Anchorage to Valdez Road Trip Itinerary: 15+ Can’t Miss Stops

If you are planning an Anchorage to Valdez Road Trip as part of your Alaska vacation, this guide is a ‘must read’! Driving from Anchorage to Valdez is spectacular for a wide variety of reasons. The scenery is breathtaking, you will likely see wildlife, you can check out some historic spots along the way, and there are great opportunities for adventure!
Check out this guide for 15+ Can’t Miss Anchorage to Valdez road trip stops.
Overview of the Drive from Anchorage to Valdez
The drive from Anchorage to Valdez is about 300 miles (480km) and takes 5-6 hours to drive without stops. But of course.. you must make a few stops!
The driving route is pretty straightforward. There are two main parts to the drive. The first half will be between Anchorage and Glennallen on Alaska Route 1 (the Glenn Highway or AK-1). From Glennallen you take Alaska Route 4 (the Richardson Highway or AK-4) to Valdez.
The Milepost
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Any Alaska road trip would not be complete without a shout out to The Milepost. The Milepost is the quintessential travel guide for anyone driving in Alaska. It has a mile-by-mile description of over 15,000 miles of roads in Alaska plus parts of Canada. If you want all the details on points of interest, where to get food and gas, and more, you must add The Milepost to your packing list!
Eagle River Nature Center

The first stop I would recommend if you are driving from Anchorage to Valdez is the Eagle River Nature Center. This stop is about 15-20 minutes off the Glenn Highway but it is really worth the detour. Also, a trip to the Eagle River Nature Center works for an Anchorage to Denali road trip, or if you are looking for something to do in the Anchorage area before a late night flight.
The Eagle River Nature Center is about 40 minutes from downtown Anchorage. You can get some stellar views of the Chugach Mountains from the 3-mile Albert Loop nature walk.
When we visited the nature center itself was not open. However the trails have 24/7 access.
Suggested duration: 1-2 hours
Palmer, Alaska
There are two animal encounters you can do in Palmer, Alaska. We chose to visit the Reindeer Farm, but both experiences are highly rated. So, you can’t go wrong! You could even visit one farm on the way to Valdez and the other farm on the way back to Anchorage.
Reindeer Farm

If you’re searching for a fun, kid-friendly activity near Anchorage or along the drive to Valdez, Alaska, the self-guided tour at the Williams Reindeer Farm in Palmer is a must! We spent a few hours with the charming reindeer during our Alaska vacation, and it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip.
We reserved the self guided tour that is available in the summer months. With the self-guided tour you can feed and pet the reindeer, moose, and many other animals.
How to get to the Reindeer Farm: Palmer, Alaska is at Milepost 42 on the Glenn Highway. Take the exit for the Old Glenn Highway and exit at the Bodenburg Loop. Address: 5561 S Bodenburg Loop, Palmer, AK 99645
Musk Ox Farm

The Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, Alaska is another unique Alaska animal experience your kids would love! The Musk Ox Farm is open year round but you can only visit the farm during a guided tour.
The Musk Ox is actually an Ice Age animal. Isn’t that so prehistorically cool?! Musk Ox wool, qiviut, is considered some of the finest wool in the world.
How to get to the Musk Ox Farm: Take E Archie Rd right off the Glenn Highway. Address: 12850 E Archie Rd, Palmer, AK 99645
Matanuska Glacier

Located roughly 100 miles east of Anchorage, just past Milepost 102 on the Glenn Highway, Matanuska Glacier is a giant, measuring 27 miles long and 4 miles wide. Its striking blue ice is famous (and yes, itโs as blue as it looks), and it’s also one of the most accessible glaciers youโll find in Alaska.
If you are going to pick one place to spend a few hours on this road trip, booking a Glacier Hike with MICA Glacier Guides is an absolute must! You can see the Matanuska Glacier from Glenn Highway but the only way to get a decent look at the glacier is with a guided tour. We spent 4-5 hours on the guided glacier hike and it was one of our top 3 Alaska experiences. Hands down.
Grand View, Alaska

The perfect midday stop on the drive from Anchorage to Valdez is the Grand View Cafe. Of course, if you are hiking around on the Matanuska Glacier this might not end up being midday. But you must stop here on your road trip in one of the directions.
The Cafe has telescopes inside the cafe to look for Dall Sheep on the hill across the street.

The food at the Cafe is really fantastic, but the homemade pie is definitely the star. Honestly, stop for the pie if you eat nothing else!

