Kenai Fjords National Park — Visitor Info

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Kenai Fjords National Park protects the Harding Icefield and the glacier-carved coastline it feeds, near Seward, Alaska. Exit Glacier is the park's one road-accessible area; the rest of the park — its namesake fjords, tidewater glaciers, and wildlife-rich coast — is reached almost entirely by boat.

Page content last verified: July 2026

Check current conditions before you go: This is remote, rugged Alaska terrain — weather, tides, and glacier conditions can change access with little notice. Review the official Alerts & Conditions page before you go.
Quick Facts
Location
Near Seward, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Entrance Fee
Free — no entrance pass required
Reservation Needed to Enter?
No
Permit Needed For
Public Use Cabins (reservation); special/commercial activities
Lodging
Exit Glacier Campground; Public Use Cabins; backcountry/coastal camping
Managed By
National Park Service

Getting There

Exit Glacier is the only part of the park reachable by road, a short drive from Seward. Everything else — the fjords, tidewater glaciers, and coastal wildlife — is accessed by boat, typically via a tour out of Seward, or by chartered air taxi/water taxi for backcountry trips.

Entrance Fees

Kenai Fjords does not charge an entrance fee and does not sell or require any entrance pass — it's free to visit. There are also no camping fees charged directly by the park.

Every Kid Outdoors — Free 4th Grade Pass

Kenai Fjords doesn't charge an entrance fee, so an Every Kid Outdoors pass isn't needed here — but it's honored at other fee-charging national parks. Learn more at everykidoutdoors.gov.

Permits & Reservations

General day use — hiking at Exit Glacier, boat tours, day trips — doesn't require a permit. Special events, filming/photography, and commercial activities do require permits; see the park's Permits page.

Public Use Cabins

Reservations are required for the park's Public Use Cabins: the Coastal Public Use Cabins (summer only) run $75/night, and the Willow Cabin at Exit Glacier (winter only) runs $50/night.

Campgrounds & RV Options

There is no RV camping or hookups in Kenai Fjords — the only campground is small and tent-only.

Exit Glacier Campground
12 tent-only sites, first-come first-served, free of charge, open in summer. The park's only drive-to campground.

Backcountry and coastal (boat-access) camping are both allowed elsewhere in the park — food storage rules are mandatory throughout. See the park's camping page for backcountry and coastal camping details.

Good to Know

  • Most of the park is boat-access only — budget for a day-tour or water taxi if you want to see the fjords and tidewater glaciers themselves.
  • Food storage is mandatory everywhere in the park — this is bear and wildlife country.
  • Pets are only allowed in select areas — check current pet policy before bringing one along.
  • Weather and tides drive the schedule — boat tours and coastal camping trips can change on short notice.

More National Parks

See our other National Park visitor guides, or browse the full National Parks guide.

Fees and regulations change from year to year. This page is a starting point for trip planning — always confirm current details on the official Kenai Fjords National Park site before you go.

Sources: NPS – Fees & Passes · NPS – Camping · NPS – Alerts & Conditions