92 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Sutton, Alaska range from established facilities to dispersed sites along rivers and in the surrounding wilderness. The Matanuska River Park Campground offers both RV and tent camping with electrical hookups, showers, and toilets, operating from May to September. Kings River provides a more rustic dispersed camping experience along the riverfront with multiple camping areas at the confluence of the Matanuska and King rivers. The region also features several RV parks with full hookups, including Mountain View RV Park and The Springer RV Park & Campground, while backcountry options exist in the nearby Hatcher Pass area.
Most camping areas in the region operate seasonally from May to September due to Alaska's harsh winters. Developed campgrounds typically provide amenities such as drinking water, electrical hookups, and sanitary facilities, while dispersed sites offer few or no services. The Kings River area features multiple camping spots that accommodate various vehicle sizes, from large RVs to smaller vans, with some areas heavily wooded and others more open. A review noted, "There are actually at least 4 separate camping areas here at the confluence of the Matanuska and King rivers. The largest is on the more southwesterly corner and could accommodate at least a dozen rigs of any size."
Campers report mixed experiences regarding noise levels at various sites. While Kings River is close to the highway, many visitors appreciate that "road noise is shockingly light considering how close you are to the road. The river drowns out a lot of it, and being significantly below the road helps too." Several campgrounds near Palmer experience some air traffic noise due to proximity to small airports. The Matanuska River Park Campground receives praise for its family-friendly atmosphere with hiking trails, playground equipment, and river access, though some reviews mention the sites lack privacy. For those seeking mountain views, campgrounds like Mountain View RV Park live up to their name, with one visitor commenting on the "amazing views" that make it "a surprising RV park in the valley."
"Saw a few with overlapping awnings 72 is a great site, our 30 ft 5er and f250 fitted in fine, but some caution needs to be exercised when driving. Trees made Starlink coverage a bit spotty."
"RIGHT next to a cemetery. Had a dump station and water. No Mountain View’s and bustling on the weekend. Spots are close together, parking lot style but do have grass and picnic table."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"Trails to hike or play on the lake! This campground is situated with access to Eklunta Lake and boy is that perfect. Tons of campsites to choose from both double, single and handicapped."
"If you get there at the right time, there are a few sites with a view of the lake thru the trees. Requires a very short hike to get lakeside but the view is worth it."
from $5 - $100 / night
Check Availability"The bridge for the road above is located at the end of the area."
"Right off the highway but tons of room. There’s open spots, shady spots, and some close to the river!"
"Only down side is that there is a lot of private property around the lake so one would need to be aware of docking kayak/boat to go off trail hiking."
"Very clean campground right next to Finger Lake. Vault toilets were spotless, campsites were clean, host puts reserved tags up on your camp post."
from $25 - $100 / night
Check Availability"The bathrooms were all close by no matter where you stayed. There was a trail to take a walk by the raging river which was quick and fun."
"It was 20 mins away from NovaAlaska adventures in Glacier View and had a really nice river and little walking area (for kids and dogs)."
"Harchers pass is a very remote area with camping opportunities along the route from Palmer Alaska to the road to Denali. There are no amenities and few people in tge area."
"Explore mountains, glaciers and rivers and some of the most beautiful backcountry the state of Alaska has to offer"
"We visited here for two nights with our children in our tow-behind trailer."
"Conveniently located just outside Palmer Alaska, it is a perfect stopover location. Both the bath and laundry rooms are clean and well maintained."
from $50 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Friendly people, cute and quaint place, beautiful views of the lake, safe atmosphere, warm showers, right next to a state park. Definitely recommend!"
"A bit wide open and highway noise but on lake with laundry, showers, full hookups, firewood for sale, restaurant, matanuska lake access, long term parking too. Some sites have gorgeous lake views."
"It is not cheap but relatively standard for Alaska at $45 a night for two people in a single RV it includes Wi-Fi, full hook ups, and laundry/shower access."
"Off the beaten path in between Butte and Palmer, this was a nice find. The sites are parking lot gravel style but very clean and well kept."
"In the end, our stay had both frustrations and positives, with poor check-in and site issues offset by a helpful manager when we ran into problems."
"Favorite place we stayed at out of all locations on our trip. Cleanliest, coziest, well-taken care of place. Bathrooms and showers were 10/10."
