Alaska Campground Owners Association - Alaska RV Campgrounds

THE MILEPOST CAN TELL YOU WHERE TO GO.

Google can help you find a campground.

Hipcamp can show you places to stay.

Boondocking groups can point you toward a pullout, a public-land spot or a place someone else discovered.

But when you’re driving Alaska, the real question isn’t just:

“Where can I camp?”

It’s:

“𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐑𝐕 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧, 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝, 𝐟𝐢𝐭, 𝐟𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐮𝐩, 𝐝𝐮𝐦𝐩, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭?”

That’s where things can get stressful.

A campground may look close on a map but be miles down a rough road. A pin may take you to the wrong entrance. A beautiful photo may not tell you whether the site works for a 40-foot motorhome.

And when you’re already tired, low on fuel or watching the daylight disappear, finding out too late can turn a great Alaska day into a frustrating one.

That’s why we’re building something different. We’re not building another campground directory — we’re building the tool Alaska RV travelers can actually use while they’re on the road.

And our new Alaska Journey Planner is already up and running!

Say you’re in Tok and headed to Fairbanks. Or leaving Anchorage on your way down to Homer. Just tell the Journey Planner where you are and where you’re headed — it will show you the ACOA campgrounds along your route so you can see your options before you pull onto the highway.

Maybe you want to drive another 100 miles. Maybe you spot a great stop and decide to call it a day. That’s how Alaska RV travel should work: your trip, your pace, your decisions.

It even shows you how far along your route each campground is, with options to view details, call, book directly or get directions.

And that’s just the beginning. Here’s what else you’ll find at AKCampgrounds.com:

📍 Statewide Interactive Map: See ACOA campgrounds across Alaska on one central map.

📏 Distance Readouts: See approximately how far each campground is from where you are.

🏕️ Complete Campground Profiles: Tap a campground to view photos, amenities, info, and direct booking links.

🧭 One-Tap Navigation: Hit Get Directions and route straight to the park via Google Maps or Waze.

And there’s something important happening behind those map pins: ACOA campground owners are helping us verify their exact locations. Google might know where the property is, but the campground owner knows where a 40-foot motorhome actually needs to turn in.

Right now, 65 independent Alaska campgrounds and 45 ACOA Associate businesses are connected through ACOA statewide. Instead of campgrounds and local businesses scattered across the state, travelers can discover them as one connected network — places to stay, tours, fishing, RV services, and attractions.

And we’re expanding that network into Canada, too! 🇨🇦 We’ve welcomed our first Canadian campground affiliate, with more conversations underway along the Alaska Highway and Cassiar Highway.

After all, your Alaska adventure doesn’t start at the border. For most RV travelers, it starts hundreds — sometimes thousands — of miles before they ever reach Alaska.

📖 Coming in January: The new 2027 Official Alaska Campground Guide & Driving Map joins the system. The printed guide rides with you when cell service disappears; AKCampgrounds.com becomes your live companion when you’re connected.

Our goal isn’t simply to put Alaska campgrounds on a website. Our goal is to help put Alaska travelers in Alaska campgrounds — and help you experience more of the local communities along the way.

👉 Take a look at AKCampgrounds.com and start exploring the map.

2027 is going to be one heck of a year to Drive Alaska! 🇺🇸🇨🇦

BIG NEWS! Drive Alaska 2027 | RV Travel & Alaska Campgrounds by ACOA JUST CROSSED THE BORDER! 🇨🇦🇺🇸🚐

And we’re pretty excited about this one!

THE ALASKA ADVENTURE DOESN’T START AT THE ALASKA BORDER!

It starts hundreds, sometimes THOUSANDS, of miles before that!

And those great little campgrounds along the Alaska Highway and Cassiar? They’re just as much a part of the adventure as the ones waiting for you in Alaska!

🏕️ SO WE’RE MAKING IT OFFICIAL!

