Best Tent Camping near Palmer, AK

I needed a place to stay between Anchorage and Glen Allen. I was shocked this campground wasn't in Dyrt (found it on google). We actually ended up staying here two separate times- on our way North east and coming back South West. This State Rec Area is extremely clean. It's nice that there are tent sites separated from their RV sites (nothing worse than being in a tent and stuck hearing an RV's generator or TV all night). The RV lot is basically a parking lot but without many other options it would probably do the trick for an RV. The tent sites in the back are great. They are huge and have privacy between them. There's a vault toilet which is kept clean. No services or amenities but it's not far to the town of palmer. Despite being right off the state route, it stays pretty quiet from the road traffic because of all the trees. There's a pay station to pay when you arrive and pick your site. This was perfect in the shoulder season and in-between cities. I apologize I didn't get any campground pictures to post!

Due to construction this campground is closing for the 2020 season. Reservations are required 2 weeks in advance. (907) 240-9797 or reservations@greatholidaycampgrounds.com Gates close you in from 8 am - 8 pm. Rentals for canoes and paddle boards.

With only 10 sites they fill up quickly.

RV and tent camping sites.

Well maintained trails but a walk to the cabin or yurts. Accessible by foot year around. No horses or bikes allowed on trails. Tent camping along the Crow Creek Pass Trail.

Many choices for length of hikes depending on which loop you choose. This is bear county so bring your bear bells. Loved the hikes so much we decided to rent the cabin for my birthday.

This campground has nice size sites for RV's. If you are tent camping (I am), there's one pull in to 3 sites so you are close to strangers if your friends don't come. The toilets are clean but smell awful. One can also hear quite a bit of road noise and military aircraft all day because the campground is near both. Nice quick stop. $20 a site per day.

This campsite fills up fast! We happened to get the last available tent campsite right on the water and it was GORGEOUS! This is the more peaceful campground in Hope (there's another one in town that seems more fun but more noisy too). They have large picnic tables, one spot seemed handicap accessible even. There was a nice fire pit that helped for us novice fire makers. The camp hosts were super helpful and informative. There are two great hikes nearby within driving or walking distance. A perfect weekend getaway from Anchorage! You'll adore this beautiful spot.

Bird Creek camp/ RV/ Cabin site is a beautiful 25 minute journey south of Anchorage. Far enough away but close enough to town if you feel the need to get back to the city.

We rented a cabin 95$ a night and took aprox 12 young ladies in the chilly month of November! Daring, I know! But state restrooms made sharing a bathroom easy :)

there is a small wood stove and wood supplied for each cabin which was amazing! A lil kitchen area is built in for your food prep pleasure- must bring stoves and water. No electricity so bring your choice of lighting. Also I recommend headlamps for winter months as bathrooms are a small treck from the secluded wooded cabins.

Bunks are built in and a loft makes for plenty of room.

There was a beautiful table with a map in the top- pretty awesome!

There is a walking trail and it's close to the inlet for beluga whale watching and if your lucky a bore tide!

Rv sites and tents sites available as well- plus table and fire pits at each site.

This is a wonderful campground in the town of Palmer. We have a 26’ travel trailer and are connected to 30 amp electrical. Sites have plenty of trees and grass. Public rest rooms with showers.

40 electric sites 47 tent

Right off the Highway this RV park is not bad.  Although I prefer my camping more rural.  If you are visiting and just want to start one way out of Anchorage this could be a choice for you.  With everything from cabins, to full RV hook ups, to dry RV camping, and lakeside tent spots this is a good option for a first stop on a great Alaska adventure.    Because of it’s proximity to Anchorage, Wasilla, and Palmer you are not far from anything.  There is good cell and internet service here as well and stores to get everything you need.  Spaces are close to each other and I would not recommend spending my entire camping trip there, but they are a good option if you need something close.   Cell Service: Yes Internet: Yes Distance from Anchorage: Bug Factor (1 minimal to 10 too many to enjoy): 45 miles

We visited here for two nights with our children in our tow-behind trailer. There wasn't a lot to do for the kids, but we were able to enjoy the grassy area, make s'mores in the community fire pit, take a nice walk next to the golf course nearby, and make laps around the campsite's driveway. They otherwise played card games, read books, and made "nature recipes". It was quiet except for birds rising with the sun and airplanes landing at the nearby airport. The kids loved watching the planes land. It was nice having access to the toilets for when we had more than one person needing it at the same time. Another great part was the very good quality water, electric, and sewer hookups! The entire grounds was very well maintained, impeccably clean, and provided a very nice place to enjoy the breathtaking mountain views that rural Palmer, Alaska has to offer! Unfortunately I did not get enough photos!

The Palmer-Fishhook road will take you to the east entrance of Hatcher Pass and connects with the Willow-Fishhook road. Once you leave Hatcher pass going towards Willow there are tons of options for roadside camping. There is everything from riverside camping to wooded areas. Small spots for a camper van or larger spots that can house a number of RVs towing ATVs. Watch for posted signs but if there are no postings then make it yours. The drive is AMAZING!!

Cell Service: spotty Internet: spotty 2020 Cost: Free Distance from Anchorage: 83 miles Bug Factor (1 minimal to 10 too many to enjoy): 4-7 bring bug dope

This place is a secret wonder, just off the Glenn highway north of Anchorage. The autumn color was spectacular here!  It was raining and cold in early September, but simply gorgeous.

The first-come, first served sites are on the smaller side and very wooded; with lots of space in between sites, but not a lot of open canopy. This was a bit of challenge for our rooftop solar, but we used portable solar suitcase on an extension cord to capture some sunlight. 

The bathrooms are simple, but clean, vault toilets.  Water is available at spigots located throughout the campground loop. The lake offers lots of stunning recreation opportunities for flat water paddling and fishing -- careful, the lake can kick up some pretty mean chop during windy afternoons. 

Hiking on the Twin Peak trailhead is just around the corner, and cycling along the main road could be a great way to get some hill climbing exercise, as it’s a steep road up to the lake from the Glenn.  If you are visiting the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, this is a great close by campground (about 30 miles away).

We loved that this campground had the feeling of a remote, wilderness campground but all within an hour’s drive of Anchorage. There is one local tourist ice cream shop just a few miles back down the road, which offers food, showers, and laundry. It is only open during the summer months. Further afield the suburban area around the interchange between the Glenn and Parks Highways has all of the services campers need about 30 minutes to the north of the campground.

We were hard pressed to find a camping spot in Girdwood, but we found this one to have nice scenery and uncrowded. There were some pretty small sites and we were lucky to find one suitable for an 8 person tent. It sites in a really beautiful spot near the Crow Creek Gold Mine. Being from Alaska, we are used to mosquitos and flies, but our experience here was quite traumatic. We set up after the sun started setting and were up in the morning before the sun rose over the mountains. It was all well and good until the sun was shining bright and the temperature rose. As soon as it got warm, an insane amount of flies came out. We are not talking 10-15, we are talking 50-75 each on my husband and I. We couldn't not pack up fast enough! As we packed up, the kids stood there smacking flies off of us and each other. I am not sure if the insane amount of flies are just from the warm winters and really warm summers or what. It might be worth staying here again if we check the fly situation first.

I have lived in Alaska almost 3 years and still not get over the beauty of this state. Chugach State Park is no different. If you have never been to Alaska and live to hike or camp, you need to plan a trip up here!

Great spot to stay for a nite or two. Bring your fishing pole as you're close to the river. Enjoy what Alaska has to offer!