Best Glamping near North Pole, AK

Recent Glamping Reviews in North Pole

24 Reviews of 4 North Pole Campgrounds

• 

  Kristi D.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 3, 2023

  Chena Hot Springs Resort

  Awesome spot

  Awesome to be able to camp at the resort with easy access to the Hot Springs. Dry camping no amenities except a outdoor bathroom. River behind the spots though, spots close together and close to camping. Level spots but wet from rain. Puddles etc....no internet. You got 10 free minutes by the lodge but then you are prompter to start paying. Did get to see the Northern lights so that was a bonus. Missed the ice museum as it said closed for maintenance on the website and when we got there is appeared you could get in by tours. It was too late by that time.

  Hot springs are nice but it was chaos! Line to get in and the locker rooms are a nightmare. The springs had a lot of people in them but it wasn't terrible and you could still relax.

• 

  Andrew V.

  Traveler

  

  May. 23, 2023

  Harding Lake State Recreation Area

  Fantastic and Clean Campground, Great for Kids

  Harding Lake State Recreation Area is a shady and scenic site about twenty minutes from North Pole. The lesser-known and elder cousin of the many water-themed state recreation areas that trace the Richardson Highway from Fairbanks to Delta Junction.

  This large and accommodating campground boasts a boat launch into Harding Lake, a baseball field, a large group recreation area near the water, a self-guided nature trail, a trailer dump site, and unpotable bulk water--along with various bathrooms with trash receptacles. 

  Our family of 5 tent camped in May and had a fantastic weekend. The sandlot-reminiscent baseball field was a rare and magical find that suited our family's wiffleball addiction perfectly. It's like wandering through a moss grove and emerging into a boreal. baseball field. A subarctic Field of Dreams. I also hit two first-pitch homeruns off my 9 and 5 year old--which may or not be related to the magic of this field--but I choose to believe.

  The spacious and thoughtfully-designed campground certainly feels beyond its prime--old, unserviceable water pumps (perhaps not yet operable for the season); aspen saplings dotting the baseball infield; and many downed spruces over the nature trail. The posted maps are a little outdated. However, the campground boasted some of the cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen, anywhere-with a very friendly on-site host who came by to chat and kept the facilities in pristine condition.  The camping spots are well-placed along the loop to allow for varying degrees of privacy between sites.

  Mosquitoes are everywhere in springtime Alaska--please let me know when you find a campground in a birch forest without them. That said, bring all the bug repellant and preventative measures you can muster. I was swarmed by a biblical cloud of man-eating Culicidae when we first pulled in--but they soon dispersed and only became annoying for intermittent periods. 

  Overall this was a magnificent campground, quiet and clean, with plenty for the kids to do. Fantastic and memorable experience.

• 

  Samantha F.

  Guide

  

  Dec. 26, 2022

  Chena Hot Springs Resort

  Rustic Cabin Winter Getaway

  We came here a month ago in November for a last minute winter getaway. We rented the Forget-me-Not cabin. It’s a dry cabin with an outhouse, but it does have electricity and a DVD player. Just make sure you bring your own DVDs if you plan to use it.

  The cabin itself was very rustic and outdated, but a great size for two couples. The provided toaster caught on fire as soon as we turned it on. We told the front desk and they didn’t seem surprised.

  Obviously the Hot Springs was the main attraction. It was AMAZING! Definitely a must see. Their restaurant was really good too. No cell service, but WIFI in the main lodge.

• 

  Shari G.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 12, 2022

  Chena Hot Springs Resort

  Forest Camping + Hot Springs = Heaven!

  Chena Hot Springs offers a full resort experience with hotel rooms, cabins, restaurants, and a host of activities including soaking in the infamous hot pools. It also offers camping with and without electrical hook-ups in either creek side privacy or open lot RV parking. It is a world-famous destination with shuttle buses to and from Fairbanks daily. You will meet people from all over the world. 

  Camping and soaking are charged separately, as are any extra experiences like the Ice Museum (glad I did it, not sure I would again).  Vault toilets, rubbish and recycling bins, and potable water are all available in the campsite, flush toilets and showers are a part of the pool/hot springs facility. Hiking, biking, boating and fishing are all available close by in addition to the experiences offered by the resort. 

  The nearest services for groceries are about 45 miles back down the road toward Fairbanks, or North Pole, AK. We camped in the primitive area, which was lovely, forested and right along the creek, but the opportunity for solar power collection was limited by the trees, so plan ahead.  We parked in the main lot for awhile to recharge, then took our rig back into the campground.  Worked well!

• 

  M P.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 12, 2022

  Chena Hot Springs Resort

  Boondocking with plenty to do

  20 a site, dry. There are a few sites that have trees surrounding the sites, offering a bit of privacy. A few sites are open and face the resort and road. Potable water and dump station on grounds. 15 per adult (over 18, per day) to get into the hot springs. Pool and hot tub also available. Hiking trails, fishing in the Beaver Lake, and a tour of the ice castle. Restaurant/bar has great food and all of the workers were congenial. We enjoyed our time and will stay again!