GuideThe campground is clean and has nice grass, flowers and shrubs separating the rows of campers. Grass pads so get on an open to the sky site for sun and wind to keep it dry. Good potable water, dump for $6. Bathhouse leaves a lot to be desired. I couldn’t take a shower in there it was so flooded and muddy.
LegendIt's apparent that at one time this was a very nice campground. Unfortunately it has fallen into disrepair and is showing its neglect.
Perhaps the biggest problem with this campsite is how close it is to the main Highway and the amount of road noise.
As for the rest I will let the pictures and video speak for themselves.
GuideEnjoyed our stay here. Sites are all pull through turnouts and 40 have full hookups including sewer. Another 5 in the back have water and electric and also several tent sites. Sites are fairly level and you face the woods which is an enjoyable view. Each site has a picnic table and grill. Some sites bigger, some smaller and all fairly close together, sharing the sides of the gravel road.
Mosquitoes were out and about but also saw a lot of small wildlife and birds. And even small black bear ran across the road the day we pulled in.
Highly recommend if you’re able to get on base and need a stopover with full hookups. n
LegendA quiet exceptionally well maintained small private campground. Conveniently located just outside Palmer Alaska, it is a perfect stopover location.
Both the bath and laundry rooms are clean and well maintained. As of the writing of this review showers are $5 and laundry is $5 per load. The charge for both laundry and showers is done on the honor System and users are requested to go to the check encounter to pay for use after the fact. It should also be noted that due to the size of his campground the bathrooms are co-ed. This is not a political statement but rather a simple logistical fact. Parents with children are very strongly encouraged to go with them to the bathroom to avoid any unfortunate embarrassing situations.
As for the rest of this review, I believe pictures are worth a thousand words. Please see attached.
ScoutWe have now been misled by Dirt 3 times.
GuideNew campground only in their second season. Most work has been done on creating areas with fantastic view of Matanuska Glacier.
GuideAbout a mile off highway down a good gravel road. Four gravel areas able to accommodate any size rig. Some sites around the perimeter have fire rings. Pit toilets available.
TravelerStopped here for an overnight before heading into Palmer. Plenty of room to drive in with truck and tow behind 18 ft camper . Stayed right on the river bank
ScoutBeauty lake, lovely trail, great spot for a weekend getaway.
Dispersed camping areas near Sutton, Alaska dot the landscape along riverbanks and in backcountry wilderness. The region sits at approximately 500 feet elevation in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, with the Chugach Mountains creating a dramatic backdrop. Summer temperatures typically range from 50-70°F, while winter camping requires preparation for sub-zero conditions. Most campsites near Sutton are accessible from May through mid-September when snow and ice don't restrict access.
River activities: access: Kings River offers multiple camping areas where the Matanuska and King rivers meet. "There are actually at least 4 separate camping areas here at the confluence of the Matanuska and King rivers. The largest is on the more southwesterly corner and could accommodate at least a dozen rigs of any size," notes RVandJeepLife. The area provides excellent spots for fishing and water activities.
Hiking trails: varied terrain: Eklutna Lake Campground features extensive hiking options with different difficulty levels. "Twin peaks is a fun hike but pretty steep for kids. The view is worth the hike but be prepared," explains Samantha M. The campground provides approximately 50 campsites with basic amenities like toilets and water.
Wildlife viewing: bear country: The region offers excellent wildlife spotting opportunities. "This is a great place to see bears! Moose.... Foxes. The waters are clear and the landscape is so lush," shares Carly S. about Eklutna Lake. Pack bear spray and store food properly in designated lockers at established sites.
Mountain views: panoramic settings: Mountain View RV Park lives up to its name with exceptional scenery. "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," writes Tanya B. The best sites are positioned away from the tree line to maximize mountain visibility.
Water features: riverside camping: Camping along Kings River provides natural sound barriers from road noise. "Road noise is shockingly light considering how close you are to the road. The river drowns out a lot of it, and being significantly below the road helps too," notes RVandJeepLife. Most riverside sites sit on river gravel or dirt, with some directly on the riverfront.
