Bethel (Alaska)

Because of its location and culture, there is much that a traveler would benefit from understanding before visiting Bethel. The town is far off the road system, 400 air miles west of Anchorage, and all fuel, grocery, household items, building materials, vehicles, etc., must be flown in or shipped in by barge. Consequently, prices are relatively high, even by Alaskan standards. It is good to remember, however, that as a hub community, Bethel prices are still less (sometimes by half) than prices even in nearby villages.
The Y-K Delta (as the greater area is called) is home to an active subsistence culture. Many residents, both Native and Non-Native, fish and hunt for food as well as for sport.

Climate

The only practical way into Bethel from outside the immediate area is by air, and Bethel is served by a number of daily flights from Anchorage. Alaska Airlines has morning, afternoon, and evening flights, with Era Alaska adding additional flights in the morning and afternoon.

There are a number of transportation options in and around Bethel for visitors and residents, depending on one's level of ambition:

By plane

The state-owned Bethel Airport is the regional transportation center, and is served by seven passenger carriers, including Alaska Airlines, Grant Aviation, Hageland Aviation Services, Yute Air and Frontier Flying Service. It also receives service from five cargo operators: Everts Air Cargo, Northern Air Cargo, Alaska Central Express, Arctic Transportation Services, and Lynden Air Cargo, and numerous small air taxi services including Renfro's Alaskan Adventures. The airport ranks third in the state for total number of flights. It offers a 6,400-foot asphalt runway and 1,850-foot gravel crosswind runway. Three float plane bases are nearby: Hangar Lake, H Marker Lake, and the Kuskokwim River. See the Go next section for more details.

By taxi

Bethel has more cabs per capita than any other city in the United States. Due to the dependence of many residents and visitors on cabs, and the high cost of transportation, cab fee maximums are mandated by the City of Bethel, corresponding roughly to the distance of the trip. Rides within the central area of town are $5, to or from the Tundra Ridge subdivision are $7, to or from the Airport is $7, and trips to the Kasayuli Subdivision are $10.
Something important for visitors to Bethel to know is that cab rides in Bethel are often a "communal" experience. While riding in a cab from the airport into the main part of town, for example, the cab driver may get a call to pick up another fare in Blueberry Subdivision. While potentially uncomfortable for the shy traveler (or if the cab gets too crowded), this is actually a great way to meet people in Bethel.
These are numbers for the taxi services in Bethel

• Alaska Cab

  phone: +1-907-543-2111

• City Cab

  phone: +1-907-543-4141

• Kusko Cab

  phone: +1-907-543-2169

• Quyana Cab

  phone: +1-907-543-5454

• Taxi Cab

  phone: +1-907-543-5199

By public transit
The city bus cost $2 a ride for adults. Routes include most of the town. A route map and schedule can be found here.

By car

Those visiting for an extended period of time or moving to Bethel may be considering renting or buying a car. As is true with most everything in Bethel, prices are substantially higher than one would expect, both to purchase (or ship in), own, and maintain a car in the rural setting, but many people feel it is worth it for convenience and independence.
Gas prices are high ($6.67/gallon in Apr 2016), but do not fluctuate daily as in other places. Cost is set by the retailers when new supplies are barged in through the brief summer months, meaning the price of gas will only change a couple times a year.

• Crowley Marine Services Inc

  phone: +1 907 543-2217
  address: 380 Standard Oil Rd

• Nicholsons Auto Inc.

  phone: +1 907 543-2667
  address: 630 3rd Ave

• Northstar Gas

  phone: +1 907 543-4277
  address: 1170 Bridge Way Bridge

• Quick Food Center

  phone: +1 907 543-2245
  address: 1510 Chief Eddie Hoffman Hwy

• Quick Stop

  phone: +1 907 543-3090
  address: 658 Ptarmigan St

• Kuskokwim RiverOne of the largest rivers in Alaska it offers some great views and activities.

• Bethel Art GuildThis local attraction is a great showcase of local art. It's near the local Moravian Church.

• BIA BuildingsA popular local attraction is a group of abandoned buildings. While it is illegal to go into them they are still an interesting sight to see.

