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Cantwell RV Park
Overview
Cantwell RV Park serves as a peaceful gateway to the Alaskan interior, located just south of the entrance to Denali National Park. This family-owned facility offers a quiet alternative to the busier campgrounds found directly inside the park boundaries. Travelers often choose this location for its spacious sites and friendly atmosphere, providing a comfortable and reliable base for exploring the rugged wilderness of the Alaska Range. It provides a welcoming environment where the focus is on nature and convenience.
Location & Surroundings
Situated at the intersection of the Parks Highway and the historic Denali Highway, the park is surrounded by stunning mountain vistas and dense spruce forests. The property sits near the Jack River, offering a sense of seclusion despite its convenient highway access. This location allows guests to experience the raw beauty of the Cantwell valley, where it is common to spot local wildlife like moose or eagles. The air is crisp, and the scenery is quintessential Alaska, providing a serene backdrop for your stay.
Amenities & Park Features
The park is well-equipped for modern travelers, offering full hookups with 20, 30, and 50-amp electrical service to accommodate various rig sizes. Guests have access to essential facilities including a clean laundry room and heated showers, which are highly valued after a long day of hiking. Many sites are designed as level pull-thrus, making it easy for even the largest motorhomes to navigate. The park also provides reliable Wi-Fi and designated pet areas, ensuring a functional and pleasant stay for the whole family.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
The primary draw is Denali National Park and Preserve, located a short 27-mile drive north. Visitors can spend their days hiking scenic trails or taking bus tours deep into the park to view North America's highest peak. For those looking for adventure closer to camp, the Denali Highway offers some of the most remote and breathtaking driving in the state. Local activities include fishing in the Nenana River, photography of the surrounding peaks, and exploring the unique tundra landscapes found nearby.
Who This Park Is Best For
This park is an ideal fit for independent travelers who want to experience Denali without the crowds and noise of the main tourist hubs. It is particularly well-suited for big-rig owners who require full hookups and easier maneuverability than what is typically found in more primitive or public campgrounds. Families and pet owners will appreciate the quieter pace and the extra space provided, making it a reliable and secure home base for an extended Alaskan road trip adventure.
Amenities
- Tenting
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Rentals
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Discounts
- Facility
- Internet
- Hunting Nearby (within 20 miles)
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Leon Chen
I know the owner is monitoring the Google review. The purpose of this review is mainly to ask him to provide some essential convenience to guests because he is running an RV park, not a bank. Maybe use a digital combination lock on the dump station for guests? after all, I fully respect his pride and doctrines. Our stay at this RV park was frustrating and unsettling due to the owner’s rigid policies and lack of upfront communication. The RV sites don’t have sewer hookups, and the dump station is locked after 6 PM—something we only discovered after arriving at the park. This important detail wasn’t disclosed on the website or booking app, and it was only mentioned in the confirmation email after we had already paid. We arrived at the park at 9 PM after an exhausting day. We found ourselves unable to dump our full grey and black tanks, so we called the owner. He refused to unlock the dump station next to his house. Also, he refused a refund. But after a long argument, he came down to help us dump. Adding to our discomfort was the park's policy of forcing guests to use their communal sewage hoses at the dump station, which we found to be unhygienic. While the owner may believe it’s the best practice, it didn’t seem sanitary for everyone to share the same equipment for something as personal as sewage disposal. Despite the owner and staff initially appearing friendly, our perception changed when we overheard the owner furiously yelling at his wife and using inappropriate language because she had picked up my phone call regarding the sewage situation. This unprofessional behavior was not only shocking but also left us feeling uneasy throughout the rest of our stay. The owner runs the park like a bank or gas station, with no help after hours. He suggested that I didn’t need to dump sewage daily, as our Class C RV could hold it for days. While I understand his perspective, I prefer to manage my RV my own way. The laundry experience wasn’t great either. They claimed I overloaded one of their "commercial" washers with what they said were three loads of clothes, but it was just one load by household standards. It caused flooding in the laundry room. They tried to contact me but couldn’t find me, and when I returned, my clothes had been dumped into a sink while they cleaned the laundry room. The staff even questioned whether I had done laundry before, which was confusing since my home washer handles larger loads weekly. To test if I was wrong, I took the same load to a nearby gas station, where it washed perfectly in one load with one of their washers. On the positive side, the staff was generally friendly, and the park itself was clean. There was some noise at night, but nothing too disruptive. However, the owner's inflexible policies, his unsettling behavior, and lack of transparency made the experience far from enjoyable. His business might be doing well with loyal customers, but it would benefit from clearer communication, more hygienic practices for sewage disposal, and a more respectful, customer-friendly approach.
Terry Whiteman
Tammy & Joe to include there staff was just phenomenal. The camp ground & facility was top shelf. We have stayed in several campgrounds all over the road system in Alaska, this was by far the best maintained in the state. The facilities was very well maintained and super clean. This was our 1st time staying in there Cantwell RV Park. It will be our go-to place in the future. Feel free to reach out if you travelers have any questions or concerns. Terry & Brenda
Kimberly Ziegler
Nice quiet RV park only 25 miles from Denali. Showers and restrooms were immaculate. Laundry area was plenty big and had lots of reading material. The owners are in the process of adding trees for more privacy. Sites were a little tight but were pull-through and we fit our 35’ fifth wheel without any problems.
Veronica Field-Schober
We stayed for 4 nights. Campground is nice and quiet. Showers are clean and plenty of hot water. Laundry is great. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Proximity to Denali was really good - we did a tour that started at 540 am so good we didn't have to drive an hour there and back. If we are ever through again we will stay here again.
Diana Pruett
We thoroughly enjoyed our 5 night stay at Cantwell RV Park. The owners and staff were friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. We were even invited to a cook-out in honor of the birthday of the owner's granddaughter. Bathrooms, showers, and laundry were spotless and everything worked. Sites were gravel, pretty level, and not too close together. Convenient to Denali National Park and the Denali Highway, but for groceries, you had to go a little further afield. It was close to the Parks highway but far enough away that we didn't hear the highway noise. If I were going to be in Alaska again anytime soon, I would plan to stay at Cantwell RV Park.