Camping Year-Round in Alaska with River Wild Camper Vans

You wake up in your camper van, next to a glacial river and surrounded by snow-capped peaks, as the scent of pine and clean Alaskan air mingles with freshly made coffee. After breakfast, you climb into the driver’s seat and hit the road to…Denali? Homer? It’s up to you. Alaska is your oyster.

For independent travelers looking to maximize their flexibility, camper vans offer the best of several worlds. You can travel to—and stop—where you want, when you want. But unlike cars, camper vans were designed for sleeping, so you can save a ton on hotel costs. Some even include a stove, sink, and fridge, so you can save even more by cooking your own meals. And unlike RVs—which, let’s face it, can be intimidating to drive—camper vans don’t require a hookup, so you can set up for the night just about anywhere.

A camper van offers the ultimate freedom of camping anywhere that is beautiful, bringing you so much closer to the action and where you want to be! Forget rolling your bags in and out of places, in a van you never have to pack and unpack until your trip is complete.

There’s a lot more to living a dreamy van life in Alaska, so we spoke with our friends at River Wild Alaska Camper Vans about how to have a magical experience with this special vehicle. And because, uniquely, River Wild rents camper vans year-round, they shared some tips about how to have an unforgettable experience in every season.

What a Camper Van Trip Is Really Like

The space

A typical camper van fits up to 3 people comfortably, with a removable rear seat and a full-size bed. There’s a sink, refrigerator, two-burner propane stove, plus kitchen and cooking equipment. It’s a cozy cabin on wheels. There’s no shower, but finding one is easy in Alaska. River Wild will provide you with a detailed list of places to grab a shower!

The Utilities

Complete with solar panels and freshwater tanks, these vehicles were designed to be off-grid, so you don’t need to worry about finding a campground with hookups. There’s even a heater in the living area, so you can be comfortable any time of year.

The Perks

Your vehicle is also your hotel! That’s important because Alaskan hotels in summertime can be pricey; plus, getting a room requires booking in advance (sometimes far in advance), so you’re locked into an itinerary. With a camper van, you can set up in a trailhead parking lot (and be the first one on the trail in the morning), in a town, at a campground…this kind of flexibility is a luxury that most Alaskan travelers don’t have.

How Many Days?

Most people rent camper vans for 7 nights, which gives you enough time to visit Denali and the Kenai Peninsula without rushing. Of course, the longer you stay, the more you can see—renting for 3 weeks isn’t unheard of.

Where You Can Go

Most rental car and camper van companies won’t let you travel on gravel roads, so you miss out on sights like the spectacular Denali Highway. But River Wild lets you travel on state-maintained gravel roads like the Denali Highway, as well as the Dalton Highway and McCarthy Road.

Gear Included

With River Wild, your van includes items like bear spray, camping mugs, and bedding. There’s even a camping journal, so you can get ideas from where other travelers went and write your own tips. You can add on some extras, too, like a free-standing shower, a free-standing canopy, fishing gear, and camp toilet. You can even bring your pet for an extra fee.

Camping in Every Season

Spring (April to Early May)

• Weather. See Alaska return to life after a cold winter. Temperatures typically range from 30°F to 50°F; trails begin to thaw out and seasonal wildlife starts to appear (but bugs have not). Days are nice and bright, with little precipitation, and daylight lasts until 9:30 or 10 p.m. Nights can dip below freezing, especially at the higher altitudes.
• Camping. Many campgrounds aren’t open for the season yet, so you might need to find your own spot off the beaten path. Vans are perfect for this! Check state parks, which have areas for wild camping. The Seward Highway features several pull-outs, as does Portage Glacier Road on the way to Whittier. Or head to Talkeetna, where you can camp right on Main Street! Down in Seward you can boondock off Exit Glacier Road as long as the snow has melted. During the spring, you can also boondock right in town at the Seward Municipal campgrounds.
  

Summer (Mid-May to late August)

• Weather. Daytime temperatures generally range from 60°F to 80°F, with nights in the 40s or 50s. And you’ll enjoy nearly 24 hours of daylight, so you can drive or relocate at any hour. When it’s time to sleep, River Wild’s camper vans have magnetic blackout shades on all the windows
• Camping. It’s prime camping season in Alaska, and campgrounds are in full swing. Head to Kesugi Ken, where you’ll have easy access to trails. Enjoy beachfront camping at the Homer Spit Campground. Or try Hatcher Pass. You can drive the whole road to Willow when the road is clear enough from snow. Eklutna near Anchorage is a gorgeous area as well.
  

Fall (Late August to Early October)

• Weather. Fall in Alaska is short and fleeting, but so beautiful. And it’s ideal campfire weather! August and September can still have daytime temps in the 60s and 70s, though it can get much cooler at night. By October, it can be as cool as 40 during the day and below freezing at night; expect to wake up to frost in the morning.
• Camping. Weekend camping remains popular for locals through Labor Day, but with schools back in session, midweek crowds are sparse. Most campgrounds close down for the season by mid September, so you’ll have a more peaceful, isolated experience. However, there can be lingering mud, and water levels in rivers can rise as rain and snow melt. Great places to camp in the fall include Quartz Creek Campground (open until the end of September) and Hatcher Pass—try the Gold Mint Parking area and trailhead. There’s great blueberry picking in early fall! Right after Denali National Park closes on September 15th until the first major snowfall, it’s open for self-exploration. You drive the park road whatever length is designated as open to the public by the Park Service. Riley Creek Campground near the Park entrance remains open throughout the winter!
  

Winter (October - March)

• Weather. Yes, it gets cold—daytimes can be 5°F to 30°F, with below-zero temperatures at night—and there’s not a lot of sunlight. But one of the best reasons to camp in winter is the easy access to adventures like backcountry skiing. Oh, and did we mention the northern lights?!
• Camping. Pick a remote spot to have your best shot at seeing the lights. You won’t have to wait in the cold, like most people—just hop out of the van! State parts are a great bet. In Denali, head to the Riley Creek Campground (hint: check out snowshoes from the visitor center and explore the Denali Park Road). Homer can be a peaceful winter spot; here, Mariner Park Campground stays open year-round. In Hatcher Pass, the Gold Mint Parking area and trailhead are great for northern lights viewing and access to backcountry downhill skiing, as well as groomed cross-country ski trails.

Rent a Camper Van from River Wild Camper Vans for your next Alaska Vacation! Rentals are available year-round. Learn more about their vehicles here.