The best camping near Chugach State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Chugach State Park adventure.

100% (5 reviews)

Explore the Eagle River and this exceptionally large park filled with mountains, glaciers, and forests.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Chugach State Park

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in Chugach State Park

the sky gave us a bit of a smile on our last night here

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Eagle River Campground

57 sites · RVs, Tents In Chugach State Park

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Bird Creek Campground

28 sites · RVs, Tents In Chugach State Park

Eklutna Lake Campground

61 sites · RVs, Tents In Chugach State Park

from

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Top-rated campgrounds near Chugach State Park

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North 40 Stays

7 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · Sutton, AK

Camp right on the banks of the Matanuska river while staring at the magnificent King Mountain, Pinnacle mountain, and Craig Mountain! Over 10 acres with only 5 camp sites! Close to Kings river and some of the best ATV trails in the State! The Matanuska river offers some of the best rock hounding in the area and when the river is low, kids love playing in the shallow river streams and sandbars! This is an adult, kids and dogs dream play area! Come relax and get away from the busyness of life!!

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Lulu's Glamping on the Knik River

7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents3 acres · Palmer, AK

Reconnect with nature at this unforgettable escape. Located on the river's edge of the Knik River in Palmer, Alaska, our glamping tents offer a unique experience. Unplug, unwind and kickback in our Stout canvas style bell tents. Each tent is stylishly outfitted with a queen size bed, linens, rugs, stylish decor and other amenities. You also will have your own smokeless Solo Stove with seating for two outside your tent. Only 45 minutes north of Anchorage, our location boasts incredible views with access to all things outdoor! There are shared porta toilets with foot pump sinks with soap for hand washing on site. There is one on demand outdoor shower! We have an outdoor kitchen with a BBQ grill, pots, pans, dishes, silverware, salt, pepper and other items for guest use. Half of the property is an adult glamping experience. Half of the property allows children, as long as you understand that we are located right on the river and children should be supervised. Our property is the perfect basecamp with easy access to hiking for all abilities; Bodenburg Butte, Lazy Mountain, Pioneer Peek and Pioneer Falls. Located right on the Knik River we can help you plan a day of fishing, kayaking or riverboat touring. Other local activities include ATV rentals, glacier helicopter tours, exploring the town of Palmer, the Alaska State Fair, a trip to the Reindeer Farm, Independence Mine State Historical Park, the Musk Ox Farm, horseback riding, touring our breweries, enjoying the local golf course, sled dog tours and so much more! Although we love pets, in order to keep tents clean and odor fee, pets are not allowed without permission. No smoking 🚭 Check in 4pm Check out 11am We ask that shoes be removed before enter the tent.

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Hideaway Camp

1 site · RV3 acres · Anchorage, AK

My wife and I have a single quiet spot on our peaceful wooded property on the Anchorage hillside on 3 acres. We can accommodate short duration stays of 1-4 days. We have household power and potable water available. We do NOT have an RV dump, although you can dump for free at the Holiday gas station about 10 minutes from the site. We have bear spray and bells available to loan at no charge! We have four dogs, and your quiet well behaved dogs are welcome. Depending on where you park you'll be able to access 1gb wifi from our house.

Jim Creek Blank Land

30 sites · RVs13 acres · Palmer, AK

This is blank land in the Buette area of Palmer, Alaska. No signs except for the address sign. Make your own spot. No amenities. Please take your own trash out. Enjoy your stay for just $10 a night. Near Jim Creek. Great fishing. A lot of trails for 4X4s and riding ATVs. Come park your car, camper, RV etc and enjoy Alaskan life at Jim Creek Blank land.

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Tent camping, kayaking, Alaskan fun

1 site · Tent5 acres · Big Lake, AK

This 5 acre parcel started off as raw land cover in downed spruce. The hosts have cleared and continue to clear, establishing easy to walk on trails to get from point a to point b so you can explore:) every year adding more edible vegetation with the hopes of a full blown food forest in the near future. Learn more about this land: Welcome to our Alaskan getaway! Come pitch a tent and enjoy the midnight sunsets and sunrises with a beautiful backdrop of the Alaskan sky. Our ideal location by the lake allows for swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding. We have seasonal gardens that you can pick fresh produce from - check with the host for seasonal vegetation. Feed the birds, get dirt under your fingernails, sleep in a tent, drive to the mountains (about an hour away!) and take a hike. . Enjoy Alaska, that's what this getaway is all about - we look forward to your stay! You cannot drive to the tent sites it’s park and walk but they aren’t far, 500ft at most. There’s no water on site but we can grab you a few gallons if you need. You will need to have contact with the host before coming as the neighborhood is gated!

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(5)

Opted Out Acre

5 sites · RVs, Tents1 acres · Willow, AK

Our property offers privacy for campers with a nice stream running through. We are near the Willow airport and the tracks for the Alaska scenic train, we do experience 2-3 short bursts of train noise (30 seconds- 3 minutes) a couple times a day. Overall, it's a very relaxing spot to enjoy nature My wife Kacie and I purchased this land in 2021 with the goal of creating a place where our family and others could enjoy nature while traveling through Alaska.

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The Glacier Breeze

2 sites · Lodging, RVs4 acres · Palmer, AK

The Glacier Breeze is located in Alaska’s beautiful Knik River Valley surrounded by breathtaking views of the Chugach Mountains. With the numerous adventures that you can take in the Knik River and Matsu areas, it makes for a perfect base camp. The property also makes for a great beginning or ending of your Alaskan trip with it being conveniently located a short hour drive from Anchorage. Why be in the city when you can be emersed in Alaska!

