Anchorage to Moon Lake State Recreation Site Road Trip Guide
Introduction
Alaska is full of jaw-dropping beauty and a must for every RV lover to visit at least once in their life. Anchorage is the ideal home base for any RV trip since it is the largest city in the state and from here you can travel north, east, or west on your solo RV getaway. Trips in Alaska are suited to nature lovers who don't mind getting off-grid and away from major cities, so no matter what direction you travel in there will be some gorgeous sites to see and explore.
If you only have a few days to enjoy this area of the world, don't fret. You can still fit in a fantastic trip that will last only a few days but give you memories that will last a lifetime. Heading northeast along the Glen Highway is a popular route to take and will mean that you can see some epic landscapes without having to do any offroading. Along the way, there are also many cute towns to stop in, so if you need to pick up any supplies with some prior planning you can time your stops to hang out in some places that you would otherwise miss.
To cap off your quick two or three-day trip traveling through Alaska Moon Lake State Recreation Area is waiting for you to call it home for the night. Home to 15 campsites and picturesque lake views, it will be hard to match the serenity that you will find here ever again. Pack your van and get ready, this is a trip you will remember forever.
Point of Interest
Wrangell - St Elias National Park and Preserve
Your next stop on the way to the Moon Lake State Recreation Site has to be the largest National Park in all of the United States:Wrangell - St Elias National Park. Featuring mostly sparse wilderness, the park contains an astonishing 13 million acres of land that was originally established in 1980.
There are so many incredible natural attractions in the park that you would have to live here for years to see them all, but some of the highlights include Mount Saint Ellis (one of the tallest mountains in North America), Mount Wrangel (an active volcano), and the Nabesna Glacier (the longest valley glacier in the world).
The park is so large you won't be able to access most of it in your rig, but luckily there is a ranger station right off the highway that is a must-visit. Here the friendly staff will assist you in determining where you can travel to within the park so you don't damage your van or get stuck, and they will also be happy to answer any questions or provide other advice. Also in the ranger station is a bookstore, exhibits, and sometimes ranger-led activities. It is advised to stock up on water while you are at the ranger station and for any untreated water to be treated.
Camping is available throughout this area, but there are no developed campgrounds so you will have to do some dry-camping.
Tolsona Wilderness Campground
Located around three hours drive from Anchorage along the Glenn Highway is a fantastic place to call home as you make your way towards the Moon Lake State Recreation Site known as the Tolsona Wilderness Campground. The campground is located right near Tolsona Creek in a tranquil forested area so you will have the chance to get back to nature and hear the sounds of the wilderness.
There are plenty of fun activities that you can do while you are staying at the Tolsona Wilderness Campground, including fishing in the creek, numerous hiking trails, and even visiting the perplexing Tolsona Mud Volcanoes that stand out since there are no living things growing around them. Back at the campground, you might even get the chance to make some new friends over a game of horseshoes or cornhole toss.
The campground features some of the best amenities that you will find along the Glenn Highway, including electrical hookups, a dump station, free showers, and even WiFi. Reservations can be made in advance by phoning or emailing the park.
Anchorage Museum
If the weather is looking a little frightening outside, there are still plenty of things to keep you entertained within the city of Anchorage. A must-visit if you are into history, the Anchorage Museum is the largest in the state and features plenty of information about how the state came to be in its current form. There are several areas of the museum with each focusing on a particular aspect of life in Alaska ranging from present-day life to how it used to be back in the day.
Depending on what time of the year that you visit the museum there will also be various exhibits showing, so check out the museum website before your road trip to see what will be showing during your time in Anchorage.
You are limited to private RV camping options only in Anchorage, but there is the U.S Military operated Black Spruce Campground on the outskirts of the city if you want some peace and quiet.
Summary
After a few days exploring one of the most beautiful places in the world, you are spoilt to still be able to enjoy the mesmerizing nature waiting for you at the Moon Lake State Recreation Site. Located on the banks of Moon Lake, this is an amazing place to chill out or engage in some more recreational activities, so depending on how you feel there are plenty of options for you to enjoy the last day of your trip.
If the weather is hot you are welcome to go for a swim in the lake, or you can watch the world go by at one of the many picnic sites if you don't feel like taking a dip. Sometimes you will also get to witness the unique experience of a floatplane landing on the lake, so make sure you have your camera ready!
There are a total of 15 campsites at the Moon Lake State Recreation Site suitable for your RV, with some that are near the water. A visit to the Moon Lake State Recreation Site really is the perfect way to end your quick Alaskan trip, so soak it all in before you have to return back to the real world.