• White AliceCold War-era radio towers that were put up all around Alaska, the Air Force and National Guard have been systematically taking them down all across the state. Bethel used to have one of the few remaining White Alices in the state, but alas it was doomed to be taken down. It is being disassembled.

• Bethel DumpstersA unique community activity a number of years ago the city decided to spice up the streets a bit by painting dumpsters in each neighborhood. They are definitely an interesting sight to see.

• Skate parkSee the farthest west skate parks in the United States.

• Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center

  phone: +1 907 543-4500
  address: 420 Chief Eddie Hoffman Hwy

Salmon fishing and hunting for moose, caribou, ptarmigan, geese, ducks, rabbits, bears. Best hunting spots: Northeast of Bethel, Behind the Bethel Airport by about a mile.

• Kuskokwim 300In the winter, you can go dog sledding & compete in Bethel's annual Kuskokwim 300 were you race to the village of Aniak & back to the city of Bethel with a dog team & a race sled. Also you can go to the town's basketball games during the high school basketball season.

• Pinky's ParkIt used to be a small park for kids, you can still go to the place where it used to be, some remains are still there, it is unknown when it was taken down. It used to be a hangout spot for a lot of teenagers and then it became the city's most hazardous spot due to muffed up teenagers going there to do some bad stuff.

• BMXThere are really good bikers at the skate park. Some aren't so good and some are great.

There are many stores in Bethel like AC, Swanson's, Corina's, and Sammy's Market. They are expensive but better than nothing.
You could go look at the great artwork at the Cultural Center and maybe buy a piece of locally produced art for an awesome price. They have Saturday Markets every Saturday at the Cultural Center where they sell food, some artwork, and drinks like pop and coffee.

• Casa

  phone: +1 907-543-4343
  address: 310 3rd Ave

• Arctic Sun Restaurant

  phone: +1 907-543-3878
  address: 3551 State Highway
  Best pizza in town but takes long to deliver

• V.I.P.

  phone: +1 907-543-4777
  address: 1220 Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway
  Best known for good sushi.

• Dimtri's

  phone: +1 907-543-3434
  address: 281 4th Ave #A
  The only Greek restaurant in town decent gyros, superb "white" pizza.

• Red Basket

  phone: +1 907-543-7001
  address: 751 3rd Ave
  Large food variety.

• 123 Barbecue

  phone: +1 907-543-4444
  address: 120 State Hwy
  Quick delivery, mediocre burgers.

• Panda 24

  phone: +1 907-543-2159
  address: 431 Ridgecrest Dr

• Tundra

  phone: +1 907-543-5005
  address: 473 Ridgecrest Dr

• Front street café

  phone: +1 907-543-3408
  address: 920 Front St

• Shogun

  phone: +1 907-543-2272
  address: 320 Tundra St
  One of the better restaurants in town.

• Corina's

  phone: +1 907-543-4430
  address: 238 East Ave

• Family Restaurant

  phone: +1 907-543-2159
  address: 431 Ridgecrest Dr

There are a number of perfectly comfortable bed and breakfast options in Bethel, with a couple of real standouts among them (check out the White House if the owner, Fran, isn't booked solid), and one centrally located "regular" hotel.

• The Long House

  phone: +1-907-543-4612
  address: 751 3rd Ave
  The closest thing to a "normal" hotel that a visitor unfamiliar to the bush will find in Bethel. A big plus is the fact that there is a restaurant in the building (Red Basket, formally Alba's Pizza). Can get a little loud on the weekends, especially around PFD time.

• Great Bear Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +1-907-543-4011
  address: 206 Akiak Dr

• Allanivik

  phone: +1-907-543-4305
  address: 1220 Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway

• Suite 881

  address: 881 3rd Ave

• Tundra Suites

  address: 473 Ridgecrest Dr

• Riverview Bed and Breakfast

  phone: +1-907-543-2737
  address: 355 1st Ave

• Delta Cottages

  address: 124 Gunderson Ct

• Bentley's Bed and Breakfast

  phone: +1-907-543-3552
  address: 624 1st St

• White House Bed and Breakfast

  phone: +1-907-543-2388
  address: 971 7th Ave

• Lakeside Lodge

  phone: +1-907-543-5275
  address: 198 H Marker Lake Rd