KOA Journey campgrounds offer the perfect oasis after a day on the road. Whether it’s along the way or a quick getaway, they’ve got you covered. Located near the highways and byways of North America with long Pull-thru RV Sites, they deliver convenience to the traveling camper. Pull in, ease back and take a load off.
KOA Journey campgrounds offer the perfect oasis after a day on the road. Whether it’s along the way or a quick getaway, they’ve got you covered. Located near the highways and byways of North America with long Pull-thru RV Sites, they deliver convenience to the traveling camper. Pull in, ease back and take a load off.
Valdez KOA is located at MM 2 on Richardson Highway. Go approximately 1 mile past Dayville Rd; campground is on the right.
Late arrivals with a reservation, please check the office/General Store door for a map to your site and campground information; proceed directly to your site using the map. For After Hours arrivals without a reservation, please follow the instructions on the night registration board located on the porch of the office/General Store.
TEXT +1 (833) 448-1503 or Call during office hours: 907-835-2723,or Email: [email protected]
Campground Store is open 8am - 8pm. daily.
Valdez, Alaska, is the kind of place that changes people. You arrive expecting stunning scenery, and you get it. But then you also get the salmon jumping in the creek just a few miles from your campsite. The humpback whale surfacing off the bow of your glacier tour boat. The bald eagle making lazy circles over your morning coffee. The Chugach Mountains, impossibly big, in every direction.
The thing is, you can't really do Valdez justice in a single day. You need time to settle in, slow down, and let Alaska work on you. That's exactly why we created this itinerary, to help you make the most of every night at Valdez KOA Journey.
Roll in on the Richardson Highway and let the first views do their work. As you pull into Valdez KOA Journey, the Chugach Mountains rise up in almost every direction.
Valdez KOA Journey sits on 18 acres just down the road from the Solomon Gulch hatchery. Whether you're in a full hookup RV site, a Deluxe Cabin, a glamping tent, a tent, or a rental RV, this is your home base.
Walk along the creek that runs right through the campground
Stop by the camp store for local fishing tips, any supplies you may need or have forgotten, nearby food and sightseeing recommendations, book a few adventures, or to pick up some e-bike rentals, get a local map, and start planning Day 2
It's a short drive or bike into downtown Valdez, and it's worth every minute. The small boat harbor is one of the most scenic in Alaska, with fishing vessels and snowcapped peaks reflected in Prince William Sound.
Dinner: Fresh halibut, salmon, or Dungeness crab at a local waterfront restaurant. (View local Food guide here)
Walk the harbor and watch the fishing charters come in for the evening
Head back to camp, light a fire, and fall asleep to the sound of the creek and Alaskan wilderness.
One of the best parts of visiting Valdez in late summer is the incredible shore fishing. Just a few minutes from Valdez KOA, anglers gather at nearby Allison Point and other public access areas near the Solomon Gulch Hatchery, where returning salmon create one of the area's most popular fishing opportunities.
During peak season (July and August), silver (coho) and pink salmon are the primary catch, making it a great spot for both experienced anglers and first-time visitors.
Pick up your Alaska fishing license in town before you head out.
Public fishing access is available near the hatchery at Allison Point and surrounding shoreline, no boat or guide required.
Be sure to check current Alaska fishing regulations and daily limits, and bring a cooler if you plan to keep your catch.
If you're after halibut and in Valdez, you should be, book a half-day or full-day charter from the small boat harbor. Multiple operators run daily trips into Prince William Sound, where halibut over 50 pounds are not unusual.
Book in advance; peak season trips fill up fast
Most charters include bait, tackle, and fish cleaning/vacuum packing
Head back to Valdez KOA, fire up the grill, and cook what you caught. Fresh Alaska salmon, mountain views, campfire smoke- this is the evening you'll be talking about when you get home.
The Columbia Glacier is one of the most accessible tidewater glaciers in Alaska, and a boat tour from Valdez is the best way to see it. Operators run daily tours from the harbor out into Columbia Bay, where you'll drift among icebergs while guides share the history of what you're seeing.
Tours typically run 4–6 hours; dress in layers
Harbor seals, sea otters, Steller sea lions, and orcas are frequently spotted
Humpback and minke whales are common in Prince William Sound June through September
By Day 3 evening, you've done enough. Pick up fresh local seafood, head back to Valdez KOA, and let the campfire do the rest. In midsummer Valdez, sunset doesn't arrive until after 10 pm, which leaves plenty of time for s'mores!
A 30-minute drive northeast of Valdez on the Richardson Highway brings you to Worthington Glacier, one of the few glaciers in Alaska where you can walk right up to the ice. The trail from the parking area to the glacier face is short and easy, and the surrounding peaks are staggering.
$5.00 Day use/Parking Fee
The hike to the glacier base is approximately 0.5 miles. Look for ice caves and moulins (Check to see if the trail is open during your stay here). If you prefer not to hike the trail, there is also a viewing platform, which is the safest way to see this amazing glacier, and there is even a pathway for wheelchairs.
The Richardson Highway itself is one of Alaska's most scenic drives; take your time
Back in town, spend a few hours at the Valdez Museum & Historical Archive. The exhibits on the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake (most powerful in North American history), the town's relocation, and the 1989 Exxon Valdez recovery are genuinely fascinating context for everything you've been exploring.
Valdez Museum: 217 Egan Drive, open daily in summer
Browse downtown waterfront shops and galleries
If you haven't had local Dungeness crab yet, today's the day
Night four at Valdez KOA. By now this place feels like home. Let the fire burn slow, watch the mountains go amber in the late evening light, and start thinking about what you're going to tell people when you get back.
Day 5 is earned. Sleep in. Make coffee or tea at your campsite and watch the eagles fly overhead, listen to the birds, and take in the mountain views!
Just outside of Valdez on the Richardson Highway, Keystone Canyon is a dramatic river gorge carved by glacial meltwater, flanked by sheer cliffs and waterfalls. Bridal Veil Falls and Horsetail Falls (both about 15 minutes away) tumble hundreds of feet down the canyon walls.
Pull over at the marked viewpoints along the Richardson Highway through the canyon to snap a few photos and take in the view
The Lowe River runs through the canyon; fly fishing access available in season
Watch for Dall sheep on the canyon walls, especially morning and evening
Bring a picnic lunch to eat at one of the pull-offs on the drive while enjoying the view
Head into town for your last Valdez dinner. Order the halibut. Order the salmon. Order both. Walk the harbor one more time. Pack your catch for the trip home. And when you're back at camp for the last night, sit outside long enough to really look at those mountains.
That doesn't mean this area has to always be empty. When you start reviewing camping options, your history will display here to help compare sites and find the best stay. You will be able to share your stay information with friends or family and save it for a later time if you have a KOA Account.
Make checkout easy by booking all your reservations at once. Add your sites from different campgrounds into your shopping cart* and then choose checkout.
