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Major city · United States

Girdwood

Give Girdwood 1–2 nights as an Anchorage side trip: ski or tram in winter, Portage Glacier and the bike path in summer. A car or shuttle is required.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Aug for hiking and the tram; Dec–Mar for skiing
avoid Nov and early Dec (dark, thin snow, some closures)
Airport
ANC
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Girdwood is a small resort valley in the Chugach Mountains, 48 km south of Anchorage on the Seward Highway, built around Alyeska Resort — Alaska's largest ski area. Almost everything worth doing sits within a few kilometres of the hotel, or a short drive down the highway to Portage and Turnagain Arm. It works as a one- or two-night stop, not a base for a whole Alaska trip.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Girdwood, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or espresso$4–7
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner main$25–45
  • Street or quick mealBakery breakfast (sweet roll, sourdough pancakes)$10–20
  • BeerDraft beer$8–12
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi or rideshare, Girdwood to Alyeska base$15–25 (check)
  • Budget bedHostel bed, a night, per personUS$55
  • Mid-range bedHotel or lodge double room, a night, per roomUS$300
  • High-end bedHotel or lodge double room, a night, per roomUS$550

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$170 · High US$320

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Alyeska Resort skiing and the aerial tramTurnagain Arm bore tidesPortage GlacierGirdwood Forest Fair
Airports
ANC Ted Stevens Anchorage International (About 60–75 min by car or shuttle; no scheduled flights into Girdwood's own airstrip.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Girdwood: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−3°C

−8°C

7 rd

Feb

0°C

−7°C

7 rd

Mar

2°C

−7°C

5 rd

Apr

8°C

−2°C

5 rd

May

13°C

3°C

4 rd

Jun

18°C

7°C

2 rd

Jul

19°C

10°C

3 rd

Aug

18°C

9°C

5 rd

Sep

14°C

5°C

8 rd

Oct

7°C

0°C

8 rd

Nov

0°C

−5°C

8 rd

Dec

−1°C

−7°C

9 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

There is no useful local bus. Alyeska Resort runs a shuttle between the hotel and the Seward Highway, and a paved 10-km bike path runs from the resort to Bird Point. For Portage Glacier, Crow Creek Mine or Turnagain Arm viewpoints you need a car or a booked tour.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Portage Glacier and Portage Valley

go

Door to door: About 30 min each way

Seward Highway south, then Portage Glacier Road

Glacier cruise or the visitor centre; check seasonal hours before driving down.

Turnagain Arm viewpoints (Beluga Point, Bird Point)

go

Door to door: 15–30 min each way

Seward Highway north along the arm

Time it with a bore tide if one is forecast; stay off the mud.

Crow Creek Gold Mine

caution

Door to door: About 15 min

Crow Creek Road from the town centre

Panning and tours run seasonally; check opening days.

Anchorage

go

Door to door: 1–1.5 h by road

Seward Highway north, or the Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic in summer

Easy half-day for the museum and airport runs.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Alyeska Resort base

Hotel, condos and the tram in one place; walk to lifts and the Sitzmark.

Girdwood town / Olympic Mountain Loop

Cabins, B&Bs and rentals along the valley road; 5–10 min drive to the lifts.

Portage Valley

Cabins and RV sites 15–20 min south; closest to Portage Glacier, far from restaurants.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$90–150 excl. bed
Mid
$150–260 excl. bed
High
$260+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel or lodge double room1 × 2 nights × US$300US$600
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$170US$680
Alyeska tram, round trip2 × US$45 · checkUS$90
Portage Glacier day cruise2 × US$50 · checkUS$100
Anchorage–Girdwood shuttle, one way2 × US$60 · checkUS$120
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$163
Trip total≈ US$448 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,793

2026 estimate in US dollars; flights and rental car excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or espresso$4–7
Bakery breakfast (sweet roll, sourdough pancakes)$10–20
Burger or sandwich lunch$15–25
Sit-down dinner main$25–45
Draft beer$8–12
Alyeska lift ticket, full day$100–130 (check)
Taxi or rideshare, Girdwood to Alyeska base$15–25 (check)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Crime is not the issue here — weather and wildlife are. Storms close the highway, bears work the valley, and Turnagain Arm tides move faster than you can walk.
  • Bears are active in the valley: keep food and wrappers out of your car, and never feed wildlife.
  • Winter storms can close the Seward Highway and cut power; carry chains and extra food.
  • Do not walk out on Turnagain Arm mudflats — the tides are extreme and the mud traps people.
  • Cell coverage is patchy on the highway south of town.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

GirdwoodGirdwood

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No consulates in Girdwood; most countries keep consulates or embassies in Anchorage or Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Anchorage airport → Girdwood, shuttle: about $60–90, 60–75 min (check)
  • Alyeska tram, round trip: about $45 (check)
  • Anchorage → Girdwood, Alaska Railroad in summer: about $90–120, roughly 2 h (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the tram? — Where is the tram?
  • Is this seat taken? — Is this seat taken?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the restroom? — Where is the restroom?
  • I have a reservation — I have a reservation

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Girdwood. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Aug for hiking and the tram; Dec–Mar for skiing · avoid Nov and early Dec (dark, thin snow, some closures) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for ANC: shuttle and rail options field-checked, winter road-closure fallback rung.
  2. Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: Alyeska base, Girdwood town, Portage Valley.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (tram, Portage visitor centre, Crow Creek Mine) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Bore-tide and avalanche fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources