Exit Glacier Campground at Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

Exit Glacier Campground is a beautiful 12-site walk-in tent-only campground in Kenai Fjords National Park just outside Seward, Alaska. It is the only tent-campground in the park and is easily accessible as you approach Exit Glacier.

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Exit Glacier Campground - Kenai Fjords National Park

Exit Glacier Campground is generally a nice quiet campground located on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska. The campground does not take reservations or camping fees and the campground frequently fills by early evening in July and August.

At the campground parking lot you will find all the amenities you will need including water and pit toilets, a fire pit, and a central food storage, cooking and dining shelter as food and cooking are not allowed in campsites.

The Exit Glacier Area is the only part of the park that is accessible by road. Here you will find the Exit Glacier Campground, the Exit Glacier Nature Center, Exit Glacier, and several hiking trails.

The most famous trail is the Harding Icefield Trail which is a strenuous 8-mile round trip from the nature center to the Harding Ice Field and back.

This trail climbs approximately 1000 feet per mile (3000 feet total) and is wildly popular with black bears as you pass through thickets of salmonberries, a local bear favorite! I also saw numerous mountain goats!

Hikers desiring a good taste of the Alaskan coastal wilderness should hike at least a portion of the 16-mile Resurrection River Trail. The first few miles are pretty level and take you into the Resurrection River Valley. If you are into winter activities, try skiing after snowfall.

You can also choose to book a guided tour of the Harding Ice Field from Seward.

Taking a kayaking trip into Kenai Fjords can be one of your national park bucket list highlights, not to mention an unforgettable experience! Just imagine yourself paddling amongst the breathtaking marine life and seeing the majestic tidewater glaciers as you paddle along the frigid waters of Alaska!

The Kenai Fjords Visitor Center is located in downtown Seward, Alaska, and is a great stop before taking a Boat Tour to Kenai Fjords.

The tour will take you out into Resurrection Bay where we saw sea otters, Stellar Sea Lions, and perigone falcons! This took us to the Gulf of Alaska, where we saw Humpback Whales, Orca (killer) Whales, and Fin Whales! Did I mention the Horned and tufted puffins?!!!

The tour quickly turns out of the open water and into Aialik Bay, Where you see several glaciers, including Aialik Glacier, with icebergs floating in the water, some with harbor seals chilling out on top of them.

Keep your eyes open throughout the trip, as you never know what you may see! We even saw Black Bears on the shoreline!

Cooking and Dining Shelter at Exit Glacier Campground Kenai Fjords National Park — Cooking and Dining Shelter at Exit Glacier Campground

Kenai Fjords National Park Entrance Fee

Kenai Fjords does not require an entrance fee and is a fee-free park with no camping fees for Exit Glacier Campground!

Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.

$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.

2024 America The Beautiful National Park Pass

Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.

National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.

Exit Glacier Campground Camping Fees

Campsite Cost:

Nightly Rate/Fee - This is a free campground!

Exit Glacier Group Sites - There are no group sites available at Exit Glacier Campground

Exit Glacier Campground Reservations

Are Campground Reservations Available? No, campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Campground Information

Number of Sites: 12

Location in the park: located about ¼ of a mile before the Exit Glacier Nature Center.

Campground Address: Exit Glacier Rd, Seward, AK 99664, United States

Latitude/Longitude: 60.1881° N, 149.6316° W

Campground Elevation: 3000 feet

Accessible Sites: Two of the campsites, #1 & #12, are accessible sites

vault toilet at Exit Glacier Campground Kenai Fjords National Park — vault toilet at Exit Glacier Campground

Exit Glacier Campground Amenities

One thing to know about the Exit Glacier Campground is you must park in the parking area and walk your camping gear to your campsite.

Communal cooking is done at the cooking shelter. For bear safety, the park does not allow cooking at campsites.

Kenai Fjords National Park camping is an adventure!

Bathroom Available: There are no flush restrooms available at Exit Glacier Campground, only Vault toilets are available.

Hot Showers: No

Laundry: No

Is there WIFI available? No

Is there Cellular Phone Service Available? No

Campground Host on site: No

Is firewood available for purchase? N/A

Is there a food storage locker/Bear Box in the campsite/area?

There is a central food storage at the cooking and dining shelter (photo above)

Be aware of your surroundings, as bears are common in Alaska and are active in the Kenai Fjords. Make sure to store all of your coolers and cookware, and place any other odorants inside the provided bear boxes/food locker provided on-site when not in use.

Dump Station: Available at the Exit Glacier Nature Center

Payphone: no

Don't forget to pack

Insect repellent is always a great idea outdoors, especially around any body of water.

We use Permethrin Spray on our clothes before our park trips. Please read my article on preventing biting insects while enjoying the outdoors.

Sunscreen - I buy environmentally friendly sunscreen whenever possible because you inevitably pull it out at the beach.

Bring your water bottle and plenty of water with you. Plastic water bottles are not sold in the park.

Sunglasses - I always bring sunglasses with me. I personally love Goodr sunglasses because they are lightweight, durable, and have awesome National Park Designs from several National Parks like Joshua Tree, Yellowstone, Hawaii Volcanoes, Acadia, Denali, and more!

