Tips, Tricks and How-to's for fun, comfy and easy trips!

Alaska destinations, parks and attractions

Are you going on a road trip to Alaska, looking for tips about the destinations so you and your party can enjoy it, be comfortable and not spend a fortune?

Here are some of the top destinations in Alaska and tips about visiting them

Top Alaska destinations

  1. Whale watching -
  2. Denali National Park and Preserve - Denali Park, AK. Denali is six million acres of wild land, bisected by one ribbon of road. Travelers along it see the relatively low-elevation taiga forest give way to high alpine tundra and snowy mountains, culminating in North America's tallest peak, 20,310' Denali. Wild animals large and small roam un-fenced lands, living as they have for ages. Solitude, tranquility and wilderness await. pond surrounded by green brush, reflecting a distant range of snow-covered mountains that are dominated by one massive mountain

National parks and monuments in Alaska

Alaska State parks and historic sites

State Parks

 See below for state parks trail maps.

Chugach State Park

Anchorage Hillside Trail System
Anchorage Hillside Bike Trail System
Bird Ridge Trail
Bird Valley Trail System
Chugach Bike Map
Crow Pass Trail
Eagle River Nature Center Trail System
Eklutna Lake Trail System
Falls Creek Trail
Flattop Mountain Trail Guide

Indian to Girdwood Bike Path
Indian Valley Trail Guide
McHugh and Rabbit Lake Trails
Peters Creek Valley Trail
South Fork Eagle River Trail
Thunderbird Falls Trail
Turnagain Arm Trail
Wolverine and Williwaw Trail System

Denali State Park

K'esugi Ridge Trail System North
Upper Troublesome Creek Trail

K'esugi Ridge Trail System South

Kachemak Bay State Park

Alpine Ridge Trail
China Poot Lake Trail
Emerald Lake Loop and Mallard Bay Trail
Glacier Lake, Saddle and Blue Ice Trail
Grace Ridge Trail

Moose Valley Trail
Poot Peak Trail
Sadie Knob Trail
Wosnesenski River Trail
Kachemak Bay State Park Map

Kodiak Area Parks

Shuyak Island Trail Map
Shuyak Island Kayak and Packrafting Routes

Caines Head State Recreation Area

Caines Head Trail

Alpine, South Beach, and Loop Trails

Chena River State Recreation Area

Angel Creek Hillside and Winter Trail
Angel Rocks Trail
Angel Rocks to Chena Hot Springs Trail
Chena Dome Trail

Compeau Trail and Colorado Creek Winter Trail
Granite Tors Trail
Stiles Creek Trail

Southeast State Parks

Point Bridget State Park Trails

Snowmachine trail maps

Big Lake Area
Caribou Hills South
Denali Highway
Juneau Area
Lower Susitna-Yentna Area
Petersville Area Trails
Yukon Quest

Caribou Hills North
Chena Area
Hatcher Pass Management Area
Lake Louise Area
Mid Susitna Valley Trails
Willow Area

Camping tips

Below is a list of state campgrounds available sorted by park area. Not all fees are listed on this page, so please check for additional campground fees on Alaska State Parks Facility Fees page prior to heading out on your camping trip. There are also private campgrounds in Alaska.

State campground fees:

Annual camping passes are no longer available. The program was discontinued in 2004.

  • Nightly camping: $10 to $45 per night
  • Daily parking: $5 to $10 per vehicle
  • Boat launches: $10 to $25 per day
  • Sanitary dump station: $10
  • Firewood: $10 maximum per bundle where available
  • Guided tours of historic sites: $6 to $30

See a listing of fees by facility. The state also has a Camping FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions page.

Non-camping annual passes:

  • Daily Parking Pass: $60
  • Boat Launch Pass: $150
  • Disabled Veteran's Annual Camping Pass - Free (Check eligibility requirements)

These passes are good for the calendar year and are honored in most state parks.

ALL CAMPGROUNDS ARE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED AND CANNOT BE RESERVED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED IN THE COLUMN 'CAN RESERVE CAMPSITES'. If there is a 'YES' in the column, click the 'YES' for more information.

Be sure to check the park open status before heading out!

Chugach State Park

Unit Name Fee No. of Campsites Can Reserve Campsites? Picnic Sites Toilets Drinking Water Trails Historical Features Boat Launch Fishing Cabins Nearest Community Location

Bird Creek Campground
RV OK!

$20

27

NO

 

 

 

Girdwood

Mi. 101.2 Seward Hwy.

Bird Creek Overflow
RV OK!

$20

20

NO

 

 

 

 

 

Eagle River Campground*RV OK!

$20

57

YES*

 

 

 

 

Eagle River

Mi. 12.6 Glenn Hwy.

Eklutna Campground &
TrailheadRV OK!

