Airports Serving Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska
Valdez-Cordova Census Area stretches across 34,239 square miles of south-central and southcoastal Alaska, encompassing the communities of Valdez, Cordova, Glennallen, Chitina, Kenny Lake, McCarthy, and Whittier, with a total population of approximately 9,600 residents. The census area includes some of Alaska's most dramatic landscapes: the Copper River basin, Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park (the largest national park in the United States at 13.2 million acres), Prince William Sound, and the terminus of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline at Valdez. Transportation varies dramatically across the census area, with some communities on the road system and others accessible only by air and water.
Valdez Pioneer Field (VDZ) — Pipeline Terminal City
Valdez Pioneer Field operates under FAA identifier VDZ with a 6,500-foot paved runway at 120 feet elevation, surrounded by the Chugach Mountains and fronting Port Valdez on Prince William Sound. The airport was relocated following the devastating 1964 Good Friday earthquake that destroyed the original town and airfield. Ravn Alaska previously operated scheduled commuter service from Valdez to Anchorage, though service has been intermittent since Ravn's 2020 bankruptcy. Charter operators including Valdez Heli-Camps and local air taxi services provide flightseeing and charter access. Valdez is connected to the road system via the Richardson Highway, a 305-mile drive to Anchorage taking approximately 6 hours through Thompson Pass and the Copper River valley.
The dramatic Thompson Pass area between Valdez and the interior receives an average of 500 inches of snowfall annually, making it one of the snowiest recorded locations in North America. Winter driving conditions on the Richardson Highway near Valdez require extreme caution, and the highway can be closed for avalanche control in the Thompson Pass area. Heli-skiing operators use the Valdez airport as a staging area during the March through May heli-ski season, when deep powder snow in the Chugach Mountains attracts extreme skiing enthusiasts from around the world.
Merle K. "Mudhole" Smith Airport (CDV) — Cordova
Merle K. "Mudhole" Smith Airport in Cordova operates under IATA code CDV with a 7,200-foot paved runway at 42 feet elevation on the shore of Eyak Lake. Named for a legendary Alaska bush pilot, the airport receives daily Alaska Airlines jet service to Anchorage and Juneau using Boeing 737 aircraft. The Anchorage flight takes approximately 45 minutes, while the Juneau route takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cordova has no road connection to the Alaska highway system, making air service and the Alaska Marine Highway ferry the only transportation links to the outside world.
Cordova serves as the home port for the Copper River commercial salmon fishery, producing the world-famous Copper River red and king salmon that command premium prices at seafood markets nationwide. During the May through September fishing season, air freight operations at CDV increase dramatically as fresh salmon is shipped to Anchorage and beyond within hours of being caught. The Cordova airport also supports access to the Copper River Delta, home to the Western Hemisphere's largest concentration of shorebirds during the annual spring migration in early May, when the Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival draws birders from across North America.
McCarthy and Wrangell-Saint Elias Access
McCarthy, the gateway community for Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park, is accessible by air and by the McCarthy Road, a 60-mile unpaved road from Chitina that follows the former Copper River and Northwestern Railway bed. The McCarthy Airport features a 3,500-foot gravel runway at 1,530 feet elevation in the heart of the Wrangell-Saint Elias wilderness. Wrangell Mountain Air, McCarthy Air, and other charter operators provide flightseeing tours over massive glaciers including the Kennicott, Root, and Nabesna Glaciers, plus access to remote backcountry destinations within the park. Charter rates typically run 200 to 500 dollars per person for flightseeing and 400 to 1,000 dollars for backcountry drop-off service depending on distance and aircraft.
Gulkana Airport (GKN) — Interior Access Point
Gulkana Airport near Glennallen features a 5,001-foot paved runway at 1,586 feet elevation at the junction of the Glenn and Richardson Highways. The airport primarily serves general aviation and charter operations, providing access to hunting and fishing destinations in the Copper River basin and the Wrangell Mountains. Glennallen and the surrounding communities of Copper Center, Kenny Lake, and Chitina are connected by road, with Anchorage reachable in approximately 3.5 to 4 hours via the Glenn Highway and Fairbanks in approximately 4.5 hours via the Richardson Highway.
