Best RV Parks & Resorts near Tenakee Springs, AK

Sitka Sportsmans Association RV Park provides full hookup sites with electric, water, and sewer connections for RVs near Tenakee Springs. The park features 30-amp electrical service, drinking water access, and sanitary dump facilities. Hollywood Farms RV Park in Gustavus serves as another option for motorhomes traveling through the region. Mendenhall Lake Campground in Juneau accommodates larger vehicles with big-rig friendly sites, 50-amp electrical hookups, and water connections, though it operates seasonally from May to September. Sites are equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, with both pull-through and back-in options available. "This might be one of the best traditional campgrounds we've ever stayed in with some of the most stunning views in our backyard."

Throughout the Tenakee Springs region, RV travelers should prepare for limited cell service in many locations. Auk Village Campground offers more primitive RV camping without electrical or water hookups at individual sites, though drinking water is available within the campground. Most RV parks in the area require advance reservations, particularly during summer months when cruise ship traffic increases demand. Between May and September, campgrounds operate at full capacity, while many close completely during winter. A visitor commented that "spots tend to fill up quickly in July and August" at Mendenhall Lake Campground. Bear-proof food storage is essential at all locations, with bear boxes provided at most established campgrounds.

Best RV Sites Near Tenakee Springs, Alaska (20)

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 20 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent RV Camping Photos near Tenakee Springs, AK

1 Photos of 20 Tenakee Springs Campgrounds


RV Park Reviews near Tenakee Springs, AK

40 Reviews of 20 Tenakee Springs Campgrounds


  • Phinneaus B.
    Nov. 6, 2020

    Starrigavan Campsites

    Best campground in Sitka

    This is our hometown campground and we love it. It’s just a few miles from town, and within walking distance from the ferry terminal. Cell service is limited, so you can feel like you’re away from it all but still go in to work in the morning, or pick up some extra supplies.

    Our favorite sites are the three “walk in” sites on the ocean side. We love to have birthday parties with a couple other families out there. The walk isn’t far at all, but the bathroom is just a bit further.

    Our next favorite sites are the hike-in sites in the estuary side. These are a bit longer walk, but there’s a great little shared shelter with picnic tables, and the sites are so pretty and rustic feeling. There’s lots of trees but plenty of level sites, and they aren’t used much. Only bummer is that a new road is being built just behind this area, it’s hard to tell how disruptive that will be.

    Regular drive in sites are fine, there are a couple pull-through but most are pull-in. Each site has a fire ring and a picnic table, and they’re all pretty good and a short walk to water and pit toilets. There are also a couple of group sites with shelters that are great for bad weather camping.

    The campground is within walking distance of several nice, short trails, Old Sitka historical site & boat launch, and the shooting range and ATV trails. It’s pretty quiet and there is lots of wildlife- you have to keep your food abc other smelly things locked in your car or in the bear proof food lockers. You’ll definitely see bald eagles, and please don’t feed the ravens. Pink salmon run up the creek in August, you can catch them at the mouth.

    Check out my other review to learn about the cabin that’s in the same campground!

  • Lisa S.
    Apr. 26, 2019

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Great place to take scenic photos

    Excellent location on lake offering a spectacular view. Nice campground, cozy and only offers less than 70 sites. Full hookups are available at some. Picnic tables and fire rings are available at sites. There is also a dump station and restrooms available. Hiking trails are close. As is the Mendenhall Glacier accessible from the Visitor Center

  • Josiah P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2018

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Conveniently located & Beautiful

    Easy access to epic beauty from the airport. The glacier brings the temperature down significantly from the surrounding area ❄️ All of the campsites are furnished with picnic tables, tent pads & fire rings with grills. Water faucets & accessible vault toilets are provided, as are two accessible flush toilets and shower facilities. A dump station & trash dumpster are located on-site.

  • Bradee A.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 20, 2022

    Peterson lake campground

    Beautiful views

    4 spots with picnic tables and fire pits. Clean bathrooms and big trash cans that got emptied while we were there for 4 nights. Low GCI service. Water spout that didn’t work for us. Beautiful central location for the Kenai peninsula. Highly recommend.

