Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Kenai Fjords National Park

When we read about the very limited campsites available at Kenai Fjords National Park (only 7 at their developed campground), we wanted to make sure we would have a spot by reserving through a private campground.

We chose Miller’s Landing through a coupon we had for buy one night + get one night free. Our stay was okay, but it wasn’t the serene national park experience we’re used to. Sites were very cramped, showers were coin-operated and cold, and people were loud.

But its beautiful coastal views and morning coffee made our stay much more enjoyable. We weren’t at the campground for very long each day, and it made for a pretty decent crash pad during our two days in the park and around Seward.

In Kenai Fjords, we’d highly recommend the boat tours. We took the 9-hour Northwestern Fjord Tour with Kenai Fjords Tours and loved every minute. The narrated tour was very informative, and we enjoyed going as far into the park as we could get. On our second day, we hiked up to Harding Icefield, a strenuous 8-mile round-trip hike for more incredible views of the glaciers and surrounding beauty.

You can read much more about our two days in the park on our blog: Switchback Kids (Kenai Fjords)

Cooper Creek is a great, smaller campground to choose when the popular nearby spots fill up with anglers. For some reason, this spot is not as in demand as the Russian River campground, despite having many of the same amenities.

This campground is great for group camping trips, as each site is rated for 8 people and a few can have up to 12. There are many ada-acessible sites to choose from as well, which was a great help when bringing along family in need.

The gravel roads can sometimes mean backing-in is a bit more strenuous than other paved campgrounds, but if you're camping in Alaska, you probably already know how to reverse park a camper! Picnic tables were always well maintained, and the deep firepits came in handy for our large fires. They even have grills built in!

Toilets are well maintained, but we always had to supply our own method of handwashing - hand santizer, in our case to leave as little trace as possible.

Don't forget to bring your fishing poles (get that permit first!) and keep an eye out for bear activity.

This is a double site in Williwaw Campground and it was great! The air was crisp and cool, close to a flowing creek and a trail, a hand pump for water was next to the site, and the triangular fire pit was cool! We were in a campervan and did have mosquitoes at times. There was a short walk to the restrooms. The campground was quiet but we could walk the Trail of Blue Ice which had an entrance in the campground. Cell service in Alaska is hit or miss but AT&T was pretty much useless and Verizon was not much better…..but who comes out here for that.😊 Girdwood is your closest town for ice and firewood but take the tunnel to Whittier for a cool experience and quick snack!

We were in a rented rv making a last minute stay over in Seward.  They had last minute room to boondock in an adjacent parking lot, which was also full in August. We stayed 2 nights, the second in an rv site in Resurrection. We saw some tents, but rv sites are located along the water. Even though sites are close together everyone minded their manners while we were here. There is a blacktop path that leads to the must-see Alaska Sea Life Center. The campground is also close to boat excirsions and restaurants at the dock. Pay shower, clean bathrooms, and a dump station. It was a peaceful stay with an awesome view of the ocean.

Granite creek is a great stop in between Anchorage Alaska and anywhere else south.

I only gave it a four stars because tent users must place there tent on gravel or pavement and not dirt so they can regrow the dirt areas.. As I know how important this is.. we had tents.. Not at all comfortable even with pads under us. So if you are an RV or camper trailer you are in luck!

Camp sites are spacious and have a fire pit and table. There is also plenty of trees and vegetation between camping spaces so you feel far away.

You can reserve a spot and I would recommend this if you plan on camping in the months of late June, or July.. as fishing season is truly a season here in Alaska and camp sites are golden. Water pumps and state bathrooms are here. Anytime you can get a toilet and paper in the woods is a plus :)

We use this campsite every August as a "Going back to school Celebration" for parents or a " Last hang out of summer" for the kids. The paved loop offers good space for biking, throwing a ball or side walk chalk and you can bring your choice of boat to fish or float in the lake. ( Remember if you fish in Alaska you need a fishing license ages 16+)

You get an amazing view of kenai mountains here and your typical Alaskan wildlife.. magpie, moose, eagle and sometimes bear.. although we have never seen a bear here, I highly encourage bear safety. This includes keeping your camp clean, food in your car and carrying bear spray.

Dogs are allowed here and we have never been told to leash them.. we rarely see a camp host coming site to site except to check that you have paid properly.

Some sites border the kenai river which can run pretty vast, cold and hard, so if you so choose that site please be respectable of the water and its ways.

There is a fee for staying here around 14.00 and a lovely little ice cream parlor at the corner to tell your children that if they are good camping you for see ice cream in their future :)

This USFS Campground is right off the highway at Kenai Lake near Coopers Landing. Easy access for most any size RVs or trailers, well spaced, improved, level sites with big wooden tables and metal fire pits with metal cooking grates. Water and very clean restrooms and locking trash cans throughout the 2 loops. There is a boat launch. One side has Quartz Creek  running along it and another has lakefront campsites. There are first come, first served as well as reserved campsites. Some are single ($18) and some are doubles ($28) and there is a dump station. Salmon run up Quartz Creek and once they arrive the Bears will too. Very close to Coopers Landing and the Russian River. Lots of hiking, Mtn Biking trails, boating and fishing within very close distances as well as small stores, gas stations....

This is a great, quiet campground very close to many popular areas in Alaska. It is very busy once the Red Salmon arrive, esp fron mid July to mid August...