15 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Tent camping near Girdwood, Alaska spans primitive backcountry areas to walk-in tent campsites within Chugach National Forest. Primitive tent campsites are available at Chugach Backcountry Camping for those seeking a wilderness experience, while Coeur D'Alene Campground offers walk-in tent sites with basic amenities. Spencer Whistle Stop provides another tent camping option that can be accessed by the Alaska Railroad between July and September.
Most tent campsites in the region require campers to be self-sufficient. Facilities are minimal, with only some locations offering vault toilets and bear-proof food storage containers. Sites at Coeur D'Alene Campground include picnic tables and toilets described by visitors as "the nicest wood panels ever stuck to a plastic port-a-potty." Walk-in tent areas are generally located a short distance from parking areas but require carrying all gear. Many locations permit fires in designated rings when seasonal restrictions aren't in place. Water sources are limited, so tent campers should pack in their drinking water or bring filtration devices for nearby streams.
The tent camping around Girdwood offers remarkable solitude compared to more developed areas. Forested sites provide natural screening between campsites and shelter from wind and rain. Sites deeper in the woods tend to have fewer mosquitoes than those adjacent to water. Trails accessible from tent campgrounds lead to alpine views, glaciers, and wildlife viewing opportunities. Backcountry tent camping areas require proper bear precautions, including secure food storage and awareness of bear activity. A camper noted, "This is bear county so bring your bear bells," highlighting the importance of wildlife awareness while tent camping in this region.
"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."
"The “city” of Girdwood is awesome. This place has trails that can take 30 minutes to complete up to 2 days (Crow’s Pass) with a views that can’t be seen anywhere else."
"The bugs are pretty heavy right next to the river but deep in the woods are are very few. Great place for exploring. Walk in campsites are very close and have bear proof food storage."
"It's walk in, but not far from the car. The vault toilets have been clean every time we've come up. The campsite is at quite an elevation so is chilly at night and early morning even in the summer."
"You can pitch a tent on the deck, or sleep under the heated overhang. You can also get a private cabin if you’d like, or find a quiet place in other places on board."
"This is the state of Alaska's public ferry system and runs from Bellingham, WA to Dutch Harbor, AK."
"There are two group campsites that must be reserved through the Alaska Railroad 800.544.0552."
"There are so many options to backcountry camping and you don’t even have to walk very far. You can drive down and camp at the pull offs. RVs are not recommended on this road."
"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."
from $85 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $35 - $65 / night
Check Availability"This spot is located in beautiful Prince William Sound, approximately an hour boat ride from Whittier, Alaska."
TravelerCame on Aug 14. It’s mostly an RV site. There are basic pit toilets and dumpster. No water at the site but there is water and showers at the harbor from what we heard. Pay through the app Lots of flies
GuideThis was a great find on our way to Whittier. We had an amazing view of the glacier. Campground was clean and quiet. Hiking trails are through the park too.
ScoutEasy payment system right at the entrance which takes card. No issue finding a site and there was overflow camping on the way out. Toilets were clean. Definitely go check out the river!
ScoutThere's probably around 30 sites here they are not numbered they are somewhat private separated by trees and brush and some of them are right next to the river there is no tables fire rings are made of rocks not very well maintained some not to level
GuideClose to road so easy access. Water pump. Vault toilets. On lake summit
LegendGeneral: 83-site Good Sam RV park, plus 15 long-term sites. 72 are pull-through; the rest are back-in.
Site Quality: Roads are gravel, but sites are on grass. The grass was a bit high in our site (22). Sites are close together with no separation, as is typical of Alaska RV parks.
Bath/Shower: Six all-in-one units with sink, toilet, and shower. Clean but NO SOAP in any of the bathrooms.
Activities/Amenities: Spacious laundry room ($4/wash; $2 for dryer, but I needed two cycles of the dryer). Quarters are available in the office. There is a reservable covered pavilion. Dog walk area. Propane fill available. Cell service is limited (Verizon), and I was not able to connect to the WiFi in our campsite (I believe you could in the laundry room).
This is fairly typical of RV parks we have found in Alaska. It really annoyed me that there was no soap in the bathrooms; I am not in the habit of bringing soap with me when I go to the bathroom; this deducted a star in my review.
RangerThe campground is clean and has nice grass, flowers and shrubs separating the rows of campers. Grass pads so get on an open to the sky site for sun and wind to keep it dry. Good potable water, dump for $6. Bathhouse leaves a lot to be desired. I couldn’t take a shower in there it was so flooded and muddy.
