The valley and Alyeska
The developed valley sits below steep mountain terrain, with the resort and town center up the Alyeska Highway from the Seward Highway.
MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE · SEWARD HIGHWAY CORRIDOR
Girdwood · Municipality of Anchorage · Turnagain Arm, Southcentral Alaska
Girdwood Homes and Condos near Alyeska
Girdwood is a mountain valley community in the Municipality of Anchorage, about 40 miles southeast of downtown on the Seward Highway, at the head of Turnagain Arm. It is not a Kenai Peninsula town. We include it here because it sits on the same highway corridor as Hope, Whittier and Seward, and because people looking along that road often ask about all of them together.
THE PLACE
Where Girdwood is, and what that means.
Girdwood is part of the Municipality of Anchorage, not the Kenai Peninsula Borough and not its own city. The Alyeska Highway climbs from the Seward Highway up the valley to the town center and Alyeska Resort, with Crow Creek Road branching up the valley to the north.
The original townsite sat closer to the highway. After the 1964 earthquake dropped land along Turnagain Arm, the town moved up the valley to where it is now. Today Girdwood mixes full-time homes and second homes: chalets and cabins on wooded lots, condos and townhomes near the resort, and a limited number of buildable lots.
Although it is part of the Municipality, Girdwood has its own elected Board of Supervisors, its own service area, and its own land-use plan and zoning chapter. Some properties are on public water and sewer and others on wells and septic, so confirm utilities parcel by parcel.
Girdwood is not a separate 2020 Census city. It is a community inside the Municipality of Anchorage. We do not cite an unofficial population figure here.
Neighborhoods & areas
Girdwood and its neighbors
This area is highlighted. Neighboring areas are shown in lighter color. Open the Anchorage homes for sale hub for a wider map, or pick a shape below.
Areas are approximate – see notes below.
Click the map to zoom with your scroll wheel
THINGS TO DO
A mountain valley at the head of Turnagain Arm.
The valley, the resort, and the highway along the arm are the setting. This is a place people ski, hike and live — and a place with real winter, real snow load, and a single road in.
Turnagain Arm and the highway
The Seward Highway is the only road in. It can close for avalanche control, crashes or rockfall. Check Alaska 511.
Crow Creek and the upper valley
Crow Creek Road continues farther up the valley. Access, snow and road condition vary; confirm the last stretch for any property there.
A municipal community with local rules
Girdwood’s Board of Supervisors, service area, land-use plan and zoning chapter are specific to this valley. Check them before you plan a build, addition or rental.
GETTING THERE
Getting to Girdwood, and the one road in.
Girdwood is about 40 miles southeast of downtown Anchorage on the Seward Highway. In good conditions the drive is often in the 40-to-50-minute range; it can be longer in storms, closures or summer traffic. Check Alaska 511.
The Seward Highway is the only road in. From Girdwood you can continue toward Portage and the Whittier Tunnel, or toward the Hope Highway and on to Seward. Those are corridor neighbors, not the same government.
Inside the valley, ask about winter snow storage, steep driveways, and who maintains a private or condo road.
SEASONS
Seasons in Girdwood.
Girdwood gets heavy snow. Roof design, snow shedding, ice dams and who clears the roof are basic property questions, not extras. Avalanche and slope-hazard mapping matters on some parcels near steep terrain — check municipal hazard maps. Summer is a different valley: greener, busier on the highway, still reached by that one road.
HOUSING
What Girdwood listings usually look like.
Chalets and single-family homes, condos, townhomes, cabins and a limited number of lots. Many buyers want a second home; plan for winter maintenance when you are not there.
Chalets and homes
Single-family homes on wooded lots, often with steep roofs and decks. Snow load and roof design matter.
Condos
Units near the resort, from studios to multi-bedroom. Read the HOA budget, reserves and rental rules.
Townhomes
Attached homes in small associations. Ask who handles snow removal and roofs.
Cabins
Smaller and older cabins, some seasonal. Confirm heat, water and septic.
Lots
Buildable lots are limited. Check zoning, utilities, slope, avalanche mapping and drainage before you buy.
Second homes
Plan for winter maintenance, snow and access when you are not in the valley.
CURRENT LISTINGS
Homes for sale in Girdwood
Current Girdwood homes and condos appear below. Open the full search for filters, including the existing area outline used on the live page.
Current Alaska MLS listings appear here when the area feed loads. If no homes are listed, that can be normal in a small community — save a search or browse land.
UTILITIES & ACCESS
What to check on a Girdwood property.
Snow load and roofs
Ask about roof design, snow shedding, ice dams and who clears the roof.
Avalanche and slope
Some areas near steep terrain have mapped avalanche or slope hazards. Check the parcel against municipal hazard maps.