• 

  Riley N.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 9, 2022

  Salcha River State Recreation Site

  Earthquake!

  We loved camping here! The river is so pretty and the mountains are beautiful. We were sitting in our van and all of the sudden there was an earthquake! Just a small one but it was kind of exciting. The sunrise was also beautiful over the water. The have restrooms, water pump, and a boat launch as well.

• 

  Riley N.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 17, 2022

  Chena Hot Springs Resort

  Such a cool experience

  Defined try the ice museum tour it was so cool! The appletinis are great too. The hot springs were so hot we definitely recommend visiting in cooler weather to really enjoy them

• 

  Reba C.

  Scout

  

  May. 15, 2021

  River Park Campground

  Peace and serenity

  The location that we were at was so peaceful and serene. We enjoyed cooking out. The location is very convenient. We simply enjoyed the seclusion.

• 

  Jill T.

  Legend

  

  Nov. 2, 2020

  Chena Hot Springs Resort

  A Winter Wonderland

  We had so much fun at Chena Hot Springs. There is so much to do! Aurora viewing, cozy cabins, hot springs, pool, Ice Museum, dog sledding, dining, and so much more.

  The resort could use a major refresh and there were busloads of tourists when we visited in November, but it is still worth checking out if you can.

  The aurora is spectacular and I would love to go back for a trip in the summer.

• 

  Tanya B.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 6, 2020

  Chena Hot Springs Resort

  So worth it-kids not allowed in Hot springs

  Kids cannot go in the hot springs This campground is first come first served.  If you don’t mind walking, then you can stay anywhere in the campground.  If your main reason for visiting is the Hot Springs, then closer to the resort is best.  If you are traveling with children, they can go in the swimming pools but not the hot springs them selves which is really why we all go here.  I have been here in the dead of winter in the bitter cold and there is nothing like jumping in the Hot Springs even if its overcast.  The springs are AMAZING.  There are plenty of things to see if you are traveling to or from Anchorage.  The pipeline runs up the Richardson Highway, you can tour the ice house, and if you have time a stop at the world famous Skinny Dick’s Halfway Inn is worth a stop and a t-shirt.   Cell Service: no Internet: no 2020 Cost: $30 Distance from Anchorage: 426 miles Bug Factor (1 minimal to 10 too many to enjoy): 5  

• 

  Ioan P.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 21, 2020

  Salcha River State Recreation Site

  Nice !

  Very clean campground. The staff was very nice as well. The lake view very nice. Friendly people.

• G

  Gibson O.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 14, 2020

  Harding Lake State Recreation Area

  Incredible!

  I go there every year for a couple months, pretty nice

• 

  Samantha M.

  Ranger

  

  Jun. 15, 2020

  Harding Lake State Recreation Area

  Mosquitoville

  This was a nice campground with a friendly couple hosting. The spaces were spaced out with privacy trees. I think we scored one of the best spots number 11. The mosquitoes were unbearable outside and in 73 degree weather you needed to be completely covered. The water was so high that the only water play area was the boat launch area. The kids still had a great time but I would check the water level before coming back. There is a dump station, water, and plenty of bathrooms throughout the campground. It is a party campground for water activities so expect noise well after 2am. There are no electric hookups. The closest store is about 10 minutes down the road and has your basic essentials. There are other lakes to visit within an hour radius which makes this a fun location. There is a baseball/soccer field on site which was a lot of fun for the children to run off so energy and it wasn’t very buggy. The water pump was turned off due to Covid19. There’s a water toys rental by the boat launch that offers paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards $25/2 hours or $35 for all day. They are only open Friday-Sunday or by appointment.

• 

  Ioan P.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 15, 2020

  Chena Hot Springs Resort

  Very nice

  Very relaxing place

• J

  Javier V.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 15, 2019

  Chena Hot Springs Resort

  Amazing!

  I live here and completely recommend a visit our way :)

• J

  Jared T.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 9, 2019

  River Park Campground

  Short proximity to Fairbanks

  Wonderful campground if you are looking to get away from town but still in close proximity. Well maintained camping area, with options to camp on an island in the middle of the lake.

  They offer boats and paddle boards for day use at a reasonable price! Fun to take the family for a day or a weekend.

• 

  Stacey C.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 28, 2018

  River Park Campground

  Great wooded campground!

  We've been here twice. Once in late August in 2014 and again in July 2016. We were delighted how this campground (in a city) feels like wilderness. In late Aug it was getting cooler and sparsely populated. In July, it was pretty crowded but the camp sites aren't right on top of each other and there is foliage around. The flush toilets, drinking water and picnic tables was great. It's close to supermarkets too.

  While we only have good things to say about our stay in August, There were some shady people hanging around in July just kind of...lingering. There were 3 of us and all felt that our cars/tents were being scoped out occasionally. Perhaps that was the case, or perhaps we were just paranoid but throwing it out there so you all know that opportunists seem to be lurking about here.