$20

58

NO

  Canoe Launch Available

2

Eklutna

Mi. 26.5 Glenn Hwy.

* = Indicates third party management; reservations are NOT managed by Alaska State Parks
RV OK! = RV/Camper Parking

 

Northern Area Parks

Unit Name Fee No. of Campsites Can Reserve Campsites? Picnic Sites Toilets Drinking Water Trails Historical Features Boat Launch Fishing Cabins Nearest Community Location

Big Delta SHP
RV OK!

$20

25

NO

   

1

Delta Junction

Mi. 274.5 Richardson Hwy.

Birch Lake SRS
RV OK!

$20

19

CampgroundsNO

 

 

Motorized-Boat Launch Available

1

Fairbanks

Mi. 305.5 Richardson Hwy.

Chena River SRA

 

 

 

     

 

 

   

7

Fairbanks

Mi 26.7 to Mi. 51 Chena Hot Sp. Rd.

Red Squirrel Campground
RV OK!

$20

5

NO

 

 

Canoe Launch Available

 

Fairbanks

Mi. 43 Chena Hot Sp. Rd.

Rosehip Campground
RV OK!

$20

37

NO

 

Canoe Launch Available

 

Fairbanks

Mi. 27 Chena Hot Sp. Rd.

Granite Tors Trail Campground
RV OK!

$20

24

NO

 

Canoe Launch Available

1

Fairbanks

Mi. 39 Chena Hot Sp. Rd.

Chena River SRS
RV OK!

$20 -
$30

61

YES

 

Motorized-Boat Launch Available

 

Fairbanks

3530 Geraghty Ave.

Clearwater SRS
RV OK!

$15

16

NO

 

Motorized-Boat Launch Available

 

Delta Junction

Remington Rd.

Delta SRS*
RV OK!

$15

24

NO

 

 

   

 

Delta Junction

Mi. 267 Richardson Hwy.

Donnelly Creek SRS

$15

12

NO

 

 

 

1

Delta Junction

Mi. 238 Richardson Hwy.

Eagle Trail SRS*
RV OK!

$20

35

NO

   

 

Tok

Mi. 109.5 Tok Cutoff

Fielding Lake SRS

$15

17

NO

 

 

Motorized-Boat Launch Available

1

Delta Junction

Mi. 200.5 Richardson Hwy.

Harding Lake SRA
RV OK!

$20

81

NO

 

Motorized-Boat Launch Available

 

Fairbanks

Mi. 321.4 Richardson Hwy.

Moon Lake SRS*
RV OK!

$20

17

NO

 

 

Motorized-Boat Launch Available  

 

Tok

Mi. 1,332 Alaska Hwy.

Quartz Lake SRA*

 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

Delta Junction

Mi. 277.8 Richardson Hwy.

Lost Lake Campground
RV OK!

$15

11

NO

 

Canoe Launch Available

 

Delta Junction

Mi. 277.8 Richardson Hwy.

Quartz Lake CampgroundRV OK!

$15

80

NO

 

Motorized-Boat Launch Available

2

Delta Junction

Mi. 277.8 Richardson Hwy.

Salcha River SRS
RV OK!

$20

6

NO

 

 

Motorized-Boat Launch Available

1

Fairbanks

Mi. 323.0 Richardson Hwy.

Tok River SRS*
RV OK!

$20

24

NO

 

Canoe Launch Available  

 

Tok

Mi. 1,309 Alaska Hwy.

Upper Chatanika River SRS

$20

24

NO

 

 

 

Canoe Launch Available

 

Fairbanks

Mi. 39 Steese Hwy.

Lower Chatanika SRA

 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

Fairbanks

Mi. 10.5-11 Elliot Hwy.

Whitefish CampgroundRV OK!

$20

25

NO

 

 

Motorized-Boat Launch Available

 

Fairbanks

Mi. 11 Elliot Hwy.

Olnes Pond CampgroundRV OK!

$20

15

NO

 

Canoe Launch Available

1

Fairbanks

Mi. 10.5 Elliot Hwy.

* = Indicates third party management
RV OK! = Indicates RV/Camper Parking

 

Kenai Peninsula Area

Unit Name Fee No. of Campsites Can Reserve Campsites? Picnic Sites Toilets Drinking Water Trails Historical Features Boat Launch Fishing
Cabins Nearest Community Location

Anchor River
SRA
*

$20

138

CampgroundNO

Motorized-Boat Launch Available

 

Anchor Point

Mi. 157 Sterling Hwy.

Blueberry Lake SRS*

$20

15

YES*

 

 

 

Valdez

Mi. 23 Richardson Hwy.

Caines Head
SRA

 

4

NO

   

1

Seward

Resurrection Bay

Captain Cook
SRA
*

$20

52

NO

  Motorized-Boat Launch Available  

Nikiski

Kenai Spur Hwy.

Clam Gulch
SRA
RV OK!

