Wasilla

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.

By plane

 * Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport 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
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.
 * 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
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.



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



Coffee
Wasilla has a profusion of espresso stands that serve food as well.


 * Mocha Moose, 240 N Boundary St. Drive thru coffee stand run by a longstanding barista in the area. +1 907-376-1225

Go next
From Wasilla, it is about a 2-hour drive to Denali State Park or a 4-hour drive to Denali National Park. Fairbanks is about 7 hours north.