Palmer's campgrounds are situated between the Matanuska and Knik Rivers, surrounded by the Chugach Mountains at elevations ranging from 200-350 feet. Summer camping season typically runs May through September with daytime temperatures averaging 60-70°F, though mosquitoes are abundant near water sources. Many campgrounds provide mountain views with varying degrees of tree coverage.
What to do
Kayaking and swimming at Finger Lake: Located 15 miles from Palmer, Finger Lake State Recreation Site Campground offers extensive water recreation opportunities. "Great place to stay for the day or weekend if you love the water. Not too many sites but still a great little campground. The campground is at the start of one of the great canoe trails that ends at Wasilla Lake," shares Kristina G. The lake provides excellent fishing for those seeking to catch dinner at camp.
Wildlife viewing excursions: Venture to Eklutna Lake Campground in Chugach State Park, about 40 minutes from Palmer. "This is a great place to see bears! Moose.... Foxes. The waters are clear and the landscape is so lush. There are a ton of flies though in the summer. Especially next to all this water. Mosquitos are aggressive at night," warns Carly S. Bring binoculars and adequate insect protection.
Trail networks for hiking: Matanuska River Park Campground provides accessible hiking trails with river access. "Very Family friendly. This campground has lots to offer... great hiking. Just off the Matanuska River with trails down to the river. Very convenient to town. Hosts were great," explains Randy M. Morning hikes provide better wildlife spotting opportunities before daily foot traffic increases.
What campers like
Mountain backdrops from campsites: Mountain View RV Park offers spectacular scenery from most sites. "What a view!! This is a surprising RV park in the valley. With amazing views, Showers, laundry, and picnic tables at each site there's nothing missing from this RV park," notes Tanya B. The best viewing spots are furthest from the tree line for unobstructed mountain panoramas.
Clean facilities: The Springer RV Park & Campground maintains well-kept grounds and amenities. "The campground is very well kept. All the facilities (wc, showers, laundry) were spotless and looked nice," reports Kristiāna D. Many campers appreciate the on-site laundry facilities after multi-day outdoor adventures.
Lake access for fishing: Lake Lucile Campground offers convenient water access despite its proximity to town. "Great all around, Great Lake. Good trees," says Chris W. Another camper adds, "Minutes away from the amenities of a small city. Not much privacy between spots but there are some trees. There's a lake with some small walking trails which are nice in the morning."
What you should know
Airport noise affects several sites: Several campgrounds near Palmer experience aircraft noise due to proximity to airports. "This is a nice little spot but there's two drawbacks; The campground lies just at the end of a small plane airport so there's almost constant noise. Secondly the restrooms close at 10pm," notes Scott T. about Matanuska River Park Campground. Noise-sensitive campers should research site locations carefully.
Variable site spacing: Site proximity varies significantly between campgrounds. "[Lake Lucile Campground] is pretty basic, and cheerless, but did the job for a night or two. It has a great location, just off the Parks Highway in Wasilla, and can be very quiet," explains Shari G. Some campgrounds offer greater privacy while others feature parking-lot style arrangements.
Dog policies at pet-friendly campgrounds near Palmer: Most campgrounds permit pets but enforce strict leash rules. At Big Bear Campground, "All the amenities you would need including laundry. Don't plan on playing fetch with your dog. They will enforce the leash rule within seconds," warns Murray G. Additional pet fees may apply at some campgrounds.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several dog-friendly campgrounds near Palmer feature playgrounds for children. "Nice family campground close walk to lake however the campground could use some love. Trimming the weeds back, clearing the water area of weeds, etc," notes Jeanne C. about Lake Lucile Campground, which also offers fenced dog areas beneficial for families with both children and pets.
Water activities for kids: Fox Run Lodge & RV Campground provides lakeside access ideal for families. "Come for the beautiful lake, stay for the Thai food. Super friendly host and gorgeous area. Our RV door opened up to a view of the gorgeous lake," shares Erik J. The on-site restaurant offers convenient dining options when cooking at camp becomes tiresome.
Budget-friendly options: Some municipal campgrounds offer lower rates. "Best part is the price. $10 for dry camping and $20 for electric! Also, there's a fenced dog park for dog lovers and playground for kiddos," says Abigail about Lake Lucile, making it one of the more affordable dog-friendly campgrounds near Palmer.
Tips from RVers
Electrical hookup availability: RV sites with hookups vary in amperage and availability. "Matanuska River Park campground $20 to dry-camp. Water station and sani-dump usage included. There are also some sites with electricity - a few more dollars but extremely close together. Saw a few with overlapping awnings," reports Kevin H. Sites with electricity tend to be more closely spaced at most campgrounds.
Site lengths and arrangements: The Springer RV Park accommodates larger rigs but site arrangements vary. "When we made our reservations online, they asked for the exact length of both our RV and tow vehicle. We were definitely assigned one of their longer pull-throughs, as we could center our rig on the pad for the utilities—well-placed near the middle—while still dropping our patio and parking our truck on either side," explains MickandKarla W. Larger RVs should confirm site dimensions when booking.
