A Complete Guide to Alaska's 4th of July Car Launch Tradition (Glacier View)

The 4th of July in Alaska is celebrated a bit differently than in the rest of the United States. Because we're in the land of the midnight sun, it actually never gets dark enough to enjoy fireworks on Independence Day. Instead, we celebrate with a much more unique tradition - by launching cars off a 300 foot cliff. Visitors travel from all over the United States, and even visitors from other countries, gather to experience this one of a kind event in person. After visiting last year, I put together this complete guide so you know exactly what to expect and how to prepare for your own visit.

​​​My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to Alaska. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use Expedia's to compare the best rates & stays in the state.
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If you're traveling internationally, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours in the area.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my packing list for your travels to the great state of Alaska.

Planning Your Visit to Glacier View

Getting There + Logistics

Getting to the Car Launch is pretty straightforward, just head to the Glacier View River Retreat off the Glenn Highway. If it doesn't pop up on your phone, you can simply type in the address (35068 W Glenn Hwy, Sutton, AK 99674). Because it's located about 2 hours from Anchorage and 5.5 hours from Fairbanks, I recommend staying somewhere nearby on the night of the 3rd. Nearby spots to stay include :

• Sheep Mountain Lodge - cabins, mountain house, and guesthouse rooms
• Alpenglow Luxury Glamping - luxury glamping with glacier views
• MICA Guides Glacier Glamping - luxury glamping on a glacier (fly out)
• Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site - camping a little ways down the road from Glacier View River Retreat for $20 a night, first-come-first-serve
• Glacier View River Retreat - camp right onsite, beginning at 10:00 AM on July 2nd their campsite is first-come-first-serve for $40 a night

Even though the Car Launch itself doesn't start until 2:00 PM, you'll want to get there around 7:00 AM, and if you want a decent spot I would say no later than 9:00 AM. Yes, seriously. Even when my husband and I arrived at the entrance at 7, there was already a line on both sides of the entrance to the Glacier View River Retreat, and people were already parking on the road so they wouldn't get stuck in the exit line later.

Tickets + Parking

For the first time last year, they began selling tickets in advance on their website, so you'll want to purchase them early. Last year, they sold out the night before (on the 3rd), and you need tickets to enter. Because cell phone service can be pretty spotty, I recommend printing or screenshotting them to have them available. Ticket prices change each year, but when I last checked they were $34 for adults, $15 for children aged 5-14, and free for children under 5. Active military members and veterans get a discounted ticket for $25, you'll just need to provide your Military ID as you enter.

Parking can be a bit chaotic. There's a few different lots, and staff will guide you exactly where they want you to park. They expect lots of crowds each year, so they put you pretty tight. From the parking lot, you'll need to walk the rest of the way to the actual car launch viewing area. We got a pretty close parking spot and ended up walking about 15 minutes to the viewing area. If you park on the road, you'll need to walk an extra 1 mile+ each way, down a big hill on the way there and back up the hill on the way back. We left about 10 minutes after the last car launch and it ended up taking us about 1-1.5 hours to make it back to the road.

*Pro Tip : Ride a bike or bring a wagon! We didn't and wish we had.

My Favorite Tour near Glacier View : 
- Matanuska Glacier Hike (Day Tour)

What to Expect & Best Tips for the Car Launch

What to Expect

The Glacier View Car Launch is one of the most unique events I've been to in Alaska. Because you have to get there so early, and the event doesn't start until 2:00 PM, it's a full day event. Last year they had 38 cars get launched over the cliff, and it ended around 5:00 PM. As long as you arrive early, you can get a pretty good spot to set up your chairs. There's a few different things to consider when setting up your chairs - how close you want to be to the cars when they land, if you want to be closer to the exit, if you want to be near a rowdy crowd or a more family friendly spot, really it's up to you. We chose a spot not too close to the landing zone, but close enough for us to have a really good view.

Since it's an all day event, they have a few vendors onsite for food and entertainment. Think food trucks for items like corn dogs and lemonade, just know that the later in the day it gets - the longer the lines get too. Last year they also had face painting and music almost all day! You also don't need to worry about bathrooms, there's plenty of porta-potties around. These lines can also get long later in the day, but the further away from the landing zone you get the shorter the lines. If you make it to the very end of the event, you'll get to see the rush of people that scramble up the hill for free car parts. It's quite the sight, especially if you aren't expecting it. If you decide to do the scramble yourself, be extra careful - we were told one year someone accidentally got battery acid on themselves.

*Pro Tip : The closer you get to launch time, the more packed and amped up the crowd gets. They don't serve alcohol onsite, but many people bring it with them.

Car Launch Best Tips

After my visit last year, there's a few things I wish I would have known beforehand. The first I've already mentioned a few times, of course, is to go early. Even at 7:00 AM we were surprised at how crowded it was. I also wish we would have brought a wagon with us. We carried both our chairs, cooler, and other things like our camera gear with us - and we were very jealous of each group passing us on the trail with a wagon. If you're hoping to get some good photographs of the event, I recommend starting at the bottom viewing area since this is the most crowded, then switching to the top viewing spot if you need a new angle. Many people also bring their drones with them, and last year we counted about 10 at a single time. If you choose to fly your drone, be aware of your surroundings and remember that unless you have your drone pilot license it's actually illegal to fly over crowds. Even with your drone pilot license, it's largely restricted.

If you have no idea what to bring with you, here's a short list to get you started :

• Layers - it can be chilly in the morning, and hot during the day, so wear layers you can take on and off (plus a raincoat incase it rains!)
• Comfortable Walking Shoes - no matter where you park, on the road or in the parking lot, you'll need to do a little hike to get to the car launch viewing area
• Sunscreen - since you'll be outside all day in the Alaskan sun, sunscreen is essential, if you burn easily I also recommend bringing an umbrella or baseball hat to keep your face covered
• Chairs - there's no chairs or blankets for visitors, so you'll want to bring your own
• Cooler - for snacks, water, and drinks of your choosing
• Camera Gear - if you want some good shots of the car launches, make sure to bring your camera gear!
• Wagon - like I mentioned above, I was pretty jealous of everyone else who wheeled all their stuff down in their wagons, so it's something I have to recommend
• Tickets - make sure to bring screenshots or printed copies with you!
• ​Cash - if you plan to stop at any of the food trucks or get your face painted, service can be spotty, so you'll want to have some cash on hand

Watch the 4th of July Car Crash Here!

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Other Blog Posts You Might Be Interested In : 
-> Alaska's Bald Eagle Festival in Haines
-> Vanstock Alaska : A Visitor's Guide
-> An Updated Guide to Arctic Man Alaska

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