Guide to Campgrounds and RV Parks in Seward, Alaska

Seward, Alaska is a camper’s paradise, offering everything from affordable $25 waterfront sites to established campgrounds with showers, laundry, and ping pong. And as Seward is right next to Kenai Fjords National Park, any one of them makes an excellent basecamp for exploring the glaciers and marine life of the area. To make choosing where to camp easy on you, we’ve designed this Guide to RV Parks and campgrounds in downtown Seward, Alaska!

ℹ️ Camping in Seward: Know Before You Go

1. Operating Season: Most municipal campgrounds typically operate from mid-April through early October, though specific dates can vary. Thus, if you’re visiting Seward in the middle of winter, we recommend contacting Seward’s tourism office at (907) 224-8051 or emailing them at [email protected] to ask what stay options are available, as they can change season to season.
   
2. Campground Reservations: You can reserve your summer campground as early as mid-January of the same year. Before January, you probably won’t see all the campgrounds mentioned in this post listed on Campspot (the main booking site) yet. We highly recommend reserving your spot in advance due to the summer demand, unless you plan on primitive camping at first-come, first-served campgrounds.
   
3. Public Dump Station: If you’re travelling in a van or RV like us, this free public dump station is available near the Small Boat Harbor (at B Street and Ballaine Blvd), which really came in handy during our visit.

🏕️ List of RV Parks & Campgrounds in Seward, Alaska

Below, we’ve rounded up the top municipal, private, and free camping spots closest to downtown Seward. There are even more options if you extend your search radius further north or across the bay, but we’ve stuck to the ones that leave you closest to downtown Seward, as that is where most people are looking to stay.

🗺️ Map of RV Parks and Campgrounds in Seward

How to use this map: We have saved the locations from this guide on this map. You can save this map to your Google Maps by pressing the star icon. In your Google Maps, click the menu icon and then Saved Maps, where this map will appear.

Exit Glacier Riverbed (RV & Tent)

This was our favorite camping spot not only in all of Seward, but in all of Alaska! Located on a rocky riverbed, it’s a little bumpy to access, but it’s completely free to stay at, and the views are absolutely breathtaking. Here, we were close to waterfalls, had direct river access, and even several fire pits for public use.

Getting to the campground can be a bit of a challenge. Here’s the pinned location on iOverlander. The entrance is on Exit Glacier Road (the same road you would use to visit the Kenai Fjords Nature Center and hike the Harding Icefield Trail). We recommend going slowly so as not to miss the entrance, entering near the large boulder like we did.

This spot was super popular among RVers, truck campers, tent campers, campervans, and the like. There were probably 25 to 50 campers there per night. There was one porta-potty, but this is dispersed camping, so be sure you can remain off-grid as needed.

Resurrection Campground (RV & Tent)

Resurrection Campground, situated in the northern half of Seward’s Waterfront Park, is a municipal campground that offers paid tent and RV sites with views of Resurrection Bay. Its main advantage is its location right near the north end of the park, within 20 minutes of the docks for Kenai Fjord Wildlife Tours and Major Marine Wildlife Tours, as well as immediate access to the paved Sea Otter Trail.

Campers here enjoy expansive views of the fjord and the active harbor. Like the other municipal campgrounds, sites are tightly packed with minimal privacy. We’ve also read varying reviews regarding the cleanliness of the heavily used communal bathrooms and showers, but that seems to vary depending on the week.

Resurrection South Campground (RV & Tent)

Resurrection South Campground is a popular RV and tent-friendly municipal spot at the southern end of Seward’s Waterfront Park, also offering stunning views of Resurrection Bay and the surrounding mountains. Its central location allows easy access to the paved Sea Otter Trail, which connects you within walking distance to the Alaska SeaLife Center and the downtown restaurants.

While you should not expect much privacy here, as sites are close together, the prime waterfront setting is a significant draw. Reviews have reported inconsistent cleanliness with the communal bathhouse facilities here as well.

Iditarod RV Parking (RV)

Iditarod RV Parking is a municipal gravel lot located at Mile 0 of the historic Iditarod Trail, offering a waterfront, no-frills option for RVers looking to get farther from the bustling center of Seward. Here, you’re conveniently located just a 5-minute walk to the Alaska SeaLife Center and an 8-minute walk to the popular Resurrect Art Coffee House.

You won’t find much privacy here, as it is basically a parking area with limited amenities (only a porta-potty and no sewage disposal), but you’re right on the water and away from the crowds.

Williams Campground (Tent)

Williams Campground is another municipal tent-only campground at the northern end of downtown Seward. It’s been known to have lots of noisy crows around, but it seems like the campground has started to put up metallic ribbons that keep them away.

Each spot comes with its own picnic table and fire pit, and there are several porta-potties as well as a dumpster to use. Here, you’re away from the water, but you get a bit more of a sense of privacy as you’re in between trees as opposed to a gravel lot.

Marathon Campground (RV)

Marathon Campground is an RV-only, dry-camping campground situated on the northern end of the Seward Waterfront Park, located right on Ballaine Boulevard. It’s known for its excellent waterfront views of Resurrection Bay and mountains, without the presence of a sidewalk between your rig and the water. As a dry camp, it offers basic amenities like access to toilets, making it a good option if you prefer unobstructed waterfront views over full hookups.

Harborside Campground (RV)

Harborside Campground is another dry-camping option for RVs, located right near the Seward Small Boat Harbor and the commercial district on 4th Avenue. This location offers easy access to the marina, shops, and fishing charters. Campers here can enjoy scenic views of the bay, Mount Marathon, and the bustling harbor activity, but should be prepared for basic facilities with no hookups.

Forest Acres Campground (RV & Tent)

Forest Acres is one of the more remote municipal campgrounds, located about two miles north of downtown Seward. With tent and RV sites nestled among spruce trees, there’s more of a wooded, secluded atmosphere compared to the waterfront campgrounds. Clean restrooms, a central water source, and a playground make it a quieter municipal option away from the city center bustle.

Boulder Campground (RV & Tent)

Part of the waterfront municipal campgrounds, Boulder Campground is an RV and tent campground north of downtown, while still within walking distance. The sites are dry camping only (no hookups) and lack standard amenities like fire pits and picnic tables, but provide easy access to the marina activities and a popular fishing area.

Alice Campground (RV & Tent)

Alice Campground provides dry camping for both tents and RVs and is one of the smaller municipal areas located on Ballaine Boulevard along the waterfront. Its key feature is its unique setting near Scheffler’s Creek, making it a popular spot for those who are looking to fish in Seward. If you stay here, you’ll need to walk about a half-mile to the nearby Resurrection Campground if you need shower facilities.

Exit Glacier Tent Campground (Kenai Fjords National Park)

If you’re looking to camp within Kenai Fjords National Park, you’ve got Exit Glacier Campground. This free, tent-only facility has just 12 sites that are strictly walk-in and available first-come, first-served. Thus, it’s sort of a toss-up as to whether you’ll score a spot or not. There is a 14-day stay limit, and you’re offered basic amenities like pit toilets and a water pump.

Seward KOA Holiday (RV, Tent, & Lodging)

If you’re looking to go camping as comfortably as possible, you can never go wrong with a KOA. Seward KOA Holiday is located a 7-minute drive north of downtown Seward and is a popular choice among visitors with kids or those just looking to camp with more comforts than the Seward municipal campgrounds offer.

They provide full RV hookups, laundry, showers, and even features like a dog park and game room. However, due to its inland location, this is the only major campground near Seward that does not offer direct waterfront views.

Miller’s Landing Campground (RV & Tent)

Millers Landing is located in Lowell Point, just south of downtown Seward. This makes it a great spot if you want to escape the main touristy area of Seward while still being on or near the water. They have two private campgrounds, Miller’s Landing Campground and Miller’s Landing Annex Campground, which take both RV and tent campers.

Campground amenities include $1 hot showers, laundry facilities, 30Amp electric hookups, free morning coffee, campfire pits, and more! Here, you’ll pay a bit more than you would at a municipal campground, but you get a bit more comfort in exchange.

📅 When to Visit Seward, Alaska

The most popular time to visit Seward is during the summer season (June through August), as this is when the weather is mildest and access to Kenai Fjords National Park is open. For many visitors, timing their trip comes down to weighing crowds against access:

• Summer (June–Aug): Peak season with the warmest weather and full road access to Exit Glacier.
• Shoulder Seasons (May & Sept): Fewer crowds and mild weather, but some services may be reduced.
• Winter (Oct–Apr): Low crowds but very cold temperatures, highly reduced services, and extremely limited park access.

✈️ How to Get to Seward, Alaska

Tucked away at the head of Resurrection Bay, Seward is one of the most accessible—and scenic—coastal towns in Alaska, reachable by car, train, bus, or even air taxi. Whether you’re coming from near or far, here’s a breakdown of your options:

• Car—The Seward Highway is kept clear year-round, connecting Anchorage to Seward in just over 2 hours. If you’re interested in driving but don’t have your own vehicle, consider renting a car for the journey.
• Plane—Seward Airport is a private airport located just next to downtown Seward, servicing private air taxis for quick journeys. There are no major commercial flight services that travel to Seward at the moment.
• Public Transport—Choose between the 4-hour Coastal Classic Train connecting Anchorage to Seward, or a faster, more budget-friendly bus service.

Read Next:

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