SOUTH PARKS HIGHWAY:
WASILLA,
HOUSTON, WILLOW, TALKEETNA, TRAPPER
CREEK, ALASKA
RV PARKS
AND CAMPGROUNDS
The George Parks Highway connects Anchorage and Fairbanks via Denali National Park. Total distance is 358 miles. The road is in good condition. Traffic is congested through the Wasilla-Houston-Willow area, and turn lanes are a bit tricky. Besides the usual tourist traffic, there are many local people driving through to work or access lake and river fishing areas. Watch for McKinley views driving north. Once free of traffic, people tend to drive a bit too fast on the southern part of the highway, then encounter frost heaves, sharp turns, and pavement breaks near Denali N.P. with unpleasant results. When driving in Alaska, always be cautious of changing road and weather conditions. The PARKS HIGHWAY starts at the junction with the GLENN HIGHWAY, 35 miles north of Anchorage. Mileages below are for Anchorage/Fairbanks. The Denali National Park entrance is at mile 237.3/120.7. Please frequent our advertisers, identified by BOLD CAPITALS.
Mile 35.3/322.5: Visitor Center. Best View RV park is gone, replaced by a parking lot for new hospital. Buildings have been moved to Big Bear RV Park. After exiting, turn right for Visitor Center. For Big Bear turn left, then right and follow frontage road. Full hookups, tenting, showers, laundry, dump station, cabins, mountain view. 745-7445
Mile 41.1/316.9: Junction with Palmer-Wasilla Highway. Drive 6 miles to Finger Lake State Recreation Site.
Mile 42.2/315.8: Junction with Knik Road to Lake Lucille Borough Campground (mile 2.3); private campground at Knik Lake (mile 13.3); Fish Creek Campground (mile 16.2) Partial hookups, tents, pull-throughs, showers, laundry, dump station. No fishing in Fish Creek! Little Susitna River access state campground (mi. 17.2).
Milw
48.2/309.8 ALASKA
TRAILS RV & CAMPER PARK 376-5504
All
new RV park with 125 roomy full hookup sites. 54 pull-throughs. Look
for the big blue building at mile 48.2. Laundry and shower
facilities. Internet service available in office. Dump station.
Tenting sites. Pets OK. Discounts for GoodSam members and military.
Bob Hartzler and Steve and Jan Richardson welcome you. Write: HC 34
Box 2094, Wasilla, AK 99645
E-mail
Mile 49/309: ALASKA R&R LAUNDRY & RV PARK 373-7286 Featuring 20 RV sites with full hookups, dry sites, tenting, showers, laundry, sanidump, propane. Cafe and cabins. Open year round. Located near Meadow Lakes Recreation Area. There is a pond and hiking trails nearby. Your hosts: Rose and Rich. P.O. Box 940366, Houston, AK 99694 E-mail
Mile 50/308: ICEWORM RV PARK
892-8200 Large pull-through spaces with crystal clear Alaska fresh water, electricity, and a sewer hook-up at every site. Tent sites. Pets welcome. Almost any size rig accommodated. Showers, sanidump. Close to Meadow Lakes, restaurant and grocery store. Good central location for exploring the Mat-Su Valley, Independence Mine, Big Lake Rec. Area, great lake and stream fishing. P.O. Box 879010, WASILLA, AK 99687 E-MAIL US
Mile 52.3/305.7: Junction with BIG LAKE ROAD. State campgrounds at miles 3.6, 5.2, 6.5.
Mile 57.3/300.7: Houston Little Susitna River Campground (city)
Mile 57.6/300.4: Miller's Place 892-6129 Dry sites, tents, rooms, ice cream, restaurant, laundry. Charter and bank fishing.
Mile
57.7/300.3: RIVERSIDE CAMPER
PARK 907-892-9020
Where the real Alaska begins, at mile 57.7 Parks Highway, near Houston. All of the sixty sites have full hookups. Eight drive-throughs and four tent sites. Facilities include water, sewage dump, showers, laundry, fishing from bank in park, free RV wash. Within walking distance are a post office, restaurant, grocery, and gift shop. Showers and laundry open to public. Riverboat charter service available locally. RIVERSIDE is DEC approved and a Good Sam member. New owners: Kenny and Sheila Mortensen Link above for web site E-mail: aksalmon@mtaonline.net P.O. Box 87, Houston, AK 99694
Mile
64.5/293.5: NANCY LAKE MARINA & RESORT
495-6284 Day
use only. Fishing, boat & canoe rental, swimming,
gas, propane, AV gas, groceries. Nancy Lake is an easily accessible
fishing lake with populations of rainbow and lake trout, whitefish,
and Dolly Varden. Fish from shore or boat. The lake is fed by large
streams, and the surrounding wetlands and forests are prime habitat
for wildlife. Nancy Lake has a surface area of 800 acres, and about
50 miles of shore line due to the many coves and bays. The resort is
located on the site of a historic roadhouse that served pioneers and
gold seekers. Later it was a mink ranch and construction camp for the
Alaska Railroad. Open year round. Winter activities include
cross-country skiing, snowmachining, ice fishing. FAX: 495-6285 Tom
& Valerie Ouellette P.O. Box 114, Willow, AK 99688 This
proprty may be developed for private residences.
