Palmer, AK area guide

Things to Do Near Mat-Su Regional Medical Center

Groceries, food, days-off ideas and shopping close to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer, Alaska. Made for travel nurses and RTs on contract.

3 groceries1 restaurants7 to do1 shopping

Photo: Enrico Blasutto / CC BY-SA 4.0

Groceries

Closest grocery stores to stock the fridge on week one.

• Walmart Supercenter

  Walmart with groceries and household basics. Listed hours 5 AM to 2 AM daily

  ~4.6 mi / ~11 minMap
• Carrs

  Carrs grocery store. Listed hours 5 AM to 1 AM daily

  ~6.4 mi / ~11 minMap
• Fred Meyer

  Fred Meyer grocery and general store. Listed hours 7 AM to 11 PM daily

  ~6.6 mi / ~11 minMap

Restaurants

Local spots with working websites. Places marked open late or early are handy around a night shift.

• Bearpaw River Brewing CompanyPub

  Pub

  ~3.9 mi / ~9 minWebsite

Things to do

Parks, water, breweries and more for your days off.

• Matanuska River Park

  Park, good for a walk between shifts

  ~8.5 mi / ~15 minWebsite
• Beach Lake Park

  Local park with room to stretch your legs

  ~20 mi / ~27 minMap
• Edmonds Lake

  Lake. If you fish, get an Alaska license first

  ~13 mi / ~22 minMap
• Eklutna Lake

  Lake. If you fish, get an Alaska license first

  ~19 mi / ~25 minMap
• Bearpaw River Brewery

  Local brewery

  ~8.2 mi / ~14 minWebsite
• Alaska State Fairgrounds

  Theme park

  ~5.6 mi / ~13 minMap
• Wasilla Museum & Visitors Center

  Museum, good for a rainy day off

  ~8.0 mi / ~14 minWebsite

Shopping

Malls and big stores for anything you forgot to pack.

• Target

  Target for clothes, home goods and basics

  ~6.3 mi / ~11 minMap

Laundromats

Closest self-serve laundromats for scrubs and linens when your rental or RV park doesn’t have a washer.

• Idita Wash

  Self-serve laundromat

  ~6.6 mi / ~11 minMap
• Wasilla Wash Day

  Laundromat

  ~7.7 mi / ~13 minMap

Coffee shops

Nearest coffee shops, local spots first. Places marked “Opens early” are handy after a night shift.

• Cozy Cup Espresso

  Local coffee shop

  ~0.8 mi / ~3 minMap
• Cozy Cup Espresso

  Local coffee shop

  ~3.3 mi / ~8 minMap
• Perkup EspressoOpens early

  Local coffee shop

  ~3.7 mi / ~9 minMap

Gyms

Closest gyms to keep your routine on contract. Ask about short-term or month-to-month memberships.

• Masters of Iron Palmer

  Local gym

  ~5.7 mi / ~14 minMap
• Planet Fitness

  Planet Fitness gym

  ~5.9 mi / ~14 minMap
• Refuge Crossfit

  Local gym

  ~5.9 mi / ~14 minMap

Nearby RV parks

Monthly-stay parks near Mat-Su Regional Medical Center from our RV parks list. Call to confirm the rate and a spot for your dates.

• Palmer / Anchorage North KOA Journey

  2010 S Church St, Palmer, AK 99645

  $900/mo plus electric (Oct–Apr); $1,750/mo May; $1,400/mo Sep; $900 refundable deposit

  ~3 mi / ~6 min (approx; park says under 5 min to the hospital)Rates & phone
• Forget Me Not RV Park

  10532 W Parks Hwy, Wasilla, AK 99654

  $300/mo plus electricity; max 31 days, max 2 adults

  ~17 mi / ~25 minRates & phone

Need a license for Alaska? See the state licensing boards, then run through the contract checklists and housing tips.

Looking for your next contract? See Alaska travel contracts posted by staffing agencies.

Sources: place data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), plus each place’s own website and Wikidata. Last checked Oct 2026.