RV Camping in Valdez, Alaska: Oil & Outdoor Adventure

Valdez is the best RV destination in Alaska. I’ll stand behind that. Chugach Mountains on three sides, Prince William Sound on the fourth, a tidewater glacier within walking distance of a municipal campground, and salmon stacking up in rivers that run through town. I’ve driven rigs from the Ozarks to the Olympic Peninsula and nothing sets up quite like this.

The town sits at the end of the Richardson Highway, roughly 300 miles from Anchorage, and it’s the southern terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. That oil infrastructure history gives Valdez an industrial edge that contrasts hard with the glaciers calving into the bay a few miles away. It’s a weird combination, and it makes for some of the most memorable RV camping in the state.

When to Go and What to Expect

The window for RV camping in Valdez runs roughly late May through mid-September. July and August are peak season — temps in the 55–65°F range, maximum daylight, and the salmon runs in full swing. June is excellent if you want fewer crowds and don’t mind some lingering snow on the higher passes.

Don’t underestimate Valdez weather. The town averages over 300 inches of snowfall annually, and even in summer you’ll get cold rain, low clouds, and wind off the Sound. I always run a mid-layer fleece and a hardshell in my rig no matter the season — up here, that’s not a suggestion.

The Richardson Highway drive into Valdez through Keystone Canyon is worth the trip alone. You’ll pass Bridal Veil Falls and Horsetail Falls within a mile of each other, both visible from the road. Slow down. Pull over. This stretch is one of the most scenic highway corridors in the country.

RV Campgrounds in Valdez

Bear Paw RV Park

Bear Paw is the go-to for full-hookup sites in town. It sits right on the waterfront with direct views of the Chugach peaks across the bay. Full hookups, pull-throughs for rigs up to 45 feet, WiFi, and a fish-cleaning station — which you’ll use. Rates run $45–$65/night depending on site type. Book early; this place fills up by mid-June most summers.

Valdez Glacier Campground

This is the municipal campground, operated by the City of Valdez, positioned right at the base of the Valdez Glacier moraine. No hookups, but the setting is absurd — you’re camping in a glacial outwash plain with a 5,000-foot wall of ice and rock as your backdrop. Sites run around $20/night. Dump station on-site. For dry camping, this is the move.

Blueberry Lake State Recreation Site

About 24 miles out on the Richardson Highway. Primitive sites, no hookups, but the lake fishing for rainbow trout is solid and the alpine scenery is exceptional. Generator hours are restricted, so bring a good battery setup or solar. I’ve camped here three times and never seen it more than half full.

Fishing: The Main Event

Valdez is a serious fishing destination. The Valdez Arm of Prince William Sound produces silver salmon (coho), pink salmon, halibut, and Dungeness crab. The Lowe River and Mineral Creek both run through or near town and offer pink and silver salmon fishing right from the bank — no boat required.

Pink salmon typically run mid-July through August. Silvers follow in August and September. Halibut fishing is excellent from charter boats operating out of the small boat harbor — fish in the 30–80 lb range are common, and 100+ lb barn doors get pulled every season.

If you’re fishing from shore, a medium-heavy spinning rod in the 8–10 foot range handles most situations. For halibut charters, the boat provides gear, but serious anglers bring their own. I’ve had good luck with the Ugly Stik GX2 for salmon, but for halibut I want something with real backbone.

You’ll need an Alaska fishing license. Non-resident licenses run $145 for the season or $25 for a 3-day. Get it online through the Alaska Department of Fish & Game before you arrive — don’t waste time hunting down a retailer in town.

For storing your catch in the rig, you need real cold retention. I’ve been running the YETI Tundra 65 for three Alaska trips now. It holds ice for 5+ days in ambient temps around 60°F, and the dry weight is manageable enough that I can move it solo when it’s half-loaded. For a serious fishing trip, don’t cheap out on the cooler.

Check Price on Amazon → (paid link)

Hiking Near Valdez

The trail system around Valdez is better than it has any right to be for a town of 4,000 people. Easy waterfront walks to serious alpine scrambles, and most trailheads are within 30 minutes of any campground in town.

Mineral Creek Trail

The most accessible hike from town — a 4-mile out-and-back along a historic mining road that follows Mineral Creek into a tight canyon. Elevation gain is modest at around 600 feet. You’ll pass an old stamp mill ruin about 2 miles in. Bears are active here; make noise on the trail.

Shoup Bay Trail

A 12.5-mile out-and-back that runs along the north shore of Port Valdez to Shoup Glacier. This one’s rugged — expect route-finding, some scrambling, and creek crossings that can be knee-deep in early season. The payoff is Shoup Glacier calving into a tidewater lagoon. I’ve done this trail twice. It’s the best day hike in Southcentral Alaska.

