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Best Tent Camping near Seward, AK

224 Reviews

Kenai Fjords National Park and surrounding state recreation areas near Seward, Alaska offer diverse tent-only camping options with spectacular glacier and coastal views. Exit Glacier Campground provides 12 walk-in tent sites on gravel pads with communal cooking areas and bear-proof food storage. For more adventurous tent campers, Caines Head State Recreation Area features North Beach and Tonsina Point campgrounds, accessible only by boat or by hiking during low tide. Chugach National Forest also offers backcountry tent camping opportunities with varying levels of accessibility throughout the region.

Most tent campsites require specific preparation due to Alaska's unique conditions. Exit Glacier's tent-only sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations accepted. Campers must use the provided bear lockers as food storage in tents is prohibited. At Caines Head, primitive tent camping requires careful planning around tide schedules, as the coastal trail becomes impassable at high tide. Vault toilets are available at most established sites, but campers should bring their own toilet paper. Weather conditions can change rapidly, with rain common throughout the season, making waterproof gear essential for tent camping in this region.

Tent campers frequently report the solitude and natural beauty as highlights of their experience. One visitor noted that "spots are secluded and spaced far apart" at Exit Glacier Campground, with "the weather often much milder at the campground than in town." At Tonsina Point, campers can choose between forest sites for wind protection or beach locations with better views. The 2.1-mile hike in helps limit crowds, particularly on weekdays. Crescent Creek, located near Cooper Landing, offers another primitive tent camping option with large sites and food lockers. According to reviews, this area is "secluded and magical" with sites "pretty small for anything bigger than a sprinter van," making it ideal for backcountry tent camping experiences.

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Best Tent Sites Near Seward, Alaska (9)

    1. Exit Glacier Campground — Kenai Fjords National Park

    16 Reviews
    Seward, AK
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (907) 422-0500

    "Camping is free and no registration required, just set up in an open spot. Spots are secluded and spaced far apart. Sites are nothing but a gravel pad."

    "This is a nice little walk in campground. The sites aren't very far from the car and the food storage/shelter/eating area isn't far from the car either."

    2. Tonsina Point at Caines Head

    3 Reviews
    Seward, AK
    6 miles
    Website

    $5 / night

    "Tonsina Point Campground is the first campground, 2.1mi hike in from Lowell Point, on the way out to Caines Head/North Beach or is a great destination to camp on its own."

    "Hiking in, which we did on the way in. It is very important to check the tides, and it is recommended to avoid hiking along the beach once the tide reaches +3."

    3. North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area

    4 Reviews
    Seward, AK
    9 miles
    Website

    "WHAT YOU MUST KNOW: The campground is either accessible via boat or hiking in at LOW TIDE ONLY."

    "The vault toilets and covered group cooking/eating areas were in great shape and stayed dry.

    From the campground, we hiked up to explore the abandoned WWII fort, Fort McGilvray."

    4. Crescent Creek

    2 Reviews
    Chugach National Forest, AK
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (907) 224-3374

    "Tent camping works best here, sites are pretty small for anything bigger than a sprinter van.

    Very beautiful"

    "Set far back tons of privacy. #4 has a creek view, #9 and #7 were both also nice sites. Large sites great for tents however with food lockers. Watch for bear activity as we saw fresh Scat."

    5. Tern Lake

    2 Reviews
    Moose Pass, AK
    29 miles
    Website

    "it is more of a rest stop before leaving the y intersection to either Anchorage or to Seward from Kenai/Homer. Beautiful lake/mountain scenery though."

    "Couple little trails that hike around the lake. Bathrooms. Also has a couple mile service trail/off road trail that is a fun little drive. 4WD ONLY."

    6. Lower Skilak Lake Campground

    9 Reviews
    Soldotna, AK
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (907) 262-7021

    "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."

    "There is not charge for these spots and most have picnic tables and are right on the shore of the lake."

    7. Spencer Whistle Stop

    1 Review
    Whittier, AK
    42 miles

    "There are two group campsites that must be reserved through the Alaska Railroad 800.544.0552."