If you have time for a short hike, there is a trail behind the cafe to an overlook of one of Alaska’s most iconic landmarks- the Lion’s Head.
Where is Grand View Cafe located? Milepost 109.7 right off the Glenn Highway. Address: 22488 Glenn Hwy, Chickaloon, AK 99674

Eureka Summit and Roadhouse

Eureka Summit is located at Mile Marker 129.5 on Glenn Highway. At 3,332 ft, this is the highest point on the Glenn Highway. It’s really a great place to stop and snap some photos. And in the summer you will be treated to fireweed!
We didn’t eat here, but the roadhouse located at Mile Marker 128 serves great food. And they have a gas station!
Glennallen and the hub

Be sure to check out The Hub of Alaska for snacks, fuel, and unique souvenirs! The Hub is basically located at the junction between the Glenn Highway (Highway 1) and the Richardson Highway (Highway 4). The food trucks here are also a big hit, and itโs a perfect stop on your road trip adventure!
When you turn right (South) at the fork in the road, you will be on Richardson Highway (AK-4) headed to Valdez!
Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the largest national park in the United States. In our epic Alaska vacation itinerary, we spent 3 days exploring this park.
But even if you don’t have time to explore Wrangell-St. Elias, the visitor center is still worth a stop. On a clear day there are some fantastic views of the Wrangell Mountains and some of the biggest peaks like Mount Drum.
Inside the visitor center there are great exhibits on the wildlife, glaciers, and the Ahtna Cultural Center.
Where is the visitor center located? At Mile Marker 106.8 on the Richardson Highway. Address: 104 Richardson Hwy, Copper Center, AK 99573
Explore Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Depending on your overall Alaska vacation itinerary, a side trip to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park would be an amazing way to see truly wild Alaska. Because the interior of Wrangell-St. Elias is so remote and hard to get to, I would recommend setting aside 3 days to explore this national park.
Related: Wrangell Flightseeing Tour Review
If you do carve out time for Wrangell-St. Elias you are in for a huge treat! The sheer magnitude and grandeur of the various mountain ranges, combined with the human story of mining makes this a spectacular destination!

Related: Kennicott Glacier Lodge Visit Review
Willow Mountain View Station

At Mile Marker 87.7 there is a sizable parking area for the Willow Mountain View Station. This is a quick stop but you don’t want to miss it because on a clear day the views of the Wrangell Mountains is gorgeous.

Trans-Alaska Pipeline Area

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline (TAPS) parallels the Richardson Highway in several areas between Copper Center and closer to Valdez. It’s hard to not stop at every wide pull-out area to take photos and just let your jaw hit the ground. The Chugach Mountains in the background are jaw-droppingly scenic.
Just pick one (or a dozen) and enjoy the view.
Worthington Glacier

Worthington Glacier State Recreation Siteย is a 113-acre park with numerous trails and viewpoints where you can get a good look at Worthington Glacier. There is a ADA accessible paved trail to a viewing point from the parking lot.
This state park is located 28 miles north of Valdez (specifically Mile Marker 28.7) and makes a great stop coming into town (or leaving). Plus there are public restrooms. Note: There is a $5 parking fee.
Thompson Pass

Worthington Glacier is actually part of the Thompson Pass area.ย Thompson Passย is a 2,678 ft. pass through the Chugach Mountains and if North America ever held a contest for most beautiful alpine scenery, my vote would probably go to Thompson Pass. Itโs really that spectacular. On a clear day you can also see Keystone Glacier.
Look for numerous parking pull-outs between Mile Marker 27 and 25.
Related: Spend 3 Days in Valdez, Alaska
Keystone Canyon
Keystone Canyon is located between mile 14-17 on the Richardson Highway. The canyon itself is really gorgeous with rock walls rising up on either side of you as you work your way to or from Valdez.
For hikers, both theย Valdez Goat Trailย andย Keystone Canyon Pack Trailย are great options. But if you don’t have time for a hike, you can literally see two amazing waterfalls right from the highway.
Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil falls is located at mile marker 13.5 and the best pull out is from across the street (on the right side coming south) at mile marker 13.9.

Horsetail Falls

The Horsetail Falls parking area is at mile marker 13.5, right off the side of the highway. This is also a really huge waterfall and the parking area is big enough for an RV. You can easily walk to the base of the falls from the parking area.
Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery
Valdez, Alaska is literally the end of the road. The Richardson Highway ends in Valdez. If you have the time, I would recommend carving out at least 1 full day (two nights) to explore this area. You could easily spend 3 days in Valdez though.
One of the places you must check out when in Valdez is the Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery.

Due to the salmon at the hatchery you can often see sea lions, bears, sea otters, seagulls, and more! Even if you donโt see wildlife, the views are still spectacular!
Location of the Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery: Address: 1561 Dayville Rd, Valdez, AK 99686
Valdez Small Boat Harbor

It’s only fitting that this epic Anchorage to Valdez Road Trip itinerary ends at the Valdez Small Boat Harbor. This harbor is quintessential Alaska. The clear waters of the Prince William sound with the dramatic backdrop of the Chugach Mountains. Small fishing ships and charter boats bobbing up and down with a handful of amazing restaurants.
Yeah, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Explore More in Valdez
Honestly, you are doing yourself a huge disservice if you don’t spend a day or more in Valdez. One of the best tours you can sign up for is a Glacier and Wildlife Viewing Day Cruise. There are two main tour operators. We booked with Lu-Lu Belle and I can’t stop talking about how awesome this day was! Like the Matanuska Glacier Hike, the Lu-Lu Belle Glacier and Wildlife Tour is absolutely one of our Top 3 Alaska Vacation experiences.

And there you have it! Jaw dropping scenery, glaciers, adventure, wildlife, and great food. What more can you ask for in an epic road trip drive!
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