Searching for a tent campsite near Ninilchik? Finding a place to camp in Alaska with your tent has never been easier. Whether you're looking for a quiet, dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
This spot, about a mile outside the town of Seldovia, offers big views that stretch out to the mouth of Kachemak Bay and even to Cook Inlet.
Across the Inlet, you can also see the Pacific Ring of Fire, including Mount Illiamna and Mount Redoubt, each standing at10,000 and 11,000 feet. Even though they're some 75 miles away, on some days they seem like they’re just beyond your grasp. You can also see Augustine Volcano, a classic volcanic-island cone that rises 4,000 feet out of the sea. Keep in mind that each member of the Ring of Fire is an active volcano—so it’s not unusual to see steam and sulfurous gasses escaping from fumaroles on Illiamna’s eastern slopes.
The center of this long, crescent-shaped beach is also the access point for Trina Lake, an estuary that rises and falls dramatically with the tides. On the western edge of the beach, meanwhile, you'll see the aptly named White Rocks, and you can look down upon the outlet of the Otterbahn trail. To the east, the beach’s polished gravel turns to large boulders that sit below a stark bluff and the Seldovia Wilderness Park. Come summer, Outside Beach is a locals’ favorite for picnicking, beach bonfires, dog-walking and fishing for Dolly Varden (in late June and early July, anglers have also been known to catch some very large king salmon). Along the border of the forest and beach, you’ll find an open-air pavilion with tent sites and steel fire-rings. The park also provides services for RVs, and it’s the developing home of the SHARE project—a facility for arts, recreation and entertainment. Here’s an excuse, too, to stay all day (or overnight): this spot makes a dramatic spot for gorgeous, lingering midnight sunsets.
$15 / night
Rayvens Roost is an interactive Spiritualist camp located off the road system in Seldovia Alaska.
Our sites are "turn-key" and visitors need only to bring their backpacks .
Here you will stay in our custom designed Tipis that insure the deepest possible connection to nature.
Each Tipi has real beds with all bedding included . Our Lotus Belle has two queen sized bed,and has room for two extra for larger groups .
This is the perfect location to host your own retreat . Please contact us for additional information about our own starting in July 2022.
We have been hosting B&B guests since the late 1990s and have evolved into a new business model just recently.
Our mission to to share the amazing benefits of living in sync with nature .
Guests enjoy daily Yoga,meditation,and guided forging in the Alaska rainforest .
Your stay here with us is *complimentary for members of our Ministry .
Complimentary stays do not include our cleaning fees please contact us for more information .
$1 / night
Ranger
Used to party at this lake as a local in the late 90’s early 2000’s.
Nice little tent camping campground. There used to have spots big enough for RV’s but no hook ups.
Scout
I love this park in the street here all the time. I am local and it’s still a beautiful getaway. Incredible views and great tent sites.
Scout
Camped not exactly at this location but down the road a bit.. tent camping only. $20 a night per tent, per tent. First come, first serve. Pretty stoked I got to see homer before it gets it’s heavy tourist season. Worth checking out, had a nice cup of joe at Coal Town Coffee, cute shops as well.
Legend
Very large RV and tent sites right along the rivers edge. You may wanna reserve during peak fishing season but during the slower times it’s pretty easy to find a spot here.
Legend
Heritage RV Park is the nicest campground on the spit. It is perfect for RV's and campers. However, they do not allow tent camping unless you are using the tent with your RV. There are electrical and sewer hookups. The sites are very close together, but they are right on the water so the views are great. There are showers, toilets, a common area, drink machines, gift shop, and everything you need in the main building.
Ranger
Ninilchick is a cool little town with s fun festival called a Salmon Stock. Camp and watch the sunset on the bay. Get your face painted and have a ice cold beer while listening to Alaskan Artist. The tent sites on the bluff are the prime locations for the views but be prepared for some winds.
