Public Alaska campgrounds have a variety of accommodations. Many are primitive, some are more advanced. Most private campgrounds have better facilities and a higher cost. Alaska Campground Owner's Association (ACOA) endorses their member campgrounds as upholding a high quality in true Alaskan style.
Whether you are looking for a place to have lunch or a place to camp for a week or two (with or without an RV) there are multitudes of choices, in both public and private campgrounds.
Almost all public Alaska campgrounds have rivers, lakes or other waterways close by, so mosquitoes are a factor. Fishing and hunting is allowed in certain areas with proper licenses and within regulations.
Below, is a list of agencies that maintain public campgrounds in Alaska, the type of facilities you can expect, and some rules that are common to all. At the bottom of this page are links to Alaska campgrounds pages by region.
State of Alaska Campgrounds - owned and operated by the State or its Concessionaires. See individual campground pages for possible reservation information. Generally includes these types of facilities and has these rules:
- Hand pumps are generally provided for drinking water, mounted on cement pads. A few have pressurized water.
- Vault type latrines available at most. A few have flush toilets.
- Campfires must be built in fire pits or designated areas.
- Dumpsters or trash cans. In wild areas, bear-proof trash cans are available which must be used to maintain safety from bears. Keep all camping areas clean.
- Some have dump stations. All RVs and campers must use dump stations either at the park or elsewhere. No dumping on open ground or in rivers.
- No cutting of live trees or shrubs and no picking of wild flowers. Berries and mushrooms may be picked for personal use.
- Many camping and park areas are surrounded by private property. Be courteous and stay off private property.
- Dogs generally must be kept on leashes within campgrounds.
- Cultural and archaeological artifacts must remain undisturbed.
- Discharge of firearms or lighting fireworks is generally prohibited in campgrounds.
- When campgrounds are near towns and villages, quiet hours are generally from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
- All Terrain Vehicles or Off Road Vehicles are restricted to trails marked for them. On the Kenai Peninsula they are restricted to saltwater beach areas or designated trails.
- In most State Parks, you must park in designated parking spaces. Some allow parking along rivers, access roads or fields.
- State Parks generally have fees for camping, parking and boat launches. A few do not. Specific fees are mentioned with each individual park. If a park has a conessionare that cares for it, their contact information is also listed.
- Because small aircraft are a common means of transportation in Alaska, airstrips are sometimes near parks and some allow aircraft landing on lakes.
- Many parks have boat launches but check the rules for that park. Some allow motors, others do not.
- Pick up brochures or get information on each park you enter, as rules vary from park to park.
National Park Campgrounds - See individual National Parks on the Alaska Parks page for information.
BLM Campgrounds - Usually have wooden outhouses and fewer facilities. Not as well developed as State Park campgrounds.
US Forest Service Campgrounds - Have campgrounds for tents to RVs along major highways, but usually no hook-ups. There are also tent campsites in remote areas of the Chugach State Forest along Prince William Sound. Some campgrounds require reservations and only have a few sites left over, on a first come, first serve basis.
You can check for needed reservations and make them at the National Reservation Site. It can be used for reserving campgrounds and remote cabin rentals on federal lands.
US Fish and Wildlife Service Campgrounds - Most have minimal services and are free. Those with fees are inexpensive. No reservations are taken for any of these.
Contact Information - Individual area offices are also listed on the individual campgrounds listing pages.
A Remote Alaskan Wilderness
For State of Alaska Campgrounds (SRS and SRA sites):
Director's Office, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, 550 W 7th Ave, Suite 1380, Anchorage, AK 99501-3561. Phone: 907-269-8700, Fax: 907-269-8907
Southcentral Region: Public Information Center, Department of Natural Resources, 550 W 7th Ave., Suite 1260, Anchorage, AK 99501-3557. Phone: 907-269-8400 AND TDD - 907-269-8411, Fax: 907-269-8901
Northern Region: Public Information Center, Department of Natural Resources, 3700 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99709-4699. Phone: 907-451-2705 OR TDD - 907-451-2770, Fax: 907-451-2706
For Alaska Campgrounds in National Parks - Alaska Pulic Lands Information Centers :
Southcentral Office: 605 West 4th Avenue, Anchorage AK 99501. Phones: 907-644-3661 OR 1-866-869-6887
Northern Office: 250 Cushman Street, Suite 1A, Fairbanks, AK 99701. Phones: 907-456-0527 AND 907-456-0532 TTY
Eastern Central Office: Milepost 1314, Alaska Highway. Mailing: P.O. Box 359, Tok, AK 99780. Phone: 907-883-5667
For US Forest Service Campgrounds: 3301 C Street, Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99503. Phones: 907-743-9500 AND 907-743-9475 TTY; USFS Campgrounds generally need reservations.
For Bureau of Land Management Alaska Campgrounds:
Anchorage Field Office: 4700 BLM Road, Anchorage, AK 99507-2599. Phone 907-267-1246 OR 800-478-1263, Fax: 907-267-1267
Glennallen Field Office: P.O. Box 147, Glennallen, AK 99588. Phone: 907-822-3217, Fax: 907-822-7335
Fairbanks Field Office: 1150 University Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99709. Phone: 907-474-2200 OR 800-437-7021
Individual Campgrounds Listings:
Northern Region - Alaska campgrounds from the Alaska Canadian Border, following the Alaska Highway (continuation of the Alcan) to Fairbanks and vicinity, the Taylor Highway east to Eagle, the Steese Highway and the Dalton Highway.
Delta Junction Region to Valdez - Alaskan campgrounds from the start of the Richardson Highway at Delta Junction to Valdez, the close sites on the Denali Highway, and those on the Edgerton Highway.
Central Alaska to Anchorage Area - Alaska Campgrounds on the Tok Cutoff Highway, small portion of the Richardson Highway, the Glenn Highway to Anchorage, then the Seward Highway to the end of Turnagain Arm.
From Anchorage to Seward - Alaska Campgrounds on the Seward Highway from Portage to Resurrection Bay on the east side of the Kenai Peninsula.
Start of Sterling Highway to Homer - Alaska campgrounds on the Sterling Highway, from junction of Seward and Sterling Highways (at Tern Lake) to Kachemak Bay on the West side of the Kenai Peninsula.
Start of Parks Highway to Fairbanks - Alaska campgrounds on the George Parks Highway, from the junction of Glenn and Parks Highways in the Palmer-Wasilla area, all the way to Fairbanks.
Hope this helps you find the right Alaska campgrounds while traveling Alaska's Highways. Since many of these campgrounds are part of our park systems, you might want to find out more about the individual Alaska Parks...
Return to Top of Alaska Campgrounds - General Information Page
Return To Camping in Alaska Page
Return Tips for Backwoods Alaska Vacations Home Page