Whittier — Prince William Sound Access
Whittier sits on the western shore of Prince William Sound and is accessed by road through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, the longest highway tunnel in North America at 2.5 miles. The tunnel operates on an alternating one-way traffic schedule and is the only road access to Whittier. While Whittier has no commercial airport, it serves as a major cruise ship port and the departure point for Alaska Marine Highway ferries to Valdez (approximately 7 hours) and Cordova. Prince William Sound day cruises and glacier tours depart from Whittier, and the Alaska Railroad connects Whittier to Anchorage with a scenic 2.5-hour train ride.
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport — Primary Hub
Valdez-Cordova Census Area residents use Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport as their primary hub for long-distance commercial travel. Cordova residents fly directly on Alaska Airlines, while road-connected communities drive to Anchorage. The drive from Valdez to Anchorage (305 miles, 6 hours) and from Glennallen to Anchorage (185 miles, 3.5 hours) traverses some of Alaska's most scenic highways through mountain passes, river valleys, and along the Matanuska Glacier. Anchorage offers nonstop service to Seattle, Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Honolulu, and seasonal international destinations.
International Airports
An international airport is a vital component of any major metropolitan area. It connects domestic and international travelers, providing them with a means to connect to the rest of the world.
An international airport is a large airport that is equipped to handle both domestic and international flights. It also has a significant economic impact on the local community.
These major Alaska Airports generate thousands of jobs and contribute billions of dollars to the local economy through tourism and other related industries.
A large international airport also offers a variety of amenities for travelers. These can include shopping centers, dining options, lounges, and other services such as currency exchange and luggage storage.
Private Airports
Private airports, also known as general aviation airports, are airports that are not open to commercial airlines and are used primarily by private aircraft.
One of the main benefits of a private airport is the exclusivity and privacy it offers.
These airports are often used by high-profile individuals, such as celebrities and business executives, who value their privacy and want to avoid the crowds and security lines of commercial airports.
Private airports also offer more flexibility and convenience for aircraft owners. They can also be used for training pilots and hosting aviation events.
There are 0 Private Airport in Valdez-Cordova (CA) County, Alaska.
Regional Airports
Regional airports are smaller airports that serve a rural geographic region, such as a smaller city or county with a population of less than 100,000.
Small airports mostly offer flights within the same country, but some may offer flights to nearby countries.
One of the main advantages of regional airports is their convenience. They also tend to have shorter security lines and fewer crowds, making the overall travel experience more enjoyable.
There are 0 Regional Airport in Valdez-Cordova (CA) County, Alaska.
Municipal Airports
Municipal airports which are also called "public airports" are owned and run by local governments like cities and counties.
Most of the time, they are smaller airports that serve a certain area and have mostly domestic flights, but some may also have flights to nearby countries.
One of the main advantages of municipal airports is their accessibility. They are often located in or near major cities, making them a convenient option for travelers.
Municipal airports provide a vital link for businesses in the region, allowing them to easily connect to other parts of the country.
There are 1 Municipal Airport in Valdez-Cordova (CA) County, Alaska.
Cordova Municipal Airport
Local Airports
There are 3 Local Airport in Valdez-Cordova (CA) County, Alaska.
Merle K Mudhole Smith Airport - Cdv
Chistochina Airport - Czo
Valdez Pioneer Field Airport - Vdz
Airports in near by County
Valdez-Cordova Census Area presents a fascinating mix of road-accessible and aviation-dependent communities, from the pipeline terminus at Valdez to the isolated fishing port of Cordova and the spectacular wilderness gateway of McCarthy. The Alaska Airlines jet service at Cordova provides a critical lifeline for that roadless community, while flightseeing and charter operations in the Wrangell-Saint Elias region offer access to some of the most awe-inspiring glacial landscapes on the planet. Whether traveling by road through Thompson Pass or flying into Cordova over Prince William Sound, the journey through this census area is as memorable as the destination.