Wasilla, Alaska travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Wasilla is a city of 9,000 people (2020) in Alaska. Wasilla is the last city of significant size on the Parks Highway northward; therefore, it is a frequent stopping point if traveling by car to Denali National Park, Fairbanks or other points north. It is most famous as the home town of Alaska Governor and 2008 Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, who served as mayor of the city for six years.

4 things to do · 4 places to eat · 4 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Wasilla

Finger Lake State Recreation Site

Wasilla Museum & Visitor Center (formerly Dorothy Page Museum)

Cultural and historical heritage of Wasilla, Knik and Willow Creek.

Knik Museum and Mushers' Hall of Fame

Historical museum in ghost town, picnic area.

Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry

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. (climate data from nearby Palmer)

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 — 33 mi away (major hub). Directions

Route 3, the Parks Highway, passes through the heart of the city and ends at the Glenn Highway east of it. You can take the Parks Highway south from Fairbanks, or the Glenn north from Anchorage or west from Canada.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.

Sample 1-day itinerary

Day 1

Morning Finger Lake State Recreation Site, Wasilla Museum & Visitor Center (formerly Dorothy Page Museum)
Lunch Donut King
Afternoon Knik Museum and Mushers' Hall of Fame, Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry
Dinner Mekong Thai Restaurant
Evening The Grape Tap

Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.

Food for you

Wasilla contains a collection of standard fast-food and quick-casual eating options.

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.

Get in

By plane

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) is about an hour away from Wasilla, in Anchorage. It has flights to and from the continental United States, Canada, various airports in Alaska, and seasonally to Frankfurt.

By car

From Seattle, it's a 43-hour drive.
From San Francisco, it's a 56-hour drive.
From Anchorage, it's an hour's drive.

By public transportation

Wasilla is connected to Anchorage by Valley Mover service, and the rest of the valley by Mat Su Transit.

Get around

In general, you need a car to get around town.

See

Popular sightseeing trips include the Knik Glacier, Matanuska Glacier, Pioneer Peak.

Do Wasilla Museum & Visitor Center (formerly Dorothy Page Museum)

Cultural and historical heritage of Wasilla, Knik and Willow Creek.

📍 391 Main St🕒 Tue-Fri 10AM-3PM💲 $3☎ +1 907 373-9071

Maps Website

Do Knik Museum and Mushers' Hall of Fame

Historical museum in ghost town, picnic area.

📍 Mile 13.9 Knik-Goose Bay Rdsouth of Wasilla🕒 Jun-Aug: Thu-Sat 1-6PM, Sun 1-5PM💲 $5/person☎ +1 907 376-7755

Maps Website

Do Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry

📍 3800 W Museum Dr☎ +1 907 376-1211

Maps Website

Do Finger Lake State Recreation Site

📍 7278 E Bogard Rd☎ +1 907 745-8950⚠ Last checked May 2018 — confirm before you go

Maps Website

Do

In the summer there is mountain hiking in Hatcher Pass, at The Butte, Lazy Mountain, Crevasse Moraine and Matanuska Glacier. There are quite a few convenient whitewater streams in the area. For the canoeist there's the Wasilla Lakes canoe trail, Nancy Lakes canoe trail and Meadow Creek.

In the winter there's Nordic skiing in Hatcher Pass, Moose Meadows and at Government Peak. Outdoor ice skating is available on an astonishing variety of lakes, rivers and marshes. Wasilla and Palmer are to ice skating what Yosemite is to rock climbing.

Buy

Wasilla has several branches of chain stores for buying food, clothes and outdoor supplies, dominated by a huge Fred Meyer superstore. If you are going north and forgot to bring something important with you or buy it in Anchorage, you should be able to find it in Wasilla.