Home › States › Alaska

Camping in Alaska: campsites, permits and passes

Camping in Alaska starts in one of a few places: Alaska State Parks for state park campsites, Recreation.gov for federal campgrounds, or free dispersed camping on National Forest and BLM land. Here's where to book each, plus permits, passes and licences.

Most people go to:

State park campsites

Alaska state park campgrounds are booked through Alaska State Parks ↗. Book as early as you can for summer and holiday weekends, and check each park's page for cabins, yurts, group sites and pet rules.

National parks in Alaska

• Denali National Park
• Gates of the Arctic National Park
• Glacier Bay National Park
• Katmai National Park
• Kenai Fjords National Park
• Kobuk Valley National Park
• Lake Clark National Park
• Wrangell–St. Elias National Park

Campgrounds in national parks are booked on Recreation.gov. See every park, monument and historic site in Alaska on the National Park Service Alaska page ↗.

National forests and free camping

Alaska's national forests include Chugach, Tongass. Developed campgrounds are booked on Recreation.gov (some are first-come, first-served), and most national forest land allows free dispersed camping away from developed sites, usually for up to 14 days. Check the forest's rules and any fire restrictions first.

Alaska also has large areas of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, where dispersed camping is generally free and allowed for up to 14 days in one spot unless posted otherwise. See BLM recreation ↗.

Permits and lotteries

• Some backcountry areas and public-use cabins need advance reservations; check each park or forest before you go.

Fishing and hunting licences

Licences for Alaska are sold by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game ↗, online or at local retailers. Rules and seasons differ by species and water, so check before you go.

Passes

The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees at national parks and many federal lands in Alaska. State parks usually sell their own day or annual passes; see Alaska State Parks.

Best time to camp in Alaska

Mid-June to mid-August for most camping, with long daylight. Shoulder seasons are short and weather changes fast.

Questions

Packing checklists

Nearby states (Alaska)