Camping in Katmai: 32 Sites at Brooks Camp, Reservations and Fees

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

Katmai National Park has just one campground open to the public, no road access, and dozens of brown bears living within a few yards of your tent. That campground, Brooks Camp Campground, is the park's only official option, and you can reach it only by air. It has 32 sites, costs $10 per night, and fills up fast during peak season.

Campgrounds in the park (1)

• Campground Brooks Camp Campground recreation.gov · 32 sites Directions ↗

Show interactive map Base map © OpenStreetMap · © CARTO

Can you camp inside Katmai?

Katmai is unlike any other U.S. national park. No roads cross it. To get there, you'll take a 10- to 15-minute flight from King Salmon or a floatplane from Homer, Alaska. Inside the park, the NPS runs one developed campground, Brooks Camp Campground, which is open year-round. Outside that campground, backcountry camping is allowed throughout the park with a permit, in true wilderness with no services.

Campgrounds in the park

The NPS runs just one campground in Katmai. The table above lays out its features. The details below will help you understand what those figures mean in practice before you book.

Brooks Camp Campground

This is Katmai's only official campground. Its 32 sites sit a short walk from Brooks River and its bear-viewing platforms, in a setting unlike anything else in the national park system.

Available services include restrooms, showers, drinking water, a store, and bear-proof lockers. The showers set Brooks Camp apart from nearly all wilderness sites in Alaska. They're an unusual comfort at a campground this remote.

Site types are tents only. No road vehicle can enter the park.

Open season lasts all year. Drinking water and the electric fence protecting the campground perimeter operate only from June 1 through September 18. Outside that window, conditions are much more basic and fewer rangers are on site.

Capacity is 32 sites total. In July and August, the campground is essentially full every night.

Rate is $10 per night. Reservations are required through Recreation.gov (permit 249991).

The electric fence discourages bears from entering the campground, but it operates only from June 1 through September 18. This isn't a token measure, and without it in the off-season, you'll need to stay even more alert.

RVs and Katmai: an impossible combination

You can't bring a vehicle into Katmai. No usable road connects the park to the outside world. All your gear arrives in the cargo hold of a small plane or floatplane from King Salmon. Pack a compact freestanding tent, a sleeping bag suited to cool nights, and a cooking setup that follows the food-storage rules to the letter.

If you usually travel by van or RV, shift your plans toward a lodge or lodging in King Salmon. The Alaska Peninsula camping alternatives and comfortable lodges and lodging in Katmai each have their own guide.

Camping nearby: options outside the park

King Salmon is Katmai's main gateway and the only access town with much in the way of services. Private campgrounds are scarce. Most travelers choose a night at a lodge or B&B before and after their time in the park. The Katmai lodging guide reviews all the available options.

Homer, on the Kenai Peninsula, is another base for floatplane flights to Brooks Camp. It's a practical alternative if you're combining Katmai with other destinations in southern Alaska.

Backcountry camping and wild camping

Katmai covers more than 4 million acres. Outside Brooks Camp, you'll find the most complete kind of wilderness. A backcountry permit is required and available through Recreation.gov. There are no designated sites. You choose your campsite, purify your water, and pack out all your waste. An approved bear-resistant canister is essential.

This is an adventure for highly self-sufficient, well-equipped travelers. The Katmai hiking guide covers routes and the logistical planning needed for this kind of expedition.

How and when to reserve a campsite in Katmai

Reservations for Brooks Camp Campground are available exclusively through Recreation.gov (permit 249991). You reserve a site for the nights you want at a rate of $10 per night.

When to book? The reservation window opens every January for the summer season. Mid-July dates, when bear activity peaks at Brooks Falls, are the most sought-after and disappear within hours. Outside the busiest periods, cancellations sometimes open up a few weeks ahead.

Our advice is to set an alarm for the January reservation-opening date. Have two or three backup dates ready. That makes the process faster if your first choice is already taken.

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

Camping at Brooks Camp Campground costs $10 per night. The rate appears in the table above and can be checked anytime on the Recreation.gov page for permit 249991, which always shows the current price.

The flight from King Salmon or Homer is an additional cost and the main expense of the trip. Flights from King Salmon are considerably cheaper than flights from Homer. For entrance fees and annual passes, see the National Park Fees & Passes page.

Safety and best practices: bears are central to the experience

Brown bears are a constant presence around Brooks Camp during the season. Not just occasionally. On our July visits, we shared the riverbank with about 20 bears within 328 feet. The rules are strict and nonnegotiable.

Absolute rules

1. Mandatory orientation on arrival. A ranger will brief you before you enter the campground. The briefing is required.
2. Strict food storage. Store all food, drinks, and scented items such as toothpaste, sunscreen, and cooking oil in the bear-proof lockers whenever you're not holding them. No exceptions.
3. Cook only in the communal area. You can't cook or eat at your tent site. Use the designated cooking shelters.
4. Stay at least 164 feet from any bear, except on ranger-led viewing platforms.
5. Never run when facing a bear. Speak calmly and back away slowly.

These rules protect campers and bears alike. A bear that learns to associate people with food has to be removed from the park. The Katmai wildlife guide explains brown bear behavior and what you'll see from the platforms.

Which camping option fits your trip?

You're coming for the bears and Brooks Falls. Brooks Camp Campground is your only option inside the park. Its 32 sites are reserved through Recreation.gov, and the window opens every January. Aim for mid-July for the fishing spectacle.

You want an extreme wilderness experience. Get a backcountry permit and plan a self-sufficient, multiday expedition through a park that's nearly empty.

Brooks Camp is full or outside your budget. Base yourself in King Salmon, take a day trip by air, and stay outside the park. Our complete Katmai guide will help you organize this type of visit.

Frequently asked questions