Is there free or dispersed camping near Glacier Bay National Park?

Dispersed camping is allowed year-round in Glacier Bay National Park's backcountry. Depending on when you arrive, you may need to acquire a free backcountry camping permit. Available services also vary based on time of year.

Is Harvest Hosts worth it for a Glacier Bay trip?

Due to Glacier Bay National Park's relative remoteness, Harvest Hosts has fewer nearby locations to simplify camping outside the park than in the contiguous U.S. However, several Harvest Hosts in the Anchorage area make it worth it for a Glacier Bay trip, especially if you're able to base camp in Anchorage and fly to the park. Alaska has 0 Harvest Hosts locations.

Glacier Bay National Park RV Camping

Every year, over 400,000 people travel to Alaska to visit Glacier Bay National Park and see its remarkable tidewater glaciers. This 3.3-million-acre national park sits along the eastern part of the Gulf of Alaska, just south of Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park in Canada. Famous glaciers include Johns Hopkins, Lamplugh, Carroll, and Reid, as well as the Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers. Glacier Bay National Park is Homeland to the Yakutat Lingit and Huna people and home to mountain goats, brown and black bears, humpback whales, eagles, sea lions, seals, wolves, and Sitka black-tailed deer. RV camping may not be available in this national park, but it's still well worth the trip if you can make it. Harvest Hosts has locations around Anchorage and across Alaska where you can park your RV overnight at a working farm, brewery, or distillery.

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Glacier Bay National Park RV Camping Guide

When to Go

If you can't plan a trip to Glacier Bay National Park via plane, it's worth checking out cruise schedules to see what dates are available. Although the park is open year-round, weather conditions during the winter and early spring (December through March) often limit access and travel. However, visiting in February increases your chances of seeing killer and humpback whales. During April, May, and June (the driest months), young fawns and bear cubs take their first steps. In the busy summer season, visitors can also catch a glimpse of humpback whales and all manner of sea mammals. September and October bring both increased rainfall and the rutting season for moose and mountain goats.

Know Before You Go

Timed-entry reservations aren't required for Glacier Bay National Park. Visitors don't have to pay an entrance fee, but camping permits are required during certain times of the year. Bartlett Cove Campground does not allow reservations.
Glacier Bay National Park encourages off-trail hiking, but not without a word of caution to those inexperienced with the terrain's ruggedness. Supplies are also limited to whatever the single grocery store in Gustavus stocks.
Despite not having many roads, Glacier Bay National Park is home to a handful of hiking trails. Popular trailheads include Bartlett River Trail (great for moose, bear, coyotes, and river otter), Bartlett Lake Trail, Tlingit Trail, and Forest Trail.
The Fairweather Range is another popular attraction. The southern portion extends into Glacier Bay National Park, including Mount Bertha and Mount La Perouse. Mount Crillon and Mount Fairweather are also part of this range.
Two new totem poles join the Healing Totem Pole, which welcomes visitors at the public dock in Bartlett Cove. Our Grandparents' Ocean Totem Pole also looks out over Bartlett Cove, while Our Grandparents' Land Totem Pole marks the entrance to the park.
Pets are only allowed in specific areas of the park. Permitted areas include the Bartlett Cove Public Use Dock, the National Park Service Administrative Dock, on vessels within the water, and within 100 feet of the parking areas and roads in Bartlett Cove.
Brown bears, black bears, and polar bears inhabit southeastern Alaska, so be sure to pack bear spray along with your other essentials. Review the park's guidelines for more information.

Nearby Attractions

Many people visit Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve by cruise ship via the Gulf of Alaska or by flying into Gustavus from Juneau. Visitors can certainly add exploring parts of southern Alaska to their itinerary, although most destinations require either aircraft or watercraft transit. South of Juneau lies the Tongass National Forest on the northern tip of Kupreanof Island, one of many islands of various sizes that comprise Alaska's southern coastline. Further north along the Gulf of Alaska lie Anchorage and Kodiak Island.

Where to Camp

Inside the park. RV campgrounds in Alaska are very few in number comparatively, and those closest to Glacier Bay National Park are no exception. Visitors can only camp in the park at Bartlett Cove Campground, a first-come, first-served site named for the nearby coastal inlet. Arrive at this walk-in-only campground via a single eight-mile road from Gustavus. Campers must complete an application for a free permit to camp between May 1 and September 30.

Tips on reserving a campsite. Even if you're not used to camping without an RV, it's worth staying in Glacier Bay National Park's Bartlett Cove Campground for a few days. Backcountry camping isn't for everyone, especially if you don't have experience staying self-sufficient (and in frigid temperatures on top of that).

Camping outside the park with Harvest Hosts. Because of the lack of RV camping in Glacier Bay National Park, RVers typically either leave their rigs in the lower 48 or base camp in Anchorage, Alaska. While this northernmost state has become more populated over the years, it's still relatively remote compared to areas around most national parks. Harvest Hosts in Anchorage and the surrounding towns offer no-fee camping on private property in exchange for patronizing their working farms, distilleries, attractions, and breweries.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can you sleep in your RV in Glacier Bay National Park?

You cannot sleep in your RV in Glacier Bay National Park because it doesn't offer RV camping accommodations. Select areas in Alaska may offer RV camping options, but availability and corresponding services (hookups and dump stations) vary as well.

Where can I camp in an RV near Glacier Bay National Park?

RV camping near Glacier Bay National Park is limited due to the park's remote location. If you drive through Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, and the Yukon), you can stay in Anchorage, Alaska, and arrange alternate transportation from there. Avoid camping fees by staying with Harvest Hosts in the area, including this tiny house sanctuary by Chugach Forest. If you want to spend more than a day on Kodiak Island, check out this coastal craft brewery and tasting room.

Do you need a reservation to enter Glacier Bay National Park?

No, you don't need a timed-entry reservation to enter Glacier Bay National Park. The park doesn't charge entrance fees. If you want to stay at Bartlett Cove Campground or backcountry camp in the Glacier Bay wilderness from May through September, you need a (free) camping permit.