Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area
- Status
- Status not posted
- Entrance fee
- $7 parkingAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- 8 campsites
- Official site
- dnr.alaska.gov
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In Matanuska-Susitna County, about 4 miles southwest of Palmer, Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area covers about 72 acres.
Things to do include fishing and hiking. For overnight stays there are 8 campsites (RV sites and tent sites).
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| The park’s wording doesn’t give clock times — see the official wording below. | |||
Official wording
Picnic Shelter - ($60 per 4 hours)
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Anchorage).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area: Matanuska Lake: Parking | $7 |
| Camping | $25 |
Official wording
Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area: Matanuska Lake: Parking $7/day; Camping $25/veh
Alaska park passes
- Annual Day Use Parking Pass — $60. Day-use parking at most state parks for the calendar year (not Pillars/Eagle Rock boat launches, Arctic Valley, Eagle River Nature Center) Details
- Annual Boat Launch Pass — $150. Boat launch fees for the calendar year Details
- Disabled Veterans Camping Pass. Camping for qualifying disabled veterans Details
From the Alaska state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Reserve Alaska State Parks (reservealaskastateparks.com)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campsites Camping Limit - 7 days | 8 | — |
Camping details from the park
9 RV Sites (see fee page) 8 Campsites (see fee page) Camping Limit - 7 days
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
CampingFishingHiking
Trails
Fishing, camping, hiking, biking and horseback riding are the dominant activities.
Fishing
Fishing, camping, hiking, biking and horseback riding are the dominant activities.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
- Parking
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
ADA Facility - Yes* Only Matanuska Lake and Kepler Lake* Historical Sites - ♿
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- Matanuska Lakes, , 4376 S. Glenn Highway, , Palmer, AK
AK - Nearest town
- Palmer — about 4 mi southwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 61.5570, -149.2091
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
Take the Glenn Highway to Mile 36.4, turn north into Matanuska Lake. You enter the park immediately. There is no Kepler Drive; Glenn Highway Mile 36.4 is the driveway into the campground.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Alaska State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Alaska DNR ArcGIS 'ASP Park Boundary' layer (OpenData/Recreational_ParkBoundary MapServer/2, refreshed daily), with unit pages from the region 'List of Units' tabs
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology