Best Glamping near Ninilchik, AK

Camping on the Homer Spit is always beautiful! We enjoy being on the beach for our endless Alaska summer nights with the views of Kachemak bay as a backdrop. The tidepooling was fun this weekend with the low tides.

We camped here a few years ago to see the release of a rehabbed otter pup. Exceptional views and wildlife, doesn't get any more Alaska than this. Seemed like most sites were pretty large and relatively private. Basic facilities, well kept, really nice for a city site. Always love camping on a peninsula.

Four hours from Anchorage is a must see and do destination.. Homer Alaska. It is a very small town that gets lots of visitors in the summer months. Especially June, July and August thanks to charter companies who will take you out to get halibut, salmon and whatever else the magical ocean has in store for you.

Homer is also the place to get a water taxi to see Kachemak Bay, Halibut Cove, Seldovia, Nanwalek and Port Graham. Water taxi rides are roughly 75$ round trip for one person.. give or take a few bucks and cheaper for kids.

The Spit as it is called is the end of the Road here.. literally. The Spit is surrounded by water.. yeah that's why it's called a Spit lol. It has Restaurants tons of little shops. Some geared toward touristy things but some of the best hand crafted made only in Alaska gifts that keep you coming back for more. You may have heard of the infamous Salty dog saloon.. if you dare - go in and order a salty dog here.

If you choose to camp on the Spit you will have two choices.. One is the RV/ Camper side and one is the Tent on the beach side. I have done both and although I prefer tenting hands down.. nothing beats an RV with wet sticky sandy dogs.. love some of that in your sleeping bag! (not)

There is a fee to tent camp, it's not much. You can build a fire right on the beach and set your tent so as you lay back, free from the wind, your whole view will just be ocean and mountains. Truly amazing! You can by wood by the bundle or just comb the beach for drift wood. If you do bring your dogs just be courteous of others and bring your own doggie bags :)

There are honey buckets for use.. but sometimes we walk the spit and find a real bathroom. (There are state toilets on the RV side, which is directly across the only road on the Spit)

On the RV side the fees are a bit more.. but you get full electrical hook ups, bathrooms, showers, and laundry if you need it. WOW! Bring your bikes to ride the spit or good shoes to walk around town. Also be ready for any kind of weather.. as you are surrounded by the ocean.

There are a few city run campgrounds on the spit in Homer.  This mini peninsula juts a few miles out into Kachemak Bay and creates one of the main tourist areas for the town. This is another of Alaska's pot-holed, parking lot camping areas where tents can be set up just off the perimeter and RVs of any size can take up residence within it. Picnic tables and fire rings lie between the parking and the beach and there’s a general esprit de corps of the folks hanging out there.  

Like many Alaskan camping spots what the site itself lacks in charm, is simply overwhelmed by the spectacular views in any direction. That's why you come here in the first place. The bathroom situation is simple, a couple of port-o-potties with a hand washing station. Recycling and trash dumpsters are right next to the toilets. Water can be filled up for free at the city RV dump station in town, right across from the Post Office on the Sterling Hwy. Payment can be made at the automated permit machine. 

The lack of any trees made solar power a no-brainer, even on the cloudy days. With our solar suitcase from Renogy and 200W of solar on the roof, we were able to recharge our battery without any issues. 

There's a great bike path that leads to the many tourist shops, bars and restaurants on the spit. The spit is also a great launching area for kayaking in the ocean side of the spit- launching on the other bay side can be tricky because of tides and mud. Parking along the spit is pretty easy and there are large lots which allow for overnight parking if you are going to use the area as a launching pad for other adventures either on the Kenai or further afield. Homer is known as a particularly good spot for Grizzly Bear tours into Kobuk Valley National Park (the holy grail of grizzly sightings). Be sure to tour the Alaskan Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Visitor’s Center, it’s difficult to get out to the Aleutian Islands, but through the engaging films and interactive displays, you can get a feel for the history and wildlife of these remote areas. 

Homer has all the services that campers need including grocery stores and good restaurants (we loved Fat Olive and Carmen’s Gelato out on the spit.)  A short drive along East End Road will take you right by Fitz Creek General store, which is a treat for all kinds of cool stuff -- the chocolate muffins alone are worth the drive alone. The village farmer’s market is truly amazing with veggies, baked goods, prepared food, and lots of other arts and crafts.

