Best RV Parks & Resorts near Gustavus, AK

Hollywood Farms RV Park in Gustavus provides RV sites near Glacier Bay National Park. The park offers a quiet atmosphere with clean grounds, though lacks hookups for electricity, water, or sewer connections. Located approximately 10 miles from Bartlett Cove Campground, this RV park serves as a practical base for exploring the national park without leaving your motorhome on the mainland. RV travelers seeking full hookups will need to look toward Juneau, where Mendenhall Lake Campground provides electric hookups, water hookups, sewer connections, and dump station access. Sites can accommodate larger vehicles with big-rig friendly spaces. "The campground is clean and well organized. There is a section for RVs with showers and hot water," according to one visitor.

Ferry access determines RV camping possibilities in this region of Southeast Alaska. Travelers must plan carefully as the Alaska Marine Highway System provides the only road vehicle access to Gustavus. Supplies and camping fuel should be brought with you, as purchasing options in Gustavus are limited. Eagle Beach State Recreation Area near Juneau provides electric hookups with both thirty-amp and fifty-amp service alongside water and sewer connections, though lacks sanitary dump facilities. Cell service can be spotty or nonexistent at these locations, with one camper noting "absolutely no cell service" at Eagle Beach. The camping season generally runs from May through September, with most facilities closing during winter months due to harsh weather conditions.

Best RV Sites Near Gustavus, Alaska (8)

    1. Hollywood Farms RV Park Gustavus AK

    1 Review
    Gustavus, AK
    1 mile

    "Many people choose to leave their RVs in Juneau and walk on the ferry to Gustavus and stay at the lodge in the National Park."

    2. Mendenhall Lake Campground

    24 Reviews
    Auke Bay, AK
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (907) 586-8800

    $20 - $36 / night

    "Excellent location on lake offering a spectacular view. Nice campground, cozy and only offers less than 70 sites. Full hookups are available at some."

    "Easy access to epic beauty from the airport."

    3. Auk Village

    10 Reviews
    Auke Bay, AK
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (907) 586-8800

    $20 / night

    "It is easy to get to the water or trails. There was a guy renting kayaks out of the back of a truck which made our whole day."

    "No cabins, but beautiful beach to walk. Quiet paradise. Fire pits and we’ll maintained pit restrooms."

    4. Eagle Beach State Recreation Area

    1 Review
    Auke Bay, AK
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (907) 465-4563

    $60 - $100 / night

    "Absolutely no cell service. There are some sites not completely in the trees. We were able to get good solar and Starlink service. There are pit toilets on site."

    5. Peterson lake campground

    2 Reviews
    Auke Bay, AK
    38 miles
    Website

    $75 / night

    "4 spots with picnic tables and fire pits. Clean bathrooms and big trash cans that got emptied while we were there for 4 nights. Low GCI service. Water spout that didn’t work for us."

    "This campground has one site with a picnic table and a fire ring. However you can camp anywhere that there is parking. This is on a well-maintained road and would be great to bring a kayak."

    6. Moser Island Cabin

    1 Review
    Tenakee Springs, AK
    50 miles
    Website
    +1 (907) 747-6671

    $55 / night

    "Near the cabin, there is great crabbing across the bay and decent shrimping within a 10 minute boat ride. There is one mooring buoy to tie up to so bring a raft to get to shore."

    7. Goulding Lake Cabin

    Be the first to review!
    Hoonah, AK
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (907) 747-6671

    $45 / night

    8. White Sulphur Springs Cabin

    Be the first to review!
    Hoonah, AK
    48 miles
    Website
    +1 (907) 747-6671

    $60 / night

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Recent RV Camping Photos near Gustavus, AK

2 Photos of 8 Gustavus Campgrounds


RV Park Reviews near Gustavus, AK

38 Reviews of 8 Gustavus Campgrounds


  • Lisa S.
    Apr. 26, 2019

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Great place to take scenic photos

    Excellent location on lake offering a spectacular view. Nice campground, cozy and only offers less than 70 sites. Full hookups are available at some. Picnic tables and fire rings are available at sites. There is also a dump station and restrooms available. Hiking trails are close. As is the Mendenhall Glacier accessible from the Visitor Center

  • Josiah P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2018

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Conveniently located & Beautiful

    Easy access to epic beauty from the airport. The glacier brings the temperature down significantly from the surrounding area ❄️ All of the campsites are furnished with picnic tables, tent pads & fire rings with grills. Water faucets & accessible vault toilets are provided, as are two accessible flush toilets and shower facilities. A dump station & trash dumpster are located on-site.

