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Major city · United States

Valdez

Give Valdez 2 nights if you want a glacier or kayak day on Prince William Sound; 1 night is enough if you are only driving the Richardson Highway.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Aug (long days, boats running); late May and early Sep for fewer people
avoid Nov–Mar (snow, short days, many services closed)
Airport
VDZ
Nights
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.

Valdez sits at the head of Prince William Sound, ringed by the Chugach mountains and reachable by a 5–6 h drive from Anchorage or a 45-min flight. It is a small harbour town (about 4,000 people) where the draw is water and ice, not streets: glacier cruises, sea kayaking, and the Richardson Highway over Thompson Pass. Winter brings some of the deepest snowfall in Alaska, so most visitors come June–August.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Valdez, 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.

  • Coffee$4–7
  • Beerdraught in a bar / can at a store$7–10$3–5
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$20–40
  • Budget bedHostel or bunk bed, a night, per personUS$45
  • Mid-range bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$180
  • High-end bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$320

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.

Prince William Sound glacier cruisesSea kayaking and Columbia GlacierRichardson Highway and Thompson PassHeavy winter snowfall
Airports
VDZ Valdez Airport (Pioneer Field) (About 2 mi from town; no public transport, so take a taxi or arrange a pick-up.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Valdez: 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

−2°C

−7°C

7 rd

Feb

0°C

−6°C

6 rd

Mar

3°C

−5°C

4 rd

Apr

8°C

0°C

3 rd

May

13°C

4°C

3 rd

Jun

17°C

8°C

2 rd

Jul

18°C

9°C

4 rd

Aug

17°C

8°C

7 rd

Sep

13°C

5°C

10 rd

Oct

7°C

1°C

8 rd

Nov

1°C

−4°C

6 rd

Dec

−1°C

−6°C

8 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

No public transport. The town core is small and walkable; rent a car or bike for the Richardson Highway, Thompson Pass and trailheads. From the airport you need a taxi or a lift — it is a couple of miles into town.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Thompson Pass and Worthington Glacier

go

Door to door: About 45 min each way

Drive the Richardson Highway north, about 25–30 mi

Viewpoint and short walks; snow can linger into June.

Keystone Canyon

go

Door to door: About 25 min each way

Drive the Richardson Highway about 15 mi north

Bridal Veil Falls and rafting put-ins along the Lowe River.

Glennallen

caution

Door to door: About 2.5 h

Richardson Highway north, about 115 mi

A long haul; better as a through-stop than a return day.

McCarthy and Kennicott

overnight

Door to door: About 5–6 h

Richardson Highway to Glennallen, then the Edgerton Highway

Too far for a day; sleep on the McCarthy side.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Harbour and downtown

Walkable to the marina, museum and most restaurants; the practical base without a car.

Richardson Highway edge of town

Motels and RV parks with parking; you need a car for everything.

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
Motel or hotel double room1 × 2 nights × US$180US$360
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$170US$680
Glacier cruise, half or full day2 × US$180 · checkUS$360
Sea kayak day trip with operator2 × US$220 · checkUS$440
Car rental, one day1 × US$120 · checkUS$120
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$25US$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$201
Trip total≈ US$553 per person per day, bed includedUS$2,211

2026 estimate in US dollars; flights and cruise tours excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–7
Pub meal (burger, fish and chips)$18–30
Beer: draught in a bar / can at a store$7–10 / $3–5
Taxi, airport to towncheck$15–25
Glacier cruise, full daycheck$150–280
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$20–40

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Valdez is a small, low-crime town; the real risks are cold water, fast-changing weather and wildlife on trails. Tell someone your plan before kayaking or hiking, and carry rain gear.
  • Book glacier cruises and kayak trips weeks ahead in July–August; they sell out.
  • Weather changes fast on the water and over Thompson Pass — layers and rain gear every day.
  • Fuel and food are limited outside town; fill up before long drives.
  • Winter snow loads are extreme; check road conditions before any cold-season drive.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Valdez Police (non-emergency)
907-835-4560

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.

ValdezValdez

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Valdez Police (non-emergency)907-835-4560

Embassy

No embassies in Valdez; consulates are in Anchorage. US visitors: your own consulate is in Anchorage or Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Taxi, Valdez Airport → town: $15–25, about 5–10 min (check)
  • Glacier cruise, full day: $150–280 per person (check)
  • Car rental, one day: $80–180 (check)

Say or show

  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Where is the harbour? — Where is the harbour?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • I have a booking — I have a booking

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

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 Valdez. 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 (long days, boats running); late May and early Sep for fewer people · avoid Nov–Mar (snow, short days, many services closed) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 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 VDZ: taxi fallback, late-arrival rung, no-public-transport note.
  2. Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: harbour and marina, downtown and museum, Richardson Highway edge.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Valdez Museum, harbour, trailheads) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Glacier and kayak booking fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources