Camping in Kenai Fjords National Park

Camping in Kenai Fjords National Park is a compact but memorable affair, with one frontcountry campground and a much wilder backcountry experience for travelers prepared to earn it. The park’s only developed campground sits at Exit Glacier: a 12-site, walk-in, tent-only campground set amid forest at the foot of one of Alaska’s most accessible glaciers. It’s first-come, first-served, with no reservations and no camping fee, which makes it one of the best-value national park campgrounds in the state. If you want more solitude or a more adventurous overnight, Kenai Fjords also allows backcountry camping, including coastal and water-access trips, but those options demand serious planning, sound judgment, and comfort in remote Alaskan terrain. The experience here feels appropriately Alaskan—simple, scenic, and close to the elements. At Exit Glacier, campers should expect a no-frills setup with practical essentials rather than resort comforts: drinking water, pit toilets, a central food storage area, and a shared cooking and dining shelter. That central shelter matters, because cooking and storing food at individual campsites is not allowed. The campground is entirely tent-only, with no RV sites in the park, and the walk-in layout keeps the atmosphere quieter and more connected to the landscape. Backcountry camping, by contrast, is for travelers seeking true wilderness, whether that means hiking inland or reaching the coast by boat or kayak. A few practical tips will make the trip smoother. In July and August, the Exit Glacier campground often fills by early evening, so arriving early is the smartest move in peak season. There’s a 14-day stay limit, pets are not allowed in campsites, and overnight parking-lot camping at Exit Glacier is prohibited. Two sites are accessible, and the main access paths, toilets, and cooking area are designed to accommodate easier use. If the campground is full or you need RV camping, look beyond the park to nearby Seward and Chugach National Forest. Above all, camp here with flexibility and respect for wildlife safety—Kenai Fjords is at its best when you come prepared for changing weather, shared facilities, and a landscape that still feels genuinely wild.