Visitor Centers: Local Expert Advice & Information

The Gateway Visitor Center

In a region as vast as The Mat-Su, the best GPS is often a conversation with a local. There are excellent visitor centers and information hubs throughout The Mat-Su, so where should you start?

Make the Gateway Visitor Center your first stop to learn more about all there is to see and do in The Mat-Su. Located at 2764 S. East Matanuska Spur Road near the interchange of the Parks and Glenn highways, the center is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Immersive displays and exhibits talk about the area’s history and culture, and digital trip planning kiosks can help you build a fun-filled itinerary in The Mat-Su. Friendly staff can point you in the right direction, whether you are headed to Talkeetna or Denali on the Parks Highway or north on the Glenn Highway to the famed Matanuska Glacier. As the authority on the entire Mat-Su Borough, experts at the Gateway Visitor Center can connect you with additional visitor centers in the Mat-Su communities you plan to visit.

A vast landscape featuring a marshy plain with scattered trees, leading up to majestic mountains under a clear blue sky in Mat-Su, Alaska

A lay of the land

The Gateway Visitor Center overlooks the Palmer Hay Flats at the foot of the Chugach mountains. Come learn about the fascinating geological and cultural history of this place.

Check it out

Local experts abound

In many communities, you can learn more by stopping into a local visitor center. In Palmer, the Palmer Museum of History and Art and Visitor Center has a must-visit garden. Stop by the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce who operate a visitor center, along with the Wasilla Museum. In Talkeetna, an informational kiosk is available downtown. Along the Glenn Highway, there is an informational kiosk in Glacier View. Our Visitor Information Centers are more than just places to find a map; they are the front porches of our communities. Whether you are looking for real-time trail conditions in Hatcher Pass, the best spot to view Denali from Trapper Creek, or a recommendation for a roadside diner in Sutton, our local experts are ready to help you navigate the scale of the North. Browse our directory of Mat-Su Visitor Information Centers below. Filter by community to find the operating hours and contact details for your next stop.