Please help us welcome Caribou RV Park in Whitehorse, Yukon, as the VERY FIRST Canadian Affiliate Campground of the Alaska Campground Owners Association! 🎉🇨🇦

A HUGE thank you to Steve & Sandra Berger for jumping aboard and helping us kick off something pretty special!

THIS IS A BIG STEP FORWARD FOR DRIVE ALASKA 2027!

We’re bringing campground owners together on BOTH sides of the border to help travelers enjoy the ENTIRE journey, not just the Alaska portion!

A pretty exciting step for RV tourism on both sides of the border! Travel Yukon

✅ More great campgrounds to discover along the way!

✅ Stronger connections between Canadian and Alaska campground owners!

✅ More support for the small businesses and communities that make this drive so special!

We’re starting with a select group of quality Canadian campgrounds along the Alaska Highway / The Alcan / Cassiar, and Caribou RV Park is leading the way!

Because here’s something we’ve always believed…

THE DRIVE TO ALASKA ISN’T JUST HOW YOU GET THERE. IT’S PART OF THE VACATION!

👇 NOW HERE’S WHERE WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We’ve got room for a few more great Canadian campground partners, and who better to ask than the folks who’ve actually made the drive?

WHAT’S ONE CANADIAN CAMPGROUND YOU’D TELL EVERY ALASKA-BOUND RV TRAVELER NOT TO MISS?

Maybe it’s a little family-run park along the Alaska Highway, a park on the Cassiar, or that one campground where the owners treated you like old friends.

NAME IT! TELL US WHY! AND SHARE A PICTURE IF YOU’VE GOT ONE! 📸

And if you’ve stayed at Caribou RV Park in Whitehorse, we’d especially love to hear about your experience!

Your recommendations might just help us choose our next Canadian campground partner!

🇨🇦🇺🇸 WELCOME TO THE ACOA FAMILY, CARIBOU RV PARK!

ALASKA DOESN’T CARE IF YOUR RV COST $200,000 OR $8,000.

But it DOES care whether you took care of it. 😂

Every summer, RVs from all over North America start making their way up the Alaska Highway.

And you ought to see what comes rolling into our campgrounds.

Big diesel pushers that probably cost more than my first house.

Brand-new fifth wheels with just about every gadget imaginable.

Travel trailers.

Truck campers.

Little camper vans.

And some older motorhomes that look like they’ve already made the trip twenty times.

Some of them probably have. 😂

Some of these rigs are worth more than a house.

Others probably cost less than the fuel bill to get here.

But you know what?

THEY’RE ALL HERE FOR THE SAME REASON.

To see Alaska.

Not to impress the guy parked next door.

Not to see who has the biggest rig.

And certainly not to win a campground beauty contest.

QUIT WORRYING ABOUT HOW FANCY YOUR RV IS.

If you’re holding off on your dream Alaska trip until you buy a bigger motorhome, a newer truck, or another $20,000 worth of equipment…

You might be waiting forever.

There’s nothing wrong with having a beautiful rig.

But here’s something worth remembering.

The RV you’ve already got might be perfectly capable of making the trip.

Because there’s a BIG difference between an older RV and one that hasn’t been maintained.

We’ve seen some pretty impressive older rigs that their owners take better care of than most people take care of their houses.

And we’ve seen newer ones that probably shouldn’t have left the driveway.

Age alone doesn’t tell the whole story.

BUT DON’T SKIMP ON MAINTENANCE.

You know what we’d be thinking about before driving thousands of miles to Alaska?

Not heated floors.

Not an ice maker.

And definitely not whether my neighbor’s impressed.

We would be thinking about tires.

Those tires might have plenty of tread left, but how OLD are they?

I’d want to know my brakes were good.

My cooling system was ready.

My wheel bearings, suspension and hitch were in good shape.

I’d want a spare tire, the right tools, and a little money set aside in case something breaks.

Because here’s the thing about driving north.

There are some mighty long stretches of highway where the nearest RV parts store isn’t exactly around the corner.

