Overview
Girdwood is a community in the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska, about 30 miles (48 km) south of Anchorage town center, along the Seward Highway. It is home to Alaska's largest ski area, the Alyeska Resort, which was home to the 2007 US Alpine Ski Championships.
4 sights · 9 things to do · 6 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés · 11 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Girdwood
The Portage Glacier
This is listed as many as one of the most visited tourist sites in all of Alaska, and is unique among glaciers as much of its face is underwater.
Turnagain Arm
This section of ocean water near Girdwood is home to the second largest tides in North America and one of the few bore tides in the world, an occurrence where due to the length of the arm and the height of the tides the …
Crow Creek Gold Mine
Historic gold mine area on the Crow Creek, open to the public as a tourist attraction.
Alyeska Mountain
Specifically the view from the top of the tram and the soon to be open Round House Museum that will commemorate the history of skiing in the area.
Skiing
Both at the Alyeska Resort with its challenging 1,000 acres of skiable terrain and 600 inches of a snow a year, and in number of ways in the back country areas surrounding Girdwood, the most popular of those being By hel…
Ice Skating
Ice skating can be had on the numerous marshes around portage, as well as portage lake. One can skate from near Ingram Creek all the way to girdwood with numerous short portages.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Aug. Summer highs reach about 66°F; winter lows dip to about 17°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Dec and Sep.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- MRI Merrill Field, Anchorage — 29 mi away. Directions
- ANC Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage — 32 mi away (major hub). Directions
The main access to Girdwood is along the Seward Highway, it is a very scenic drive but can be slow during peak summer travel times.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning The Portage Glacier, Crow Creek Gold Mine, Fishing
- Lunch Silvertip Grill
- Afternoon Cross Country Skiing and Snow Shoeing, Veilbreaker Skybridges
- Dinner Jack Sprat
- Evening The Aurora
Day 2
- Morning Turnagain Arm, Skiing
- Lunch The Bake Shop
- Afternoon Snow mobiling, Big Game Alaska Wildlife Center
- Dinner The Sitzmark
- Evening Chair Five Restaurant
Day 3
- Morning Alyeska Mountain, Ice Skating
- Lunch The Ice Cream Shop
- Afternoon Biking, Girdwood Forest Fair
- Dinner Double Musky Inn
- Evening Casa del Sol
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Girdwood is a surprisingly good place to eat with a lot of genuine, well done, and well priced food.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Climate
Get in
The main access to Girdwood is along the Seward Highway, it is a very scenic drive but can be slow during peak summer travel times.
There is a train from Anchorage to Girdwood
Girdwood does have a small landing strip/airport in town but it is primarily used as a base of operations for local heli-skiing guide companies and given the length of the runway it is suitable for only small prop planes; thus ruling out air travel as a method for getting to town. This means almost everyone who comes to Girdwood including Alaskan locals come in by car or shuttle. For those originating farther a field the closest major airport is the Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage. The airport is served by most major airlines and can be reached on non-stop flights from such major US cities as Denver, Seattle, and San Francisco. If not renting a car, prior to arrival one should arrange shuttle travel to Girdwood and have them meet you at the airport.
By bus Girdwood is 40 miles or 1 hours ride from Anchorage, it is served by the Seward bus line.
Get around
The Alyeska Resort Hotel provides a shuttle from the hotel to the Seward Highway. Given this situation, the tiny nature of the town and that a shuttle is an easy option from Anchorage there is no desperate need for a rental car.
See
See The Portage Glacier
This is listed as many as one of the most visited tourist sites in all of Alaska, and is unique among glaciers as much of its face is underwater.
See Turnagain Arm
This section of ocean water near Girdwood is home to the second largest tides in North America and one of the few bore tides in the world, an occurrence where due to the length of the arm and the height of the tides the come in as a wave.
See Alyeska Mountain
Specifically the view from the top of the tram and the soon to be open Round House Museum that will commemorate the history of skiing in the area.
Do
Girdwood and its accompanying ski area Alyeska resort comprise a four-season full-service resort, with the following activities available:
Do Skiing
Both at the Alyeska Resort with its challenging 1,000 acres of skiable terrain and 600 inches of a snow a year, and in number of ways in the back country areas surrounding Girdwood, the most popular of those being By helicopter or snowcat.
Do Ice Skating
Ice skating can be had on the numerous marshes around portage, as well as portage lake. One can skate from near Ingram Creek all the way to girdwood with numerous short portages.
Do Fishing
Both locally and far a field from Girdwood, guided trips are a widely available and a popular option
Do Snow mobiling
This activity is available all year round. Turnagain Pass is a popular Winter spot. In the summer, snow machiners are lifted by helicopter on to glaciers in the surrounding Chugach Mountain Range.