Legend
I don’t hate this RV Park which is saying a lot. There are 60 sites and this RV park is open from May 15 until Labor Day. You can reserve RV and tent sites online but you must call for cabin rentals.. This is right in the heart of Soldotna and close to anything you might have forgotten. 
ScoutCampground is pretty great for being a parking lot (gravel)/RV style place. There is on-site laundry, bathroom and shower facilities that are kept pretty clean.
Dogs must be leashed at all times while on the premises.
WiFi is available however Apple products seem to issues connecting to it.
$30 tent site $40 RV site
Legend
This is a campground in Gear rental. You can rent everything from fishing poles and nuts to tent camping equipment and anything you might need for watercraft her. They weren’t sleeping bags and dry bags. 10 sites will run you $25 RVs 40 and cabins start at $175. This is right off the Sterling highway and impossible to mess it’s worth checking out if you’re looking at hooking up your RV.
LegendI've heard that the beach front sites go quickly at this campground, but if you can get one I highly recommend it! If you are tent camping you can pitch your tent right on the beach (be tide aware). Beach sites are $35 and other sites are $30. Bathrooms are clean and have lots of sinks and stalls. Showers are $1 and are not timed. Laundry is $2 to wash and $1.50 for 30 mins. of drying. There is also a gift shop and WiFi here.
Guide
there's not a lot of tent camping available. a lot of parking spaces for day use and motor homes not so much for your tenters. camp hosts though are some of the nicesest I've come across and the state park ranger who makes her rounds is extremely nice and knowledgeable about what's going on around town. the beach itself is among one of the best to spend a day beach combing for shells and sea glass. the beaches in Alaska vary from sand to rocks, clam gulch is for sure one of your sandy beaches. one of the best for clamming when or if it ever opens back up for it. a great spot to spend a day or have a gathering not so much for you're back country camper.
Ranger
Wow. Wow. Wow.
If you love the ocean, salmon fishing, bald eagles, moose and an occasional bear this is the place for you!
All sites are basically in a gravel parking area with painted lines in between sites- tent camping is allowed but I would recommend RV or campers for a restful sleep.
There are state bathrooms ( hole in the ground with a door) and a fresh water pump. No electricity hookups.
In July this Campground is BUZZING! This is the Ninilchik boat launch area for deep sea halibut fishing, it is off the the side before the site so not too loud- just can be congested early morning and afternoon. If your a tide watcher and not a fisherman/ woman that will help determine best time to try to leave the area :)
Deep creek runs down one side - salmon swim up this Creek so July it will be packed with fishing people and an occasional bear. Bald eagles will be standing by to gladly take your fish guts and heads :) and pose for some amazing pics.
Getting an ocean view spot is a dream! Literally backed right up to it and each space has a fire pit and table.
If you get valley side- it's just as stunning! With a few moose trailing through the tall grass. Your GPS will cal this happy valley and that it is!!
Dogs must be on a leash as the camp host will come remind you- often. ( I may or may not know this by experience)
a small store is located at the top in ninilchik- not campsite affiliated- and closes early- so bring what you need. A great stop between Anchorage and Homer!!
Legend
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.
Traveler
Was amazed with the beauty and trails in this area. The campsite for tents have to be hiked in to get to. The RV sites can accommodate tent camping, with smaller tents. So many options to do, you easily forget you don’t have cell service. There are trails, lakes, site seeing and enjoying the peace. We saw black bears, mamma and cubs. Very curious cubs got very close, momma didn’t seem to mind or get aggressive. Still be prepared for an encounter for your safety. There were lots of smaller critters we saw/heard and signs of moose. We have plans to visit other lakes, trails and camp sites along this route.
GuideFirst, let me not bury the lead, and start with the fact that if you have not been to Homer and taken in the beautiful scenery, the views of Kachemak bay and the surrounding mountains and glaciers are something that absolutely need to be seen in person. Just breathtaking. Since this campground lies on the very flat sea level strip of sand and gravel known as the spit, it offers great views in every direction.
