Lower Chatanika State Recreation Area, Alaska

If you’re looking to camp close to Fairbanks, then the two state recreation areas along the Chatanika River are just what the doctor ordered. The Lower Chatanika State Rec Area takes up 570 acres along the Elliott Highway, and there are some lovely campsites to be found. When you aren’t making s’mores, pass the time with fishing or canoeing. Adventurous souls might just be drawn to the rafting possibilities, too. You’ll have to launch your watercraft from the Upper Chatanika State Rec Area, but it’s worth the extra effort to get there. Think about launching from there, and then floating back down the Chatanika all the way back “home.” Not a bad way to spend a day, right?