Overview
Palmer is a city of 7,500 people (2019) 42 miles (68 km) northeast of Anchorage on the Glenn Highway in Southcentral Alaska.
6 sights · 3 things to do · 2 places to eat · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Palmer
Independence Mine
An abandoned gold mine near Hatcher Pass dating back to 1906 that has been converted into a state historical park. The mine contains several buildings from the mining town and historical information on gold mining in Ala…
Alaska State Fair
The Alaska State Fair holds contests for largest vegetable in several categories, and many national and even world records have been recorded at the fair, with the cabbage, radish, spinach and lettuce categories usually …
Palmer Museum of History and Art and Visitor Information Center
This log cabin in the heart of downtown employs a full-time gardener to maintain the 2 acres (8,100 m²) of public gardens that showcase more than 600 locally grown plant varieties. The Palmer Museum of History and Art of…
The Church of a Thousand Trees
A couple of blocks away from the Visitor Information Center is the United Protestant Church (aka the Church of a Thousand Trees), a Presbyterian church. It was built in 1936-37 and is one of the 17 structures that contri…
Hatcher Pass
Twelve miles north of Palmer is Hatcher Pass, a scenic mountainous pass that's been established as a state park and is home of the Independence Mine. It serves as a local back-country area for skiers, snowboarders, snowm…
The Kepler-Bradley Lakes State Recreation Area
Access to numerous small lakes, the Finger Lake State Recreation Area, and a number of city parks.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Aug. Summer highs reach about 68°F; winter lows dip to about 8°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Aug 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 — 36 mi away. Directions
- ANC Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage — 41 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $99–$209 a night (typical $180), from 4 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$140, mid-range ~$260, comfortable ~$380.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Musk ox Farm, The Church of a Thousand Trees, Alaska State Fair
- Lunch Vagabond Blues Inc
- Afternoon The Kepler-Bradley Lakes State Recreation Area, Colony House Museum
- Dinner Turkey Red
Day 2
- Morning Independence Mine, Palmer Museum of History and Art and Visitor Information Center
- Afternoon The Butte
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
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
Palmer sits in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley (Mat-Su Valley) on the north shore of the Matanuska River, not far above tidewater, in a wide valley between the Talkeetna Mountains to the north and the Chugach Mountains to the south and east.
The Mat-Su Valley, and Palmer in particular, are known as the farming center of Alaska. Vegetables adapted to cool temperatures thrive, the glacial soils provide organic matter to keep nutrients in the root zone, many insect pests, diseases, and weeds that are common in the lower 48 are not common in Alaska, and there is plenty of sunlight in the summer to help plants grow. In June, Palmer gets 19 hours of daylight every day, so crops can keep growing until midnight. The sunlight also makes crops sweeter. Species in the Brassica family grow very well in Palmer; this includes plants like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, collards, various mustards, radishes, rutabagas, and turnips. Potatoes, beets, carrots, spinach, and lettuce also grow very well here.
Climate
Local information
Palmer Chamber of Commerce website
Get in
By plane
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is the airport an hour away in Anchorage. It has flights to and from various places in the continental US, Hawaii, East Asia and Japan, and several small villages in Alaska.
- Palmer Municipal Airport is a small, private-use airport.
By car
- Route 1 runs through Palmer. To the south an hour away is Anchorage, the largest city in the state. Further south, many hours away, is Canada, and eventually the US. From Palmer to Seattle is a 43 hour drive.
By bus
Place Interior Alaska Bus Line
Year round service on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday between Tok and Anchorage, and Tok and Fairbanks. Trips between Tok and Anchorage stop along the way at locations including Glennallen and Palmer. Trips between Tok and Fairbanks stop along the way at locations including Delta Junction. Trips depart from Tok in the morning and return to Tok in afternoon. Therefore to travel involving switching between the routes at Tok requires multiple nights stay in Tok. Be sure to reserve in advance and allow some flexibility in your schedule as buses may be rescheduled based on demand. Travel time from Tok is 5.5-6 hours, from Glenallen is 2.5-3 hours, and from Anchorage is an hour.
Get around
Palmer is served by valley mover and Matsu Transit bus service, though in general you need a car to get around.
See
See Independence Mine
An abandoned gold mine near Hatcher Pass dating back to 1906 that has been converted into a state historical park. The mine contains several buildings from the mining town and historical information on gold mining in Alaska. Heavy fog in the upper portions of the area can occasionally obscure the view; on the other hand, walking through the ghost town in fog can be an interesting experience. Reaching the town from the parking lot requires about a half-mile walk up a gentle slope.
See Palmer Museum of History and Art and Visitor Information Center
This log cabin in the heart of downtown employs a full-time gardener to maintain the 2 acres (8,100 m²) of public gardens that showcase more than 600 locally grown plant varieties. The Palmer Museum of History and Art offers visitors a chance to view artifacts from Palmer's history, provides maps to historical places to see and stocks guidebooks for more information on local attractions.
See The Church of a Thousand Trees (Palmer Log Church)
A couple of blocks away from the Visitor Information Center is the United Protestant Church (aka the Church of a Thousand Trees), a Presbyterian church. It was built in 1936-37 and is one of the 17 structures that contribute to the National Register's Matanuska Colony Historic District.
Do
Palmer's proximity to the Mat-Su mountains allows for various outdoor activities within the mountains, such as hiking and snowshoeing.
Do The Butte
A short hike with a private and public use side. Fairly easy climb, roughly an hour length for even slower hikers. Private side (south) is steeper and dustier, but a more direct climb. The public side (north) has a cleaner and better groomed trail but is primarily in the woods and longer in length.
Do Hatcher Pass
Twelve miles north of Palmer is Hatcher Pass, a scenic mountainous pass that's been established as a state park and is home of the Independence Mine. It serves as a local back-country area for skiers, snowboarders, snowmachiners, and hikers as well as a tourist attraction in the summer months.
Eat
Eat Turkey Red
A cafe and bakery with international cuisine, wine and beer. They serve local produce.
Eat Vagabond Blues Inc
Comfortable atmosphere, local art and great coffee. To eat, they have soups, salads and great bread.
Sleep
Stay Peak Inn
Go next
Nearby
Wasilla
City / town · 18 listings · 11 mi away
Eagle River
City / town · 3 listings · 24 mi away
Willow
City / town · 3 listings · 32 mi away
Anchorage
City / town · 97 listings · 36 mi away
Girdwood
City / town · 35 listings · 45 mi away
Whittier
City / town · 10 listings · 59 mi away
Talkeetna
City / town · 19 listings · 60 mi away
Moose Pass
City / town · 2 listings · 78 mi away
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