RV Parks In Valdez, Alaska

Valdez sits at the head of Prince William Sound in south-central Alaska with several RV parks and campgrounds serving travelers at the southern terminus of the Richardson Highway, including some free camping options. The coastal city occupies one of the most spectacular settings in Alaska, surrounded by the Chugach Mountains with glaciers visible in nearly every direction, waterfalls cascading from the surrounding peaks, and the deep blue waters of the sound providing a marine setting that adds to the dramatic mountain scenery. Valdez is the terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, which carries crude oil 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic coast to the marine terminal here, and the pipeline's influence on the community is visible in the infrastructure and the Valdez Museum's excellent exhibits on the pipeline's construction and operation. The Columbia Glacier, one of the largest tidewater glaciers in North America, calves massive icebergs into Prince William Sound and is accessible by tour boat from the Valdez harbor, providing one of the most impressive glacier experiences in Alaska. RV camping near Valdez provides access to outstanding salmon fishing in the numerous streams flowing into the sound, world-class marine scenery, sea kayaking among icebergs, and the historic legacy of the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake that destroyed the original townsite and forced the community to relocate to its present location. The surrounding Chugach Mountains provide some of the most dramatic vertical relief in coastal Alaska, with peaks rising thousands of feet directly above the waterfront. Worthington Glacier State Recreation Site on the Richardson Highway about 30 miles north of Valdez provides walk-up access to a glacier face, one of the few places in Alaska where you can park your RV and walk directly to a glacier. The Valdez fishing derbies run throughout summer for salmon, halibut, and rockfish, with significant prize money drawing competitive anglers.

Camping near Valdez is moderately priced for a remote coastal Alaska community with this quality of scenery and recreation. Of the available options, a portion% are free while a portion% charge fees, with paid parks running $30 to $55 per night for hookup sites. Columbia Glacier tour boats typically run $100 to $175 per person for a half-day excursion. Worthington Glacier is free to visit, and pink salmon fishing near town is some of the most productive free fishing in Alaska with a standard fishing license. Alaska state campgrounds along the Richardson Highway offer sites at $15 to $20. Groceries and fuel in Valdez are higher than Anchorage, reflecting the remote coastal location, but the pink salmon run provides essentially free protein for those willing to fish.