GuideOnly accepts cash. Must be bear aware. Bears every time we’ve been there. Would not recommend soft side campers or tents. Use available bear proof food safes.
GuideEnjoyed our stay here. Sites are all pull through turnouts and 40 have full hookups including sewer. Another 5 in the back have water and electric and also several tent sites. Sites are fairly level and you face the woods which is an enjoyable view. Each site has a picnic table and grill. Some sites bigger, some smaller and all fairly close together, sharing the sides of the gravel road.
Mosquitoes were out and about but also saw a lot of small wildlife and birds. And even small black bear ran across the road the day we pulled in.
Highly recommend if you’re able to get on base and need a stopover with full hookups. n
Tent campsites near Girdwood, Alaska sit within the rugged Chugach Mountains at elevations ranging from 250 to 3,000 feet. This region experiences cool summers with average July temperatures of 55-65°F and significant rainfall of 70+ inches annually. Winter camping opportunities remain accessible for experienced backcountry campers, though many sites close seasonally after the first significant snowfall.
Glacier viewing by train: The Spencer Whistle Stop campground provides unique access to Spencer Glacier between July and September. "There are two group campsites that must be reserved through the Alaska Railroad 800.544.0552," notes reviewer Tanya B. at Spencer Whistle Stop.
Backcountry hiking: Opportunities abound at various sites near Hope, with minimal walking required. "There are so many options to backcountry camping and you don't even have to walk very far. You can drive down and camp at the pull offs," shares a reviewer at Hope Alaska Backcountry Sites.
Fishing and wildlife viewing: Tern Lake serves as a prime wildlife observation point along the Seward/Sterling Highway junction. "Sometimes you will see Bald Eagles, Trumpeter Swans, Loons, and other kinds of wildlife," says Mary A., though this is primarily a day-use area rather than overnight camping.
Accessible wilderness: Coeur D'Alene Campground offers walk-in sites that balance wilderness with convenience. "It's walk in, but not far from the car. The vault toilets have been clean every time we've come up," writes Stacey C. at Coeur D'Alene Campground.
Weather considerations: Campers appreciate knowing about temperature variations before arriving. "The campsite is at quite an elevation so is chilly at night and early morning even in the summer. There's a little stream that flows by the campground, which is nice to fall asleep to," adds Stacey C.
Seasonal transport options: Alaska Marine Highway ferries provide unique camping access options. "Our journey started in Bellingham where we boarded the Columbia... It carries about 500 passengers who can either rent a cabin for an extra fee, pitch a tent on one of the decks, or sleep in a lounge chair," explains Fain H. at Alaska Marine Highway.
Bear safety requirements: Bear precautions are essential throughout the region. "Many choices for length of hikes depending on which loop you choose. This is bear county so bring your bear bells," advises Tanya B. at Eagle River Nature Center.
Insect management: Bug density varies by location. "The bugs are pretty heavy right next to the river but deep in the woods are are very few," notes a camper at Coeur D'Alene Campground.
Trail access limitations: Some popular camping areas have access challenges. At Rabbit Lake, "This is a strange one. 4.4 mile hike up the road. A road that obviously people don't want you to go down. You must park at the gravel parking lot walk up following the road," explains Tanya B.
Short backpacking options: The walk-in tent sites at Coeur D'Alene offer an introductory backpacking experience. "Nice little campground with small amt of campsites, not really suitable for large groups or RVs so it's nice and quiet," notes Stacey C.
Food storage solutions: Dedicated bear-proof storage exists at some sites. "Walk in campsites are very close and have bear proof food storage," explains a reviewer at Coeur D'Alene Campground.
Entry-level backpacking: For families new to wilderness camping, Chugach offers graduated options. "There are multiple sites you can reserve but there are also some backcountry spots you can just walk to. Be warned that you need to bring all of your supplies with you, water, food, toiletries," advises Gillian H. at Chugach Backcountry Camping.
Road limitations: RVs face significant access challenges on backcountry roads. "RVs are not recommended on this road," warns a reviewer about the Hope Alaska Backcountry Sites.
Alternative transportation: For those with RVs, consider base camping and using Alaska Railroad for backcountry access. "Just remember pack it in pack it out on the train. Also available for a great day hike. At a $132 a person it is not a cheap hike," notes Tanya B. regarding Spencer Whistle Stop.
Off-road exploration: While not suitable for typical RVs, some areas offer 4WD opportunities. "Also has a couple mile service trail/off road trail that is a fun little drive. 4WD ONLY," mentions Heidi G. about Tern Lake.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Girdwood, AK is Girdwood Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 12 reviews.
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