$20

116

NO

       

Soldotna

Mi. 117 Sterling Hwy.

Crooked Creek
SRS
RV OK!

$20

79

NO

     

Kasilof

Coho Loop

Deep Creek
SRA
RV OK!

 

 

 

               

Ninilchik

Mi. 138 Sterling Hwy.

Deep Creek Beach
Campground

$20

80

NO

      Motorized-Boat Launch Available  

Ninilchik

Mi. 137.3 Sterling Hwy.

Deep Creek South
Campground

$20

15

NO

       

Ninilchik

Mi. 136.7 Sterling Hwy.

Deep Creek
North

Campground

$20

15

NO

       

Ninilchik

Mi. 136.7 Sterling Hwy.

Johnson Lake
SRA
RV OK!

$20

50

NO

    Canoe Launch Available  

Kasilof

Mi. 110 Sterling Hwy.

Kachemak Bay SP/MP

 

21

NO

       

Homer

Kachemak Bay

Kenai River Special Management
Area

 

 

 

               

 

 

Bings Landing

$20

37

NO

  Motorized-Boat Launch Available  

Sterling

Mi. 79 Sterling Hwy.

Funny River

$20

10

NO

       

Sterling

Mi. 10 Funny River Rd.

Izaak Walton

$20

26

NO

      Motorized-Boat Launch Available  

Sterling

Mi. 81 Sterling Hwy.

Morgans Landing

$20

42

NO

     

Sterling

Mi. 85 Sterling Hwy.

Ninilchik SRARV OK!

 

 

 

               

 

 

Ninilchik River
Campground

$20

48

NO

         

Ninilchik

Mi. 135 Sterling Hwy.

Ninilchik View
Campground

$20

14

NO

               

Ninilchik

Mi. 136.5 Sterling Hwy.

Ninilchik Overlook Campground

$20

30

NO

       

Ninilchik

Mi. 135.2 Sterling Hwy.

Stariski SRS*

$20

13

NO

           

Anchor Point

Mi. 151 Sterling Hwy.

Decision Point SMP

 

10

NO

         

1

Whittier

Passage Canal

Jack Bay SMP

 

3

NO

           

Valdez

Valdez Arm

Sawmill Bay SMP

 

3

NO

           

Valdez

Valdez Arm

Shoup Bay SMP

 

2

NO

       

1

Valdez

Valdez Arm

South Esther Island SMP

 

5

NO

         

Whittier

Esther Island

Surprise Cove SMP

 

6

NO

         

Whittier

Cochrane Bay

Thumb Cove

 

3

NO

       

1

Seward

Resurrection Bay

* = Indicates third party management; reservations are NOT managed by Alaska State Parks
RV OK! = RV/Camper Parking

 

Kodiak Island Area

Unit Name Fee No. of Campsites Can Reserve Campsites? Picnic Sites Toilets Drinking Water Trails Historical Features Boat Launch Fishing Cabins Nearest Community Location

Buskin River SRS

$20

15

NO

 

1

Kodiak

Mi. 4.5 W. Rezanof Dr.

Ft. Abercrombie SHP

$20

10

NO

 

 

Kodiak

Mi. 4 E. Rezanof Dr.

Pasagshak River SRS

$20

10

NO

 

 

 


Kodiak

Mi. 4.5 Rezanof Dr.

Mat-Su Area

Unit Name Fee No. of Campsites Can Reserve Campsites? Picnic Sites Toilets Drinking Water Trails Historical Features Boat Launch Fishing Cabins Nearest Community Location

Big Lake North SRS*

$20-$30

60

YES*

 

 

Motorized-Boat Launch Available

 

Big Lake

Mi. 5 N. Big Lake Rd

Big Lake South SRS*

$20-$25

20

YES*

 

 

Motorized-Boat Launch Available

 

Big Lake

Mi. 5.2 N. Big Lake Rd.

Denali SP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

K'esugi Ken
Campground
RV OK!

$20 - $30

42

YES*

 

 

 

3

Trapper Creek

Mi. 135.4 Parks Hwy

Byers Lake CampgroundRV OK!

$20

73

NO

 

Canoe Launch Available

3

Trapper Creek

Mi. 147.0 Parks Hwy.

Denali View NorthRV OK!

$20

23 

NO

 

 

 

 

Trapper Creek

Mi. 162.7 Parks Hwy.

Denali View SouthRV OK!

$20

10

NO

 

 

 

 

Trapper Creek

Mi. 134.8 Parks Hwy.

Lower Troublesome Ck.
CampgroundRV OK!

$20

12

NO

 

 

 

Trapper Creek

Mi. 137.2 Parks Hwy.

Dry Creek SRS*

$20

28

NO

 

 

 

Glennallen

Mi. 117.5 Richardson Hwy.