And that little problem you’ve been meaning to fix back home?

Well…

Alaska might just decide it’s time to deal with it. 😂

DON’T LET THE ALASKA HIGHWAY SCARE YOU TO DEATH.

People sometimes talk about driving to Alaska like they’re preparing to cross the Sahara.

You’ll hear stories.

Destroyed tires.

Broken windshields.

Frost heaves.

Gravel.

Potholes big enough to swallow a pickup.

And yes, some stretches of highway deserve a whole lot of respect.

Construction happens.

Frost heaves are real.

You’ll run into rough pavement and occasional gravel sections.

But here’s what first-timers need to understand.

The main Alaska Highway is paved.

You don’t need a specially built expedition vehicle to make the drive.

You need a roadworthy rig.

Some common sense.

And enough patience to slow down when the road calls for it.

That’s it.

AND HERE’S SOMETHING YOU’LL DISCOVER WHEN YOU GET HERE.

Pull into just about any Alaska campground after spending weeks on the road.

Nobody’s likely to ask what your RV cost.

They’re going to ask:

“Where’d you come from?”

“How were the roads?”

“Where are you headed next?”

“Seen any bears yet?”

And before you know it, you’re standing around somebody’s campsite swapping stories with folks from three different states and a couple of Canadian provinces.

One guy’s got a brand-new Class A motorhome.

Another couple is traveling in a 25-year-old Class C.

And they’re both having the time of their lives.

That’s one of the things I love about RVing in Alaska.

THE ADVENTURE DOESN’T COME WITH A PRICE TAG.

And when you get up here, don’t overlook the locally owned campgrounds.

A lot of our Alaska Campground Owners Association (ACOA) members have been welcoming travelers for decades.

They know their communities.

They know the roads.

They often know who to call when something needs fixing.

And they’ll probably tell you about a few places you hadn’t even planned on visiting.

There’s a whole lot more to a good campground than a level place to park.

SO HERE’S OUR ADVICE FOR ALASKA 2027.

If you’ve already got an RV you love…

And it’s mechanically sound, properly maintained, and capable of making the journey…

Don’t convince yourself you need to spend another $100,000 before you can come see Alaska.

Get it checked over.

Fix the things you’ve been putting off.

Make sure it’s safe.

Prepare for the miles.

And GO MAKE THE TRIP.

Because we can tell you something.

Nobody drives all the way to Alaska and comes home talking about how fancy their neighbor’s camper was.

They talk about the bears.

The mountains.

The glaciers.

The fishing.

The people they met along the way.

And that moment when they finally crossed into Alaska, looked around, and thought…

HOLY COW. WE ACTUALLY MADE IT TO ALASKA! 🏔️

You can’t put a price tag on that.

👇 ALASKA 2027 TRAVELERS: WHAT ARE YOU DRIVING NORTH?

Motorhome? Fifth wheel? Travel trailer? Truck camper? Camper van?

Tell us THREE things:

🚐 What are you bringing?

📅 How old is it?

📍 What state or province are you starting from?

BONUS POINTS FOR A PICTURE OF YOUR RIG! 📸

And Alaska RV veterans, jump in too!

What’s the oldest RV you’ve driven to Alaska, and how did it do?

Let’s show the first-timers just how many different ways there are to make this trip.

And if you’re planning your 2027 adventure, come join our Drive Alaska 2027 | RV Travel & Alaska Campgrounds by ACOA Facebook group.

We’re bringing together travelers, experienced Alaska RVers, and locally owned campgrounds to help folks make the drive north.

Big rigs. Little rigs. New rigs. Old rigs.

THERE’S ROOM FOR ALL OF YOU UP HERE.

THE BEST ALASKA ITINERARY DOESN’T START WITH A MAP. 🗺️

It starts with one question: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐎 𝐮𝐩 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?

Not: “How many days should we spend in Homer?”

Not: “Should we go to Fairbanks?”

Not even: “What route should we take?”

