- U.S. Military Recreation Facilities
- Alaska
- Black Spruce RV Park
Black Spruce RV Park
58840 1 14 1 7
Location
Installation
Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Anchorage, AK
GPS Coordinates
61.26021, -149.71942
Location Information
RV Gate Coordinates
61.257, -149.66275
Directions
Directions
Take the "Fort Richardson/Artic Valley" exit off AK-1 (Glenn Highway). Turn to the north towards the base and go through the security gate. RV's should use the right car lane (not the commercial lane). Long RV's will still be able to wind through the maze. Once through the gate, you will be on "D Street". Stay on D Street as it winds through base. D Street eventually ends at a "Y turn". Stay to the RIGHT, turning onto Otter Lake Road. The campground is about 100 yards ahead of you on the left. Self check-in and information is at the office at the campground entrance.
Map
Google Map (Click on the map to enlarge)
Contact Information
Phone Number
(907) 552-2023
Mailing Address
Outdoor Recreation Center, Bldg. 794, Davis Hwy, Fort Richardson, AK 99505-6600
Website URL
Campground Information
Authorized Users
Active Duty, National Guard, Reservists, Retired Military, 0-100% DAV, Purple Heart Recipients, Former POW, Veteran Caregivers, DoD and NAF civilians. Read this article on Authorized Users
Season
May 1st - Oct 1st.
Reservations
Not accepted.
Internet Access
Internet is available at the Warrior Center at Fort Richardson and the library at Elmendorf. No Wi-Fit the campground.
Mail Forwarding
FedEx/UPS/DHL (No mail): (Your name), c/o Outdoor Recreation Center, Bldg. 794, Davis Hwy, Fort Richardson, AK 99505-6600
Pet Information
2 pet limit. Allowed with the usual leash (6' max) and clean-up rules. 30 day stay limit.
Campground Information
Cottage and Cabin rates based on rank, military/civilian, and type of lodging.
Big Rig Friendly?
Amenities
- Dump, Sewer
- Water
- Electric
- Tent Area
- Laundry
- Showers
- Playground
- Snow Skiing
- Library
- Gas
- Commissary
- Exchange
- Fitness Center
- Shoppete
- Class VI
- Post Office
- Car Wash
Site Information
Type of site | Spaces | Hook-ups | Daily | Weekly | Monthly |
Gravel | 40 | W/30A/S | $33 | N/A | N/A |
Gravel | 5 | W/30A | $33 | N/A | N/A |
Camper/Tent | 5 | None | $12 | N/A | N/A |
Cottages/Cabins | 5 | Full | $10 - $50 | N/A | N/A |
Other Information
DoD Interactive Comment Evaluation
The Department of Defense (DoD) Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) system is a web-based tool that collects feedback on services provided by various organizations throughout the Department of Defense (DoD). Click the ICE logo to submit your evaluation on this campground directly to the responsible department.
Weather Information
Located in a Spruce forest. Fort Richardson adjoins Elmendorf AFB, so you have the facilities of both locations available.
Photos
Videos
Attachments
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File DescriptionFile SizeFile TypeDownloads
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Black Spruce RV Park Map
103 KB
1114
Map
User reviews
June 2024
Overall rating
3.2
Location
5.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
2.0
Amenities/Facilities
2.0
Value
4.0
Overall Experience
3.0
No camp host. Laundry 2 washers - unhooked, 4 dryers - 2 broken. Campground is 90-100% full. Doesn’t appear to be taken care of very well. We were here in 2022 and it was better taken care of and had a host. Beautiful area and $33/day is a bargain. Doesn’t appear to have a lot of long term residents, but like most FamCamps today is used by a lot of active duty during PCS’ing families (as is normal and correct). We were lucky to happen onto a family heading out and were able to get their site. Still a desirable location and excellent value.
14 June 2022
Overall rating
4.9
Location
5.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
5.0
Amenities/Facilities
4.0
Value
5.0
Overall Experience
5.0
Nice campground with all pull thru sites. Roads are wide and easy to navigate. Sites we're level and wide. Almost all have FHUs with 30 amp service. There seemed to be one cross street that did not have sewer connections. We were there in mid June 2022. Less than 25% of the sites we're occupied. No reservations but if you call their number (it goes to outdoor rec) they can at least give you an idea of how full it is. Easy to get there from the highway so it is worth checking. While there we drove thru the Elmendorf FamCamp. Sites are close together, and sites are not very wide, lots of tree branches and no sewer hook ups.
