Tyonek is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Tyonek is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near Tyonek, AK. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
Captain Cook State Recreation Area is virtually undiscovered by most visitors to the Kenai Peninsula. It offers a peaceful setting of forests, lakes, streams and saltwater beaches.
Discovery Campground is located within the Captain Cook State Recreation Area, which is virtually undiscovered by most visitors to the Kenai Peninsula. It offers a peaceful setting of forests, lakes, streams and saltwater beaches.
Wildlife you may see during your visit includes moose, bear, coyote, wolves, Beluga whales, harbor seals, beaver, muskrat, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, arctic and common loons, golden-eye ducks, mergansers, thrushes, warblers, and jays.
Discovery Campground is operated by park concessionaire Alaska Recreation Management (907) 522-8368, or (907) 242-0859.
$20 / night
Located at 349 Centennial Park Road in the city of Soldotna behind the cities visitors center, Centennial Park is a fee-based, public-use park and campground designed with access to fishing and the Kenai River in mind. No Reservations Accepted, Campground Host Onsite. Soldotna's Centennial Park Campground gets very busy when the salmon are running in the Kenai River. Fishermen descend upon the banks of the Kenai River as thousands of salmon make their way up the river within easy casting distance of the campgrounds large fishing areas.
$21 - $26 / night
The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge guarantees breathtaking scenery and an unforgettable experience for visitors staying in one of the 14 rustic cabins located in Alaska's Kenai Peninsula. Getting to the cabin can be a thrilling adventure in itself, as most of them require the use of boats, aircraft, hiking or skiing. The grudging withdrawal of the Harding Ice Field has helped to make the lands of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge a "miniature Alaska." Today, the refuge includes examples of every major Alaska habitat type. The refuge is an Alaska in miniature in its diversity of wildlife, as well.
Eager anglers can pursue chinook, sockeye, coho and pink salmon; as well as Dolly Varden char, rainbow trout, and arctic grayling. The refuge is also home to brown and black bears, caribou, Dall sheep, mountain goats, wolves, lynx, wolverines, eagles and thousands of shorebirds and waterfowl, not to mention the mighty Alaska-Yukon moose that the refuge was originally established (as the Kenai National Moose Range) to protect.
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge spans 1.9 million acres along the western Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. The region includes the western slopes of the Kenai Mountains, forested lowlands along Cook Inlet, rivers, lakes and wetlands. To the east is Chugach National Forest and southeast is Kenai Fjords National Park.
For facility specific information, please call (907) 262-7021.
A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount. Customers will be charged a $10.00 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee if a cabin reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.
$45 / night
Diamond M Ranch Resort is located in the heart of the Kenai Peninsula. Winner of Trailer Life’s “Top 300 Parks in the US” Award, our goal is to help each guest have the Alaska experience of their dreams. Whether you want spacious RV sites with full hook-ups, gorgeous historical suites with a view, or a tent space with access to all the resort amenities, we have what you need–and strive to provide even more!
We are blessed to be situated on the bluff overlooking the famous Kenai River and Cook Inlet, between the town centers of Soldotna and Kenai. This is a central homebase for your Alaskan adventure with easy day trips to Seward or Homer.
Diamond M Ranch Resort was awarded “Outstanding Business in Tourism” for a commitment to excellence and active involvement in the local community. Your visit creates a ripple effect for good because we strategically reinvest in our community, especially focusing on at-risk youth. Check out Matti’s Farm for more information. With your help, our entire business also operates as green-ly as possible! Ask about how you can help conserve Alaska’s wild resources.
*Discounts are not available in July
$149 / night
$40 / night
Captain Cook State Recreation Area is virtually undiscovered by most visitors to the Kenai Peninsula. It offers a peaceful setting of forests, lakes, streams and saltwater beaches.
Discovery Campground is located within the Captain Cook State Recreation Area, which is virtually undiscovered by most visitors to the Kenai Peninsula. It offers a peaceful setting of forests, lakes, streams and saltwater beaches.
Wildlife you may see during your visit includes moose, bear, coyote, wolves, Beluga whales, harbor seals, beaver, muskrat, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, arctic and common loons, golden-eye ducks, mergansers, thrushes, warblers, and jays.
Discovery Campground is operated by park concessionaire Alaska Recreation Management (907) 522-8368, or (907) 242-0859.