Those questions come later. First, figure out what would make you come home and say: “𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩 𝐈 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭.”

Because Alaska trips look completely different for everyone:

Maybe it’s pulling silvers out of a river or going after barn-door halibut. 🎣

Maybe it’s grizzly bears, whales, and calving glaciers. 🐻🐋

Maybe Denali is the single bucket-list dream you’ve had your whole life. 🏔️

Maybe you want to drive the Top of the World Highway, or sit by the water in Homer for four days and do absolutely nothing.

📌 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓-𝐃𝐎𝐒

Sit down together before you start making reservations. Each person gets three. Not 20. Three.

What are the three things you would be genuinely disappointed to drive all the way to Alaska and miss? Write them down. That’s the foundation of your trip.

🗺️ THEN PUT THOSE THINGS ON THE MAP

This is where your route starts making sense:

If fishing leads the list, you’re spending real time on the Kenai Peninsula.

If glaciers and marine wildlife are top priorities, Seward, Whittier, and Valdez take center stage.

If Denali is the dream, build enough buffer time around the park to actually experience it.

Don’t choose seven destinations just because somebody else’s Facebook itinerary had seven. Build YOUR trip.

⏱️ 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐒

This is where the kitchen-table version of Alaska meets reality. 😂

Pull up the map and look at the distances. Then remember: you’re not commuting, you’re traveling Alaska. A 250-mile day can easily include pilot cars, road construction, wildlife jams, fuel stops, and three pullouts you never planned on taking pictures at. Give yourself time.

📅 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

Lock in the non-negotiables that require fixed dates:

A popular campground on a mid-summer weekend

A Kenai Fjords glacier cruise or saltwater fishing charter

A flightseeing trip or Denali shuttle reservation

Those become your anchor stops. Locking in those anchors at local ACOA member campgrounds is a great place to start—the owners are usually your best source for real-time local info on what’s happening nearby.

🛠️ DON’T FORGET THE BORING STUFF

It’s not the flashy part of trip planning, but it makes the fun part possible:

Fuel range • Groceries • Laundry • Propane • Dump stations • RV maintenance • Cell coverage • Border logistics

Many independent Alaska campgrounds can help with these practical needs right on site. Those little details matter immensely when you’re several thousand miles from home.

🧭 NOW LOOK AT YOUR TRIP AGAIN

Do you have time to actually enjoy it? Or did you accidentally plan a 5,000-mile scavenger hunt?

If you have 30 days, don’t try to squeeze a 45-day itinerary in by driving faster. Plan a GREAT 30-day trip. If you have 60 days? Fantastic. Slow down even more.

There isn’t one perfect Alaska itinerary—and there shouldn’t be. Start with what matters to you, build the route around those anchors, calculate realistic miles, and leave just enough room for Alaska to surprise you.

👇 2027 FIRST-TIMERS: What’s already on your MUST-DO list?

(Fishing? Denali? Glaciers? Wildlife? The Arctic Circle? Homer? Valdez? Something completely different? Drop yours below!)

And if Alaska 2027 planning is taking over your kitchen table, join our new Drive Alaska 2027 | RV Travel & Alaska Campgrounds by ACOA group on Facebook. It’s built specifically to help you ask questions, learn from people who’ve made the drive, and connect directly with local campgrounds before you ever cross the border! 🇺🇸🇨🇦

𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗞𝗔 𝗜𝗦 𝗔 𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗔𝗦𝗞 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘.

That’s why the Alaska Campground Owners Association just launched:

Drive Alaska 2027 | RV Travel & Alaska Campgrounds by ACOA

We want to connect 2027 travelers directly with the campground owners, tourism businesses and Alaska communities that will be welcoming you when you get here.

Wondering where to stay?

How early should you reserve?

Which communities deserve an extra day or two?

What should you see, eat, fish, explore or experience while you’re there?

Or maybe you just want some advice from somebody who knows that part of Alaska really well.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞.