July 9-15. 2019
Overall rating
4.1
Location
5.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
4.0
Amenities/Facilities
5.0
Value
5.0
Overall Experience
3.0
Drove thru park. The first-come, first-serve policy in this case doesn't work well for the on the road traveller. The park announces daily site availability after 11am. There is a lineup of cars/SUVs waiting for camp host. The only RVs in line are local area. When we pulled in, having come down from Ft Wainwright in Fairbanks, park was full. Fortunately we were able to get a site at Elmendorf FamCamp (which was wonderful). Black Spruce camp host mentioned we should come back next day after 11am. We called and drove by and discovered a lineup of 6 cars/SUVs and 2 campers at entrance. Lucky them. Hopefully, MWR will upgrade Elmendorf FamCamp to include sewer and add more 50amp service. Perhaps we can stay at Black Spruce should we venture back to Alaska in future years.
Aug 3, 2017
Overall rating
4.9
Location
5.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
5.0
Amenities/Facilities
5.0
Value
4.0
Overall Experience
5.0
Great location to Anchorage. Clean, everything works. Laundry centrally located. Close to commissary and auto services. Got great over the air TV reception as well as radio stations. Easy access through all gates. Made a great base camp for our time in Anchorage.
August 3 – August 8 2016
Overall rating
4.7
Location
5.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
4.0
Amenities/Facilities
4.0
Value
5.0
Overall Experience
5.0
We used the 24/7 Gate #1, (Ft Richardson/Arctic Valley exit from Hwy #1). The posted directions on this site were great, led us to the camp with no issues. We only encountered Active Duty Gate Guards, they were all friendly, courteous and professional. We elected to use one of the 30Amp sites (#41 - #45) for $27 per night rather than the 50Amp full hook up site for $33. Plenty of open sites while we were there. Lots of trees, but the road and the sites are clear of overhead branches, easy drive thru and parking, some pot holes, but not bad. Road and sites are gravel and seem to all be level. The cost is still $27 per day for the RV sites with 30Amp, water and no sewer. The dump station is in the center of the camp close to the laundry facility. The laundry facility has 4 washers and 4 dryers at $1.25 each. The area is really a great place to visit and JBER had everything we needed at a reasonable price, approximately 5 miles from downtown Anchorage. Just some of the places we visited are: The Alaska Zoo, Matanuska Glacier, (drive up to and walk on the glacier, $20 per person access fee for Military), The Farmer’s Market, Salmon fishing on Ship Creek, (you can rent all the required gear and get a license at the creek by the viewing bridge), Talkeetna Historic Walking Tour, visited the Ulu Factory, drove Turnagain Arm toward the Portage Glacier, We have a 45’ Class A and a Wrangler Unlimited.
June 7-14, 2015
Overall rating
3.6
Location
4.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
3.0
Amenities/Facilities
4.0
Value
2.0
Overall Experience
4.0
Spending the week here. The campground is about 75% occupied. Lots of active duty on the move. But there were no appearance of homesteading. Prices went up a little this year to $33 for a FHU site (high, but better than off base). We got lucky, as there were quite a few sites where the electric wasn't operational, but still had water and sewer. A truck hit a power station and knocked the electric out. They let us have one of those sites for $12 a night (we have lots of solar). Laundry isn't free anymore, but only a $1 (much better than off base). Very nice and large commissary and exchange. The volunteer camp host doesn't do much, other than answer questions. The hosts don't maintain the facilities or collect fees. The facilities do need some maintenance, especially trimming the bushes and trees in the sites and along the road. They don't know how soon the electric will be restored to those closed sites. Overall, a nice campground with lots to see and do in the Anchorage area.
July 2013
Overall rating
3.0
Location
3.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
3.0
Amenities/Facilities
3.0
Value
3.0
Overall Experience
3.0
The hosts were helpful with information about the area. On our last stay there we had 2 grizzly bears and a moose walk thru our site. That was awesome. My only complaint is that the Outdoor REC Center can't/won't tell you if there are any sites available. I know they don't take reservations but a simple yes we have spaces or no we're full would be helpful.