• 

  Samantha M.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 22, 2018

  River Park Campground

  Wooded area

  I’m not sure if we planned the trip around the largest mosquito outbreak ever but this is the first time I wanted a head net! :) the bugs were terrible but the campsite wonderful. The campsites were private, plenty of site options, bathrooms conveniently located and water to play in near by. This campground had a roped off beach area where people played, lounges, kayak/canoe and spent all day. If we came again I would bring more beach appropriate items. The playground and bike/walking trails were great. The kids thought it was fun to watch the many tadpoles!

• 

  Samantha M.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 22, 2018

  Harding Lake State Recreation Area

  Swim area

  This was a campground with a fun water area for the children. There was a boat launch and water that we could walk very far out in with the children. There were about 70-80 site options, nice walking/bike trails, picnic areas, fire rings, water play area. It felt like there were plenty of camping options with privacy. There were plenty of opportunities to view wildlife as moose came running through our campsite. There was a field through the woods that people were playing softball in late which was fun to watch. I feel like this was a pretty basic campground but the children loved getting into the water.

• 

  Dave G.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 7, 2018

  River Park Campground

  Only Issue was the mosquitoes; nothing but solace

  Campground Review:

  This was the first two nights of our 8 night Alaska trip. The campground is called Rosehip, but it's apart of the Chena River State Recreation Area. We arrived late (midnight) and were surprised that even a week before July 4th, that there were only 3 other campers at the campground (all RV's). The wooded areas are composed of mostly white birch which we took its bark when we saw downed trees. Birch bark is great for starting fires. The pit toilets are maintained and do not smell. For water, there are several pumps that you have operate yourself, but our only issue with it was the color of the water, which comes out a little yellow/orange. For two days, we used this site as a base camp to venture out to hiking (Angels Rock) and to Chena Hot Springs, which is about an hour away. Both are worth it. No encounters with wildlife except for the mosquitoes. This site is your typical state run facility and was clean, equipped, and cheap.

  Product Review:

  As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products. At Chena River State Recreation Area, I tested gear from Snapbuds.

  The Snapbuds are magnetized clips that, when attached to your headphones, aim to make it easier to coil the headphones up and make them tangle-free. I give the Snapbuds a 2/5 for a couple of reasons:

  1. The instructions were a little difficult to follow; it took me awhile to realize that there are two versions of the Snapbuds, but the instructions include both, and I only had the one kind.
  2. When I attached the snapbuds to the headphones in the locations that were specified, I tried to clip the snapbuds together, but several of the clips wouldn't close; the tiny plastic wings that help close it permanently, would easily bend the other way, making it impossible to secure the clip. Out of the ten clips that come in one package, I could only attach 6. (see picture below)
  3. After attaching as many of the clips that didn't break, I tested out the tangle-freeness of the product. I found that after attaching the buds together via their magnets, that the headphones still weren't effectively secured with the buds attached (see last picture).

  I understand how this product works and in some cases, why it's needed, but the Snapbuds were shipped to me with the white Apple headphones. I've been using these headphones for several years now and really haven't had them tangle, even if I bunch them up in my hand and stuff them in my pocket. Perhaps the Snapbuds would be more effective on non-Apple headphones?

• 

  Kayla A.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 3, 2018

  Harding Lake State Recreation Area

  Quiet, clean campground in Alaska

  Beautiful campground with much to do all around. The Kenai Fjords National Park is close distance.

• a

  anna C.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 21, 2018

  River Park Campground

  Beautiful, quiet campground!

  We camped here just this past week and it was wonderful. There are a variety of campsites, some large enough to accommodate an RV, as well as well-maintained restrooms, well-water, a dumpster, and every site had a picnic table and fire pit with grate. Some of the campsites are on the river and some are across the street from it, but there is access to the Clearwater river from the day use area for all visitors. The campsite is still close to town if you need supplies, about a 20 minute drive. This is now one of my favorite sites in the state. A quiet, beautiful spot to camp, engage in water sports, and fish.

• 

  Sara S.

  Legend

  

  Jun. 30, 2016

  River Park Campground

  busy but good campground

  We wanted to experience a couple campsites in the area near Fairbanks and this was the most 'central' that we found to all the attractions in Fairbanks. It was busier than expected and the sites/bathrooms were typical of a state park. Lots of unique things to do in the park. This is a place I would recommend if you just wanted to have a bit of nature while exploring the city and surrounding attractions, not an 'out in the wild experience.'

• K

  Kathy P.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 16, 2016

  River Park Campground

  Chena River Wayside

  The Chena runs for a very long way through AK and there are several campgrounds near this river. This particular campground is centrally located in Fairbanks and has everything you need. Toilets, water, camp sites, covered gazebos, volleyball nets and even a boat launch. It is a great place for an overnight stay or a quick trip with the kids.