Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Talkeetna, AK

site: close together. very little privacy. pets ok. many mosquitos. inexpensive. amenities: not many sites. a couple cabins available. attractions: hiking. great scenery. near Denali NP. I would go camping here again.

ThisSmall tent camping campground is nestled in the heart of Talkeetna. Close to all the action of this fun little town. Sites fill up in the heart of summer so come during the middle of the week to increase your chance of grabbing a spot. There is cell service but Internet is spotty.

This is remote camping you need to carry everything in and out dogs are welcome An this is remote camping you need to carry everything in and out dogs are welcome on a leash! Explore mountains, glaciers and rivers and some of the most beautiful backcountry the state of Alaska has to offer

This RV park has everything from cabin rentals to dry RV sites as well as a two-story cabin that sleeps up to nine people. It is an amazing little drive to this RV park and they are right next-door to the flying squirrel. The flying squirrel is a must stop they have fresh made bread’s and pastries local produce breakfast lunch and on Fridays and Saturdays from 4 to 9 PM they have wood fire pizza. The prices here are pretty standard and worth a shot if you were down towards Talkeetna.

We camped here in July 2019 and we had two families. We had tons of space for a 30ft trailer and two trucks and we liked that there was a small grass area for a tent. We had electric and water hookups and we even had cell service. Most of the sites seemed big and well spaced apart so you didn’t feel like you were on top of other people. The campground was very beautiful and clean and quiet. Even the pit toilets were clean and well maintained. We found the location to be excellent - both Talkeetna and Denali NP were day trips for us. We would highly recommend this campground.

Some of the best views of the tallest mountain in North America can be seen from hiking within Denali State Park, rather than the National Park itself.  We are so glad that we got this advice from our cousins before heading to Alaska!

The Byers Lake campground has nearly 100 campsites, offering the usual tent pad, picnic table and fire ring in a lovely setting. Vault toilets are close at hand in each loop, but the only well pump is located at the front of the campground, near the automatic pay station (credit card). None of the campsites offered electrical hook ups, so bring your solar panels.  The park has recently thinned the trees within the camping area, and we were able to charge our system by simply putting our portable solar panel out into the open. 

Another thing about Alaskan State Parks is that they all recommend that you boil, treat or filter the well water. This probably means that they haven’t had the water tested so user beware. We were here during the last week of July and though we did run into mosquito areas along our hikes, they weren’t a bother in the campground though –- not sure if they spray. 

Hiking, paddling and fishing on Byers Lake are easy to access. A seasonal adventure operator rents kayaks and canoes and offers rafting experiences on the nearby rivers. We saw our best views of the tall peaks about halfway up the Cascade trail, which was moderately difficult but easy to follow. This would also make a great start or end to an overnight backpacking experience along the Cascade trail. 

One of the best things about this campground is that it rarely, if ever, fills to capacity. While you can make a reservation, there is no need to– it even says this on their website, they have overflow spaces and can almost always accommodate everyone. So, if you have the time and you don’t get the weather window to join the 30% of visitors who get a view of the mountain, stick around for a few days to increase your chances. 

Nearby services are in the town of Cantwell to the north or Talkeetna to the south.

Overall We loved this site. Family plus dogs had a great time here. Got to see Denali on a super clear day so that's even better

Pros -spacious sites -trails with amazing views of Denali -plenty of maneuvering space for travel trailers

Cons -no water hookups at site. Currently as of AUG21 only one functioning water spigot at the pay station -missed the entrance but definitely user error there.

I really enjoy this campground. My dog got a tick here (yes a tick) 15 years ago when I stayed here so I have been coming for many years. The close proximity to the lake is nice. This is not a motorized sport lake or float planes landing that I have ever seen means you can paddle out without worrying about other peoples wakes. It also lets you float silently and gives you better opportunities to get some great views of the local wildlife.

This is a large 98 site campground with all different sized spots including Premium spots (bigger /close to the water).

Cell Service: spotty Internet: no 2020 Cost: $20 - $25 Distance from Anchorage: 76 miles Best sites: A2, A8, A20, A22, A26, A24 Bug Factor (1 minimal to 10 too many to enjoy): 4-7 depending on weather

Surprised that this was here. Really nice place.

Right on the Susitna River and right next to Miller’s which has the best ice cream in Alaska.

If you are looking to hook up to Electric and want an easy stop on the highway this is a great choice.

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. Mostly hunters and fisherman and off road vehicle 4x4s. This is remote wilderness. Be prepared with bear spray.

Excellent camp ground. a bit over priced but that alaska in the summer. we saw some free camping just north of here that would have rather stayed...but there was no sites available. so we stayed here showed cooked. We were here in July of 2015 and had a difficult time with it never really getting dark. so we made our way down to the creek and drank the night away hahah.

From the moment you step into a clean office, the staff are very friendly and answer all my questions. They even bring the fire wood to your site. We didn’t use the park bathrooms but I did se them cleaning them frequently. Great picnic area and even has basketball courts. We got a spot right in front of the river and it was Ana amazing awakening. This is by far one of the best parks I’ve seen in Alaska and prices are super affordable. Only reason is missing a 5* is because there is no R.V. dumping station and limited electrical spots.

Being born and raised in Alaska, I am disappointed in myself for only going to Nancy Lake for the first time in 2018. This is such a cool lake and very shapely. Lots of coves to explore as well as beautiful lake front homes to day dream about.

We spent a whole day enjoying the water, fishing and exploring. The camp spots are conveniently located next to the launch as well.

The restrooms were very well kept which is also a bonus when camping!