Palmer is a city in the Southcentral region of Alaska, within the Matanuska-Susitna Valley (Mat-Su Valley).

Understand

Climate

Palmer (Alaska)
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       0.9     23 9       0.8     28 12       0.4     35 18       0.2     47 29       0.6     59 39       0.4     65 46       1.7     66 50       2.4     65 48       1.7     56 40       1.1     41 28       0.6     28 14       1.2     25 11 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches    Data from NOAA (1981-2010)
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       23     −5 −13       20     −2 −11       10     2 −8       5.1     8 −2       15     15 4       10     18 8       43     19 10       61     18 9       43     13 4       28     5 −2       15     −2 −10       30     −4 −12 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm

Get in

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.

See

• 1 Musk ox Farm, 12850 E Archie Rd, ☏ +1 907 745-4151. Mid May-mid Sep: 10AM-6PM daily; rest of year by appointment. A large farm with musk oxes. Surprisingly fascinating. $11 adults, $9 seniors 65+, $5 children 5-17, children under 5 free with paying adult. (updated Jul 2015)
• Hatcher Pass. An area for hiking and other outdoor activities. 
• 2 Independence Mine, ☏ +1 907 745-2827. An abandoned gold mine near Hatcher Pass dating back to 1906 that has been converted into a state historical park. The mine contains several buildings from the mining town and historical information on gold mining in Alaska. Heavy fog in the upper portions of the area can occasionally obscure the view; on the other hand, walking through the ghost town in fog can be an interesting experience. Reaching the town from the parking lot requires about a half-mile walk up a gentle slope. Parking $5.  

Do

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

• The Butte, Bodenburg Butte Loop. A short hike with a private and public use side. Fairly easy climb, roughly an hour length for even slower hikers. Private side (south) is steeper and dustier, but a more direct climb. The public side (north) has a cleaner and better groomed trail but is primarily in the woods and longer in length. parking fees apply. 

Eat

• 1 Turkey Red, 550 S Alaska St, ☏ +1 907 746-5544. A cafe and bakery with international cuisine, wine and beer. They serve local produce. 
• 2 Vagabond Blues Inc, 642 S Alaska St, ☏ +1 907 745-2233. Comfortable atmosphere, local art and great coffee. To eat, they have soups, salads and great bread. 

Drink

• 1 Del Rois Bar, 5350 Old Glenn Hwy, ☏ +1 907 745-3914. 

Sleep

• Alaska Garden Gate B&B and Cottages, 950 Trunk Rd, ☏ +1 907-746-2333, info@gardengatebnb.com. Check-in: 4-10 p.m., check-out: 11 a.m.. (updated Jan 2017)
• Gold Miner's Hotel, 918 S Colony Way, ☏ +1 907 745-6160. 
• Peak Inn, 775 W Evergreen Ave, ☏ +1 907 746-5757. 

Go next

• Anchorage
• Denali National Park

Routes through Palmer

Anchorage ← Eagle River ←	W  E	→ Glennallen → Tok
Fairbanks ← Wasilla ←	N  S	→ END