Click here to get your National Parks Edition of Goodr Sunglasses!

Binoculars/Spotting Scope - These will help spot birds and wildlife and make them easier to identify. We tend to see waterfowl in the distance, and they are always just a bit too far to identify them without binoculars.

campsite 1 at Exit Glacier Campground Kenai Fjords National Park — campsite 1 at Exit Glacier Campground

Amenities at each campsite:

The campsites are gravel pads. At the beginning of this walk-in tent campground by the parking lot, there is a cooking and dining shelter, drinking water, and a pit. Storing food in campsites is illegal, and remember that you are in bear country!

Is there a Fire pit/fire ring available at each site?

There is a central fire pit by the food storage and cooking area at the beginning of the campground.

Picnic Table in the site?

Yes. There is a dining shelter provided which has picnic tables

Potable Water? There is a pump for drinking water

RV Camping at Exit Glacier Campground

RV Length: No RVs allowed

Campsite 4 Exit Glacier Campground Kenai Fjords National Park Alaska — Campsite 4 Exit Glacier Campground

How to get to Campground

Located just before the parking lot of the Exit Glacier Nature Center. Turn on Herman Leirer Road (commonly called "Exit Glacier Road") at mile 3 of the Seward Highway - AK-9. Proceed 8 miles. The campground will be the first turn on the left after crossing into the park, about ¾ of a mile after the park's entrance sign.

Campground Regulations

The maximum number of people in a campsite: 8 people (2 tents)

Stay: Fourteen-Day Stay Limit

The number of cars per campsite: Cars are not allowed at the campsite; they must be parked at the campground entrance and hike in.

Quiet Hours: 10:00 PM- 6:00 AM Daily

Pets Allowed: Pets are not permitted in campsites.

Harbor 360 Hotel in Seward Alaska with Puffins painted on the side of the building

Kenai Fjords Lodging Options

Several lodging options are available in the nearby town of Seward, Alaska.

The Harbor 360 Hotel Seward is the most convenient option while exploring Kenai Fjords National Park.

The National Park Visitor Center is just past the hotel, and Major Marine Tours also has check-in at the hotel. After Check-in, walk out back of the hotel to catch the boat. Depending on the tour, you may see Kenai Fjords, glaciers, and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. It is also one of the closest hotels to Kenai Fjords National Park and has numerous dining options nearby.

Hotel Edgewater and the Van Gilder Hotel are close to the Alaska Sea Life Center and Iditarod National Historic Trail and one mile from the National Park Visitor Center.

Of course, there are several options available, here is a few more listed below.

Exit Glacier Lodge - provides amenities like a bar and a restaurant. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi.

Resurrection Lodge on the Bay - Take advantage of a free breakfast buffet, a terrace, and laundry facilities at Resurrection Lodge on the Bay. With a beachfront location, this lodge is the perfect place to soak up some sun. Guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.

Breeze Inn - Consider a stay at Breeze Inn and take advantage of laundry facilities, a fireplace in the lobby, and a bar. Be sure to enjoy a meal at Breeze Inn Restaurant, the onsite restaurant. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi, and guests can find other amenities such as conference space.

Hotel Seward - Consider a stay at Hotel Seward and take advantage of laundry facilities, a fireplace in the lobby, and a bar. Adventurous travelers may like the fishing at this hotel. The onsite Fusion cuisine restaurant, Ms. Genes Place, features ocean views and al fresco dining. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to all guests, along with a gym and a business center.

Van Gilder Hotel - An art gallery on site, a shopping mall on site, and a library are just a few of the amenities provided at Van Gilder Hotel. Guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi

Click on the map below to see current hotel and vacation rental rates near Seward, Alaska.

Seward, Alaska Area Attractions

Seward, Alaska: I think the city of Seward is one of the prettiest locations in America! This port town is the beginning of the Iditarod and is surrounded by massive mountains cut out by the massive glaciers surrounding it.

In Seward, you will find great restaurants that serve the best-tasting fish anywhere. My personal favorite was the Highliner Restaurant!

Other must-dos is the Alaska Sea Life Center which is Alaska's only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation facility and taking a boat tour into Kenai Fjords National Park where you will see Glaciers, sea otters, bald eagles, sea lions, puffins, Fin whales, (Orca) Killer Whales, and Humpback whales to name a few!

Many people show up each year as their cruise ships either start or end their Alaska Cruise from Seward. The easiest way to get here is to fly into Anchorage Alaska then drive down the Kenai Peninsula on the Seward Highway

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center: Follow Alaska Highway 1 (The Seward Highway) for approximately 47 miles south of Anchorage and you will see the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center on your right as you head to Kenai Fjords National Park. I really enjoyed coming here as I got a good close-up look at several animals at the sanctuary which is dedicated to preserving Alaska's Wildlife. Animals the sanctuary has helped include the Wood Bison, Wolves, Muskox, Reindeer, lynx, elk, coyote, Black Bears, Brown Bears, Moose, and Bald Eagles.