If you're looking for a place to dispersed camp in Alaska, look no further. The Dyrt can help you find the best dispersed campsites for your next trip. Search nearby dispersed campgrounds or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Primitive camping alongside Exit Glacier road. The road is closed during the winter months. 4x4 recommended.
$50 - $90 / night
Scout
Saw two seaplanes take off from the lake (take the Southern spot for this).
Hwy is loud but manageable, train as well.
Recommendable overnight position on the way to SEWARD.
Scout
Spend two great nights at this site. It’s free to use and huge! Expect lots of gravel and bumpiness but it’s doable without 4x4 (we had no issues with our „Four Winds“ RV.)
There is a local who rents out his mobile sauna to people at this plays. He literally drops off a sauna and helps out heating it up and it’s all yours 😅 If you a sauna person, I can recommend: Feel free to check out: sewardsaunas.com
Traveler
You can camp anywhere in the DNR Recreational Area out in The Hills. Camp by the creek or up on one of the hills with amazing views. Wonderful area for foraging fungi and harvesting berries. Great Bear and Moose hunting area.
Please, Pack it in, Pack it out.
LegendI stayed here with a group of my friends in our sprinter vans for two nights. Campground was quiet both nights. There was plenty of space between each party, so it felt relatively private.
The little road can be hard to spot, we drove right passed it the first time. Driving from the road is BUMPY, you'll need a vehicle with high clearance.
We rented mobile saunas, and I highly recommend doing it, it was awesome!! Here is the info: https://sewardsaunas.com/
Because this is not a formal campground, but rather a special use area, keep the following in mind:
LegendMoose Pass Trailhead
As with most BLM trailheads, zut services. Big area, some shaded mostly unshaded but big enough to have your own space
Seaplanes take off from lake during the day - pretty awesome
No onsite services. Seward offers free dump and potable water - near their RV parks
Starlink, Visible/Verizon and Cricket/Att all good
Traveler
This is a small campground with individual sites. It has a lake with boat ramp access and is used frequently, during summer months. Campsites have firepits. Some sites can be quite muddy to get to. Very nice. No cell service at sites.
ScoutStayed 4 nights 6/4/23. Very close to Seward activities and Exit Glacier - Harding ice field hikes. Area can handle most size rigs. We have small pull behind trailer but had an Airstream and variety of other campers in the area. Entrance is next to a couple of large boulders but is wide enough to get through. Scenery was outstanding with snow covered peaks in all directions. We did see bear tracks and evidence of moose but didn’t see any when we were there. We highly recommend this camping location.
LegendBoondocking galore!!! It gets five stars for what it is. Beautiful spots right by the river and five minutes from Seward and shopping one way and five minutes from Kenai Fjords NP the other.
The entrance comes up quick and has huge rocks blocking part of the road. We blew by it the first time and said no way, but then we pulled over and I ran to see who was camping and surprisingly a bunch of bigger campers etc got back there so we gave it a go and we got thru better than we thought. You just need to take your time!
Big gravel like space but isn't level so you need to drive slow, but you can find a level spot to camp for the night. No amenities as you are boondocking, but well worth it for the night!!! Highly recommend!!!
Legend
You can not beat your surroundings and the view!! I would give it 5/5 stars for that..
I asked the guy at the counter if the Basecamp is private. He said yes. It's unfortunate that you have to drive down the terrible, McCarty road. It was bad. They just grated it and if we didn't have a raff adventure booked my husband would have turned around since we are hauling a camper. I'm surprised nothing broke but we still need to get back :(
Considering we are in the park, I wish they had more camping options. I gave it 3/5 stars as I'm comparing to other campgrounds...$35 for NO amenities is a lot.....if it was going to the national park to pay for the footbridge maybe my opinion would be different. You get a spot with no electric or water, no bathrooms, no trash. I asked the guy at the counter and he said "no trash is our biggest complaint". So $35 is a bit much for where we are, but since this is a once in a lifetime trip for us, I get it. We enjoyed the remoteness of the town and the idea of this small community. Usually when you end up in areas this remote, you end up with free camping or cheap camping via the national park service....
We biked five miles to Kennicott mine, we got picked up at footbridge for our raft adventure and it wasn't far to eat at "the potato" for lunch.
Ranger
Very great camping experience.