  • Bradee A.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 20, 2022

    Peterson lake campground

    Beautiful views

    4 spots with picnic tables and fire pits. Clean bathrooms and big trash cans that got emptied while we were there for 4 nights. Low GCI service. Water spout that didn’t work for us. Beautiful central location for the Kenai peninsula. Highly recommend.

  • J
    Jul. 28, 2017

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Staring Into The Past

    After a month of kayaking in Glacier Bay, stumbling off the ferry and taking the bus to the campground Mendenhall campground felt like luxury. Without a doubt the best hot showers I've ever had camping. The proximity to the glacier and the views from around the lake are astounding. Mt McGinnis on the west and Mt Bullard and Thunder Mountain to the East. The shark fin and the towers piercing out of the ice field. It's all jaw dropping regardless of what direction you turn your head.

    The campground is walking distance to multiple trails including the west glacier trail that approaches the glacier or splits off and climbs to summit Mt McGinnis as well as the visitor center. Also big heads up there were the famed ice caves but those have long collapsed and as of my visit no new caves have formed.

    Bear boxes are at each campsite as well as fire pits. By far my favorite established campground in Juneau. Only downer in my opinion is having to reserve online first.

  • Angie G.
    May. 27, 2024

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Glacier View in the Tongass

    After being unable to find good reviews of campsites here, I took what I could find and gambled on a site. We were in tent site 021. It was a gorgeous site, had a large picnic table, bear box, water spigot between us and the site next to us, fire pit, clean pit toilets and a clean bath house. This campground has backpacker sites, RV sites, and car sites as well. We had a short walk through the moss on a trail that led down to Mendenhall Lake. It had a gorgeous view of the glacier. We enjoyed listening to all the birds and it was a pretty quiet campground.

    There are a few sites close to boggy areas and they can be mushy and muddy, especially after a rain. There is a map on the reservation website where you can kind of see it. Our site was fabulous.

    The trails are not far from the campground, so they are walkable.

  • James L.
    Jun. 17, 2018

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Mendenhall campgrounds

    This place is great!!!! Close to town yet out in nature.

  • Sierra  S.
    Jul. 13, 2018

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Crystal blue just for you

    Must see beauty in Juneau. This beautiful site is not only spectacular but conviently close to town. After setting up camp you can explore the trail to get close to the glacier and see beautiful waterfalls!

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2022

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Big Surprise!

    We’ve been full-time camping in our vintage camper for over10 years, and in that time we’ve taken some “camping trips” without our rig, Hamlet. This time we hopped on the ferry from Haines down to Juneau and pulled out the tent for a few days in this amazing campground. We were just looking for the least expensive place that was close to the ferry terminal in Auke Bay, but struck gold in the hills just above. This might be one of the best traditional campgrounds we've ever stayed in with some of the most stunning views in our "backyard."

    The campground is laid out along the southern bank of Mendenhall Lake, and offers drinking water, flush, and vault toilets and hot showers -- at no extra charge. Did I mention that camping here will only set you back $10 per night? We cannot remember such an inexpensive camping experience that offered showers. These $10 sites don’t offer electrical hookups, so bring your solar panels and solar generator or power bank and you’ll be all set. 

    The western trailhead is a short walk from the campground, but the Mendenhall Visitor's Center on the east side of the lake is just a few miles away. There are many trails, photographic viewpoints and opportunities to paddle on this side of the lake, but parking is competitive because it is such a popular area- including with the busses from the cruise ships docked in town. So, get there early. We enjoyed paddling on the lake where we got great views of the glacier and Nugget Falls, but keep your distance from icebergs. We watched one crack and roll not too far from where we were paddling, had we been closer I might not be writing this review. 

    The Mendenhall Valley has all the amenities you could expect from the Juneau suburbs, grocery stores, malls and restaurants. Downtown has a few more options as well as Douglas Island, just across the bridge.

  • James B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Eagle Beach State Recreation Area

    Eagle Beach Campground

    We were in Juneau with our pickup camper for a couple of weeks. We stayed three nights in the campground. $20 per night. Absolutely no cell service. There are some sites not completely in the trees. We were able to get good solar and Starlink service. There are pit toilets on site. There is water, with a boil direction to use. There is no trash service.
    No dump site. Great access to river area. There is a large amount of bear activity in area. We had a black bear next to our campground eating grass one evening.


