The best camping near Chugach State Park

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

• 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.