For a trail like Shoup Bay, trekking poles aren’t optional. The Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork poles have been in my kit for four seasons. The cork grips handle sweaty hands and cold mornings equally well, and the flick-lock adjustments don’t slip under load. At 19.4 oz for the pair, they’re not ultralight, but they’re bomber.

Check Price on Amazon → (paid link)

Solomon Gulch Trail

Short, steep, and worth it. This 1.5-mile trail climbs 1,000 feet to Solomon Gulch Reservoir above the fish hatchery. The hatchery below releases millions of pink and silver salmon smolts annually, which is why the fishing in the Valdez Arm is so productive. Views from the top look straight down the bay toward the Sound.

Worthington Glacier

Not technically in Valdez, but 28 miles up the Richardson Highway and worth an afternoon. One of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska — you can walk to the ice from the parking lot in under 10 minutes. The state recreation site has interpretive panels and a viewing platform, but hike the lateral moraine for a higher perspective. Crampons aren’t needed unless you’re going onto the glacier itself.

Kayaking and Water Access

Prince William Sound is serious sea kayaking. From Valdez, you can paddle to tidewater glaciers, sea otter haul-outs, and remote coves that see almost no boat traffic. Day paddles to Shoup Bay or around the harbor are manageable for intermediate paddlers. Multi-day trips to Columbia Glacier require solid open-water skills and proper cold-water immersion gear — water temps in the Sound run 45–52°F even in August.

If you’re bringing your own kayak on the RV, the small boat launch at the harbor gives you easy water access. Several outfitters in town rent sea kayaks and run guided day tours if you don’t have your own gear.

Cold water immersion is a real risk here. I run the Stohlquist Fisherman PFD — Coast Guard Type III, enough pocket storage for a VHF radio and snacks, and the fit is dialed even over a dry suit. Breaking strength on the webbing exceeds 500 lbs. It’s been in my kit for six years and I’ve never had a reason to replace it.

Check Price on Amazon → (paid link)

Wildlife

Black bears are common around town and on most trails — I’ve seen them in the campground at Bear Paw twice. Brown bears are present in the backcountry and come down to the river systems during salmon runs. Carry bear spray on every hike, no exceptions.

The marine wildlife in Prince William Sound is exceptional. Sea otters are everywhere in the harbor. Steller sea lions haul out on buoys near the pipeline terminal. Orca pods move through the Sound regularly in summer — I watched a group of six work a salmon school from the Bear Paw waterfront on my last trip. Dall’s porpoise are almost guaranteed on any boat trip out of the harbor.

Bald eagles are so common here they stop being exciting after the first day. Mountain goats are visible on the cliffs above Keystone Canyon with binoculars. Bring them. The Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42s are what I carry — 25.4 oz, street price around $250, and the ED glass handles low-light conditions well, which matters when you’re glassing cliffs at 9 PM in Alaska’s long summer evenings. Best value in the category at that price point.

Check Price on Amazon → (paid link)

The Pipeline and Town History

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline Terminal is the reason Valdez exists at the scale it does. The pipeline runs 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope, and Valdez is where the oil loads onto tankers. The terminal isn’t open for public tours, but the Pipeline Visitor Center in town has solid exhibits on the engineering and the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill — a disaster that reshaped environmental regulation in the U.S. and hit this community hard.

The Valdez Museum on Egan Drive covers the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake, which destroyed the original town site and triggered a tsunami that killed 32 people. The current town was rebuilt 4 miles from the original location. It’s a 90-minute visit and worth your time on a rainy afternoon.

Practical RV Notes

The Richardson Highway is paved all the way to Valdez and in good condition. Rigs up to 40 feet handle it without issues. The Thompson Pass section — the highest point on the route at 2,678 feet — can have snow and ice as late as June and as early as September. Check road conditions through 511.alaska.gov before you roll.

Fuel in Valdez runs $0.40–$0.80/gallon above Anchorage prices. Fill up before you leave the city. Propane is available at several spots in town. Cell service is decent in town on GCI and AT&T but drops to nothing on most trails and on the highway between Glennallen and Valdez.

The dump station at Valdez Glacier Campground is the most convenient in town. Bear Paw has full hookups so you won’t need it if you’re staying there. Potable water is available at both campgrounds.

Give Valdez at least four nights. Three if you’re pressed. Either way, you’ll leave with a list of things you didn’t get to. Plan a second trip.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product links on this page are affiliate links — if you click and buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.