June 2012
(Updated: June 29, 2012)
Overall rating
4.4
Location
5.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
5.0
Amenities/Facilities
3.0
Value
3.0
Overall Experience
5.0
Please be advised that they have started taking reservations for PCSing soldiers and airman which means that most of the full hook-up sites are full. They will move you if one comes open. The dry sites are on grass. Host are helpful and friendly.
MM
Marian McNeil
July 5-8 and 15-17 2011
Overall rating
4.6
Location
5.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
5.0
Amenities/Facilities
4.0
Value
3.0
Overall Experience
5.0
F.S. left this review using the Directory software: We first stayed on the AF FamCamp for a week and then moved over to Ft Richardson Black Spruce for a few days. Wish I had started out with Black Spruce first. All sites are pull through, level and private. The laundry is free although abused by some with pet bedding and some let small children do their laundry. Both times here there were empty spaces so suggest everyone check out this campground before going to Elmenddorf.
29 June 2011
(Updated: July 01, 2011)
Overall rating
4.3
Location
5.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
4.0
Amenities/Facilities
4.0
Value
5.0
Overall Experience
4.0
Checked out this CG, we were going to stay here but there was no spots in hookup sites. The daily rate is $21 for full hookup now, not $18. The CG was fairly easy to find with GPS but didn't see any signs to direct us there. Spots are set up as pull thrus with hookups on the side nearest the road so your door faces the woods which is thick and you can't really see anything. The bathrooms and laundry area were very clean and seemed to be well maintained. We decided rather than waiting for a spot to maybe open up for us to go to Elmendorf instead, they had spots open. I would recommend this CG but either be prepared to wait for a spot to open or be prepared to go to another CG.
June-August, 2009
Overall rating
3.9
Location
4.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
4.0
Amenities/Facilities
3.0
Value
4.0
Overall Experience
4.0
We stayed at Ft. Rich several times during our summer in Alaska. The first visit we only stayed in overflow for two hours before we were assigned a site. The longest we stayed in overflow was just two nights and then we were parked right across from the restrooms which was very convenient. The hosts do the best they can with what they have. The restrooms building is way too small for the size of the park with just one shower in each restroom. The building is very old and shows its age but the camp hosts keep it clean and well stocked. The campground roads are all dirt and gravel and everything was very dusty with the hot dry weather this year. We found the campsites to be large and level and easy to get into. There are several homesteaders, some that even stay through the winter. Our TV reception was spotty at best. One really great benefit was eating at the Elmendorf Dining Hall. Very good food at really cheap prices. The full hookup price of $18 is very good for the location although I think $10 for overflow it a little high.
17 June - 1 July 2009
Overall rating
3.9
Location
4.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
4.0
Amenities/Facilities
3.0
Value
4.0
Overall Experience
4.0
This is a campground, that in some places looks like a trailer park. There are some full timers here. It shows trust me. Yes they have free laundry, which seems to make people happy. Pull-throughs are not as great as some may think. I have a 34' 5th wheel, I ended up backing the unit into the pull-through. The camp host are great, although they have three of them. The size of the park only needs two at the most. It is a good park, but not great. They really need to clean it up.
30 June to 7 July 2009
Overall rating
5.0
Location
5.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
5.0
Amenities/Facilities
5.0
Value
5.0
Overall Experience
5.0
This is a great camp. The roads are dirt and gravel but who cares? The sites are first class, among trees, and spread out very nicely. The sites are big and easily handle big rigs. No cable but the TV reception (digital) is great. Free laundry facilities were a big plus. We were allowed to wash our motorhome at our spot. The campground isn't very far from the runways at Elmendorf AFB so you will have noisy aircraft flying patterns overhead during the day but that didn't bother us at all - it's kind of like having your own private air show all day. Camp host was wonderful. We loved this place. We stayed here a week in a motorhome. A word about getting here. The signs on the freeway say nothing about "D" Street. The only sign you will see on the A1 freeway says "Fort Richardson/Artic Valley." Take that exit and turn to the north towards the base. Go through the security gate and you will be on "D Street" even though it is not marked too well. Stay on "D" Street as it winds around all the way through base. "D" Street eventually ends. At the end of the street it forms a "Y." Turn to the RIGHT. The campground is about 100 yards ahead of you on the left.
