Matanuska-Susitna Borough district, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, United States

Places to visit near Lakes

Lakes is a town in Matanuska-Susitna Borough district, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, United States, home to about 8,364 people. Within 50 km by road there are 114 places to visit — 64 hill stations & viewpoints, 18 forts & heritage, 13 lakes, dams & reservoirs and 1 parks. The must-see places are Finger Lake (2 km), Wasilla Lake (6 km) and Lake Lucille (12 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Lakes on the map

Lakes, Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Lakes, Matanuska-Susitna Borough district, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Lakes at a glance

Location
Matanuska-Susitna Borough district, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, United States
Population
about 8,364
Coordinates
61.6071° N, 149.3086° W
Places within 50 km
114 (21 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for parks

Top places to visit near Lakes

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Lakes: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Lakes

Things to see near Lakes, by type

Hill stations & viewpoints near Lakes

152 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Lakes. The closest is Blueberry Knoll (16 km); the best-known is Government Peak (18 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

  • Government Peak · viewpoint · Matanuska-Susitna Borough · ~18 km · Must-see
  • Hatch Peak · viewpoint · Matanuska-Susitna Borough · ~21 km · Must-see
  • Mount POW/MIA · viewpoint · Anchorage · ~24 km · Must-see
  • Pioneer Peak · viewpoint · Anchorage · ~26 km · Must-see
  • Bullion Mountain · viewpoint · Matanuska-Susitna Borough · ~26 km · Must-see
  • Matanuska Peak · viewpoint · Matanuska-Susitna Borough · ~28 km · Must-see

All hill stations & viewpoints in Matanuska-Susitna Borough →

Forts & heritage near Lakes

35 forts & heritage within 100 km of Lakes. The closest is Palmer Water Tower (13 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Matanuska-Susitna Borough →

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Lakes

24 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Lakes. The closest is Finger Lake (2 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Matanuska-Susitna Borough →

Parks near Lakes

14 parks within 100 km of Lakes. The closest is Alaska State Fairgrounds (13 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

All parks in Matanuska-Susitna Borough →

Museums near Lakes

14 museums within 100 km of Lakes. The closest is Old Houses of Wasilla (9 km). Best time: year-round.

All museums in Matanuska-Susitna Borough →

Churches near Lakes

10 churches within 100 km of Lakes. The closest is Old St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church (21 km). Best time: year-round.

All churches in Anchorage →

A one-day trip from Lakes

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 73 km on the road.

  1. Start in Lakes
  2. 6 km Wasilla Lake · lake, Anchorage
  3. 5 km Lake Lucille · lake, Anchorage
  4. 25 km Government Peak · peak, Matanuska-Susitna Borough
  5. 24 km Alaska State Fairgrounds · park, Matanuska-Susitna Borough
  6. 11 km Finger Lake · lake, Matanuska-Susitna Borough
  7. 2 km Back to Lakes

Plan a longer trip from Lakes — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Lakes

No traveller has reported from around Lakes yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

Post an update from the map →

How to reach Lakes

    All places near Lakes by distance

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Lakes by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Hill stations & viewpoints64152Blueberry Knoll (16 km)
    Forts & heritage1835Palmer Water Tower (13 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs1324Finger Lake (2 km)
    Parks114Alaska State Fairgrounds (13 km)
    Museums814Old Houses of Wasilla (9 km)
    Churches210Old St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church (21 km)
    Waterfalls46Thunderbird Falls Trail (23 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens15Independence Mine State Historical Park (25 km)
    Other attractions02Ceremonial Start of Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race (66 km)
    Beaches & coast12Eagle Bay (46 km)
    Caves11Caves Lake (38 km)
    Rivers, islands & mangroves11Crescent Moon Island (43 km)
    Mosques & dargahs01Islamic Community Center of Anchorage (74 km)
    Temples01Sri Ganesha Temple of Alaska (76 km)

    Lakes: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Lakes?

    Finger Lake (lake, about 2 km), Wasilla Lake (lake, about 6 km), Lake Lucille (lake, about 12 km), Alaska State Fairgrounds (park, about 13 km), Government Peak (peak, about 18 km), Old St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church (church, about 21 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Lakes?

    114 places on Spotwander: 64 hill stations & viewpoints, 18 forts & heritage, 13 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 1 park, 8 museums.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Lakes?

    Blueberry Knoll, about 16 km by road; Government Peak (18 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Lakes?

    Palmer Water Tower, about 13 km by road; Curtis D. Menard Memorial (15 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest lake to Lakes?

    Finger Lake, about 2 km by road; Wasilla Lake (6 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Lakes?

    Start in Lakes, visit Wasilla Lake, then Lake Lucille, then Government Peak, then Alaska State Fairgrounds, then Finger Lake, and drive back — about 73 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Lakes?

    October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for parks.

    Towns near Lakes

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Lakes’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Lakes on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.