    8. Chugach Backcountry Camping

    2 Reviews
    Girdwood, AK
    49 miles
    Website

    9. Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground — Chugach National Forest

    Be the first to review!
    Whittier, AK
    42 miles
    +1 (907) 783-3242

    $35 - $65 / night

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Seward, AK

6 Photos of 9 Seward Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Seward, AK

224 Reviews of 9 Seward Campgrounds

  • Cody M.
    Jun. 10, 2021

    Exit Glacier Campground — Kenai Fjords National Park

    Quiet Seclusion

    Camping is free and no registration required, just set up in an open spot. Spots are secluded and spaced far apart. Sites are nothing but a gravel pad. A communal cooking, fire, and food storage area is provided. Non-potable well water. Clean vault toilets. Very quiet. The weather was often much milder at the campground than in town.

  • Tanya B.
    Jun. 28, 2020

    Spencer Whistle Stop

    All Alaska has to offer on train ride away

    2020 has modified service. July 3rd - September 7th.

    There are two group campsites that must be reserved through the Alaska Railroad 800.544.0552.

    Clean restroom facilities Bear proof food storage Picnic tables Fire ring

    Just remember pack it in pack it out on the train.

    Also available for a great day hike. At a $132 a person it is not a cheap hike.

  • V
    Sep. 19, 2018

    Seward City Campgrounds

    Tent camping area is great and near the water and the beach

    This review covers the Tent Camping Area near Waterfront park and Resurrection RV campground. Some spots have trees and provide some privacy. Tent spots have sand/gravel pads. Spots have picnic tables and fire pits. Dogs allowed but need to be on a leash. No showers but has a nearby restroom. If you want to take a shower you have to go to city center 10min = $2. $10 a camp spot and max of 2 tents. No reservations. First come first serve. Check out is at 12pm.

    Campground is near waterfront park that has a skate park and great playground for kids. There’s a paved path that goes along the water close to the campground. Walking, biking, and rollerblading is all possible on the waterfront path. Path runs from waterfront campgrounds all the way to the Sea Life Center.

    Check the weather before heading for Seward. It has a reputation for being rainy and tent camping in the cool rain isn’t fun.

  • Tanya B.
    Aug. 23, 2020

    Williwaw Campground

    Always bring a rain jacket

    Campground: Portage – Williwaw   So many nice things about this campground and the other portage campgrounds.  I always like to give the warnings but hope this does not keep you from coming here.  Be prepared for WIND.  I mean big wind.  Bring extra stakes if you are tent camping.  Be prepared for rain, lots of rain.  Be prepared for wildlife encounters.  I cannot tell you how many times I have seen black bear along this road.   It is centrally located between Anchorage and the Peninsula but has so many things to offer.  Trip through the Whittier tunnel is a definite.  If you are a hiker Byron glacier in good weather is decent hike.  If you have kids and even if you don’t then the Wildlife Conservation Center of Alaska is great way to get close to the biggest animals Alaska has to offer.   Cell Service: No Internet: No 2020 Cost: $18-$28 Max stay: 14 days Distance from Anchorage: 55 Best sites: Premium sites $28 – 20, 21, 30, 34, 41, 50, 57 Also good are spots 24, 25, 26, and 38 Bug Factor (1 minimal to 10 too many to enjoy): 5 if it gets sunny the bugs come out

  • Dave G.
    Jul. 7, 2018

    Seward Military Resort

    Great end to a wonderful trip

    Seward Military Resort was out last campground of our 8 night trip. We used the resort to set up our tent and venture out into Seward to go ice climbing on the nearby Exit Glacier (pictures and video below). The site is on the small side and really close to one other tent site and the yurts. No mosquitoes, people adhere to quiet hours, and it's close to a wealth of activities in Seward.

  • Samantha F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 18, 2024

    Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

    Campsite and gorgeous views were worth dealing with the bugs for for

    The 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.

  • Elizabeth G.
    Mar. 28, 2022

    Seward City Campgrounds

    Great Winter Camping Spot

    Stayed here for 1 night on two separate occasions in March 2022. It’s part of the Seward Municipal Campgrounds but Iditarod is the only part of the campground that is open for winter camping. Tent camping isn’t allowed so its Rv’s/trailers only. There’s no water or electricity but you have a portapotty that is very clean and a dumpster for trash. We stayed in slot 103 both nights because it’s the only spot that has a fire ring and a picnic table. The view in the morning is beautiful as you see the sun rise above the mountains and see the reflection in the water. This camping lot is at mile marker 0 of the Iditarod Trail which I think is really neat!

