RV Camping in Hope, Alaska: What You’re Missing at Mile 56.7
Hope, Alaska sits at the end of a 17-mile spur road off the Seward Highway, and most drivers blow right past the turnoff. This former gold rush town of fewer than 200 year-round residents has some of the best RV camping on the Kenai Peninsula — Turnagain Arm views, legitimate hiking, and zero cruise ship crowds.
I’ve run the Seward Highway corridor twice in the last four years, and both times I spent more nights in Hope than anywhere else on the peninsula.
Getting to Hope
From Anchorage, you’re looking at roughly 90 miles and about two hours of drive time. Take the Seward Highway south out of Anchorage, hug Turnagain Arm, and watch for the Hope Highway cutoff at mile 56.7. The road into town is paved, well-maintained, and handles rigs up to 40 feet without drama.
One heads-up: the Hope Highway dead-ends at town. No loop route. You’ll turn around and come back out the same way, so plan your approach if you’re towing a toad or running a longer Class A.
Where to Camp
Resurrection Creek Campground
This is the main show. Resurrection Creek Campground sits inside Chugach National Forest, about a mile outside of town proper. It’s a fee-based Forest Service campground with 39 sites, vault toilets, and a fire ring at each site. No hookups — dry camping only. Sites run around $18/night and accept the America the Beautiful pass.
The sites are spacious and wooded, set back from Resurrection Creek. You’ll hear the water from your rig all night. Several sites accommodate rigs up to 35 feet, and a handful of pull-throughs can handle longer setups. Call the Seward Ranger District before showing up with anything over 38 feet.
Porcupine Campground
About 3 miles past Resurrection Creek, Porcupine sits right on the edge of Turnagain Arm with views that’ll stop you mid-sentence. It’s smaller — 24 sites — and fills fast on summer weekends. Same fee structure as Resurrection Creek. Sites here are tighter and less forgiving for big rigs. Best suited for Class B vans, truck campers, and rigs under 25 feet.
If you score a site at Porcupine during a clear evening, you’ll watch the bore tide roll up Turnagain Arm from your camp chair. Plan your arrival around it.
The Drive In
Don’t rush the Hope Highway. The 17 miles from the Seward Highway junction into town run along Turnagain Arm and through birch and spruce forest that turns gold in late August and September. Pull-outs are frequent and well-marked. I’ve spotted beluga whales from the roadside here — small pods working the shallows during high tide. Keep binoculars mounted in the cab.
The Vortex Diamondback HD 10×42 are what I keep clipped to my visor on Alaska drives. At 10×42, they’re powerful enough to pick out beluga and Dall sheep on the cliffs above the highway without being too heavy to hold steady from a rolled-down window.
Check Price on Amazon → (paid link)
Hiking Out of Hope
Gull Rock Trail
This is the trail that keeps me coming back. Gull Rock is a 10-mile out-and-back starting from Porcupine Campground, running along the Turnagain Arm shoreline through old-growth spruce and cottonwood to a rocky headland with 270-degree water views. Total elevation gain is around 400 feet — not a sufferfest, but the trail stays interesting the whole way.
I’ve done it in June when the wildflowers are going and in September when the leaves are turning. September wins. The light on Turnagain Arm in early fall hits different in a way I’ve never been able to photograph accurately. Give yourself 4-5 hours round trip and don’t skip the headland — that’s where the trail pays off.
Resurrection Pass Trail
If you’ve got more time and legs, Resurrection Pass is a 38-mile point-to-point connecting Hope to Cooper Landing. It’s one of the premier backpacking routes on the Kenai Peninsula, gaining about 2,600 feet to the pass before dropping into the Kenai River drainage. Most hikers do it in 3-4 days.
You don’t have to commit to the full traverse. The first 8-10 miles from the Hope trailhead up Resurrection Creek valley are worth doing as a day hike or overnight. The valley is wide, the creek is clear, and you’ll likely see moose in the willows along the water.
For a trail like Resurrection Pass, I don’t mess around with footwear. The Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX are what I wore on my last full traverse. Waterproof, aggressive tread for the muddy sections above treeline, and light enough at 2.2 lbs/pair that you stop noticing them around mile 10. At $180, they’re priced right for what they do.
Check Price on Amazon → (paid link)
Bear Country Protocols
Hope sits in active brown and black bear habitat. The Resurrection Creek drainage has a healthy bear population, and berry season in late summer concentrates them near the trails. Food storage and trail awareness are not optional here.
At camp, use the provided food storage boxes at Resurrection Creek Campground or hang your food properly. On trail, make noise and carry bear spray — not as a backup plan, but as standard kit. The Counter Assault 10.2 oz is what I’ve carried in Alaska for years. 32-foot spray range, 9.2-second continuous discharge. In brown bear country, that’s the one I trust.
Check Price on Amazon → (paid link)
The Town of Hope
Hope proper is a handful of buildings, a small boat launch on Turnagain Arm, and a general store that’s been operating since the gold rush era. The Discovery Cafe serves food and coffee and keeps irregular hours — verify before you count on it for dinner. The Hope Social Hall hosts community events through the summer and is worth a stop if something’s on.
Gold panning is still legal on Resurrection Creek under a recreational mining permit. It won’t fund your retirement, but kids love it and it’s a legitimate piece of Alaska history. Pick up a permit at the Chugach National Forest office in Anchorage or Seward before you arrive.
When to Go
Late June through early September is the window. The campgrounds open in mid-May, but shoulder season in Alaska means cold nights, muddy trails, and weather that’ll cancel your plans without warning. July and August are peak — expect competition for sites on weekends. Book Resurrection Creek through Recreation.gov as far out as possible if you’re targeting a Friday or Saturday night.
My personal sweet spot is the last two weeks of August. Crowds thin out, the fireweed is going to seed, and the weather is still workable. Nights drop into the 40s, so bring a real sleeping bag. The Kelty Cosmic 20° is a solid 3-season bag at a fair price — 550-fill down, 2 lbs 14 oz dry weight, and it’ll keep you comfortable down to the low 30s with a base layer. I’ve used it on three Alaska trips and it’s never let me down.
Check Price on Amazon → (paid link)
The Bottom Line
Hope doesn’t have hookups, a dump station in camp, or a visitor center handing out maps. What it has is Turnagain Arm at your doorstep, legitimate trails, real Alaska quiet, and a town that hasn’t been polished for tourism. If you’re running the Seward Highway and you skip the Hope cutoff, you’re making a mistake. Turn left at mile 56.7 and stay a few nights.
The rig will be fine. The views will be better than anything you planned for.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product links on this page are affiliate links — if you click and buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
