Valdez KOA Journey Events

Celebrate the 4th of July in Alaska at Valdez KOA Journey, and join our annual campground decoration contest! Decorate your RV, tent, boat, vehicle, or anything goes, the more patriotic and creative, the better. Register at the camp store upon arrival. Winners are voted on by fellow guests, with prizes announced on the evening of July 4th. Everyone is welcome to join, including your furry friends! Come ready to decorate, celebrate, and enjoy an unforgettable Independence Day in one of America's most spectacular settings. Book your site for 4th of July weekend early, it's one of our most popular weekends of the season. Visit our RV sites page to reserve your spot.

One of the best free events in Valdez for families with young anglers. The Kids Pink Salmon Derby is open to children aged 5 to 16 and is completely free to enter. Kids compete to catch the largest pink salmon, with prizes, games, and a free BBQ rounding out the day. In previous years, kids received free hats and could enter by uploading a photo of themselves with their catch. Pink salmon are plentiful, accessible, and a blast for first-time anglers of any age. Valdez KOA Journey is just 5 miles from the best fishing spots in town, and our camp store can help with fishing supplies and tips. A perfect family day out from the campground. 
Check the official website for more information and dates.

Alaska's Silver Salmon Derby is one of the most exciting fishing competitions in the state, and it runs for over six weeks right through peak Valdez summer season. The $10,000 grand prize for the largest silver salmon draws anglers from across North America. Daily prizes keep the competition fierce throughout the run. Special events include Big Prize Fridays (July 31 and September 4) and the Salmon Slam Tournament (August 28 – September 6, $1,000 prize for largest silver). All you need is a derby ticket, available in Valdez. Valdez KOA Journey is 5 miles from the Valdez small boat harbor where fishing charters depart daily. Book your summer stay around the Silver Salmon Derby for the full Alaska fishing experience.

One of the highlights of Valdez Gold Rush Days, the Open Air Market brings together local artisans, craftspeople, food vendors, and unique Alaskan goods in the heart of downtown Valdez.
Browse handcrafted jewellery, Alaska-made art, local foods, and one-of-a-kind souvenirs you won't find anywhere else.
The market runs throughout the five-day Gold Rush Days festival (July 29 – August 2, 2026).
Valdez KOA Journey is 5 miles from downtown, just a short drive or an e-bike ride along the Richardson Highway trail.

One of Alaska's most beloved community festivals returns to downtown Valdez for five days of history, celebration, and community spirit. The 2026 theme, Gold, Grit & Glory: Celebrating Military Legacy in Valdez, makes this year's Gold Rush Days especially meaningful for Valdez KOA Journey, which is proud to be 50% military veteran-owned. Join in the Gold Rush Days Open Air Market, the famous Wine Walk, the community parade, Can Can Girls, Hoosegow (pay to 'incarcerate' someone you love!), Kids Gold Panning, live music, and much more. Valdez KOA Journey is just 5 miles from downtown, a perfect home base for the full five-day festival. Book your site early as Gold Rush Days is peak season.

The Women's Silver Salmon Derby draws hundreds of women anglers to Valdez each August for a day of fierce competition, great prizes, and unforgettable camaraderie on Prince William Sound.
The 2026 event runs August 9–10 with an opening event the evening before.
Door prize packets worth $100+ are awarded to 10 randomly selected registrants. Weigh-in results are posted by 8 pm on August 9.
This is one of Alaska's most celebrated women's fishing events; plan your stay around it and make it a full Valdez girls' trip. Valdez KOA Journey offers cabins, glamping tents, and RV sites perfect for group bookings.
Check the official website for more information and dates.

The Odyssey Trail Race brings runners and outdoor athletes to Valdez for a multi-day trail running event set against the spectacular Chugach Mountain backdrop. One of Alaska's premier trail running events, the Odyssey offers courses for a range of abilities through some of the most dramatic terrain in North America. Valdez KOA Journey is the ideal basecamp for race participants, support crews, and spectators, with full hookup RV sites, cabins, and glamping tents available for the race weekend.
Book early; September is a popular month for outdoor athletes visiting Valdez.

Cap off your Alaska season with a cold one at Valdez Oktoberfest, a beloved late-season community celebration held in downtown Valdez. Local craft beer, live music, food, and the warm camaraderie of a small Alaskan town wrapping up a spectacular summer.
Valdez KOA Journey is open until September 14, making Oktoberfest weekend the perfect final hurrah before heading home.
Stay one last night under the Chugach Mountain sky and celebrate the end of an unforgettable Alaska adventure.

Alaska's oldest fish derby, and one of the best reasons to plan your Valdez trip around the calendar.
The Valdez Fish Derbies run throughout the summer season with two headline events: the Halibut Derby (May 21 – Aug 31, $10,000 grand prize for the largest halibut) and the Silver Salmon Derby (July 25 – Sept 6, $10,000 grand prize). 
Special events within the derbies include the Kids Pink Salmon Derby (free, ages 5–16), the Women's Silver Salmon Derby (August 9–10), and the Halibut Hullabaloo tournament.
Valdez KOA Journey is just 5 miles from the Valdez small boat harbor, where fishing charters depart daily.
Check the official website for more information and dates.

Visiting Valdez during the July 4th holiday weekend? The City of Valdez hosts fun-filled community festivities for all the family, local arts, crafts, and vendors, a community picnic open to the public, and local musicians showcasing their homegrown talent. Lots more fun to explore throughout the long weekend. Combined with the Valdez KOA July 4th Decoration Contest on-site, it's the perfect patriotic Alaska weekend. Check the City of Valdez website for the current schedule closer to the date.

Fireweed Bike Race Across Alaska, one of the most challenging and scenic bicycle races in the world. The race starts at Sheep Mountain Lodge on the Glenn Highway and finishes in Valdez, covering 200 miles through some of Alaska's most dramatic terrain. Spectators can watch hundreds of cyclists race toward the finish line along the Glennallen Highway and Richardson Highway, the Richardson runs right past our campground door. Whether you're racing, crewing, or just here to cheer, Valdez KOA Journey is your basecamp for the finish line experience. Book your site early, Fireweed weekend fills fast.