Camping is basically anywhere on the beach where you can find a spot (within signposted designated area). It's dispersed. While it was busy, we had no trouble finding a spot that wasn't too crowded. I said the cost is 0-$10 as I don't remember how much we paid. I recall we had a permit that we fixed to our tent, but it was very cheap.

There were about 8 to 10 porta-potties all in a row at the where the beach meets the road. They were disgusting and nearly full. In fact, it has been 2 years since we were down there and that is my biggest memory. Others who frequent the campground bring a tall "privacy" tent with their own portable toileting system- probably a bucket.

A little loud at night with a few raucous drunk people on ATVs. We parked our car in front of our tent as a deterrent. There were no problems, luckily.

It was beautiful, being on the ocean and a short drive or 20 min walk to the popular dipnetting area. And convenient to get up for early morning dipnetting sessions without the crowds. The weather was great but I imagine it would be rough camping on the beach if windy with flying sand everywhere.

Mainly a large parking lot, no bathrooms this time of year. Beautiful right on the way, be careful driving on the sand especially at low tide it quickly turns to mud flats

The special use area was open for Subsistence fishing - and made for an easy place to camp outside of Kenai. Not really a scenic site, but efficient with trash and porta potties. Most other campers were local with big set ups for the fishing days.

This is a great little RV campground that also has a few cabins that are awesome. Two of the cabins overlook the bluff and Cook Inlet. HaLee, the owner, was very friendly and attentive.

Whiskey Point is a small, full hookup, amazing camp ground with the nicest caretakers. The view is spectacular and we had the entire campground to ourselves.

Our second time staying here. There is an amazing ocean and volcano view off a common ground area with a picnic table and fire pit. Eagles soar overhead. Sites are close together but have water, electricity, a small table and fire pit. We didn’t stay in the cabins but they look nice and the property, general store, and washing facilities seem well maintained. Recommend for a night or two when visiting Homer.

Awesome time to relax and just get away from the hustle and bustle

Enjoyed this location and without reservations, glad to get it. Had reservation at spit campground that was in horrible shape, un-level, crowded...so passed and took a risk on this one. Very accommodating folks. As others have said, the campground is a good stop with wonderful views if the weather cooperates (it did when I was there in August). With a truck/camper combo, dropping the camper there and using the truck to get to the spit and Homer was 15-20 min. Place is well maintained and the staff was incredibly helpful and friendly with campground and local information. Found lots to do in the area. Campground is full/crowded in the summer, but site was nice, functional albeit a challenge to back in with the width of the road at my site. Just off the highway so some noise but tolerable. Decent washer/dryers and showers behind office but no food/although that wasn't an issue as we grocery shopped and ate out at some great seafood places (must do). Incident: There is only one road in/out of Homer. There was a bad accident that closed the road for 24 hours so we had to wait another day to get out. Homer and the Kenai was a great visit.

The view was the best part, but it felt cramped. Decent location, only about a 15 minute drive to the spit.

Great for a quick stay, full hook ups, beautiful view when the weather cooperates, but it’s 9 miles from town, so if you’re in a motor home you’ll need a tow vehicle

great place to stay and relax

Campground is well maintained. About 20 min drive from Homer spit. Sites are a little tight but the views are amazing!

Great place friendly staff supper clean and just all around wonderful stay great prices

For starters my children love this campground. It is fun filled with animals, bicycle rentals, basketball court, playground, seasonal berry picking, eagles nest close by, caribou viewing, balcony viewing area, fire rings and fishing is nearby in the Kenai River. The campsites are well groomed with clean bathrooms/shower rooms. The hosts are more than welcoming and make your visit pleasant. There isn’t much to privacy at this campground but it has a nice homey atmosphere. This was nicely located with a fun twist to camping with the animals! We’ve stayed once in the paddock area another in the grass area on the other side. I preferred the open grass area for the children to run around in without animals. I would recommend this campground to families.

We camped for two nights this summer. It was absolutely gorgeous day and night. The camping was easy and there was plenty of space for our tents.

The spit is such a unique place to camp and explore. It does assume a stop at the Salty Dawg Saloon as well as a swing under the gift shops. Kachemack bay has an abundance of critters and sea shells making beach combing amazing. aren’t a bike to explore more or just walk the boardwalks and smell the sea air.

roughing it to the max, but close proximity to all the sites of Homer’s Spit and epic views! often rowdy groups, but mostly clean! the ground is all rocks and the winds are fierce, but it’s a great weekend spot!