Best Camping in and near Johnson Lake State Recreation Area

Take advantage of the waterfront access to Johnson Lake at this wooded recreation site.

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Community favorites near Johnson Lake State Recreation Area

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in Johnson Lake State Recreation Area

Johnson Lake Campground

48 sites · RVs, Tents In Johnson Lake State Recreation Area

from

$15

/ night

Top-rated campgrounds near Johnson Lake State Recreation Area

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Seaside Farm

16 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents30 acres · Homer, AK

Seaside Farm is a 30 acre, magical, park like farm on the shores of Kachemak Bay, just outside of Homer, a few miles down from the Kilcher Homestead where I grew up in the 1940's! . Now a song bird sanctuary, with trails, lawns, gardens, trees, hay fields, and a private beach, cabins, a clover camping meadow, it was also once part of an original Alaska pioneer homestead. Although an organic farm, with hay fields, pastures, farm buildings and raspberry patch, it is also the home of hundreds of songbirds, moose, coyotes, wild hares, flocks of sandhill cranes, two sweet Morgan Horses, and an assortment of chickens. I love sharing my farm and home with travelers, and visitors seeking peace, nature, wildlife, walks on pristine beaches, and connecting with nature, in a real Alaska, original, and non touristy setting. This property has three different types accommodations: Rustic, cozy cabins (no indoor running water), a big field for tent campers only, and a few spaces reserved for 4 wheel drive vans , and similar small vehicle camping, including rooftop tents and occasionally a small pop up trailer. If you prefer camping away from the tourist crowds, you will find our soft clover meadows, surrounded by green trees and well kept lawns, a deluxe and memorable experience. The beach is a short walk down the trail, where its peaceful and private, with no motorized vehicles or noisy crowds, only the sound of the seagulls, and the waves. Van campers have a few special areas to park their vehicles, most with a stunning view of the glaciers and mountains. There is limited parking and turnaround space, and we like our farm peaceful and not too crowded to provide a special rural experience to all who visit this magical farm. It helps to call or text before you arrive to make sure we are on site and can help you with parking and other details! There are three cabins sprinkled throughout the property. Two are off grid, close to the beach, private and magical, with wood stoves. All cabins are able to use the main farm lodge amenities, just a few minutes walk away and have their own outhouses..all with amazing views! You can walk on the beach from the main lodge parking area, there is a covered camping pavilion available to all guests, a communal campfire spot and bbq grill, lovely maintained walking trails and meadows, and even wifi! We allow most types of dogs, but do ask you to contact us before booking with us, so we can let you know our rules before you travel. All dogs must be well behaved, social, on leashes and at owner's side at all times to protect our trusting wildlife from accidental harm, like our baby pheasants, moose, bunnies, and songbird nests! TOURS OPTION As the eldest of the Kilcher clan (yes, the homestead family portrayed on the "Alaska The Last Frontier" tv series), and when time allows, I'm open to give a special tour of the unique and historic Kilcher Family Homestead and original sod roofed, log cabin museum. Available only by special prior arrangement for an extra fee (donation to the museum)

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Albatross Campground RESERVATIONS

16 sites · RVs, Tents2 acres · Kenai, AK

Discover tranquility at our campground, boasting serene surroundings and offering full hookup RV sites, as well as tent sites. Immerse yourself in the convenience of our amenities, including showers and a laundry room. Additionally, we provide all the essential facilities for processing and preserving your catch, such as freezers, cleaning tables, vacuum sealers, community fire pit, outdoor kitchen, and a smokehouse. Experience a seamless blend of comfort and nature at our peaceful retreat. Pricing: Cleaning table free (first come first served) Fire wood $5/bundle Showers $5 for 20 min. Laundry (quarters required) $4/load Vacuum sealing $1/bag Freezing $1 per pound per day 50 fish smokehouse $20/12hrs Parking for extra vehicles $20/day (no camping/sleeping in parking spots) Cancel booking 24hrs in advance of stay for 100% refund.

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Lazy J Ranch

7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres · Homer, AK

My grandparents, Stany and Nelda Jones homestead here, my father was just a toddler when they moved here with his family from Texas. They homestead this area before there were roads, and could only travel to this location via the beach and climbing the bluff. My mothers family also Homestead on the Kenai, in Ninilchik, she was born and grew up there in the small river village. When her and my dad married they continued the Jones family tradition of ranching and farming. We decided to offer our family land and share its beauty with others. Your camping spaces are on a corner of the ranch property, near the shared gazebo fire pit. We hope you love it as much as we do!