You’ll hear from campground owners, local businesses, tourism operators, Alaskans and travelers who have spent time exploring our state.

Our goal is simple: help more independent travelers discover Alaska, stay a little longer, explore more communities and support the locally owned campgrounds and businesses that make those places special.

𝗜𝗳 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀.

And if you know somebody getting ready to make the drive north, send them our way.

WHAT A WEEKEND.

A huge thank you to everyone who showed up, shared ideas, asked questions, told stories, laughed with us and helped make this year’s ACOA Convention something pretty special.

To our speakers — Sara and Jennifer with SparkStory, Gene McCabe and Chris with Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and Colleen Stephens, Stan Stephens Glacier and Wildlife Cruises — thank you for giving us your time, your experience and plenty to think about as we head into another Alaska season.

To every campground owner, manager and Associate Member who made the trip to Anchorage — thank you. This organization works because people are willing to get in the same room, share what’s working, talk about what isn’t, and help each other get better.

And we have to give a BIG thank you to all of the campgrounds, Associate Members and Alaska businesses that donated to our live auction.

Because of you — and some pretty competitive bidding 😂 — we raised more than $7,500 to support ACOA and the work we’re doing for Alaska’s campgrounds and independent travelers.

That money helps us keep building.

Building better tools for travelers.

Building stronger connections between Alaska campgrounds and tourism businesses.

Building more ways to get independent travelers to drive Alaska, stay longer, explore more communities and support locally owned businesses along the way.

And maybe the best part of the whole weekend was seeing what happens when all of us get in one room.

We’ve got a lot of independent businesses spread across a BIG state.

But together, we’re building one heck of a network.

Thank you to everyone who was part of it.

Now let’s get to work on 2027. 🇺🇸🏔️🚐

𝗕𝗘𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗗 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗 𝗣𝗜𝗡 𝗢𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗞𝗔 𝗠𝗔𝗣 𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗕𝗢𝗗𝗬 𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗬𝗢𝗨.

Tonight, campground owners and Alaska tourism businesses from around the state start gathering in Anchorage for our annual convention.

𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄, 𝘄𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸.

We’ll talk about:

• What worked this summer 📈
• What didn’t 🛠️
• What travelers are asking for 💬
• What campground owners are dealing with 🏕️
• And what we can do better in 2027 ✨

Because behind every campground pin on a map is 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂:

🔧 Opening water systems after an Alaska winter
🚜 Repairing sites
👥 Hiring crews
📧 Answering emails
📞 Taking reservations
🗺️ Helping somebody figure out where to go next
🌌 And sometimes staying up late because an RV that was supposed to arrive at 6:00 still hasn’t pulled in. 😂

Tomorrow we’ll have campground owners and Alaska tourism businesses in the same room talking about something we all have in common:

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗮 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿?

We’ve got a lot to talk about this year.

A new AKCampgrounds.com.

A new Member Portal.

Our 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 & 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗽.

New trip-planning tools.

A growing network of Alaska businesses.

And we might have a few other things up our sleeves for Alaska 2027. 😉

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀. 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻. 𝗔 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝘁.

𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝘆… 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻.

But maybe the most important part isn’t any of that.

It’s getting the people who actually do this every summer 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺.

Sharing ideas.

Sharing problems.

Learning from each other.

And figuring out 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.

And this year, 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗼.

That’s part of why we’re creating our new 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗮 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 campaign.

It gives people planning the drive north a place to ask questions, share what they’re trying to figure out and learn from campground owners, Alaska businesses and travelers who’ve already made the trip.

And it gives 𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻.

So with campground owners and tourism businesses gathering in Anchorage this weekend, we want to hear from you:

👇 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗮 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀—𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹—𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀?

Tell us below.

And if Alaska 2027 is starting to take over your kitchen table, come join us at our new group.

Drive Alaska 2027 | RV Travel & Alaska Campgrounds by ACOA

We’ve got a lot of planning and a whole lot of Alaska to talk about between now and next summer.