Clean facilities: maintained sites: Matanuska River Park Campground receives praise for its cleanliness and maintenance. "Nicely arranged with well looked after grass, so you don't soil your RV," comments Andrea W. The campground includes both wooded areas and more open sites with electric hookups.
Seasonal limitations: winter closures: Most campsites operate from May through September. King Mountain State Recreation Area closes September 15. One reviewer notes, "This is a very nice and quiet campground with amazing views. This is a pretty primitive campground, so don't expect much for amenities."
Bug protection: summer insects: Finger Lake State Recreation Site campers warn about mosquitoes. "This campsite has showers and really nice, quiet spots in the woods. The only downside was the mosquitos which were terrible," reports Erica C. Bring insect repellent, particularly for evening camping from June through August.
Noise considerations: aircraft traffic: Several campgrounds experience air traffic noise. "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," reports Scott T. about Matanuska River Park Campground.
Playgrounds: recreation areas: Big Bear Campground offers family-friendly facilities. "The park had helpful and friendly staff, clean bathrooms, a nice laundry facility, and even a playground with a communal pavilion for people to gather round together," writes Courtney H. The campground includes fire pits and full hookup sites with grassy areas.
Swimming spots: lake access: Finger Lake provides swimming opportunities during summer months. "We didn't have a reservation but there are a number of first come first served sites. I would try to show up closer to noon after people are leaving those sites," advises Erik J., noting that non-reserved sites fill by 3 p.m.
Winter alternatives: snow activities: Hatcher Pass offers winter camping for adventurous families. "This is a great place to build a snow cave or do some winter camping. It gets cold so dress warm in the -20--40 range," advises Brad B., adding that the area offers excellent snowboarding opportunities.
Site selection: size considerations: King Mountain State Rec Area works best for smaller rigs. "We have a 18ft travel trailer and getting around was easy," shares Makayla O. However, another reviewer cautions, "We have a 28-foot camper. There were only about three spots worth a darn that would have fit us."
Hookup options: electrical access: The Springer RV Park provides full hookups with strategically placed utilities. "We were 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," notes MickandKarla W.
Satellite connectivity: tree coverage: Kings River camping areas vary in satellite reception potential. "Most of these would offer excellent Starlink and solar. On the northwesterly side are a half dozen sites mixed among the trees... Heavy trees mean little solar and obstructed Starlink," explains RVandJeepLife, helping RVers choose sites based on their connectivity needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds in Sutton, Alaska?
Sutton offers several excellent camping options in the beautiful Alaskan wilderness. Hatcher Pass Backcountry Sites provides a remote wilderness experience with stunning scenery along the route from Palmer to Denali. This area is popular with hunters, fishermen, and off-road enthusiasts, though be prepared with bear spray as this is true wilderness camping with no amenities. For water-based recreation, Susitna Landing Boat Launch & Campground offers riverside camping with boat access to the Susitna River. While technically not in Sutton proper, nearby options like King Mountain State Recreation Area and Matanuska River Park Campground are also worth considering for their scenic locations and access to outdoor activities.
What camping options are available near Sutton?
The Sutton area offers diverse camping experiences for all preferences. Nancy Lake State Recreation Site Campground provides excellent water-based recreation on a shapely lake with many coves to explore, perfect for fishing and boating enthusiasts. For those seeking unique experiences, Matanuska Glacier Adventures offers access to the spectacular Matanuska Glacier (though crampons are recommended for glacier exploration). Other options in the vicinity include Montana Creek Campground, which is great for fishing despite being near the busy Parks Highway. The region also features numerous backcountry camping opportunities and private RV parks, giving campers choices ranging from primitive tent sites to fully serviced facilities.
Is there RV camping available in Sutton, Alaska?
Yes, Sutton and its surrounding area offer several quality RV camping options. Fox Run Lodge & RV Campground provides convenient highway access with full RV hookups, dry camping, and even lakeside tent spots for those traveling with mixed equipment. Riverside Camper Park offers electrical hookups right on the Susitna River and is conveniently located next to Miller's, known for excellent ice cream. Other nearby options include The Springer RV Park & Campground, which features grassy areas and a community fire pit, and Pinnacle Mt RV Park, which accommodates big rigs. Most RV parks in the area are seasonal, typically operating from May through September, though exact dates vary by location.
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