Best Campgrounds in Alaska: 2026 Guide

Alaska does not do half measures. Campgrounds here sit at the Arctic Circle, on the edge of tidewater glaciers, in temperate rainforests, and along rivers so thick with salmon that bears fish within sight of your tent. The scale is staggering — the state is twice the size of Texas with a fraction of the roads — meaning every campground you reach feels earned. If you want camping that reminds you how wild the world still is, Alaska is the only answer.

Why Alaska Stands Out

Summer brings 20+ hours of daylight, turning every campground into an all-day playground. The Kenai Peninsula offers the most accessible camping with mountains, rivers, and coastline packed into a manageable area. The Dalton Highway pushes north beyond the Brooks Range to tundra campgrounds where you may be the only visitor. Southeast Alaska's Tongass National Forest — the largest in the country — wraps Prince of Wales Island and Juneau in temperate rainforest. No other state offers this range, and the wildlife is unmatched: moose, bears, eagles, and whales are routine sightings.

Top Campgrounds to Explore

Cooper Creek South

Along Cooper Creek and the Kenai River near Seward, this beautiful wooded campground offers sweeping mountain views and proximity to world-class salmon fishing on the Kenai Peninsula.

Granite Creek

Set in the Kenai Mountains on Turnagain Pass near Girdwood, surrounded by wildflowers and spruce forests. About an hour south of Anchorage, making it one of the most accessible mountain campgrounds.

Arctic Circle Campground

On a beautiful mixed-forest hillside right at the Arctic Circle along the Dalton Highway. Fully renovated in 2021, with views of the Kanuti River valley and surrounding hills.

Galbraith Lake Campground

The only campground along the Dalton Highway north of the Brooks Range. Tundra camping with stunning mountain views — as remote as drive-in camping gets in the United States.

Eagles Nest Campground

On Prince of Wales Island in the Tongass National Forest, surrounded by temperate rainforest and muskeg. Wildlife viewing, fishing, and canoeing on Balls Lake await.

Auk Village Campground

Just 15 miles from downtown Juneau and 1.5 miles from the Alaska State Ferry terminal, Auk Village offers the rare combination of wilderness camping with easy town access in Southeast Alaska.

Bertha Creek Campground

A first-come, first-served campground near Girdwood on the Kenai Peninsula. Its Turnagain Pass setting delivers wildflower meadows, mountain creeks, and easy access from the Seward Highway.

Brushkana Creek Campground

At milepost 104.5 along the Denali Highway near Glennallen, this remote campground offers vast interior Alaska scenery with fire rings and picnic tables at the edge of the Alaska Range.

Planning Tips

The camping window is short — mid-May through mid-September for most campgrounds, with peak conditions in July. Mosquitoes are legendary from June into July; bring head nets and DEET. Bear-proof food storage is mandatory virtually everywhere. The Dalton Highway campgrounds are truly remote — carry extra fuel, food, and a satellite communicator. Weather changes fast and dramatically; prepare for rain and cold even in summer. Many Alaska campgrounds are first-come, first-served, so arrive early or have backup options.

Find More

Browse all Alaska campgrounds on our Alaska camping page, or explore the full campground directory to plan your next trip.