$20 / night
Located at 349 Centennial Park Road in the city of Soldotna behind the cities visitors center, Centennial Park is a fee-based, public-use park and campground designed with access to fishing and the Kenai River in mind. No Reservations Accepted, Campground Host Onsite. Soldotna's Centennial Park Campground gets very busy when the salmon are running in the Kenai River. Fishermen descend upon the banks of the Kenai River as thousands of salmon make their way up the river within easy casting distance of the campgrounds large fishing areas.
$21 - $26 / night
Scout
Wonderful stay at 50 site primitive campground. Big rig friendly, clean, private sites. Clean vault toilets, pump for water, trash, no dump station. Lots of wildlife - moose with calves in cg. Great fishing in Cooks Inlet, Stormy Lake, and Swanson River all steps from the campground. Beachcombing and rockhounding on beach. Stunning views.
Scout
Rustic 50 site campground. Several sites suited to large rigs. Well kept campground with immaculate vault toilets. Fantastic views, great fishing, and trails. Beachcomb for agates, spirit stones, and wishing stones.
Scout
I had the worst experience camping experience of my life here. Noisy, filthy, and poorly managed. The lady who owns it is disrespectful and lazy yet asking a premium price. The sites are not private, the bathrooms are filthy. I recommend not considering this place unless you are dip netting or in noise at all hours not too mention the thievery.
ScoutI stayed here early 2024 season and will not return. The noise was horrible, no privacy between sites and water in few. Basically dry miserable camping at a premium price but the worst part was dealing with the matriarch of the village. The female owner is a rude disrespectful person, clearly uncomfortable in her own skin.
Scout
It’s crowded and I’m not even sure what to do because it’s a big mess but I’m gonna go ahead and do the same
Scout
Beautiful campground. Clean facilities. BUT the $23/vehicle/campsite killed the 5 stars this place deserves. Be aware that if you have a towed car or motorcycles with your camper they will charge you even though you are in one site. And this fee is not on the entrance sign nor the City of Soldotna website.
LegendRight on the Kenai river with a campground and boat launch. Tons of stores etc in Soldotkna minutes away to include a laundry mat five minutes away.
Road in is dirt and in good condition. They have people at the front that collect fees of people coming and goin. Lots of people coming through to use the boat launch, but you can't beat the beautiful turquoise of the Kenai river. Also, a beautiful mile or so trail along the river so people can pay $8 to park for the day. Plenty of restrooms and picnic tables. level camping spots and spots were nice and spread out so you aren't on top of your neighbor.
Also, close to Kenai Wildlife Refuge, a couple minutes away. So check out the visitors center and the trails off the visitors center. Well maintained and scenic!
Scout
If all you want is a place to sleep, you don't mind close together sites and no vegetation in between, then you are in luck. But we found a better place.
TravelerMostly dry camping with some full hookup spots. Nice fish cleaning station under a roof to keep you dry in the rain. There was firewood when I was there which we made use of, peaceful place to roast some marshmallows. The bathroom situation could use some work since it is an old place, but they were clean.
LegendTucked away off the main Kenai Peninsula roads, Captain Cook SP sees fewer visitors and offers campers a nice quiet way to spend a few days. While fishing might be the main outdoor activity here, walking along the rocky beach of Cook inlet can’t be beat.
The campsites are rustic and small, with just a few able to serve larger rigs. The road through the campground is winding and hilly so we’d recommend not bringing a long 5th wheel or bus in here. The vault toilets were clean and water was available through spigots located around the loop. Like all Alaskan State Park wells, they recommend that you treat, filter, or boil all water before consuming. The forest canopy made it a bit of a challenge for our solar system, but our portable solar suitcase was able to make up the difference by periodically moving it around to the sunny spot.
Hiking trails lead throughout the campground and down to the beach where you could walk for miles if you wanted. The views of Cook Inlet and the mountains of the western shore are stunning on clear days and the sunsets were incredible. Denali is probably visible occasionally. There was an “Alaskan boat launch," aka a 4-wheel drive road down to the beach where you could launch a small craft, canoe or kayak, and cycling along the roads is possible. There are ample fishing opportunities throughout the area, as well as companies which will take you further inland by seaplane to find your own isolated spot.
The closest town with full services is Kenai, and the larger village of Soldatna for mechanics, gas, groceries and restaurants.