𝗪𝗲’𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄.

𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗶𝘁. 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁. 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.

WOULD YOU RATHER PLAN YOUR ENTIRE ALASKA ADVENTURE YOURSELF—or have someone who knows Alaska handle the details so you can spend more time actually enjoying it?

We’re excited to welcome Alaska Excursion Caravan as a new ACOA Member!

And this is definitely not your average caravan.

Cindy & Jim have built a 63-day Alaska RV adventure around small groups, personal attention and slowing down enough to really experience Alaska. Campgrounds, excursions, routing and all those little details that can turn planning Alaska into a full-time job—they take care of it.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝟔𝟑 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬? 𝐎𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐕?

They’ve got something pretty special for that too.

✈️ 7 DAYS. 9 PEOPLE. ONE AMAZING ALASKA EXPERIENCE.

𝐅𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞.

A tiny group. Incredible Alaska experiences. And instead of worrying about where you’re going next, what you booked or how you’re getting there, they handle the details so you can soak up the moments you came to Alaska for.

And one more reason we’re pretty darn happy to welcome Cindy & Jim to ACOA…

They also own Rustic River Retreat, a beautiful riverfront cabin on the Little Susitna near Hatcher Pass—and they donated a TWO-NIGHT STAY to our ACOA Convention auction! ❤️

Riverfront cabin. Private hot tub. Hatcher Pass just down the road.

That is one heck of an auction donation.

A HUGE thank you to Cindy & Jim for supporting Alaska’s campground community, and welcome to ACOA! 👏

WE’VE GOT A COUPLE OF NEW FACES TO WELCOME!

We’re always glad when another Alaska campground or local business decides to get involved with ACOA, and today we get to welcome two from right here on the Kenai Peninsula.

Sunrise Inn Motel & RV Park in Cooper Landing is joining us as one of our newest campground members, and Sophie’s Suds in Sterling is joining as a new ACOA Associate Member!

🏕️ The Sunrise Inn & RV Park— COOPER LANDING

If you’ve driven through Cooper Landing, there’s a good chance you know the place. Sunrise Inn gives travelers a place to stay right in the heart of the Kenai Peninsula, with RV sites, motel rooms, a café and fuel — a great home base for exploring Cooper Landing and the Kenai River.

🧺 Sophie's Suds — STERLING

Here’s one RV travelers appreciate after they’ve been on the road awhile. 😂 Sophie’s Suds offers self-service laundry and showers right here in Sterling — two things that become pretty darn important a couple weeks into an Alaska road trip.

This is exactly what we want the ACOA network to be about — great Alaska campgrounds AND the local businesses that help travelers along the way.

Please help us welcome Sunrise Inn Motel & RV Park and Sophie’s Suds to ACOA! 👏

Two more local Alaska businesses helping us build a stronger campground and travel network for 2027. 😎

If Denali is part of your 2027 Alaska road trip…

You might want to give it another day.

Maybe two.

Because something is happening in Denali in 2027 that Alaska travelers haven’t experienced in years.

For the last five seasons, visitors have only been able to travel partway down the Denali Park Road.

Not because that’s where the road ends.

The road keeps going.

A LOT farther.

But since 2021, park visitors haven’t been able to continue beyond Pretty Rocks by road.

That’s about to change.

THE ROAD INTO DENALI

The Denali Park Road stretches 92 miles into the national park.

And this isn’t just another Alaska highway.

The farther you travel, the farther you get from pretty much everything.

Mountains.

Tundra.

Rivers.

Wildlife.

And if Denali decides to cooperate…

One heck of a mountain.

For decades, riding a bus deep into the park was one of those classic Alaska experiences.

Then the mountain moved.

Literally.

WHAT HAPPENED AT PRETTY ROCKS

At Mile 45.4 is a place called Pretty Rocks.

The hillside there has been moving for years.

Then it got bad.

Really bad.

In 2021, the landslide accelerated enough that the Park Service had to close the road.

