Camping in Glacier Bay: Which Campground to Choose, Reservations, and Fees

By Erika Müller · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Glacier Bay

Glacier Bay isn't a park with multiple campgrounds. There are no neat clusters of campsites, electrical hookups, or RV parks with showers and Wi-Fi. Camping here is intentionally simple: there's one official campground, free and tent-only, on the water at Bartlett Cove. Beyond it, thousands of square miles of wild backcountry are open to camping with a permit. The options are limited in number, but exceptional in quality.

The short version: Glacier Bay has one campground inside the park at Bartlett Cove. It's free, walk-in, and doesn't take reservations. Backcountry camping is allowed throughout the park with a free permit issued on site. There are no electrical hookups or RV facilities inside the park. Gustavus, 10 miles away, is the fallback for RV travelers and indoor lodging.

Campgrounds in the park (1)

• Campground Bartlett Cove Campground first come, first served · 33 sites Directions ↗

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Can you camp inside Glacier Bay?

Yes, and there are two completely different ways to do it.

The first option is open to everyone: Bartlett Cove Campground, at the park entrance in a conifer forest, a few minutes' walk from the lodge and visitor center. There are no reservations and no fees. Wooden platforms give you a place to pitch your tent above the often-soggy ground.

The second option is for adventurers: backcountry camping anywhere in the park, from shorelines to moraines and tundra. Most campers reach these areas by kayak or on the concessioner's boat. You'll need a free permit and a mandatory 30-minute orientation before setting out.

Outside Bartlett Cove's campsites and permitted backcountry areas, camping isn't allowed anywhere in the park.

Campgrounds inside the park

Bartlett Cove Campground

This is Glacier Bay's only campground, and it provides all of the park's official tent camping.

It's set in a temperate forest of western hemlock and Sitka spruce, a few hundred yards from Glacier Bay Lodge and the visitor center, on the shore of the cove that shares its name. You walk there from the parking lot. Vehicles stay in the lot, while tents go on raised wooden platforms that are especially welcome when the rain sets in. And it does, often.

Food storage lockers, or bear boxes, are available at every site. You have to use them. Composting toilets are on site. Potable water and showers, for a fee, are available at the nearby lodge, a two-minute walk away.

This is the only place in the park reachable by car from Gustavus. During the busy season, the campground may be full by midday, so arrive in the morning.

RV camping: what you need to know

Glacier Bay has no RV sites with hookups inside the park. There are no water connections, electrical hookups, or dump stations. Bartlett Cove's parking lot can accommodate vehicles, but it isn't an RV campground in the usual sense.

The Glacier Bay RV camping guide covers RV providers and parking options in the area.

Camping nearby: options in Gustavus

Gustavus is the only community near the park. It has a few hundred residents, bed-and-breakfasts, rental cabins, and an airport with service from Juneau. It isn't a tourist town with the kind of traditional private campgrounds you'd find elsewhere in the United States. Informal camping options do exist, with some property owners accepting tents, but they're rare and not well developed.

For indoor lodging, including B&Bs, cabins, and lodges, see available lodging in Gustavus and the park. For the park's only lodge, Glacier Bay Lodge at Bartlett Cove, seasonal availability and rates are listed on the Glacier Bay hotels and lodges page.

Backcountry camping in Glacier Bay

This is where Glacier Bay reveals its true scale. The park covers more than 5,000 square miles and is almost entirely open to backcountry camping. You can pitch a tent on shorelines exposed by retreating glaciers just a few decades ago, on freshly deglaciated moraines, or on pebble beaches where you may be the only person to set foot that day.

Backcountry permit: Free, and issued in person at the Bartlett Cove visitor center. There is no park-wide campsite quota, but some areas have additional regulations during the busy season. The mandatory orientation, which takes about 30 minutes, covers food storage, navigation, and wildlife safety. You can't skip it.

Required gear: You need a bear canister, a rigid food-storage container, for every backcountry trip. The park lends them out free of charge. Store all food and scented items, including toothpaste, sunscreen, and coffee filters, in the canister at all times.

Access: Most visitors use a kayak, which you can rent at Bartlett Cove, or the park concessioner's boat. The boat drops campers at different points around the bay depending on the scheduled trips.

The most popular camping areas, including Reid Inlet, Scidmore Bay, and Blue Mouse Cove, offer direct views of active glaciers a few hundred yards from shore. For kayak routes and recommended camping areas, see Glacier Bay hikes and outings.

How and when to reserve a campsite in Glacier Bay

At Bartlett Cove, reservations aren't available or necessary. Arrive, find an open site, and set up camp. In July, the peak of the season, it's best to get there in the morning.

For the backcountry, you can get a permit only in person at Bartlett Cove. There is no advance online reservation system and no recreation.gov booking window for this type of camping. That gives you flexibility, but you'll need to be there already, or arrive the day before, to plan your camping days.

The main season runs from late May to early September, with July as the busiest month. For the best months for different types of trips, the Glacier Bay seasons guide compares the year month by month.

Fees: how much does a night of camping in Glacier Bay cost?

Bartlett Cove Campground is free. The backcountry camping permit is also free. Glacier Bay doesn't charge an entrance fee.

Your actual expenses come from other things, including transportation to the park, either a flight from Juneau that takes about 30 minutes or a seasonal Alaska Marine Highway System ferry; kayak rental if you're heading into the backcountry; and meals at Glacier Bay Lodge if you're not cooking for yourself. For an overview of the cost of a Glacier Bay trip, the general Glacier Bay guide provides essential budgeting information.

Camping safety and best practices

Black bears and brown bears: Both species live in the park, including right around Bartlett Cove. Food storage isn't optional. Keep all food and scented items, including toothpaste, deodorant, and sunscreen, locked in the campground's bear boxes or in your backcountry canister. Don't leave anything in your tent or visible in your vehicle.

Weather: Summer temperatures average 50°F to 59°F, but rain is a constant in this coastal part of Alaska. April, May, and June are the driest months of the year. September and October are the wettest. The minimum gear you shouldn't leave home without includes a serious rain jacket, waterproof boots, and wool or fleece layers. Light rain can last for several days, and temperatures drop at night. The Glacier Bay monthly weather averages and trends fill in the details.

Backcountry: Tell the rangers about your itinerary before you leave. Carry a paper map, since there is no cell service in the park, and bring a satellite communicator, EPIRB, or satellite phone. Tides can trap kayakers along some shorelines, so check the tide tables before every outing.

Which campground is right for you?

Families and casual campers: Bartlett Cove. It's free and reachable by car from Gustavus, with lodge services close by, including hot meals and showers. It's a perfect base camp for day boat trips around the bay. The effort-to-discovery payoff is hard to beat for a first visit to Glacier Bay.

Kayakers and experienced hikers: The backcountry. Allow at least three to five days to reach the active glacier areas by kayak on your own. The experience doesn't compare with that of any other U.S. national park.

RV travelers: Base yourself in Gustavus and take day trips into the park. RV travelers will find local providers in the RV camping section. To plan the rest of your trip, our Glacier Bay guide covers activities you can combine with camping.

Frequently asked questions