Ranger
Mainly a large parking lot, no bathrooms this time of year. Beautiful right on the way, be careful driving on the sand especially at low tide it quickly turns to mud flats
RangerStayed at site 19, only a few sites down there is a marked trail (steep and slippery when wet) that goes down to the ocean. There are nice tables at the picnic area, not many water sources or bathrooms. Low tide is breathtaking, be careful of the mud flats, they can be like quick sand
Ranger
Only a handful of spots, I’ve only camped with a tent here, might be able to camp with a small camper here. No hook ups, does have fire rings and picnic tables
Traveler
Have stairs and have access to river to fish. Showers are coin operated and $1.50 for 7 minutes. Toilets are available. No standard picnic tables expect for deluxe sites. Campsite is right across Soldotna visitor center. Not very scenic but location is great!
Guide
Just what we needed for a quick night’s stopover. Very quiet and clean. We enjoyed a nice hike down to the river. Would happily stay here again.
TravelerWent down on a whim over the Fourth of July weekend, there were a few spots open on the 3rd but it was mostly cleared out by the 4th. Spots are a decent size, we have a Passport Ultralight 2650BH and had enough room to leave the truck parked in front of it and have plenty of space behind us for hanging out. Spots are also well spaced so you don't feel like you're on top of the next site like some places, and there was decent foliage to give a feel of privacy.
Pros: $20/night, there's outhouses and a fresh drinking water pump, good amount of space, short walk to the beach. AT&T had 5G coverage
Cons: Tons of devil's club, not super close to town (but we were ok with that)
Guide
Pros: This campground is right on Point Possession. Most spots have a view of the inlet, Mt Redoubt, and the Spur. Beach access is only a short walk away. There is a variety of different sized site, with plenty of room.
Cons: The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting. There was dead flies all over the ground, and no toilet paper. The sites, we’re great, but there wasn’t much privacy.
Ranger
Pretty loud campground with the trains and there was people fighting nearby (couldn’t hear it in the RV only when we tent camped). After the 2nd night the trains didn’t bug me anymore. Laundry abs restroom facilities. Staff was very friendly and helpful
RangerGreat place to stay for a few days while fishing. We only slept here as we spent most of the day fishing and it was perfect for our needs. It wasn't crowded and we had everything we needed.
Guide
Had a great view. Most campsites along the water have decent launches to the water. The further down the road, the more challenging the launch. There are a few campsites along the backside with zero access. We were virtually alone most of the weekend. The sites were slightly overgrown and a little buggy. But once we started our fire, they quickly disappeared. Also, having mosquito coils or thermacell is recommended. More gnats than mosquitoes. But seriously no fish to be caught in this lake. We didn’t see any topwater action(no fish jumping) at any point. Go there if you just want to have fun in your kayak, sup, or if you have kids. They’d enjoy it.
ScoutExcellent
LegendThe special use area was open for Subsistence fishing - and made for an easy place to camp outside of Kenai. Not really a scenic site, but efficient with trash and porta potties. Most other campers were local with big set ups for the fishing days.
GuideWe stayed for 5 days in June. The fishing access was great. The staff keep this places very nice. I don’t know if it is just because they are clearing out all of the Bettle killed spruce, but they give you a real bundle of firewood for $6. I thought I would carry 2 bundles back to camp, but had to go get a wagon. It lasted us 4 nights. The spaces are nice and very green. Did not feel like your normal gravel lot.
TravelerNice campground. Busy on weekends. Near town. Camp host from Mississippi (there are 2) is an ahole. One of those who lets a little power get to his head ( you know the type). I thought it might just be me but after talking to close to a dozen other campers everyone had had a run in with him. He lives to find a reason to yell at you for no reason. Wants to make sure you have a terrible time for some reason
Legend
This hidden gem is first come first serve and worth it if you can grab a spot. The lake is perfect for a quiet kayak just waiting at the waters edge to see wildlife. There are normal amenities here with pit toilets. But the view is wow.
RangerGreat time and place to enjoy one of the better places I’ve been in a long time
RangerCapt cook state park was a great time relaxing. I’m soo happy I discovered this little gem
Camping near Tyonek, Alaska, offers a unique experience surrounded by stunning natural beauty and plenty of outdoor activities. Whether you're into fishing, hiking, or just soaking in the views, there’s something for everyone.
Camping near Tyonek, Alaska, is a fantastic way to connect with nature and enjoy the great outdoors. Whether you're fishing, hiking, or just relaxing, you'll find plenty to love about this beautiful area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Tyonek, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Tyonek, AK is Captain Cook State Recreation Area with a 4.3-star rating from 8 reviews.
What parks are near Tyonek, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 parks near Tyonek, AK that allow camping, notably Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and Chugach National Forest.
