Overview
Golovin is a town in Alaska of about 150 people. It is situated on a narrow point separating the Golovnin Lagoon and Golovnin Bay.
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jul–Aug. Summer highs reach about 58°F; winter lows dip to about -2°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Aug and Jul. (climate data from nearby Nome)
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.
- OME Nome Airport, Nome — 72 mi away. Directions
- UNK Unalakleet Airport, Unalakleet — 81 mi away. Directions
It is about 105 km (65 mi) east of Nome.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
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
Understand
The town's name is a mis-spelling of the name of Russian Vice-Admiral Vasily Mikhailovich Golovnin (1776–1831), who visited Alaska as a captain to inspect the workings of the Russian-American Company in 1807–1809, in the Diana, and in 1817–1819, in the Kamchatka, while circumnavigating the world.
Gold was discovered in 1898 at Council and Golovin became a supply point for the gold fields. Supplies were unloaded from ships at Golovin and shipped across Golovnin Lagoon and up the Fish and Niukluk Rivers to Council. When gold was discovered in what is now Nome, much of the mining and shipping activity moved there and Golovin declined in population.
Reindeer herding was introduced in the area about 1900.
Get in
It is about 105 km (65 mi) east of Nome.
The only way in is by the Golovin Airport, or the Iditarod Trail from the west or east. Bering Air operates flights to Elim and White Mountain. From there, you can fly to other communities or Nome, a bigger city which is served by Alaska Airlines.
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