From Anchorage to Valdez: 10 Fantastic Things to Do on a Road Trip

Looking for things to do on a road trip from Anchorage to Valdez? We’ve got you covered!

If you’re flying in, your adventure most likely starts at the Ted Stevens International Airport, a beautiful, modern, and spacious airport with a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Not very much like an airport at all really. 

We visited in August of last year and were off the plane and on the road within an hour, luggage included.

Heading north on AK Highway 1, the route to Valdez hosts many potential stops to consider when building your Alaska itinerary.

Whatever your plan, expect to find yourself stopping for a variety of unexpected pullovers to absorb the stunning views and incredible wildlife.

10 Best Things to do from Anchorage to Valdez

1. Matanuska Glacier

• Where it is: 93 miles north of Anchorage along the Glenn Highway
• What to bring: water-resistant hiking boots, raincoat, sunglasses, sunscreen
• How much it cost: $150/person for non-residents for the tour, free for the viewpoint

The Matanuska Glacier is the biggest glacier that you can reach by car in the United States.

It’s 27 miles long, 4 miles wide, and is easily visible from the road as you drive by. The viewing area is worth a stop, however, simply to soak in the size of this beauty.

Or you can see it up close. One of many Alaska tourist attractions, this one has changed over the years. Where once you could pull up to the parking lot and walk right up to the glacier, now you need a guided tour in order to get close. 

It’s the perfect two-hour pit stop in which you’ll learn about glaciers and crevasses, moulins, black ice, blue ice, and how to put on micro-spikes too!

While not a difficult walk, it can be challenging for those with mobility issues. They will let you fill up your water bottle with clear, ice-cold water running from the glacier but be sure to bring your own hiking snacks.

➡️ Click Here to Book a Guided Tour of Matanuska Glacier

2. Sheep Mountain Lodge & Café and Dall Sheep at Sheep Mountain

• Where it is: 104 miles north of Anchorage at 22488 Glenn Hwy, Glacier View
• What to bring: binoculars if you have them
• How much it cost: Our dinners were less than $15/person

The Grand View Cafe is the only restaurant along the way, at least until you reach Glennallen.

Fortunately, the food is fantastic and the staff is extremely friendly. We stopped here twice, once in either direction, and were pleased with our meals both times.

Behind the restaurant is a trail and a lot of blueberries in late summer. Bears like blueberries too, so be sure to make noise every now and then to avoid surprises for both your sakes.

Across the road from the restaurant is Sheep Mountain. If you get lucky with a clear day, you may see some Dall Sheep on the mountain.

The restaurant has a monocular for customer use only set up at exactly the best view for it.

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3. Glennallen, AK

• Where it is: 180 miles north of Anchorage 

Right before reaching Glennallen, you will be rewarded with a truly stunning view of the Wrangell Mountains.

These mountains form the Wrangell Volcanic Field, spreading out over 2,000 square miles. Mount Wrangell, elevation 14,163, is the only currently active volcano.

Glennallen is most famous for the Hub, where AK-1 and AK-4 highways meet, and also the location of the Tesoro gas station.

This is a turning point on your journey. Continuing north on AK-1 would take you toward Fairbanks. Turning south on AK-4, also called the Richardson Highway, will take you to Valdez.

Glennallen is where you should buy gas, but not because it’s any less expensive here. Because it’s the only place you can rely on en route to Valdez.

If you’re hungry, the Copper Valley IG bakery has the most delicious croissant sandwiches you might ever find.

4. Willow Lake

• Where it is: Willow Lake, AK; Milepost 88.5 on the Richardson Highway
• How to get there: 27 miles south of Glennallen
• How much it cost: seasonal
• What not to miss: view the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline from a gravel road off the road at Milepost 88

➡️ Book Dog Sledding in Willow Alaska

The trans-Alaskan Pipeline is an 800-mile pipeline transporting oil from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez.

It’s an engineering marvel, as its construction in the early 70s was severely challenged by weather, permafrost, and the remote location of most of its routes.

If you’re not in a hurry, and you shouldn’t be, or don’t know where to stay in Alaska, make the time to stay at Willow Lake Bed & Breakfast along your route. It’s an absolutely lovely place with charming hosts and unbelievable views. 

