Katmai National Park

In this RV guide to Katmai National Park, discover the park's top features and get helpful travel tips. Many people venture to this part of Alaska to see brown bears in their natural habitat. You may be able to get up close to brown bears at Brooks Falls, try your luck at fishing in Brooks River, or take a boat or kayak in Naknek Lake, American Creek, or one of the many other waterways. You could also hike in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, a vast landscape that was covered by ash when Mount Katmai erupted in 1912. Given the extreme weather that this region can face in the colder months, consider visiting in the summer. This way, you'll have plenty of daylight, some of the snow and ice will have melted away, and the animals will be more active. RVing to Katmai National Park on your own isn't feasible due to the remote location of the park. You won't find any roads that are suitable for RVs, and RV parking in Katmai National Park isn't available. The good news is that you can first drive your RV to a nearby town, such as Homer or Anchorage, and explore those areas by RV before taking an air taxi or boat to Katmai National Park. Many companies are authorized to operate tours and provide transportation to and from the parks, so you'll have several options. The journey to Katmai can be part of the fun whether you're going by air or sea. There is a dirt road that will take you to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, which is about 23 miles away from Brooks Camp. After learning more about this park, it might not be a surprise that you won't be able to drive on this road yourself. Fortunately, you can take a bus tour and be transported safely to your destination, learning more about the area from a ranger who will lead the tour.