This seasonal (it is Alaska, after all) campground is about halfway down the Homer spit (on the way to the very end which is called Land's end). The campground itself offers mostly RV sites (which it looked like had all amenities you could want) and a handful ~maybe 20 tent sites. Good amenities with clean bathrooms, had wifi, and saw a laundry room but did not use it for my stay. I can't speak for the RV experience, as I've only used the tent sites. Stayed here for a couple nights, before and after a job opportunity leaving out of Homer. The campground is still about ~2 miles or so walking down to the main harbor, as well as most of the shops and few restaurants closer to Land's end. Yes, this includes the infamous Salty Dawg saloon, which is a great spot to grab a drink and epitomizes the Alaskan fishing culture. I would add that having a vehicle is not essential if you only plan on walking down to the end of the spit, and there are a dozen or so restaurant choice if that is your thing, but a lot of stuff is just out of realistic walking distance back up the hill in Homer proper. Overall, this campsite offered a good value and a chance to really soak in the gorgeous view and lifestyle of the fishing town of Homer.
Guide
This is my family's 3rd year camping on the Homer Spit. We love it every year. Who wouldn't love waking up and going to sleep looking at the ocean?! It does get a bit windy, but it keeps away the famous Alaskan mosquitoes and provides a great opportunity to watch the para-surfers. The sand is great and the tide goes out far, providing fun exploration activities for kids! It can get a little loud with the nearby road, but you get used to it. There are nearby port-a-potties (no showers) and it is only $10 a night per tent. Camping is on a first-come basis and can be a bit crowded on holiday weekends. Overall, the views are awesome and a great place to pitch a tent!
GuideThe 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.
GuideThis camground sits high above Clam Gulch beach. Providing both camping and parking access for the beach below. The mornings and evening can also make for fantastic photo opportunities of the ocean, beach and mountains across the bay.
Clam Gulch beach itself provides tons of photo opportunities especially at low tides, which reveal large sandy flats with sporadic rock outcroppings. The occasional creek or small stream spilling down from the bluffs add to the possibilities. Eagles and other sea birds commonly make appearances as well.
Rock collectors and agate hunters will find plenty to find and pick along the upper beaches. Sea glass and sea shells can also be found along the tidal lines. Others will find tranquility enjoying sImple quiet walks or hikes along the shoreline.
One of my favorite day use areas, i don’t personally camp here often. The shortage, and crowding of the tent camping areas is a turn off for me, as i prefer more separated spaces. The large low tide beaches, photo opportunities, and quiet of the area is huge draw however.
Need to knows
RangerFour 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.
LegendI camped SIX nights at the Homer Spit campground and there were so many great and not so great things about it. We stayed four nights in site 6 (interior), and two nights in site 104 (on the beach)
Overall the campground gets a 5. It's super well managed, it's clean and convenient and the view are BREATHTAKING. (the interior sites get a 0 for being scenic)
There are 3 types of site
- Beach front (you camp on the beach, and there are no hookups)
- Beach view (you have a front row beach view and there is a plug in)
- Interior (you are basically camping in what feels like a walmart parking lot with a view)
Most people who visit the spit campground are here for 1 or 2 nights max, and about 80% of them are in RVs. There is a strict 11 am checkout and 3pm check in, so the place is pretty empty during the day, and at night looks like an RV lot. But it's still awesome.
The sites are small and there is nothing between them besides a log so you know where your boundaries are. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. There are about 150 sites. There is one bathroom which was very clean nearly every single time I used it and it has hot water! Showers cost 2x per person if you're staying at the campsite and they were FANTASTIC - so clean, and hot, and not timed, and amazing water pressure.
--- (the negatives)
- Many of the electrical 110 outlets at the interior sites did not work. This was a small problem for us because we were trying to work in the mornings.
- There was pretty much nowhere for dishwashing. Dishwashing was forbidden at the main water point, with signs to wash dishes at the hose that was also used for feet rinsing at the beach. This wasn't a problem for most people who were in their RVs - but if you're planning to tent camp and cook, you will likely want a dishwashing bucket/bin.
