In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · United States
Solomon, Alaska
Solomon
Skip unless you are a dedicated Alaska bush-history traveller with a private plane or a long hike from Nome: half a day to see the abandoned train, then back.
Solomon is a ghost town on the Bering Sea coast, reachable only by air taxi from Nome or on foot along the Iditarod Trail. Its single sight is the rusted 'Last Train to Nowhere' — a locomotive left on the abandoned Council City and Solomon River Railroad. There is no store, no fuel, no medical facility. Most travellers pass through on a guided day trip from Nome or skip it entirely.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Solomon
- Best months
- Jun–Aug
- Avoid
- Oct–Apr (snow, trail impassable without ski or snowmobile)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $150–200 (includes air taxi from Nome) · Mid $200–300 · High $300+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 911 · Nome Police (non-emergency) +1 907 443-5262
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Air taxi Nome ↔ Solomon, round trip | $250–350 |
| Bed at Solomon B&B, one night | $150–160 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SOL · Solomon State Field Airport
- Check for permission to land; no scheduled service.
- OME · Nome Airport
- Main gateway; then air taxi or trail to Solomon.
Typical fares
- Air taxi Nome → Solomon
- about $125–175 one way (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
On foot. The town is a single street along the beach. The train wreck is a short walk from the B&B.
See and do
Known for
- The Last Train to Nowhere
- Abandoned railroad
- Ghost town on the Iditarod Trail
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Nome | Air taxi from Solomon airstrip or hike the Iditarod Trail (about 30 km (19 mi))Air taxi from Solomon airstrip or hike the Iditarod Trail (about 19 mi (30 km)) | 30 min flight / 6–8 h hike |
| Council | Unpaved road from Solomon (4WD required) or trail | About 1 h drive |
Sleep
- Solomon Bed & Breakfast
- Only accommodation in town; book ahead, $150–160 per night.
Language
English everywhere, with strong regional accents; Spanish is the second language in the Southwest, Texas, Florida, California and New York. Some words differ from British English: restroom (toilet), check (bill), gas (petrol), trunk (boot), first floor (ground floor).
- Measurements are imperial: miles, Fahrenheit, gallons, pounds. 100 km ≈ 62 miles; 30 °C ≈ 86 °F.
- Small talk with strangers is normal and friendly; it is not a sales tactic.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- No cell service, no fuel, no food for sale. Bring everything you need from Nome.
- Weather can close the airstrip for days; have a flexible itinerary.
- Bears and moose are present; carry bear spray and know how to use it.
Isolated bush environment. No emergency services in Solomon; the nearest help is in Nome. Weather is the main risk: fog, wind and sudden storms can ground flights for days.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Solomon, Alaska yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- The Last Train to Nowhere
- Abandoned railroad
- Ghost town on the Iditarod Trail
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Solomon (Alaska), revision 3975747 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3975747
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Solomon, AlaskaSolomon
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
- Nome Police (non-emergency)+1 907 443-5262
No cell service; download maps and emergency contacts before leaving Nome.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/solomon-alaska). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.