Water and sewer
Public water and sewer reach parts of the valley; others use wells and septic. Confirm for the parcel.
Short-term rentals
Rules come from the HOA and the municipality. Confirm current registration and tax requirements, and make no income assumptions.
Girdwood zoning
Girdwood has its own land-use plan and zoning chapter. Check it before planning to build or add a unit.
Highway access
The Seward Highway is the only road in. It closes at times for avalanche control, crashes or rockfall.
NEARBY
Along the corridor, and on the way.
Girdwood’s municipal neighbors are along Turnagain Arm and the Anchorage Hillside. Corridor towns farther down the Seward Highway are listed too, with their actual jurisdictions.
Girdwood luxury homes
A separate existing Properties of Alaska page for higher-end Girdwood homes and condos.
Indian / Turnagain Arm
The next community along the arm, also in the Municipality of Anchorage.
Hope
A Kenai Peninsula Borough creek town, reached by the Hope Highway off the Seward Highway.
Whittier
On Prince William Sound, through the Whittier Tunnel — not in the Municipality and not on the Kenai Peninsula.
Seward
Farther south on the Seward Highway, in the Kenai Peninsula Borough.
Also: Anchorage · Kenai Peninsula overview (proposed hub) · Alaska Living · Home
QUESTIONS
Girdwood homes: common questions
Is Girdwood part of Anchorage?
Yes. Girdwood is in the Municipality of Anchorage, about 40 miles southeast of downtown, with its own Board of Supervisors, service area and land-use plan. It is not in the Kenai Peninsula Borough.
Is Girdwood on the Kenai Peninsula?
No. Girdwood is a Turnagain Arm community in the Municipality of Anchorage. It is on the Seward Highway corridor that also leads to Hope, Whittier and Seward, which is why it appears in that grouping.
What types of homes are for sale in Girdwood?
Chalets, single-family homes, condos, townhomes, cabins and a limited number of lots.
Can I rent out a Girdwood property short term?
It depends on the HOA and current municipal rules, including registration and taxes. Check before you buy, and do not count on income you have not confirmed.
What should I check before buying in Girdwood?
Snow load and roof design, avalanche or slope hazard mapping, water and sewer service, parking and snow storage, HOA rules and Girdwood zoning.
How long is the drive from Girdwood to Anchorage?
Roughly 40 to 50 minutes in good conditions on the Seward Highway; longer in storms, closures or summer traffic. Check Alaska 511.
YOUR ALASKA SEARCH
Keep Girdwood on your radar
See current Girdwood listings, then keep the search close at hand.
On the results page, tap Save Search to save it to your dashboard and set up email alerts. Sign in or create your account if prompted, then choose your alert settings.
This save link follows a simplified version of the Girdwood community council outline already used on the live page. It is not a parcel or legal boundary. Listings near an edge may fall outside the search.
Notes & sources
Facts on this page were checked against official sources listed below. Population figures are 2020 Census counts. Drive times are not stated as fixed numbers because weather and road conditions change — use Alaska 511. Listing feeds are live inventory, not an appraisal or a promise that a type of property will be available.
Search-banner photo on this page: Adobe Stock/EWY Media (Alyeska valley, Girdwood, summer). This is the live Girdwood valley image already used on /girdwood/. A later town-specific photo can replace it if Grace prefers.
- Municipality of Anchorage — Girdwood is inside the municipality; Girdwood Board of Supervisors, service area, land-use plan and zoning chapter. Confirm current rules with the municipality.
- Existing Properties of Alaska Girdwood guide facts carried forward: about 40 miles from downtown Anchorage; town relocated up-valley after the 1964 earthquake; mixed municipal and on-site utilities.
- Alaska 511, 511.alaska.gov.
- Search-banner photo already in use on the live page: Adobe Stock/EWY Media (Alyeska valley, Girdwood, summer). The live interactive council map is kept in this paste. In-page camping photos can be added later. The live search-banner photo stays the Girdwood-specific Adobe Stock/EWY Media Alyeska valley image. A link to /girdwood-luxury-homes-for-sale/ (areapage/164) is included; that page is not changed.
- Save-this-area outline: simplified Municipality of Anchorage Girdwood community council polygon already used on the live Girdwood page. Approximate; not a legal boundary.
- Listings: Alaska MLS through Real Geeks search on this site.
Photos: Adobe Stock/EWY Media (Alyeska valley, Girdwood, summer).
KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY ALASKA GROUP
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Girdwood Homes For Sale
The listing content relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the IDX Program of Alaska Multiple Listing Service, Inc. (AK MLS). Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Properties of Alaska Real Estate Brokers of Alaska are marked with either the listing brokerage’s logo or the AK MLS logo and information about them includes the name of the listing brokerage. All information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified for accuracy. Listing last updated: