Anchorage Campgrounds, bad as they say?

[MACHZER]

I am looking to make reservations for a campsite in Anchorage.
The terrible reviews for all of them don't make it easy.
For those who have stayed there, are they as bad as they say and can you recommend the better one?

Thanks

[PA12DRVR]

Grit dog wrote:
Not sure why one would intentionally camp IN Anchorage. You could save the 3000mi drive and go camp in your local ghetto for free.
More seriously, though, there may be some nice RV parks, but the ones I drove past every day in the city were low income mobile housing parks.
15-60minutes up or down the Glen or Seward highways from A town is much more palatable , IMO.

Nothing's changed recently: In a pinch, I think Golden Nugget would be somewhat tolerable, but if one is on an RV trip, no reason not to park the RV somewhere North or South. Either direction is a (relatively) scenic drive and not crowded outside of rush hour times.

FWIW, I timed it a couple of times over the weekend: Far South Anchorage (Rabbit Creek) to Eagle River....20 minutes at the outside with most of that getting from Rabbit Creek to the Glenn. Far South Anchorage to Big Bear (or whatever the official name is) RV park on the way to Wasilla....45 minutes +/-. Dry and uncrowded roads and going no more than speed limit + 5. It's not a burden to stay somewhere outside of Los Anchorage.

[Grit_dog]

Not sure why one would intentionally camp IN Anchorage. You could save the 3000mi drive and go camp in your local ghetto for free.
More seriously, though, there may be some nice RV parks, but the ones I drove past every day in the city were low income mobile housing parks.
15-60minutes up or down the Glen or Seward highways from A town is much more palatable , IMO.

[Nodaker]

Agree with staying at Eagle River Campground. We stayed there twice on our Alaska trip in 2016. It's primitive (no hookups) but all paved, level sites with good space between sites. Not that far to drive into either Eagle River or Anchorage.

[Veebyes]

Eagle river is not far & worth the extra drive. Keep an eye out for the bears. It is woodsy & next to the river.

[stickdog]

We've stayed at Ship Creek in '15' since we didn't do much other than sleep there a couple three nights we had no complaints at we weren't staying for the amenities.

Stayed in Palmer last summer at Big Bear on our way down to Homer Needed an oil change and replenish food stuffs. Nice park, as far as AK RV parks unless I've missed something this one is a 4 star.

Also stayed at Golden Nugget on our way back from Homer as it was across the street from Costco and we needed to resupply again. Very tight spaces and our 39 overall 5er was a foot longer than the site with no place to park the tow vehicle.

[pyoung47]

We stayed at Ship Creek. It is close to everything, although certainly not rustic. Gravel sites. They were in the saver booklet, and that will get you part of the cost of the book.

[MORSNOW]

MACHZER wrote:

MORSNOW wrote:
There is a Alaska DNR campground on the Eagle River about 10 miles north of Anchorage that is beautiful!

Also a DNR campground about 20 miles south of Anchorage.

Eagle River Campground

Bird Creek Campground

Thanks, No power there I believe?

No power at either place. It's daylight all day and night up here, who needs power? My little group 24 would last for 3 day weekends.

Bobbys RV Park in Chugiak located behind Bella Vista Italian Restaurant has hookups and pretty close to Anchorage.

[PA12DRVR]

MACHZER wrote:

MORSNOW wrote:
There is a Alaska DNR campground on the Eagle River about 10 miles north of Anchorage that is beautiful!

Also a DNR campground about 20 miles south of Anchorage.

Eagle River Campground

Bird Creek Campground

Thanks, No power there I believe?

Will let someone who's RV'd there confirm, but based strictly on tenting there in '17 (and driving through the CG), I don't believe there is power at the ER location....and probably not a Bird Creek either (power and/or sewer at individual sites are not common in Alaska DNR / Park facilities).

With the current state of the roads, depending on one's rig and assuming you don't drive with rush hour traffic, the Big Bear Park mentioned above (and / or the park that's actually on the Palmer side) is only about 20-30 minutes from Eagle River.....

[MACHZER]

MORSNOW wrote:
There is a Alaska DNR campground on the Eagle River about 10 miles north of Anchorage that is beautiful!

Also a DNR campground about 20 miles south of Anchorage.

Eagle River Campground

Bird Creek Campground

Thanks, No power there I believe?

[MORSNOW]

There is a Alaska DNR campground on the Eagle River about 10 miles north of Anchorage that is beautiful!

Also a DNR campground about 20 miles south of Anchorage.

Eagle River Campground

Bird Creek Campground

[jnharley]

We also stayed in Palmer. It is an easy drive into Anchorage.

[caseyhoward]

We stayed at Golden Nugget last summer for a week and it’s fine ... I would recommend it

[chiefneon]

Howdy!

We chose not to stay in Anchorage we stayed at Big Bear RV Park in Palmer.

“Happy Trails”
C7

[MACHZER]

Thanks everyone and any other postings coming.

I usually take google reviews with a open mind but the overwhelming bad reviews of the Anchorage campgrounds were worrisome.