What are The Best Glamping Experiences in Alaska?

Camp McCarthy

Just outside the tiny town of McCarthy, at the edge of Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Camp McCarthy blends comfort with wilderness access. Guests stay in stylish walled tents, complete with decks and mountain views. The camp’s grand pavilion features hot showers, sinks, food storage, a campfire circle, a cornhole game, and a private nature trail.

There are no on-site cooking facilities (which may attract unwanted wildlife), but water kettles are provided for hot drinks and water bottles. Guests often bring snacks or ready-to-eat meals and take advantage of the surprisingly strong food scene in McCarthy, just a short walk across the footbridge from camp. Between hikes to the Root Glacier, exploring Kennicott’s historic mines, or joining a flightseeing tour, this spot makes an ideal base for Alaskan adventures.

Quick Facts:
• Location: McCarthy/Kennecott area, Wrangell–St. Elias National Park
• Access: Drive in via the McCarthy Road. Here's the full driving guide from Anchorage to McCarthy.
• Meals: Bring your own or dine in nearby McCarthy
• Activities: Hiking, glacier tours, flightseeing, historic sightseeing. See all local things to do.
• Minimum stay: Two nights recommended

The Iceberg Inn

Brand new in 2025, The Iceberg Inn lets guests stay overnight beside one of the most breathtaking landscapes within Kenai Fjords National Park. Bear Glacier Lagoon is a vast, iceberg-studded expanse just outside Seward. You’ll fly in with Marathon Helicopters (the inn’s sister company) on a quick, 15-minute ride that sweeps over the lagoon before landing right next to your private yurt. Marathon has been flying visitors over this gorgeous area for years, but now guests can experience it in-depth.

Even better, you’ll have the inn all to yourself. There’s a single, one-bedroom yurt designed for two guests (or a small family with a young child) and comes equipped with a kitchenette, hot tub, and sauna. It’s completely private, with the nearest neighbor a quarter-mile away, and the only visitors you might spot are a few kayakers gliding through the lagoon. An on-site innkeeper is available if needed, but otherwise it’s just you, the glacier, and the quiet.

Spend your days paddling among the icebergs or booking a flightseeing add-on with Marathon Helicopters. Charter the chopper for a glacier landing or a remote hike, and step out into a part of the park that few ever see up close. The Iceberg Inn combines total seclusion with easy comfort—a romantic new way to experience the wild heart of Kenai Fjords.

Quick Facts:
• Location: Bear Glacier Lagoon, near Seward
• Access: Helicopter from Seward
• Meals: Self-catered; bring your own food
• Activities: Kayaking, glacier viewing, flightseeing, photography
• Minimum stay: Two nights recommended

Shearwater Cove

Tucked away in Resurrection Bay near Seward, Shearwater Cove blends ocean adventure with coastal comfort. Owners Jason and Charity opened the retreat in 2016 with two yurts; today there are seven, each with a private shower and toilet, all linens, and eco-friendly toiletries. Kitchens are fully outfitted with a two-burner stove, cookware, and staples like olive oil, salt, pepper, coffee, and tea.

You’ll travel by boat from Seward (transportation is included) and settle into a peaceful cove surrounded by cliffs and sea life. Your stay includes unlimited use of sea kayaks—one of the biggest draws here—and you’ll want to spend at least two nights so you have a full day to explore. Favorite paddling destinations include Sandspit Point State Marine Park on the tip of Fox Island and the hidden waterfall in Humpy Cove. With its thoughtful amenities and setting deep in Resurrection Bay, Shearwater Cove delivers the best of Alaska’s coastal glamping.

Quick Facts:
• Location: Resurrection Bay, near Seward
• Access: Boat transfer from Seward Harbor
• Meals: Self-catered, with optional meal-kit add-ons
• Activities: Sea kayaking (included), hiking, wildlife viewing
• Minimum stay: Two nights

Orca Island Cabins

A short boat ride from Seward brings you to Orca Island Cabins, tucked into Humpy Cove on a private island in Resurrection Bay. Owners Susan and Dennis Swiderski began developing the property in 2002 with a vision for sustainable, low-impact lodging that started with just a few yurts. Over time, they added a pedestrian bridge to the mainland and expanded thoughtfully—today, you’ll find eight yurts designed for comfort and connection with nature.

Enjoy access to sea kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, small skiffs, snorkel gear, and fishing equipment, giving you the freedom to explore the cove and its abundant marine life at your own pace. Each yurt features an oven with a gas range and a propane grill on the deck, plus basic kitchenware for easy food preparation. There’s water for hot showers and drinking, along with a propane fireplace to keep you cozy. Every yurt also includes a small library of books—many about Alaska’s ecology and history—perfect for quiet evenings after a day on the water. Orca Island has been welcoming travelers for more than two decades and remains one of Alaska’s most sustainable and iconic glamping experiences.

Quick Facts:
• Location: Humpy Cove, Resurrection Bay near Seward
• Access: Boat from Seward
• Meals: Self-catered
• Activities: Kayaking, hiking, wildlife viewing, tidepooling
• Minimum stay: Two nights

MICA Guides Glacier Overnight Adventure

This truly one-of-a-kind experience takes you by helicopter onto the surface of the Matanuska Glacier, where you’ll spend the night in a heated canvas tent surrounded by shimmering blue ice. Each tent features a real bed with down comforters; dinner and breakfast are included and served in a communal dome tent.

Your stay also includes a guided glacier walk, with optional upgrades for ice climbing or heli-hiking. It’s one of Alaska’s most exclusive wilderness adventures, offering the thrill of camping on a glacier with the comforts of a boutique lodge. Check out our blog post from when we stayed there during the summer of 2024.

Quick Facts:
• Location: Matanuska Glacier, Southcentral Alaska
• Access: Helicopter from the MICA base in Glacier View, approximately a 90-minute drive north of Anchorage
• Meals: Catered dinner and breakfast included
• Activities: Glacier hike (included), optional ice climbing and heli-hiking
• Minimum stay: One night

Glacier Nalu Campground

Just outside downtown Juneau, Glacier Nalu Campground offers a comfortable way to experience Alaska’s capital city without giving up the camping atmosphere. In addition to RV and tent sites, the property features a handful of glamping tents—canvas-walled tents set on elevated wooden platforms and designed to comfortably sleep two guests. Each tent is outfitted with sleeping quilts, a memory foam mattress pad, a coffee table, and two Yeti camping chairs.

There’s a cooler for food storage, but bring your own food, cookware, dishes, and utensils. The campground’s shared outdoor camp kitchen has a cook stove for meal prep, and guests can use the property’s well-maintained restrooms, showers, and coin-op laundry facilities. Common spaces include picnic tables, propane fire pits, and a large covered gazebo with BBQs—perfect for gathering and swapping stories with other travelers. Glacier Nalu offers an affordable glamping experience close to adventures like glacier hikes and whale watching.

Quick Facts:
• Location: Juneau, Alaska
• Access: Drive-in
• Meals: Bring your own food and cookware; shared outdoor kitchen available
• Activities: Nearby hiking, glacier viewing, whale watching, exploring downtown Juneau. See all Juneau things to do.
• Minimum stay: Two nights recommended