Guide to Gustavus

Located near Glacier Bay National Park, Gustavus offers camping options in a region accessible primarily by ferry or boat. Situated at the northern entrance of Alaska's Inside Passage, this area experiences typical Southeast Alaska weather with summer temperatures averaging 50-65°F. Campers should prepare for frequent rain even during the peak summer season.

What to do

Glacier Bay exploration: Visitors staying at Mendenhall Lake Campground can arrange day trips to Glacier Bay National Park. "We explored the lake via kayak, hike the short park trails, explore the far side of the lake - this is a great spot just minutes from the Juneau Airport," notes Josiah P.

Wildlife watching: Eagle Beach State Recreation Area provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. "We had a black bear next to our campground eating grass one evening," reports James B., highlighting the area's abundant wildlife.

Local community exploration: When camping at Hollywood Farms RV Park, take time to visit the small town of Gustavus. "The Fireweed Gallery, Tea and Coffee House was lovely. We went there twice and met the mayor. Visiting the town added to our experience," shares Vicky S.

Beach activities: The shoreline near Auk Village Campground offers various recreational opportunities. "There was a guy renting kayaks out of the back of a truck which made our whole day. It's not a far walk to the water, where you could see otters, seals, whales, cool ducks, starfish," explains Justin S.

What campers like

Private sites: Many campgrounds in the region offer secluded camping spots. At Auk Village, "The camping spots are very spread out and private. Some have views and some don't. We did see bald eagles right on site," reports Justin S.

Natural hot springs: Some remote cabin options provide unique amenities. White Sulphur Springs Cabin, accessible only by boat from Sitka, offers natural hot springs that provide a warm respite in the cool Alaska climate.

Marine wildlife viewing: The coastal location provides opportunities for memorable wildlife encounters. "There is great crabbing across the bay and decent shrimping within a 10 minute boat ride," explains Billy B. about his stay at Moser Island Cabin.

Historical sites: Auk Village Campground features cultural history elements. "Great historical site, an ancient village with historical marker as well as a beautiful totem nearby that tells an interesting story," notes Eric M.

What you should know

Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds operate from May through September. Mendenhall Lake Campground specifically runs "May 15 to September 13," according to its listing information.

Limited services: Many campgrounds have minimal amenities. At Eagle Beach, "There is no trash service. No dump site. There is water, with a boil direction to use," explains James B.

Cell service limitations: Connectivity is unreliable throughout the region. Eagle Beach State Recreation Area has "Absolutely no cell service," according to James B.

Reservation requirements: Popular sites fill quickly during peak season. For Mendenhall Lake Campground, "Before you go: you must reserve a spot online in advance & spots tend to fill up quickly in July & August," advises Josiah P.

Tips for camping with families

Wildlife safety: Bear activity is common throughout the region. At Peterson Lake Campground, campers should use the "Clean bathrooms and big trash cans that got emptied while we were there for 4 nights," as noted by Bradee A., to maintain a bear-safe camp.

Educational opportunities: The Mendenhall Glacier area provides excellent learning experiences. "After setting up camp you can explore the trail to get close to the glacier and see beautiful waterfalls!" suggests Sierra S. about Mendenhall Lake Campground.

Weather preparedness: Southeast Alaska receives significant rainfall, even in summer. Pack waterproof gear and extra clothing for children, as weather can change rapidly.

Activity timing: To avoid crowds at popular spots, plan strategically. "Best way to avoid the cruise ship crowds is to go early or late. Photo point trail and Nugget Falls trail are a must and have the heaviest foot traffic from 10am to 2pm," advises Fain H.

Tips from RVers

Ferry logistics: Plan RV travel to Gustavus well in advance as space on the Alaska Marine Highway ferries is limited. Booking months ahead is recommended for summer travel with an RV.

Limited hookup options: RV sites near Gustavus, Alaska generally lack full hookups. James B. notes that at Eagle Beach, some sites "not completely in the trees" allow for "good solar and Starlink service" to compensate for limited utilities.

Campsite selection: Look for RV spaces that accommodate your specific needs. At Peterson Lake Campground, "This campground has one site with a picnic table and a fire ring. However you can camp anywhere that there is parking," notes Tanya B., offering flexibility for different RV sizes.

Supply planning: Limited shopping options mean RVers should arrive fully stocked. Bring extra propane, food, and other essentials as resupply options are minimal in Gustavus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular RV campsite near Gustavus, AK?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Gustavus, AK is Hollywood Farms RV Park Gustavus AK with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find RV camping near Gustavus, AK?

TheDyrt.com has all 8 RV camping locations near Gustavus, AK, with real photos and reviews from campers.