  • J
    Jul. 28, 2017

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Staring Into The Past

    After a month of kayaking in Glacier Bay, stumbling off the ferry and taking the bus to the campground Mendenhall campground felt like luxury. Without a doubt the best hot showers I've ever had camping. The proximity to the glacier and the views from around the lake are astounding. Mt McGinnis on the west and Mt Bullard and Thunder Mountain to the East. The shark fin and the towers piercing out of the ice field. It's all jaw dropping regardless of what direction you turn your head.

    The campground is walking distance to multiple trails including the west glacier trail that approaches the glacier or splits off and climbs to summit Mt McGinnis as well as the visitor center. Also big heads up there were the famed ice caves but those have long collapsed and as of my visit no new caves have formed.

    Bear boxes are at each campsite as well as fire pits. By far my favorite established campground in Juneau. Only downer in my opinion is having to reserve online first.

  • Angie G.
    May. 27, 2024

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Glacier View in the Tongass

    After being unable to find good reviews of campsites here, I took what I could find and gambled on a site. We were in tent site 021. It was a gorgeous site, had a large picnic table, bear box, water spigot between us and the site next to us, fire pit, clean pit toilets and a clean bath house. This campground has backpacker sites, RV sites, and car sites as well. We had a short walk through the moss on a trail that led down to Mendenhall Lake. It had a gorgeous view of the glacier. We enjoyed listening to all the birds and it was a pretty quiet campground.

    There are a few sites close to boggy areas and they can be mushy and muddy, especially after a rain. There is a map on the reservation website where you can kind of see it. Our site was fabulous.

    The trails are not far from the campground, so they are walkable.

  • James L.
    Jun. 17, 2018

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Mendenhall campgrounds

    This place is great!!!! Close to town yet out in nature.

  • Sierra  S.
    Jul. 13, 2018

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Crystal blue just for you

    Must see beauty in Juneau. This beautiful site is not only spectacular but conviently close to town. After setting up camp you can explore the trail to get close to the glacier and see beautiful waterfalls!

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2022

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Big Surprise!

    We’ve been full-time camping in our vintage camper for over10 years, and in that time we’ve taken some “camping trips” without our rig, Hamlet. This time we hopped on the ferry from Haines down to Juneau and pulled out the tent for a few days in this amazing campground. We were just looking for the least expensive place that was close to the ferry terminal in Auke Bay, but struck gold in the hills just above. This might be one of the best traditional campgrounds we've ever stayed in with some of the most stunning views in our "backyard."

    The campground is laid out along the southern bank of Mendenhall Lake, and offers drinking water, flush, and vault toilets and hot showers -- at no extra charge. Did I mention that camping here will only set you back $10 per night? We cannot remember such an inexpensive camping experience that offered showers. These $10 sites don’t offer electrical hookups, so bring your solar panels and solar generator or power bank and you’ll be all set. 

    The western trailhead is a short walk from the campground, but the Mendenhall Visitor's Center on the east side of the lake is just a few miles away. There are many trails, photographic viewpoints and opportunities to paddle on this side of the lake, but parking is competitive because it is such a popular area- including with the busses from the cruise ships docked in town. So, get there early. We enjoyed paddling on the lake where we got great views of the glacier and Nugget Falls, but keep your distance from icebergs. We watched one crack and roll not too far from where we were paddling, had we been closer I might not be writing this review. 

    The Mendenhall Valley has all the amenities you could expect from the Juneau suburbs, grocery stores, malls and restaurants. Downtown has a few more options as well as Douglas Island, just across the bridge.


Guide to Tenakee Springs

Camping options near Tenakee Springs, Alaska range from remote forest cabins to waterfront sites across the Tongass National Forest. The region experiences heavy rainfall, with summer temperatures averaging 50-65°F and winter lows frequently below freezing. Most campgrounds and cabin rentals require advance booking through the US Forest Service reservation system, with seasonal closures common from November through April.

What to do

Whale watching from shore: From Auk Village Campground, visitors can spot marine wildlife without booking expensive tours. One camper noted, "I went for two hours and saw 30 ish breaches. It was incredible."