15 May - 1 June 2009
Overall rating
5.0
Location
5.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
5.0
Amenities/Facilities
5.0
Value
5.0
Overall Experience
5.0
We stayed there after we moved out of are base house before are move to the lower 48. We had a nice pull through spot which I think most are. They are far enough apart that you don't notice your neighbor but close enough to make new friends. They have a nice play area for the kids. My 2 older girls love to ride there bikes around the campground. They have a wonderful shower. There is only one for the men and one for the woman so sometimes there was a wait. But it is a clean, nice shower with plenty of hot water. They also have 5 new washer and dryers. If you timed it right you could have use of all of them and the best part, they were free! They host were very friendly. If you choose to stay there i don't believe you will be let down.
8-10 May, 2009
Overall rating
4.6
Location
5.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
5.0
Amenities/Facilities
5.0
Value
5.0
Overall Experience
4.0
This is our first camping trip of the year, we come here to "test-out" our elec, sewer and water connections to our 1972 Winnebago Brave. It was a little dusty this spring, but at least all the snow was gone. We stayed in site 6 which is a pull through site, and right across from the kids playground and showers/washateria bldg. There is 6 free washers and dryers here for registered guests of the park. We saw 3 black bears just outside of the park, still on base, but outside of the park. Did not see any bears in the park.
2008
Overall rating
4.9
Location
4.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
5.0
Amenities/Facilities
5.0
Value
5.0
Overall Experience
5.0
Wow, I was surprised to see the low rating for this place, we stayed here last year to "test out" our hook-ups for the limited camping season here in Alaska. The price was great, 18 bucks a night for all hookups, water, sewer & Electric. The site was a pull through with a BBQ pit/stand. You are not allowed open fires so the kids made smores on the BBQ pit/stand. The camp host was very nice and helpful for us new to "motorhoming" we were a pop-up family in the past. There is a great children's part in the middle of the park, next to the onsite washateria/shower house. The place was very clean, and looks like new washers and dryers. The playground is situated in the middle of the park, surrounded by trees so that you can not hear the playing kids. You can receive all the local channels on the antenna to keep up with the local news. We will be staying there again this weekend to "test out" our hook-ups again this weekend. This is really a great place for both the beginning and seasoned campers.
June 2007
Overall rating
4.0
Location
3.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
5.0
Amenities/Facilities
3.0
Value
5.0
Overall Experience
4.0
Environment, sites, location as noted previously. Very friendly and welcoming camp hosts. One host site had a local information booth which was a nice touch. You can also call hosts (907-384-7740) to find out what they have available before driving in. Limited shower, toilet, laundry facilities but all very clean and functional when we were there.
June 2005
Overall rating
2.7
Location
3.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
2.0
Amenities/Facilities
2.0
Value
3.0
Overall Experience
3.0
Due to the poor reservation system and the fact that some people had been living there for years (forget the 30-day limit) we found it very difficult to get a reservation and full site. We spent most of our time in the overflow site. The overflow was the playground then was moved to the front entrance. The sites were not well done for a 40-foot MH when we finally did get one. The laundry was free but dirty and the machines old with some out of order. The showers were under construction and could not be used.
Aug.4, 2006
Overall rating
2.2
Location
3.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
3.0
Amenities/Facilities
2.0
Value
1.0
Overall Experience
2.0
All spots are pullthroughs, but every one broadsides one side of your RV - there's no "seclusion" and it felt like parallell parking along a dirt road. The laundry is free - whoopdeedee - considering the rates. The showers are old, and the pitiful playground in only near if you're one of the "lucky" ones parked close to the "cloverleaf" center of the complex. Lots of jet noise from nearby Elmendorf AFB. Actually, Elmendorf seemed a more quiet and secluded camp, closer to Comm/BX. But, since we didn't stay there, I don't know about showers/laundry/kid-friendly spaces.
Jul 2006
Overall rating
3.0
Location
3.0
Cleanliness/Hospitality
3.0
Amenities/Facilities
3.0
Value
3.0
Overall Experience
3.0
Interior gravel roads and sites. All sites are pull-thrus. Located in a spruce forest. Trees may block satellite TV. Nice, large exchange and commissary at Elmendorf which is connected to Fort Richardson without having to leave the bases.
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