When I was 24, I finally took my much-anticipated trip to Alaska. My friend Megan and I flew into Anchorage, rented a car, and spent the next 9 days driving through America’s largest state. Because Alaska is so huge, planning a road trip can be daunting. As someone who didn’t really know much about Alaska, it was difficult deciding where to go.
Luckily, we made good choices — it was only after arriving that I learned how inaccessible many parts of Alaska are when traveling by car. Here are my recommendations on places to go when planning your Alaska road trip itinerary.
Alaska Road Trip Itinerary Map
Alaska Road Trip Itinerary: Anchorage · Denali National Park · Fairbanks · Homer · Seward
1. Anchorage
This one’s a given — if you fly in/out like I did, you’ll probably find yourself at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, as it is the largest airport in Alaska. Anchorage, too, is Alaska’s biggest city; 400,000 of the state’s 730,000 population call Anchorage home.
Anchorage is definitely worth spending some time in, and there is so much to do. There are a number of museums that provide a good introduction to Alaskan history and culture. Check out the Anchorage Museum downtown for art, ethnography, ecology, and science; visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center on the city outskirts to learn about the lives of Alaska natives of the past and present. (That was my favorite thing in Anchorage.)
Downtown Anchorage also has lots of tourist information and delicious restaurants — our favorites were Snow City Cafe for breakfast and Glacier Brewhouse for dinner.
2. Denali National Park
Your Alaska road trip itinerary isn’t complete without a visit to one of the United States’ most acclaimed National Parks. From Anchorage, drive about two hours north on the George Parks Highway 0 — a beautiful scenic route, if it’s not too foggy to see anything. Watch out for moose along the way.
Upon arrival in Denali, there’s something for everyone. Stop at the Visitor Center for information and souvenirs, or hike the Savage River Loop trail at Mile 15. If you have more time, venture further into the wilderness by taking one of the shuttle buses in and out of the park, or go camping if you’re feeling extra adventurous. Learn more about the best things to do in Denali National Park.
3. Fairbanks
Two hours north of Denali is the city of Fairbanks. Although it is Alaska’s second-most populous city, it’s a very distant second with only about 100,000 residents in the area. It has a more isolated, less metropolitan feel than Anchorage, but I still think it’s worth adding to your Alaska road trip itinerary.
Fairbanks is sometimes referred to as the Gateway to the Arctic; it is the farthest north that most visitors with rental cars are allowed to travel, as the more northern roads are unpaved. Fairbanks also experiences 24 hours of daylight during parts of the summer and 24 hours of darkness in the winter. For this reason, it’s a popular place to view the Northern Lights.
Check out the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center to learn more about life in the Alaskan Interior region and activities in the city. Visit the Fairbanks Ice Museum if you want to slide down an indoor ice slide!
4. Homer
Now let’s head south to the Kenai Peninsula, another must-add to your Alaska road trip itinerary. It’s a four-hour drive from Anchorage on the Seward and Sterling highways, but let me give you a warning: if the weather is nice, the views of the Cook Inlet are so scenic that it will probably take much longer, because you’ll keep stopping to get out of the car and take pictures. (I speak from experience on this.)
Homer is for seafood lovers. The city is right at the very end of the peninsula and concludes with the Homer Spit, a 4.5-mile-long piece of land jutting out into Kachemak Bay. Drive out onto the spit, park your car, and take a leisurely stroll among the many shops and restaurants. You’ll see fishermen cleaning and gutting their catches of the day, and you can even go fishing yourself. Many of the restaurants will cook it for you.
5. Seward
Backtracking up the Sterling and Seward highways, it’s a 3-hour drive to Seward, another coastal town on the Kenai Peninsula. Seward is popular for its proximity to Kenai Fjords National Park; just outside the city limits is Exit Glacier, one of the national park’s more popular attractions. It’s a relatively easy hike up to the glacier from the Visitor Center; signposts along the way indicate just how large the glacier used to be in years past.
I know this post is about your Alaska road trip, but nothing says you have to stay on land the entire time! Hop on a boat for a day-tour of Resurrection and Aialik Bay. You’ll see glaciers galore and tons of wildlife, too — humpback and orca whales, sea otters, sea lions, porpoises, puffins, and bald eagles.
We ended up taking one called the Captain’s Choice small boat tour. Rather than a large boat with hundreds of tourists, this one was limited to a more intimate 16 passengers. Lunch and snacks — along with excellent commentary and conversation — provided! But there are plenty of different types of water-based excursions you can take, in and around Seward.
Plan Your Alaska Road Trip
Best Hotels in Alaska: Book Alaska Hotels
Top Things To Do in Alaska: Fairbanks: Northern Lights Aurora Tour with FREE Photography // Kenai Fjords National Park Glacier & Wildlife Cruise // Alaska Helicopter Tour with Glacier Landing – ANCHORAGE AREA // Denali ATV Trailblazer 3.5 Hour Tour
So, there you have it. The best Alaska road trip itinerary! What do you think? What would you add? Let me know in the comments!
-Cathy
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Originally Published on August 2, 2017.
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