Camping in Alaska: Best Months, Booking and Fire Rules
Across Alaska's 3 NOAA reference stations, camping weather is mild from June to August, with average highs of 64 to 68 F and lows of 48 to 52 F. Nights at or below freezing show up from September to May, most often in January, when they average 28 a month. State park sites are booked through Alaska State Parks Online Reservation System, up to three months ahead.
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The best months for camping in Alaska
By NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, camping weather in Alaska is mild June to August. Pick the station nearest your campground below; high ground runs colder than any station.
- Jan19° / 6°Freezing nights
- Feb25° / 10°Freezing nights
- Mar32° / 14°Freezing nights
- Apr47° / 28°Freezing nights
- May59° / 40°Freezing nights
- Jun66° / 48°Mild
- Jul68° / 52°Mild
- Aug64° / 49°Mild
- Sep56° / 41°Freezing nights
- Oct41° / 29°Freezing nights
- Nov26° / 14°Freezing nights
- Dec21° / 9°Freezing nights
Each month shows the average high and low across the state’s reference stations, in F. Mild means an average high of 60 to 85 F with lows of 40 F or more. Freezing nights means the stations average one or more nights a month at or below 32 F.
Anchorageelevation 120 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23 F | 11 F | 30.3 |
| February | 27 F | 15 F | 27.2 |
| March | 33 F | 19 F | 29.4 |
| April | 45 F | 30 F | 18.8 |
| May | 56 F | 40 F | 2.7 |
| June (mild) | 63 F | 48 F | 0 |
| July (mild) | 66 F | 53 F | 0 |
| August (mild) | 64 F | 51 F | 0 |
| September | 56 F | 43 F | 2.5 |
| October | 42 F | 31 F | 17.6 |
| November | 29 F | 18 F | 27.2 |
| December | 25 F | 14 F | 30.6 |
Fairbankselevation 432 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1 F | -17 F | 31 |
| February | 12 F | -11 F | 28 |
| March | 25 F | -3 F | 30.9 |
| April | 46 F | 22 F | 26.4 |
| May | 62 F | 39 F | 6.2 |
| June (mild) | 72 F | 50 F | 0.1 |
| July (mild) | 73 F | 53 F | 0 |
| August (mild) | 66 F | 48 F | 0.2 |
| September | 55 F | 36 F | 9.3 |
| October | 34 F | 18 F | 28.8 |
| November | 12 F | -4 F | 30 |
| December | 4 F | -13 F | 31 |
Juneauelevation 16 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33 F | 24 F | 22.7 |
| February | 36 F | 25 F | 20.7 |
| March | 39 F | 27 F | 22.1 |
| April | 49 F | 33 F | 13 |
| May | 58 F | 40 F | 2.1 |
| June (mild) | 62 F | 47 F | 0 |
| July (mild) | 64 F | 50 F | 0 |
| August (mild) | 63 F | 49 F | 0 |
| September | 56 F | 44 F | 1.1 |
| October | 47 F | 37 F | 7.9 |
| November | 38 F | 29 F | 17 |
| December | 35 F | 26 F | 21.1 |
How to book a state park campsite in Alaska
Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation takes reservations through Alaska State Parks Online Reservation System. The longest advance booking its page states is three months.
How far ahead you can book
Reservations can be made online through the Alaska State Parks Online Reservation System . Reservations can be made exactly 12:00AM AKST (UTC-9:00), 3 months in advance.Alaska State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
First come, first served sites
At the majority of campgrounds in the Alaska State Parks system, no, you cannot reserve campsites. However, there are a few campgrounds reservable using the Online Reservation System .Alaska State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
What a night costs
Overnight camping fees range from $20 to $35 a night.Alaska State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Quoted from Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation pages read October 18, 2026. Windows and fees change, so confirm on the booking site.
Camping outside a campground in Alaska
You may camp in the backcountry in designated areas or at least 1/2 mile from any facilities. There is no minimum distance you must maintain from a water body.Alaska State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Campfires when you camp in Alaska
Campfires in state parks and forests
You may build a campfire in designated fire rings only. Back country fires are prohibited.Alaska State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Alaska camping questions
Camping in other states
Where this page’s facts come from
- State park, forestry and federal land pages (read October 18, 2026). Booking windows, reservation systems, campfire rules, fire restriction sources and rules for camping outside a campground, each quoted word for word with a link to the page it came from.
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020 (read October 18, 2026). Average monthly high, low and nights at or below 32 F at 150 reference stations, the same stations the heat season and heating season pages use.
- National Weather Service alerts (live, read in your browser when the page loads). Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Fire Warnings, Freeze Warnings and High Wind Warnings, read live from api.weather.gov.
- National Weather Service 7 day forecast (live, read in your browser when the page loads). The weekend forecast for the ZIP code a visitor enters, read live from api.weather.gov.
Climate figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals at 3 reference stations in Alaska. Rules are quoted from agency pages and can change.