We will be leaving for Juneau on May 10, taking the ferry to Haines and driving to Anchorage. We plan on tent camping the entire trip. How is the camping along the way that time of year? Any suggestions?

May 10 in Alaska? Take your woolies!!!

When you get to Anchorage, go to the Public Lands office--across the street from the Visitor's Center, downtown. They have lots of good info on campgrounds, fishing, etc.

Be warned, more than one state park "campground" was a parking lot and a few had been closed due to budget cuts (this was 2002). We didn't know they were closed until we drove quite a ways to get there!

If you plan on setting up your tent on the ferry boats, set up on the first level under the part of the boat where the second level hangs over. Otherwise you will have a problem with wind. You can also sleep on the second level on the lounge chairs. Get in line early for the ferry boats or all the choice spots will be taken.

Bring layers of clothes. There are heaters on the second level of the boats, but when you walk around on the sides and all over Alaska, you will need the Polartek.

Have a wonderful trip!

http://www.bebearaware.org/indexnfnf.htm

Alaska's one of the only places I wouldn't tent camp. I haven't been there yet, but last fall I had a long trip-planning converstion with a friend now living in Anchorage. She says that very few locals tent camp, because bears are so present everywhere. Locals will take a fifth wheel, RV, or rent small cabins, just to have a little more insulation between them and the bears. This is a solid outdoorswoman, and I believe her.

We wanted to tent camp but rented an RV instead. I was on the lookout for tents and nice tent camping areas but saw very people using tents.

Most "campgrounds" were literally parking lots--and I'm talking about places that were state parks, not RV resorts.

We really enjoyed having the RV.

travellyn: Most every Alaskan I know tent camps. I'm not sure who your friend is, or what "crowd" she runs with up here, but tent camping is not only common among US Alaskans, it is preferred to RVs and 5th wheels by everyone I know except the geriatrics.

As it is, I camped for years without a tent, bears notwithstanding. Just myself and a cheap plastic tarp that I'd fashion into a lean-to.

One of the reasons we do tent camp is that it allows us to get away from campgrounds, and RV parks .... decreasing our exposure to people, and increasing our exposure to the wilderness and wildlife. Including th bears.

Eduardo, Patrick is on the money (again). May 10 is a bit early un the season, so..... "Take your woolies!!!"