. Land of beauty, glacier, the tunnel, and wet. Maybe not always rain but definitely wet.

  This is a very small town with amazing views. Campground is situated right off the water and is very, very damp. I would not suggest tent camping if you have the option. This is a great place to car camp and the cost through the tunnel is $13.00. Views of glaciers great you as soon as you exit the tunnel. The best spots are right along the waters edge, but again bring your Extratufs.

  Cell Service: yes Internet: yes 3G 2020 Cost: $20 Distance from Anchorage: 58 miles Best sites: Along the waters edge Bug Factor (1 minimal to 10 too many to enjoy): 1 (but I have only been here when it is raining)

• 

  Samantha F.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 18, 2024

  Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

  Campsite and gorgeous views were worth dealing with the bugs for for

  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.

• 

  Megan W.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 18, 2021

  Russian River - TEMPORARILY CLOSED

  Nice Spot for Fishing

  My family loved our weekend away at the Russian River Campground. It was super easy to make a reservation online (reserve early!), our loop was a short walk to the boardwalk to get down to the river. However, we ended up with a pull through spot that was a pain to get our rig into (26' pull behind). Luckily it was the first spot in the loop so we were able to back it in and have the door open to the footprint and the slide towards the road (friends in 69, the next spot over) had the same issue. Also, if you have a second vehicle it's going to be horrible to park at the site as well (unless you have two smaller vehicles and are tent camping). But we had a massive wheelchair friendly picnic table, a fire pit with a decent size grate and a bear box.

• 

  Tanya B.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 6, 2020

  Gold Creek Gold Mine

  Camp anywhere you can find

  This is the best camping in Alaska. Just find a spot big enough for your rig it tent and pull off. There are many regularly used sites that have rock fire rings already made. Always make sure you are not in a drive way and that there are no POSTED signs to keep off property. Bug shelters highly recommended because depending on the year it’s mosquitoes, flies, or bees.