Camping in Chugach State Park

100% (5 reviews)

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

Top camping in Chugach State Park

Public campgrounds here are often sold out.
100% (5 reviews)

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

Popular ways to camp

Camper favorites near Chugach State Park

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

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Top-rated campgrounds near Chugach State Park

97%
(16)

Jim Creek Blank Land

30 sites · RVs13 acres · Palmer, AK
Welcome to Jim Creek 10 — Voted Runner-Up for Best Campground! Escape to raw, open Alaska for just $12/night. This spacious, untouched land is located in the beautiful Butte area of Palmer, right off Walling Road (address: 18748 Walling Rd). No signs, no frills—just you and the wild. Camp your way: • Choose your perfect spot—under the trees, in the open grass, or tucked into your own little hideaway. • Self-contained rigs are welcome (RV, camper, van, tent). • No hookups, no amenities. Just nature. • Pack it in, pack it out—please take all trash with you. What makes it special: • Direct access to Jim Creek ATV trails—ride straight from your site! • Excellent nearby fishing and wildlife spotting—moose are regular guests. • No designated pads—freedom to roam and set up as you like. • Campfires allowed, unless there’s an active State fire ban. Why stay here? Tired of paying $100 a night for hookups you don’t need? This land gives you freedom, space, and an unbeatable price. Perfect for off-grid adventurers, ATV enthusiasts, and anyone looking to explore the Jim Creek area on their own terms.
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$11.04
 / night
96%
(47)

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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$35
 / night
100%
(13)

Darell B.’s Magical Mountain

3 sites · Lodging3 acres · Anchorage, AK
Sleepy Bear cabin was built as a retreat for my father here in Alaska. Our 1st year listed on Hipcamp our cabin came in second in best places to stay in Alaska with Hipcamp. The last 2 years we were still mentioned in the top 10 with some pretty stiff competition. Eagle River South Fork trail with stunning views of Eagle and Symphony lakes is a short bike ride away. Breathtaking Barbara Falls is in our valley 10mins away. You hike up to the falls and feels its breath. Our Mountain views at 2000' elevation in the alpine forest with the 7000' snow covered peaks at the back of the valley will awe you. Morning coffee on your private deck alone is worth the trip. We know you will love our little mountain get away. I came to Alaska in the 90's with the Coast Guard. It was always my dream to come back. Alaska has a hold on you no other place possesses. Since our move back almost 6 years ago, our family has blossomed. We love living here and want to share our love of Alaska with others.
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$130
 / night
100%
(1)

Birch Forest Lakes

7 sites · Lodging, Tents3 acres · Houston, AK
Small and peaceful new campground surrounded by lakes and tucked away in a beautiful white birch forest. A peaceful retreat for nature lovers. Lodging: -There are 3 campers with thier own fire pits and picnic tables to choose from. Tenting and Parking: -There are 3 rustic woodsy tent sites on the property to choose from. Boating and Swimming: -All of the nearby lakes have public access and allow motor boats, jet skis, kayaks, rafts, and floating toys. Most are great for swimming on warm, sunny days. Fishing: -We have caught pike, whitefish, rainbows, and brown trout out of every single lake in the area, as well as salmon and trout from the Little Su river less than a mile away. There are so many lakes and streams nearby and they are all full of amazing fishing opportunities depending on the time of year. ATV's, 4x4, and snowmobiles: -Ride your ATV to Mcdonald's, Wal-Mart, or to a fancy dinner at Carinas Clock Tower? You can do that here! ATV's are legal to ride in all the cities locally. ATV's are welcome here and hundreds of miles of trails start right from the property.
Pets
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Toilets
from 
$20
 / night

Other options near Chugach State Park

Camping in 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

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. 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.
  2. 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.  
  3. Public-use cabins are available for rent at several Chugach campgrounds. They are all reserved in advance and fill quickly during summer.
  4. 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.
100%
5 ratings · 4 reviews
  1. Chugach State Park