TravelerThis is an awesome spot to hang out when in the Seward area! There is tons area for lots of rigs. The entrance is pretty narrow so it might not be best for anything larger than a truck camper or van.
In the spot we were at the cell service was almost non existent. We had one tiny bar for AT&T and nothing for Verizon. On a Saturday in July it wasn't busy and everyone could spread out to have their own area.
It is very close to the National Park and town so it's great before or after a long day exploring
Legend
Such a great spot to camp on your journey to the arctic circle. there is a trailhead across the street and then on the other side of the street there is a spot right on the creek with a fire circle already made. The beavers are very active and we caught a few little trout here. Make sure you’ve got bug spray cause they’re BAD up here.
Legend
This spot is a parking lot outside of the trailhead. It’s really crowded. There is a bathroom on site and the drive up is not horrible. We made it up in our rear wheel drive van just fine. Want a bad spot just wasn’t anything very special about it.
Legend
We were the only ones here and tucked away behind all of the trees and fireweed. Road noise was mild and it got fairly dark under the cover of the trees. We didn’t even get out of our van because the mosquitoes were so bad though. We also saw two porcupines here as well.
Legend
We happened across this spot when taking a wrong turn. We loved it! Beach access through a short trail so we were able to explore and not a lot of road noise.
Legend
We stopped here on our way out of Chena hot springs and went fishing. We were the only ones there and it was so peaceful. We really enjoyed it.
RangerMile 48 pond access on Chena Hot Springs road. Two small lakes filled with fish. Busy on the weekends but empty during the week. Beautiful
Ranger
Great wayside, still in cell phone service. Clean rest stop, and detail  interpretive signs, some times the trash over flows though
Legend
Denali Highway is a paradise for dispersed camping. Nice location with great view
ScoutPrimitive dispersed camping. No facilities. Next to glacier creek. Salmon run Aug-early Sept. Google map Mineral Creek Rd, take it to end then keep going down gravel road. There's a car bridge to get to other side of creek. Pristine, please keep it that way!! Beautiful view of mountains.
LegendThe road after the sign is rough and a good 4 X 4 or ATV is recommended. This 7-mile hiking trail will take you to Lost Lake. After a 2-mile incline hike the trail opens up and levels off half way in.
The Forest service recommends that you camp on Lost Lake at designated campsites. This is bear country and some of the camp sites have bear boxes. There are also pit toilets but always pack your own TP. The Forest service ask that backpackers are strongly encouraged not to camp on the Lost Lake peninsulas so that tundra can grow back a reminder that FIRES ARE PROHIBITED in alpine areas.
Cell Service: at sign Internet: no 2020 Cost: free Distance from Anchorage: 110 miles Bug Factor (1 minimal to 10 too many to enjoy): 4-8 depends on weather
ScoutA 5 mile paddle from Whittier, AK. Watch the weather waves can build up quickly. A number of tent platforms, 2 toilets and a few bear proof boxes. From this camp ground it is time to "decide" which way you want to go as the sound really opens up to you. There is fresh water but boil or filter it first. I think I must have camped here at least 30 or 40 times, most of it before tent platforms, toilets or bear containers. I've camped here May June July August
Guide
Rugged & Beautiful! I was able to moore off-shore to enjoy hiking in the forest in addition to fishing & crabbing. This is a fantastic location & is nearing the end of the road North of Juneau, just past St. Terese.
Guide
Denali National Park and Preserve allows for backcountry camping. With that comes extreme risks as it is one of the most remote places that you can be. The National Park service does a wonderful job making sure that only a certain amount of people are allowed in each unit within the park. In this particular unit (north side of the Toklat river into the polychrome mountains) I saw the most wildlife I have ever seen while out backpacking. We found an animal spine, saw a moose, got turned around by 3 bears chilling in our potential camp location, and then at the end of the trip also saw 2 more grizzlies less than 30 feet away. Note; do not go here looking for bears, they are dangerous creatures and should not be harassed/seeked out in the wild.
If you do not trust your river crossing skills to the highest level, do NOT cross the rivers. My friend and I got stuck on the other side of the river with those aforementioned grizzly bears and had to camp an extra night in order to be able to cross the rivers as the water levels had risen. Backcountry adventures are inherently risky. Do not try them unless you are prepared. Bring bear spray, leave no trace, and ultimately experience the vast beauty that is Denali National Park.