Mile 66.7/291.3: Road to Nancy Lake State Recreation Site
Mile 67.2/290.8: Road to Nancy Lake State Recreation Area
Mile 70.8/287.2: Junction with WILLOW CREEK PARKWAY. Access to Willow Creek State Recreation Area (4 miles). Photo below.
Mile 71.2/286.8: Junction with WILLOW-FISHHOOK (HATCHER PASS) ROAD. Campground/cafe at mile 13.8
North Country RV Park is at mile 0.5, Hatcher Pass Road. Presently offering partial hookups, dry sites, tents, cabins, showers, laundry, dump station.
The state facilities across from North Country are now Day-Use Only
Mile 71.4/286.6: Pioneer Lodge 495-1000 Full and partial hookups, dry and tent sites, rooms, restaurant, showers, laundry, sanidump. Fish from bank or boat, boat launch.
Mile
71.5/286.5: WILLOW CREEK RESORT 495-6343
Scenic
riverside camping and fishing. Full and partial hookups, dry sites,
pull-throughs, tents, cabins, showers, laundry, sanidump. Bank and
charter fishing, tackle, groceries, deli. Raft trips. Link above for
more info.
E-mail
Mile 82.5/275.5: SUSITNA LANDING AND CAMPGROUND 495-7700
For Susitna Landing and Campground information, go to www.karo-ent.com/susitna.htm. Partial hookups, dry and tent sites, cabins, guided and bank fishing, canoe trips, hard surfaced boat launch with floating dock, and fuel. Recently improved to comply with ADA requirements. Now featuring 71 sites, 14 new electric. New shower facilities will open in 2008! Managed by the Wilsons for Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Extensie remodeling and expansion in 2007 71 RV sites on three loops. Lots of new grass!
Mile 87.1/270.9: Camp Caswell RV Park 495-7829 full and partial hookups, dry sites, pull-throughs, tents, rooms, cabins, showers, laundry, sanidump. Store, snacks, fishing, hiking, tackle & licenses.
Mile 88.2/269.8: Sheep Creek Lodge 495-6227 Partial hookups and dry RV and tent sites on creek, rooms and restaurant/lounge, gas. Pull throughs, showers, laundry. Gifts, walk to fishing, local tour info.
Mile 91/267: MAT-SU RV PARK & CAMPGROUND 907-495-6300
A quiet RV
park just off the Parks Highway, featuring 31 level full hookups
sites plus dry sites, turn-arounds, pull-throughs, tent sites, dump
station. Also groceries, clean rest rooms, showers, WIFI at all
sites, laundry, ice, covered picnic area. Local phone or calling
cards. Caravans welcome. Excellent fishing at nearby Montana and
Sheep Creek. Close to Denali Viewpoint and convenient to Hatchers
Pass, Talkeetna, Petersville Road, Matanuska Glacier, Anchorage, Big
and Nancy Lakes, Susitna River, much more.
New owner
2007: Therese Jankowski
Write: HC 89,
Box 432, Willow, AK 99688
E-MAIL
US
Mile
96.6/261.4: Montana Creek Campgrounds 733-8255. Dry and
tent camping. Short walk to groceries, showers, laundry, cafe. Both
sides of highway. State-owned.
Mile 98.7/259.3:
Junction with TALKEETNA SPUR ROAD. Talkeetna is a unique small town,
home to the July Moose Dropping Festival and host to climbers
preparing to ascend Mt. McKinley.
Mile 13: TALKEETNA CAMPER PARK (733-2693) New in 2002. Full hookups, showers, laundry, dump station. New facilities in 2003. Watch for our park on the right as you approach town. Easy walk to town, RR depot, airport. Click name above for more info. E-mail
Mile
14: TALKEETNA
RV
LLC
733-2604 Half
a mile from beautiful downtown Talkeetna. Turn in on East Talkeetna
Road (airport access). Featuring sixty wood RV sites with river
access, pull-throughs, boat launch, restrooms, showers. Bank fish for
salmon or trout. Click our name above for more info.
Formerly
Talkeetna River Adventures
E-mail
Mile 15: City campground through town at the end of the road. Tents and day-use.
RETURN TO PARKS HIGHWAY LISTINGS
Mile 99.5/258.5: His & Hers Lakeview Restaurant and Lodge 733-2415 Partial hookups, dry sites, pull-throughs, tents, rooms, cabins, showers, laundry, sanidump, gas. Lakeshore camping, snacks, gift shop. Opens 11 a.m.
Mile 104.3/253.7: The state rest area to the west on the south bank of the Susitna River is not being maintained.
Mile 114.8/243.2: Trapper Creek Inn & RV Park 733-2302 Full hookups, tents, rooms, restaurant, showers, laundry, sanidump, gas. Deli, gifts, flightseeing, McKinley view. Repairs.
Mile 114.9/243.1: Junction with PETERSVILLE ROAD. Travel beyond mile 18 is not recommended.
Mile 115.5/242.5: Trapper Creek Trading Post 733-2315 Partial hookups, dry sites, tents, rooms, restaurant, showers, laundry, gas. Groceries, gifts.
End of ANCHORAGE - MAT-SU listings. The next campground north is at mile 134.7 (Denali Viewpoint South) Continues in Denali/Fairbanks section.