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Sunderland Ranch Farm Stay

2 sites · LodgingPalmer, AK

Legacy family land! Learn more about this land:Pitch a tent here at the Sunderland Ranch. We often have guests staying here or playing here for other events, but are happy to have you too! This will be as quiet or as experiential as you would like. You can schedule a trail ride or farm tour with our staff/family, or get out and walk the trails or around the ranch and enjoy Alaska at its best.

Booked 5 times

Historic Wharfsite at Sunrise AK

10 sites · Tents10 acres · Sunrise, AK

Learn more about this land: Sixmile Creek empties into Turnagain Arm next to this picturesque area. River rafting and fishing is nearby as well as the goldrush town of Hope just eight miles away. High tides twice a day can turn this into an island if they are over 29 feet. This property is about a half mile walk down a gold-rush era road to the wharf site of the gold rush town of Sunrise City. The buildings and tents of the approximately 10,000 miners who lived in this area are long gone. But the scenic views, peacefulness and quiet of this rugged area of south central Alaska are not soon forgotten. There are no paved trails or boardwalks. No crowds or hot dog vendors. Imagine fishing without crowds--catching pink and silver salmon or trout with awesome views of the Chugach National Forest. Don't expect amenities. This is camping outdoors in Alaska. There is a communal firepit with a portable firepit and grill that can be moved to whereever you set up your tent. Usually your group will be alone on your adventure here. There is nothing like this location anywhere else along Turnagain Arm.

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Clean Forest type camping

40 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Wasilla, AK

Learn more about this land:Family friendly our campground is called houston grass station campground and is located right next to the alaska railroad watch it go by wile you camp see you here thanks

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The Wilds

3 sites · Lodging200 acres · Fishhook, AK

Our off-grid property is situated on 200 private acres of beautiful Alaskan land. We have five miles of trails right out your cabin door and beautiful views of the Susitna River throughout. The Talkeetna Mountains serve as an incredible backdrop to it all. We live on the property, as do our array of animals. We have a family of geese and chickens who will welcome you with open wings, as well as two dogs and three cats. We operate off of solar and generated power and while the cabins do have limited electricity, we ask that you We are located just 55 miles from the Anchorage Airport, 12 miles from downtown Palmer and 14 miles from downtown Wasilla. Best of all, were just 2.8 miles from Government Peak Recreation Area and 10 miles from Hatcher Pass, so if it's adventure you're looking for, you're in luck! If you’re looking for a fun day trip, we’re just an hour and a half from Talkeetna and 3.5 hours from Denali. We've named our property The Wilds because it is wild! A large portion of our land is protected by a conservation easement, so it can never be developed. We cherish that responsibility and are excited to share the rawness of this land with you!

Wildwood Cabin

3 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents2 acres · Palmer, AK

Welcome to Wildwood! Discover rustic tranquility at our waterfront cabin. Enjoy private access to the lake & pond. Miles of trails mere steps away, offer limitless opportunity for land based recreational activities like ATV-ing. Room for extra tents, TT, or Campers. 15 mins from downtown Palmer, it's a serene escape w/ the comfort knowing modern conveniences are still nearby. Kayaks & paddleboards, life vests provided. Larger events, upon approval. Fees may apply over 4 people, dog friendly.

The best camping near Chugach State Park guide

Overview

About

This is no average park in terms of size or opportunity. Chugach State Park has nearly a half-million acres of wild space to explore, and is among the largest state parks in the country, loaded with creeks, rivers, lakes, glaciers, and mountain peaks. It’s also bordered by Prince William Sound with access to both the Chugach and Wrangell Mountains. Campers will find accessible campgrounds, cabins, trails, and roadways leading to prime areas for hiking and fishing. Convenient to Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer, and Girdwood, Chugach is great for a day trip from a basecamp in town or overnight camping trips.

Notable campgrounds

Best for unique lodging: Darell B’s Magical Mountain has a tree fort and amazing views in a mountain environment.
Best for glamping: Lulu’s Tents and Events has several plush tents with glamping interiors conveniently set on the Knik River.
Best for rugged camping: Jim Creek Blank Land is a blank slate with easy parking and plenty of elbow room.

Tips for snagging a campsite

The park has four campgrounds: Bird Creek has 24 campsites, Bird Creek Overflow has 40 campsites, Eagle River has 57 campsites, and Eklutna Lake has 50 campsites. Aside from group sites, all campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Arrive early during peak summer season to ensure you snag a site. Eagle River has a three-night limit, meaning it is more likely to have turnover. You can reserve the group campsite and tent platform at Eagle River ahead as well.
Public-use cabins are available for rent at several Chugach campgrounds. They are all reserved in advance and fill quickly during summer.
Private Hipcamps are a great alternative to first-come, first-served public campgrounds during the busy season. Reserve ahead to secure a site near the park.

When to go

Chugach State Park is a year-round playground. Camping is most popular during the summer season when trails are open to hikers, and Eagle River fishing is also excellent during this time. Even still, being convenient to Anchorage and several other communities means the park is accessible year-round. Skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and dog mushing are popular winter activities.

Know before you go

This is a large, rugged park with a remote interior. Visitors backpacking or traversing the far-off reaches should have excellent wilderness navigation skills and satellite communication systems for emergencies.
The park campgrounds are RV-accessible, most with a 35-foot length limit. Eagle River is the exception with no size limit for RVs.
All campgrounds offer toilets, water, and fire rings for visitors. ADA-accessible facilities are also present.
Permits are required for all commercial and special-use activities. Hosting any organized event at a group campsite will require a special-use permit.