Clay pigeon shooting: Sitka Sportsmans Association RV Park offers both outdoor and indoor shooting ranges. According to one visitor, "Bring your favorite over under and plenty of clay pigeons. Or you can use the indoor range if weather isn't permitting."

Glacier viewing: Mendenhall Lake Campground provides access to multiple glacier viewing trails. A camper advises, "Photo point trail and Nugget Falls trail are a must and have the heaviest foot traffic from 10am to 2pm. There's way more seclusion on the East Glacier trail and the Trail of time which are both longer."

Kayaking: Multiple campgrounds offer kayak access, with some visitors finding rental options nearby. At Auk Village, one camper reported, "There was a guy renting kayaks out of the back of a truck which made our whole day."

What campers like

Private campsites: Auk Village features secluded sites with natural barriers. A visitor described, "Each site is very private, ours was built up on a little ring of rocks with stairs leading down from the car."

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Multiple campgrounds provide wildlife observation opportunities. At Auk Village, a visitor noted, "It is not unusual to find deer walking through the campsite," while another mentioned seeing "otters, seals, whales, cool ducks, starfish, etc." at the nearby shore.

Fishing access: Several campgrounds offer proximity to fishing opportunities. One Auk Village visitor mentioned, "If you have a fishing license you can fish off the beach," while at Moser Island Cabin, a camper reported, "There is great crabbing across the bay and decent shrimping within a 10 minute boat ride."

Historical sites: Campgrounds often include access to cultural landmarks. An Auk Village visitor highlighted, "Great historical site, an ancient village with historical marker as well as a beautiful totem nearby that tells an interesting story."

What you should know

Bear safety requirements: Bear activity is common throughout the region. At Moser Island Cabin, a visitor warned, "Be on the lookout for bears, there was multiple signs of them so don't leave anything outside." Most campgrounds provide bear boxes.

Limited connectivity: Cell service can be unreliable or nonexistent. At Starrigavan Campsites, a local noted, "Cell service is limited, so you can feel like you're away from it all but still go in to work in the morning, or pick up some extra supplies."

Seasonal closures: Most campgrounds operate on limited schedules. Mendenhall Lake Campground runs from May 15 to September 13, while Auk Village operates from May 1 to September 30.

Reservation requirements: Advance booking is essential, particularly for cabins. As one camper at Mendenhall Lake stated, "You must reserve a spot online in advance."

Tips for camping with families

Sheltered options for rainy days: Hollywood Farms RV Park provides nearby community attractions for days when outdoor activities aren't feasible. A visitor shared, "The Fireweed Gallery, Tea and Coffee House was lovely. We went there twice and met the mayor."

Choose walk-in sites for better views: At Starrigavan, a local recommends, "Our favorite sites are the three 'walk in' sites on the ocean side. We love to have birthday parties with a couple other families out there."

Bring activities for children: The unpredictable weather means having backup plans. At Mendenhall Lake Campground, families enjoy the "crystal blue" lake when weather permits, with one visitor noting, "This area is exceptional, everywhere you look is a postcard-worthy scene."

Consider accessibility needs: Site layouts vary significantly. For Auk Village, one visitor advises, "If you need accessibility check with the rangers/website for the best options."

Tips from RVers

Limited services at most rv parks in Tenakee Springs, Alaska: Few campgrounds offer full hookups. One camper at Moser Island noted, "Bring all your own camping gear," which applies to most sites in the region.

Consider alternatives to bringing your RV: When visiting Glacier Bay National Park, a Hollywood Farms RV Park visitor suggested, "Many people choose to leave their RVs in Juneau and walk on the ferry to Gustavus and stay at the lodge in the National Park. The lodge has a shuttle for guests arriving by plane or ferry."

Supply limitations: RV travelers should bring necessary supplies. At Starrigavan, a camper advised, "You have to keep your food and other smelly things locked in your car or in the bear proof food lockers."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular RV campsite near Tenakee Springs, AK?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Tenakee Springs, AK is Sitka Sportsmans Association RV Park with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find RV camping near Tenakee Springs, AK?

TheDyrt.com has all 20 RV camping locations near Tenakee Springs, AK, with real photos and reviews from campers.