Planning your Trip
Buying Your Games and Events Tickets
Tickets will go on sale in early Fall 2023. If you would like to stay updated on the Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games and get notified when tickets are available, sign up for our Newsletter.
Wood Buffalo 2023
Where are the Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games?
The Mat-Su Valley is actually two Valleys - the Matanuska Valley and the Susitna Valley, thus, Mat-Su. Thousands of years ago, glaciers carved the region into two Valleys. It is nestled between the Chugach Mountains, the Talkeetna Mountains and the Alaska Range. The Mat-Su Valley begins just 35 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city and encompasses 23,000 square miles, stretching to Lake Louise along the Glenn Highway and Denali State Park along the Parks Highway.
The Games will mostly take place in the two largest cities, Palmer and Wasilla. Just an hour north of Anchorage, the two cities are separated by 10 miles and serve as a major hub of commerce, tourism and recreation.
Stefaan Hinman
Getting here
The Mat-Su Valley is located an hour north of Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city.
Flying into Anchorage is the easiest way to get to the Mat-Su Valley.
AIRPORT
Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage serves all major airlines with daily flights, both domestic and international. There are numerous daily flights from Sea-Tac Airport (Seattle) for ease of connections.
DRIVING
Several rental car agencies are available at Ted Stevens International Airport. The Mat-Su Valley is a one-hour drive north of Anchorage via the Glenn Highway (Highway 1). From the airport, follow International Airport Road for approximately two miles, then turn left on C Street for another 2.5 miles. Then, turn right onto 6th Avenue, which eventually turns into the Glenn Highway, and proceed 35 miles to downtown Palmer.
There are very limited options for shuttle services between Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley, so renting a car is highly advisable.
Where to Stay
The Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games will take place mostly in the Palmer and Wasilla areas. There are a variety of lodging options available that are open year-round.
In both Palmer and Wasilla, there are many small bed and breakfasts as well as lodging properties that have fully furnished cabins. Vacation rentals (such as Airbnb and VRBO) are another option, with entire houses available for rent in both areas, as well as individual rooms.
Palmer and Wasilla are separated by 10 miles and both Lyft and taxi service is available in both cities.
What to do
Snowmachining tours. Snowshoe. Skiing. Mushing. Winter hiking. Dining. Shopping. The Mat-Su has it all.
Extending your trip? Or looking to fill your days beyond the Games? The Mat-Su CVB provides a comprehensive list of winter activities in the Mat-Su. Check out their Trip Planner to get your trip together today.
Wood Buffalo 2023