That meant buses could only travel to around Mile 43.

So the Park Service decided to build something pretty remarkable.

A bridge across a moving mountain.

THE PRETTY ROCKS BRIDGE

475 feet.

That’s how long the new bridge is.

Instead of continually trying to rebuild a road across an active landslide, the bridge spans it.

And now?

It’s finished.

Crews are working beyond Pretty Rocks repairing the road and preparing facilities for what’s coming next.

2027 — DENALI OPENS BACK UP

For the first time since the Pretty Rocks closure, full bus service along the Denali Park Road is returning in 2027.

You’re going farther.

Deeper into the park.

Into country Alaska visitors haven’t been able to reach by road for years.

So if Denali was going to be a quick stop on your 2027 itinerary…

We’d rethink that.

DON’T MAKE DENALI A CHECKBOX

This happens on Alaska itineraries all the time.

Anchorage.

Denali.

Fairbanks.

Three dots.

Three reservations.

Keep moving.

But Denali doesn’t always cooperate with schedules.

You can arrive on a beautiful afternoon and never see the mountain.

Clouds.

More clouds.

“There’s really a 20,310-foot mountain back there?”

Yep. 😂

Then you wake up the next morning.

Coffee in hand.

Look up.

And there it is.

That’s Alaska.

Give Denali some room.

PUT THIS DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR

📅 DECEMBER 1, 2026

That’s when reservations are scheduled to open for Denali’s 2027 buses and campgrounds.

If riding deep into Denali is one of those things you’ve been dreaming about doing, that’s a date we’d remember.

Make the reservations you NEED.

Then leave Alaska a little room to change the plan.

AND WHEN YOU LEAVE DENALI…

Don’t just punch the next campground into the GPS and stare at the centerline.

Head north and you’ve got Fairbanks and Alaska’s Interior ahead of you.

Head south and you’re working your way toward Talkeetna, Mat-Su, Anchorage and eventually the Kenai Peninsula.

Either direction can turn into one heck of an Alaska road trip.

And there’s a pretty good chance somebody sitting next to you at a campground will tell you about another place you hadn’t planned on at all.

Listen to them.

Some of the best Alaska recommendations start with:

“Since you’re headed that way…”

2027 IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT

There are people planning Alaska right now who have been dreaming about this trip for 10, 20, maybe 30 years.

There are people who drove the full Denali Park Road years ago and still talk about it.

And there are people who visited during the last five years who didn’t get the opportunity.

That’s what makes 2027 pretty special.

After five seasons of limited road access…

Denali is opening back up.

So maybe don’t give it one night.

Don’t race through.

You’ve waited too long and driven too far for that.

Give Denali some time to do what Denali does.

Save this one if Denali is on your Alaska road-trip list — and send it to whoever is sitting at the kitchen table planning this trip with you.

👇 DENALI VETERANS: If someone told you they might only make ONE trip to Alaska in their lifetime, what’s the ONE thing you’d tell them about experiencing Denali?

Never been? Your turn. What’s the ONE thing you’re hoping to see or do when you finally get there?

We have a feeling the people who’ve already done it could build one heck of a Denali plan in these comments.

And if Alaska 2027 is the trip you’re dreaming about, watch for the 2027 Official Alaska Campground Guide & Driving Map (DROPS IN JANUARY) — built to help you find campgrounds, discover more of Alaska and plan what comes after Denali.

BRINGING THE RV?

ACOA member campgrounds around Denali include Waugaman Village RV Park, Denali Rainbow Village RV Park & Motel, Denali RV Park and Motel, Denali Grizzly Bear Resort and Cantwell RV Park.

Continuing north to Fairbanks? Fairbanks / Chena River KOA and River's Edge RV Park are ACOA members there too.

Find ACOA campgrounds across Alaska:

🌐 AKCampgrounds.com

Dream it and join us….

Drive Alaska 2027 | RV Travel & Alaska Campgrounds by ACOA