There is only one cabin other than the host’s home, so book in advance if you can. The one-room cabin, and everything in it, was built by the host.

He is much more than a builder, however. 

Should you choose to stay the night here, you will be given a tour of Jim’s museum which contains all of his collections from traveling around the world.

He is an avid hunter and this tour is definitely not for the animal lover.

They will also serve you homemade Sourdough pancakes at their own kitchen table.

If you don’t have time to stay, at least stop and enjoy the view from the lookout. And know that there are a few cabins down there, with regular viewing of swans, moose, fantastic sunrises, and majestic mountain ranges.

5. Wrangell St. Elias National Park

• Where it is: south-central Alaska
• How to get there: 68 miles from Glennallen, head south on AK-4 for 31 miles, and turn left on AK-10/Edgerton Hwy
• What to bring: hiking gear, warm layers
• How much it cost: variable, the park itself is free
• What not to miss: If you can afford a flightseeing tour, do it! If you can hike the Root Glacier, do it!

A 31.2 million-acre national park and preserve, the Wrangell-St. Elias preserve is the largest national park in the United States.

➡️ Book This Highly Rated FlightSeeing Tour

Mountains, glaciers, moose, elk, grizzly bears, bison, and more. You will never forget the views, the animals, and the grandeur.

I highly recommend spending more than a day here, four if you have time.  

The towns of McCarthy and Kennecott are well worth your time and have lodging for overnights.

The town of McCarthy is famous for being the richest source of copper ore in the world, long ago. Once the copper was depleted, the town was essentially abandoned and now there are less than 100 people living there.

Kennecott is a National Historic Landmark, known for its well-preserved and thoroughly fascinating copper mining facilities.

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6. Worthington Glacier and Hike

• Where it is: in Thompson Pass, along the Richardson Highway
• How to get there: 86.6 miles from Glennallen, 33 miles from Valdez
• How much it cost: variable, but $5 for the parking fee
• What not to miss: the view from the “visitor center,” essentially just a restroom

The Worthington Glacier is a 5700-acre valley glacier flowing through Thompson Pass, one of the most beautiful sections along the route.

Though to be fair, there are many other breathtaking passes and glorious glaciers in Alaska. 

This particular glacier has receded so much you’re best off taking a trek to the visitor center to check it out.

Worthington Glacier Trek

Technically this is an epic hike and there is a difference, the Worthington Glacier Trek from Alaska Guide Company was our favorite adventure on this journey.

We meandered over and around a variety of puddles to the place we would traverse the glacier runoff. While the glaciers are indeed melting fast in the grand scheme and the amount of water coming from it seems alarming, experienced guides know what to look out for and keep safety as the highest priority.  

Our guide, Zach, took us to where we could climb into the glacier itself.  An unbelievably amazing experience! Ten out of ten would recommend this trek. It’s tailored to your own physical capabilities, and you can trust the guide to properly assess what those are.

7. Thompson Pass Overlook

Where it is: closer to Valdez than Glennallen

• How to get there:  89 miles south of Glennallen, or 30 miles north of Valdez
• How much it cost: free
• What not to miss: the black Spruce trees

Thompson Pass is the snowiest place in Alaska and only occasionally closes to traffic during “extreme weather.” It is the highest point along the drive and hosts some impressive views on a clear day.

The black Spruce trees you see along this journey are strikingly tall and thin. They look like they’re just barely surviving the cold harsh winters. In reality, it’s the ground they’re growing on that makes them struggle so. 

This ground is composed of permafrost, a layer of “permanently” frozen ground underneath the surface. This layer is thawing at different rates due to climate change.

Off to the side of the highway is the Trail of 98, which runs along the 1898 Gold Rush route and passes through majestic scenery and potentially wildlife too.  An excellent opportunity to stretch your legs if you need to.

8. Keystone Canyon

• Where it is: 16.7 miles east of Valdez
• How to get there: you will drive through it on your way to Valdez on AK-4
• How much it cost: free
• What not to miss: see it in the sunshine and in the rain if you can

The magical 3 mile long drive through the gorge of Keystone Canyon will remind you of things you only see in the movies. Think the floating mountains of Avatar and you’ll get the right feeling.

The canyon hosts amazing waterfalls, climbing and kayaking possibilities in the summer and ice climbing of the waterfalls in the winter. It’s breathtakingly beautiful whenever you go.