Do Biking
There is a paved six-mile (10-km) bike trail that goes all the way from Alyeska Resort to Bird Point. Eventually the trail will follow Turnagain Arm all the way to Anchorage. There dozens of Mountain Biking trails in the valley for the more adventurous.
Do Cross Country Skiing and Snow Shoeing
Skiers and snowshoers have over 30 miles (48 km) of untracked trails to explore, through frozen musky and rainforest. Guided snowshoe expeditions are run every day in the Winter.
Do Big Game Alaska Wildlife Center
An Alaskan wildlife rehabilitation center. You can see moose, deer, black and grizzly bears, owls, bison musk ox and a variety of game birds. They have an excellent Alaskan gift shop.
Buy
There is not much really in the way of shopping in Girdwood, although the town does offer a few restaurants that sell local art work as well as the following:
Shop Great Alaskan Tourist Trap
Shop Girdwood Books & News
Eat
Girdwood is a surprisingly good place to eat with a lot of genuine, well done, and well priced food.
Eat Silvertip Grill
A favorite among locals and one of the best food values in town.
Eat The Bake Shop
Restaurant and bakery offering omelets, gigantic sweet rolls and huge sourdough pancake stacks. For lunch, sandwiches, pizzas and bottomless bowls of homemade soup. Summer garden dining. Open 7 days a week.
Eat The Sitzmark
Features monster burgers and sandwiches and is open daily during the winter in conjunction with mountain operations.
Eat The Ice Cream Shop
Enjoy your ice cream treat and espresso drink while viewing a collection of historical photos of Girdwood & an authentic Totem Pole.
Eat Double Musky Inn
A Cajun-style restaurant, with walls and ceiling covered in various signs, artwork, and knickknacks, among other things.
Drink
Drink Chair Five Restaurant
Doubles as the town's largest and most popular bar.
Drink Casa del Sol
Casa del Sol offers dine-in, take-out, winter delivery.
Sleep
Hotel
Stay Alyeska Accommodations
Offers Girdwood's largest inventory of nightly vacation rentals. They have lodging options for every budget. Offering rooms, B&B, Romantic cabins with private hot tubs, Slope side condos and Luxury Mt.homes and Chalets for familily gatherings, weddings and meetings. Stop by their office in the heart of the Chugach Mts. for your key and helpful information.
B&B options
Stay Carriage House B&B and Stables
The B&B offers privacy and service with a separate entrance and accommodations, while your hosts, Jake and Rachel are there for your assistance. The rooms are furnished with your comfort in mind featuring "dream beds" with sateen sheets and down comforters, cable TV and private baths with all the amenities. The B&B has a separate entrance, private patio overlooking the gardens, a fully equipped guest kitchen and sitting area with visitor information and high speed internet access.
Stay Bud & Carol's B&B
In the Girdwood valley, at the base of Mt. Alyeska Ski and Year Round Resort, 2 blocks to chair lifts, on ski shuttle route, walking/biking trail and entrance to cross country ski and dog sled trails.
Stay Alpina Inn Bed & Breakfast
B&B with a private entrance to a 2-room suite. Sitting area, kitchen, bathroom with shower. Deck with sitting area that looks across the valley.
Stay Girdwood Good Night B&B
Stowe Drive Luxurious comfort, privacy, and 750 sq ft of light-filled, modern living space await you! Enjoy mountain views, numerous amenities, and a full hot breakfast. Sleeps up to 4. Non-smoking.
Stay Hidden Creek Bed and Breakfast
Nestled in the woods high atop Vail Drive, Hidden Creek Bed & Breakfast offers a place to surround yourself with nature, while soaking up the luxurious comforts of this beautiful craftsman home.
Hostel
Stay safe
Crime is not much of a concern in Girdwood and the surrounding area; however, as is the case in all of Alaska, mother nature is less amiable. Threats include: bears, floods, and weather. Snowstorms blow in quickly and can cause power outages that may last days depending on the remoteness of your location, as well as block off roads with several feet of snow that may fall in a single night. Bring extra food, just in case, and always carry chains in your car as the road restrictions can come up quickly.
Do not feed the bears. Do not leave food or food wrappers in your car.
Go next
Prince William Sound is a 30-minute drive from Girdwood. Sea kayaking is a great way for energetic people to explore the coves and bays of this pristine environment.
Nearby
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City / town · 10 listings · 20 mi away
Eagle River
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Anchorage
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Moose Pass
City / town · 2 listings · 33 mi away
Cooper Landing
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Wasilla
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Palmer
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Seward
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