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Kilcher Homestead MiracleMeadow

4 sites · Lodging, Tents5 acres · Homer, AK

A few things that make my place unique: My 5 acres is part of the famous 620-acre Kilcher Homestead, as seen on “Alaska the Last Frontier” TV show. I am the 7th of the 8 children; Atz and Otto are my brothers. There is a special feeling here vibrating in the land, and why our parents picked this spot. Full outdoor kitchen with all you need to cook and wash up; BBQ, hotplate, pure drinking water, spices, pots/pans/dishes etc. Outdoor hot shower and outhouse with great views! The atmosphere feels so pure, so silent, so wild yet comfortable. Drive-in access sometimes, or have to walk 15 minutes, and no issues with mosquitoes!!! You get to meet me and maybe other family members as you cruise around. Homer is 35 minutes away, with oodles of things to do there: great restaurants, a lap pool, fun shopping, etc. We have quite good cell reception here. Lots of options to enjoy your stay!

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Kenai Kabin

1 site · RV1 acre · Kenai, AK

One acre south of the Kenai River off of K-Beach Road. There is one RV site next to the Kabin with water, electrical and sewer. Nothing fancy, but all that you need. The acre routinely has moose roaming across it. It is within a mile of multiple spots to fish on the Kenai river and within walking distance of a restaurant and Food Cart setup. Caribou roam nearby and Eagles are routinely seen in the area. It's a bare bones site in a residential neighborhood that used to be a moose calving area. The moose still calve in the residential area and ignore all of us who live there.

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Wildrose Cabins

3 sites · Lodging3 acres · Clam Gulch, AK

Forested land with direct trails to hundreds of miles of trailsLearn more about this land:Real log cabins located in a forested view, very quiet local.

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Beautiful Bay View Bluff Cabin

1 site · Lodging1 acres · Homer, AK

12x14 cabin on the bluff with bay view. ONe queen bed and pull out single Mattress. Saturday and-Sunday only for rental only, possibly some Mondays. Theres a pathway down to get to the cabin but its a very short walk. Maybe 150 yards. Wonderful view of Kachemak Bay. sits on the bluff above the ocean its VERY steep and 700 or so feet to the bottom. There is an outhouse not too far from the cabin. But its dry cabin so bring your own drinking water, but there is electricity and I'll stock with paper utensils and plates. just text or call with any questions. (907)299-4629.

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AK Fisher Family Glamping

5 sites · Lodging, Tents3 acres · Anchor Point, AK

Welcome to our beautiful, small home-big view property! We are a family of 5 (mom, dad, 3 kids*), plus a dog** and a cat***. Our home is just north of Anchor Point, and about 20 miles north of Homer. We have spectacular views of Cook Inlet, the volcanoes across the bay, Anchor Point Beach, and the mouth of the Anchor River. We know all the best activities and things to see and do, best restaurants, fishing charters, river and lake fishing spots, kayaking/canoe spots, and more! Let us know what you’re into and we can help you find so many fun things to keep you busy on the Kenai Peninsula! Our property has lots of space for tent camping, room for one or two RV’s (depending on size), and we have a 16 ft heated yurt with king bed (no running water, but we have power via extension cord. Yurt has a wood stove and natural gas heater.) Our family lives on the property, in a small cabin, which is attached to the yurt (although they are entirely separate and have no connected door area at this time). We are in the process of building an outhouse, and it should be completed by mid-May. It will be a shared outhouse close to both the yurt and the camping spaces. You will find our family hanging out on the property quite often, working on our land and gardening, exploring outside, or beachcombing down at the Anchor Point beach, just a short drive from our home. Amenities (available to tent campers and yurt guests): Outhouse (connected to our septic, so no smell!), charcoal grill (bring your own charcoal) and propane grill (we provide propane), metal fire pit, roasting sticks, firewood, picnic table, water from hose, table/food prep area, some camp chairs and yard furniture, yard toys for kids, etc. and a large, lovely, mostly flat yard for setting up tents. Yurt Amenities: The private entryway into the yurt is its own extra space for you to use. We have it set up with a mini fridge, microwave, basic cooking utensils, pots/pans, dishes, a basic sink (no running water, but use of water jugs), a hot plate, and a few other basic kitchen amenities. Outhouse is shared with other campers on the property, and is only a short walk. King sized bed inside the yurt, with all bedding supplied (lots of pillows and blankets). Firewood supplied, if you want to heat with wood stove. Some kids books and toys are inside the yurt, but kid things are well contained and not readily noticeable or in the way, for those without kids. Yurt has two windows, which have covers to block out our many hours of daylight in summertime, when you’re trying to sleep. Our home and property are safe for all - we are allies to the LGBTQ+ community, as well as people of all colors, ahe’s and walks of life! We are very accepting and loving, and want everyone to feel like they are safe and welcomed with us. We are a very kid-friendly property, with lots of outdoor yard toys to share, various sized bikes, beach toys, and more! (In some circumstances, we can also give access to additional things, like extra camping gear, life jackets, camp chairs, coolers, short-term freezer space, etc.) At this time, we are not allowing people to bring pets to our property. * Our teenager works away from home in summertime. We have a 5 yr old boy and almost 4 yr old girl, who will be on the property with us. They are very friendly and social and love meeting new people! They will ask you lots of questions and tell you all about themselves. ** Our dog is a 1.5 yr old Labrador-golden retriever mix. He is very friendly and loving, but is also still a puppy and sometimes jumps and gets excited. Overall, he is very well behaved. He wanders the property with our kids, but never strays far. We have a fully enclosed, fenced-in area for him, if anyone is uncomfortable with him being loose in the yard, and he is perfectly happy in there! When you first arrive, he might bark at you once, until you pet him and he realizes you’re his friend, and then he’ll stay by your side and ask for constant pets! *** Our cat is an outdoor cat and is very social and loves people! Yurt is 100% cat-free, for those with allergies.