    Verizon cell service is great and it only cost $15 online to camp in the winter. This is the only campground I noticed that was open for winter camping in Seward.

  • Stacey C.
    Aug. 24, 2018

    North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area

    Beautiful Basecamp for exploring the Caines Head area

    WHAT YOU MUST KNOW: The campground is either accessible via boat or hiking in at LOW TIDE ONLY. It is a lovely hike along the coast with views of eagles, bears, glaciers etc. 5.1 miles one way from Lowell point. The campsite is free but parking is $5/day or free with your state parks pass.

    We found South Beach to be a wonderful place to camp. There are a few brand new wooden platforms that we set one of our tents up on, but there are lots of sites both in the woods a little way for wind protection but also along the beach and up on the grass before the beach. There are two bear bins for food. The one nearest us had a nice overhang shelter with 4 picnic tables for cooking/eating. It did rain so we appreciated having somewhere dry to eat and listen to the horror story from the group that ignored the low tide warning and were nursing their wounds from falling on the razor sharp rocks.

    No running water but there's a lovely stream for water filtering nearby. 2 outhouses- Warning, no TP. Bring your own!

    The trailhead to Caines head/Fort Mcgilvray is at the end of the beach by the abandoned pier and easy to find. Long story short (see the website), Fort Mcgilvray is an old abandoned WW2 fort that is worth the hike uphill to explore. Bring a flashlight. Really gorgeous views of the bay from the top. Great place for lunch at the old gun emplacements. There's even picnic tables at the lookout. There are a few other trails to explore and even a few days at the beach with a good book and a pair of binoculars would be some great R+R.

  • Les R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2024

    North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area

    Well maintained campground near hike to WWII fort

    Although we didn't camp here overnight, we ended up staying in the campground for a couple hours waiting out the rain. The vault toilets and covered group cooking/eating areas were in great shape and stayed dry.

    From the campground, we hiked up to explore the abandoned WWII fort, Fort McGilvray. Super interesting and much bigger than I expected! See the full hiking route here: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/alaska/caines-head-trail

    You have two options for getting here: 

    • 1. Hiking in, which we did on the way in. It is very important to check the tides, and it is recommended to avoid hiking along the beach once the tide reaches+3. See tide tables here: https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/noaatidepredictions.html?id=9455090&legacy=1 
    • 2. Water taxi, which we did on the way back. The water taxi that we took was priced was$50 one-way. Rainy weather is common here, but fortunately there are covered areas for cooking/eating.

Guide to Seward

Tent camping near Seward, Alaska offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in stunning natural landscapes, with various campgrounds that cater to outdoor enthusiasts seeking adventure and tranquility.

Tent campers should check out Exit Glacier Campground

  • The Exit Glacier Campground is a secluded spot with a communal cooking area and clean vault toilets, perfect for those looking for a peaceful retreat.
  • This campground allows for first-come, first-served camping, making it an ideal choice for spontaneous trips.
  • Visitors can enjoy hiking the nearby Exit Glacier trail, which provides breathtaking views and a chance to explore the stunning Kenai Fjords National Park.

Some prices for tent camping range from free to $5

  • Camping at North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area is free, but be prepared for a hike or boat ride to access this beautiful location.
  • The Tonsina Point at Caines Head offers free camping with no permit required, making it a budget-friendly option for adventurers.
  • For those looking for a more structured experience, parking at the trailhead for Tonsina Point costs $5 per day, which is waived with a state parks pass.

Explore local attractions like Fort McGilvray

  • The North Beach at Caines Head State Rec Area provides access to the historic Fort McGilvray, a fascinating WWII site that adds a touch of history to your camping experience.
  • Hikers can enjoy the scenic trails leading to the fort, offering stunning views of Resurrection Bay and the surrounding wildlife.
  • The area is rich in natural beauty, with opportunities to spot seals, porpoises, and even whales from your campsite, making it a memorable destination for nature lovers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Seward, AK?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Seward, AK is Exit Glacier Campground — Kenai Fjords National Park with a 4.8-star rating from 16 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Seward, AK?

TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Seward, AK, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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