Bridal Veil Falls and Horsetail Falls are just a few of the waterfalls you can see from the road.

📍Dont miss: Valdez Goat Trail, in Keystone Canyon

Valdez Goat Trail is a beautiful hike to see Bridal Veil Falls from a slightly different perspective, then continue on up for a pleasant walk through the Alaskan wilderness. Another fantastic way to stretch your legs and get a good feeling for the beauty of the canyon.

• Where it is: next to Bridal Veil Falls Waterfall, Valdez
• Mileage: 4.3 miles round trip
• Elevation gain: 800 feet
• Difficulty: moderately difficult, mostly at the beginning

9. Bear Watching & the Solomon Gulch Hatchery

Where it is: 1561 Dayville Rd, Valdez, AK

How to get there: take AK-4N to Dayville Rd and turn right. You will reach the hatchery after 3.8 miles.

If you’re wondering where to see wildlife in Alaska, head to the hatchery. The salmon hatchery is always a treat. Not just because of the shocking number of salmon and seagulls, but because the bears like them too.

About a mile after you leave the hatchery is a great place to spot bears as well. There’s usually a line of cars parked along the road indicating exactly where the bear viewing is and it’s important to only park on that side of the road, the side opposite the water.

Some people will bring a picnic lunch (which they eat inside their car) and spend the entire day watching bears come and go. There are often black bears and occasionally grizzly bears as well.

10. Valdez Glacier Lake

• Where it is: Valdez, AK
• How to get there: from Valdez, take AK-4N 3.2 miles. Left onto Airport road and a slight right onto Glacier Campground Road. Continue straight to reach the lake.

Glacier Lake is worth seeing for the giant icebergs floating around in it.  You can’t really see the Valdez Glacier itself anymore, but the icebergs make it worthwhile.

The guide will let you paddle if you ask, which is a great workout and the perfect way to warm up.

We were here at this very same lake four years apart and the glacier itself was far more prominent then.

Two years after our first visit, more than a mile of the ice shelf calved into thousands of icebergs, all at once!  

The lake now is filled with icebergs of various sizes and it’s all rather unreal to paddle a canoe through it, guided of course by the Alaska Guide Company.

Planning Ahead for the Drive from Anchorage to Valdez

You will not have enough gas to drive the entire distance from Anchorage to Valdez with a single tank. Be sure to fill your tank in Glennallen.

Valdez is a small town that becomes extremely popular in August, when the salmon are running. Book your hotel well in advance if you plan to come during this month.

The best time to see bears here is when the salmon are running in August.

There are a variety of fishing charters available in Valdez that will take you salmon or halibut fishing. They vary significantly in price and quality.

My standard rule here is that you get what you pay for. These should also be booked well in advance.

➡️ Book a Fishing Charter Here!

Valdez is not your typical Alaskan tourist town. It’s not really a tourist town at all. It’s a small town, filled with fisherman and women of all ages. It will give you a taste of what Alaskans are really like.

Where to Stay in Valdez, Alaska

Lodging is fairly limited in Valdez, we reccomend one of these two hotels:

• Best Western Valdez Harbor Inn– 3⭐️ This hotel offers free breakfast and an airport shuttle. There is also an onsite restaurant and bar.
• Totem Hotel and Suites– 2.5 ⭐️ This hotel also offers free breakfast and an indoor pool and gym.

➡️ Book Your Hotel Stay in Valdez

Where to stay in Anchorage, Alaska

Be sure and reserve your Anchorage hotel early, as they book out quickly. We recommend these hotels in Anchorage:

• Hyatt Place Anchorage Midtown-3⭐️ This gorgeous hotel is pet friendly, and offers free breakfast and an indoor pool.
• Historic Anchorage Hotel-2.5⭐️ Guests love the friendly service, free breakfast and Wifi here.

➡️ Click Here to Reserve A Hotel in Anchorage

Anchorage to Valdez Road Trip FAQs

Wrap-up: 10 Best Things to do from Anchorage to Valdez

The drive from Anchorage to Valdez is one of the most unbelievably scenic road trips in Alaska. Plan ahead for a lot of unexpected stops to enjoy the views and the wildlife and you will not be disappointed.