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Glacier Vista RV Pad

1 site · RV5 acres · Fritz Creek, AK

Learn more about this land:The RV Pad overlooks the Kachamak Bay and Kenai mountains. There are several different glaciers within the view. The Pad is situated on an alpine meadow with various spring wildflowers. (Please be kind to the wildflower meadows). Eveline State park is across the road and is a beautiful trail for hiking, skiing, and snow shoeing. Homer is 12 miles down the hill and has quaint shops and eateries in town and on the Homer Spit. There are boat taxis available in town for hiking across the bay. In addition, Homer is the "Halibut Capital of the World" and several different kinds of charters are available (Including spearfish diving).

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Evenson Heritage Lodge in Kenai

1 site · RV, Tent5 acres · Nikiski, AK

This is a lakeside spot for RV or tent camping (bring your own RV or camping gear). There is a picnic table and a fire pit. Water and solar power are available. When camping there, the private area of surrounding wilderness is about 5 acres. The cleared camp site is 45x75 feet. The property in it's entirety is about 150 acres shared with a lodge and a couple of other sites separated by wilderness and having two lakes. This site has direct access to Marie Lake which is suitable for swimming and play. Renters of the campsite will be given access to Bishop Lake, which can be fished for trout when open and your motorcraft can be used.

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Boreal forest

2 sites · Tents5 acres · Anchor Point, AK

Learn more about this land:Wooded property Anchor River State land out front, set up a tent, fire ring included, can fill water jugs, close to food, charters, cannabis store, I also have remote land a longer walk to view wildlife, bears and moose frequently pass through

Earthship Campground

2 sites · RVs, Tents6 acres · Kasilof, AK

Learn more about this land:There is an earthship building project onsite with projects ongoing. Kasilof is close to fishing and many other outdoor activities on the beautiful kenai peninsula. Fire rings are provided with firewood available for sale as well as grocery service provided by Where It’s At mindful food & drink.

The best camping near Johnson Lake State Recreation Area guide

Overview

About

On the Kenai Peninsula, Johnson Lake State Recreation area is surrounded by outdoor opportunities with Soldotna and the Kenai River just to the north. Kasilof is also nearby, and the multitude of rivers and trails at Johnson Lake are exceptional for fishing, rafting, paddling, and wildlife watching. Leaving the quiet shores of the lake will prove difficult—with more than 300 acres of woods and trout-filled waters, camping and recreating are prime right on-site. Johnson Lake is the perfect place to set up a basecamp while exploring the Kenai Peninsula.

Notable campgrounds

In addition to Johnson Lake’s single campground, area Hipcamps are solid options for campers.

Best for the view: Magical Camping Ocean and Volcano Views has tent and RV sites with exceptional overlooks and expansive views.
Best for Fishing: Earthship Campground is close to the Kasilof River and Johnson Lake for easy angling access.
Best for ocean access: Mt. Redoubt is situated on the coast not far south of the state park.

Tips for snagging a campsite

The campground at Johnson Lake has a mixture of first-come, first-served sites and reservable sites. Try reserving ahead if you have specific dates in mind. Summer is especially busy and reservations will ensure you have a site secured.
Reserve well ahead for private campsites in this area during the summer. Many private spaces are limited to a few sites that can fill during the prime season. Shorter notice reservations are more likely during the shoulder seasons.
Consider visiting Johnson Lake a little early or late in the season. While salmon runs attract anglers during specific summer months, the lake is always full of rainbow trout and visitors can paddle or fish from ice-out through the fall months.

When to go

Johnson Lake has a long season for visitors. May is a nice, quiet month to visit with the potential for nice weather. June, July and August are the busy season on the Kenai Peninsula in general but they remain excellent for visiting. The peak summer offers longer days, active wildlife and salmon fishing in the rivers. Fall is also quiet and September can be a great time to view the night sky and experience the area after the busy months.

Know before you go

Johnson Lake Campground has 51 total campsites and an additional 16 day-use area sites. RVs are limited to 35 feet in length.
Campers are limited to 15 consecutive days of camping. The campsites offer access to water, toilets, fire rings and a developed boat launch space.
ADA-accessible facilities are present at the campground. Walking areas are often more rugged, passing through the woods and along the lake shore.
Campers are encouraged to be vigilant about storing food inside campers, vehicles and bear-proof containers. Bears are especially active during the summer months when keeping a clean camp is imperative.