- In the morning the main water point was usually overtaken by a line of RV's filling up the water tank. It wasn't a problem unless that was when I wanted to refill my water...
- The interior sites are not at all scenic. We faced a big dirt pile and a safeway tractor trailer when we were in our campsite. You're staying there for the location, remember, and if you walk 10 feet you will see all the mountains.
++ (the positives)
+ You're literally right at the end of Homer Spit at the campground and you can walk to all the shops without having to fight all the other people for parking!
+ The wifi worked across the property with no problems
+ OMG, the view.
+ If you don't want to make coffee or breakfast, La Baliene and Sue the Bus are just across the street.
+ the team literally checks every site every day, they clean the trash out of the fire pits, and actually make sure that everything works.
RangerNinilchik is a tiny little blip of a town but in the summer it is home to one of the best music festivals anywhere- Salmonstock!
HOnestly, we didn't spend much time at these campgrounds but were shuttled to and from the Ninilchik Fairgrounds during Salmonstock. What a blast that was. If you happen to be in Alaska during Salmonstock heed my advice and go!!!
The campground was pretty basic, each site was "primitive" and we had a picnic table. Honestly it was perfect for sleeping - quiet and private. Other than that, just make sure you go to Salmonstock! Did I say that already???
GuideThis hidden gem is located right off the Sterling Highway as you enter Ninilchik. It has bathrooms on site, with other amenities typical of state rec campgrounds (water, tables, fire rings etc.). What this location has over other campgrounds is an amazing overlook out onto the historic village and famous Russian Orthodox Church, and a panoramic view of Cook Inlet with stunning, postcard worthy looks out toward Mt Iliamna and Mt Redoubt. The campsites are reasonably separated from one another, and there is room to park RVs at the individual sites. There is also an RV dump location nearby. The campground is located high on a hill above the Village, however there is a walkway path with stairs for beach and village access.
Guide
A lot of people spend alot of money just to GET to this part of Alaska to go halibut and salmon fishing, only to be hit with high campground, charter, and access fees. This is a great free campground within reach of Soldotna Ak. The Kenai peninsula as a whole is commonly referred to as "the playground of Alaska. My wife and I and our 3 kids used to come here often to get away from the crowds during the summer tourist season. There is also boat access to a number of first come forest service cabins on the lake. The road in can be very washboard at times because there is a popular boat launch here for fishing sockeye salmon on the Kasilof river, and silver salmon fishing in a creek that flows into the lake. The campsites will accommodate anything from tents to large rv's. There is a pump handle on a well onsite for potable water and pit toilets.
LegendWe camped here for 1 night and ended up having to leave because of severe wind and rain. All in all the camping is nothing special but the scenery is ridiculous. Right on the homer spit. Your seeing wildlife in the ocean as well as eagles flying around and all walking distance to the bars and fisheries in homer.
There are countless tours and all boats for rent all around homer. Catch that halibut! We were there on a thursday and they don't do halibut fishing trips. We rented a boat and did a whale, puffin, otter tour instead.
Later we walked to get dinner and when we came back our tents were gone. We thought someone stole them and all of our camping gear. Nope! It was just the wind. Even with all our gear and rocks in the tent the wind picked our tents up and threw them a couple football fields. Rookie move. we spent the night and moved inland for the storm.
Cheers!
ScoutCamping 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.
ScoutThe toilets were very clean. No showers though like the app says. I saw a moose when I got out of my tent in the morning!
Guide
If you’re looking for a campground with access to the Kenai River, and walk distance to downtown Soldotna, this is it. Typical Alaskan camping...no hookups, but nicely wooded and mostly private. Walking distance to some of the best road accessible fishing in Alaska.
Tent camping near Ninilchik, Alaska offers a unique blend of stunning natural beauty and outdoor adventures, making it a perfect getaway for nature enthusiasts.
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