Palmer (Alaska)

Palmer is a city of 7,500 people (2019) 42 miles (68 km) northeast of Anchorage on the Glenn Highway in Southcentral Alaska.

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.

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.

Get around
Palmer is served by valley mover and Matsu Transit bus service, though in general you need a car to get around.

Do
Palmer's proximity to the Mat-Su mountains allows for various outdoor activities within the mountains, such as hiking and snowshoeing.

Go next

 * Anchorage
 * Denali National Park