Finger Lake SRS*

$25-$35

24

YES*

 

Motorized-Boat Launch Available

 

Palmer

Mi. 0.7 Bogard Rd.

Hatcher Pass Management AreaRV OK!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold Mint Trailhead

$15

10

NO

 

 

 

 

Palmer

Mi. 14 Hatcher Pass Rd.

Government Peak

$15

8

NO

 

 

 

 

 

 

Palmer

Mi. 11 Hatcher Pass Rd.

King Mountain SRS*RV OK!

$25-$30

22

YES*

 

 

 

 

 

Palmer

Mi. 76 Glenn Hwy.

Lake Louise SRA

$20

68

NO

 

 

Motorized-Boat Launch Available

 

Glennallen

Mi. 16 Lake Louise Rd.

Liberty Falls

$25

10

NO

 

 

 

 

 

Chitina

Mi. 23.5 Edgerton Hwy.

Matanuska Glacier*

$20

12

YES*

 

 

 

1

Palmer

Mi. 101 Glenn Hwy.

Matanuska Lakes SRA
RV OK!

$25

10

NO

 

Canoe Launch Available

 

Palmer

Mi. 36.4-38 Glenn Hwy.

Montana Creek SRS*

$20

36

YES*

 

 

 

Trapper Creek

Mi. 96.6 Parks Hwy.

Nancy Lake SRA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

Willow

Mi. 67.2 Parks Hwy.

Red Shirt Lake Trail

$20

6

NO

 

 

 

 

4

Willow

Mi. 6.5 Nancy Lake Pkwy.

South Rolly Lake
Campground

RV OK!

 

$20-$25

97

NO

 

Canoe Launch Available

 

Willow

Mi. 6.5 Nancy Lake Pkwy.

Tanaina Lake Canoe Trail

$20

18

NO

 

 

 

Canoe Launch Available

 

Willow

Mi. 4.8 Nancy Lake Pkwy.

Nancy Lake SRS

$20

30

NO

 

 

Motorized-Boat Launch Available

 

Willow

Mi. 66.5 Parks Hwy.

Porcupine Creek SRS*

$25

10

YES*

 

 

 

 

Slana

Mi. 64 Tok Cut-off

Rocky Lake SRS*RV OK!

$20-$25

12

YES*

 

 

 

Motorized-Boat Launch Available

 

Big Lake

Mi. 3.5 Big Lake Rd.

Squirrel Creek*

$25

23

NO

 

 

 

 

 

Copper Center

Mi. 79.5 Richardson Hwy.

Willow Creek SRARV OK!

$20

131

NO

 

 

 

Willow

Mi. 70.8 Parks Hwy.

* = Indicates third party management; reservations are NOT managed by Alaska State Parks
RV OK! = RV/Camper Parking

 

Southeast Area

Unit Name Fee No. of Campsites Can Reserve Campsites? Picnic Sites Toilets Drinking Water Trails Historical Features Boat Launch Fishing Cabins Nearest Community Location
RV OK!

Chilkat SP

$20

35

NO

 

Motorized-Boat Launch Available

 

Haines

Mi. 7 Mud Bay Rd.

RV OK!

Chilkoot Lake SRS

$20

32

NO

 

 

Motorized-Boat Launch Available

 

Haines

Mi. 10 Lutak Rd.

RV OK!

Eagle Beach SRA

$20

16

NO

 

Canoe Launch Available

1

Juneau

Mi. 29 Glacier Hwy.

Mosquito Lake SRS

$15

5

NO

 

 

 

Canoe Launch Available

 

Haines

Mi. 27.2 Haines Hwy.

Portage Cove SRS

$10

9

NO

 

 

 

 

Haines

Mi. 1 Beach Rd.

RV OK!

Settler's Cove SRS

$20

13

NO

 

Canoe Launch Available

1

Ketchikan

Mi. 18 N. Tongass Hwy.

* = Indicates third party management; reservations are NOT managed by Alaska State Parks
RV OK! = RV/Camper Parking

 

Alaska Seasons, bugs, topography and climate

Alaska is huge and so has a diverse climate.

Spring - April - June

It is brief and variable. Late unexpected snows are common.

Summer - May through mid-August

 May is generally the driest month . Warmer daytime temperatures arrive in July, when the Interior can average in the 70's °F during the day, but sometinems even 80's or 90's. But the coastal areas and higher elevations rarely get above 65 °F. This only lasts until mid-August when Fall begins to return.

Autumn - September

That's it. It is brief - and variable. Snows can start in August... or not until late September.

Winter - October through March.

Of course, coastal areas are milder and usually do not get colder than 20 °F. Lots of snow in the South-central areas.

Winter is bitterly cold and snowy in the Interior and Arctic areas. But the Artic area is so dry, it rarely gets winter snows. Not enough moisture in the air due to the bitterly cold temps.