Fall in love with Alaska: the perfect road trip
Visiting Alaska has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. Last year, after years of dreaming, I finally took the plunge and booked my dream adventure – a road trip through Alaska.
Little did I know that this would be one of the most incredible experiences of my life. The scenery is unlike anywhere else, and the sense of adventure is palpable. If you’re considering taking a road trip around Alaska, I would say ABSOLUTELY go for it!! You won’t regret it. Keep reading for a few things to keep in mind as you plan your trip.
Pick your style of Travel
Many people visit Alaska on a cruising holiday. I can imagine that to be beautiful way to see the coastline, but for my dream trip I wanted to get up close to Alaska, so a road trip was a no-brainer. Since we were flying in and out of anchorage we used Turo peer-to-peer car rental. This was my first experience with Turo and we were so impressed with both the car and the service we were provided. You can read more about the benefits of using Turo here.
For those who want a land adventure but don’t like to drive, there is also a beautiful rail system traveling through some of the most magnificent scenery, providing a good alternative to car travel.
Choose your accommodation style – from camping to hotels and everything in-between.
Exploring the beautiful and rugged wilderness of Alaska is a spectacular experience. There is something for everyone when it comes to accommodation for your trip – from camping to luxury hotels and Airbnb’s. The summer season is short in Alaska (May – September), and this is when majority of tourists visit the state. If you are traveling during this time you may want to book accommodation early as it can get booked out.
As a rule, I usually prefer not to book accommodation in advance on road trips. I like the flexibility of deciding my route a long the way. On this trip, however, there were a couple of unmissable excursions I wanted to take, and which I pre-booked to be sure I did not miss out. Given that having these bookings limited my itinerary flexibility, I pre-booked Airbnb’s early.
Throughout Alaska, there are some genuinely unique AirBNBs which provide another layer of experience to your road-trip. From a log cabin in Seward to a refurbished RV bus near Denali National Park, an Airbnb will make your Alaska trip even more memorable.
If you are trying to decide whether to book accommodation for your road trip, see my article on the pros and cons of pre booking accommodation on a road trip.
Finalize your road trip route
Once you decide you want to do a road trip, the next thing to think about is how much time you want to spend driving each day. Alaska is a vast state, the biggest in the US, so you need to set a realistic itinerary. Make sure to leave plenty of buffer in your itinerary for photo stops along the way. My road trip consisted of driving a few miles, then pulling over for an “it’s magnificent, I need a photo” stop! I’ve no doubt you will be doing the same.
Below is my route, starting and ending in Anchorage with ten days on the road. For those with less time or who want to do a little less driving, you could consider flying into Anchorage and out of Fairbanks, and avoid backtrack from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Flying in and out of different locations does however have impacts on your car hire options and costs, which is just something to consider.
My 10-Day road trip itinerary took me from Anchorage to the Kenai Fjords, then up to Talkeetna, Denali National Park, Fairbanks, and finally, Santa’s house in the North Pole.
Road trip ITINERARY: from Anchorage to Fairbanks via Kenai Fjords
Day 1: Anchorage
Begin your Alaskan road trip adventure in Anchorage. This vibrant city is home to a wealth of attractions and restaurants. While in Anchorage, take some time to explore the city’s cultural heritage at the Anchorage Museum. Another unmissable exertion is a visit to Kincaid Park. The beautiful urban park surrounds the airport and leads down to the coastline. A bonus for wildlife enthusiasts – Moose are often on the hiking trails so keep your camera handy!
Day 2-3: Kenai Fjords National Park
The next stop on your road trip is Kenai Fjords National Park, where you can explore the wild beauty by boat or plane. Take a half or full-day boat trip to the Fjords where you can experience whales swimming in the deep blue waters, watch sea otters play on the ice, or experience the incredible power of the glacier calving.
Seaward and Kenai Fjords also offers a variety of hiking options, including the opportunity to hike on glacier-covered trails for a unique view of this spectacular landscape.
On my trip I stayed in an Airbnb log cabin in Seward – Kobuk’ s Cabin where we spent the evening around a cozy fire toasting marshmallows under the stars. The cabin was private and extremely comfortable, close to great restaurants and offering easy access to the harbor for day trips.
Day 4-5: Talkeetna
You will need to backtrack from Kenai back through Anchorage to get to Talkeetna, but don’t worry; the road between Kenai and Anchorage is one of the most beautiful parts of Alaska, so you won’t be sorry to do it twice!
Talkeetna is one of Alaska’s oldest towns. Nestled along the Susitna River, Talkeetna is full of unique backcountry charm and rustic cabins. It is a great place to base yourself for your flightseeing tour and glacier landing in Denali.
Three companies in Talkeetna offer flightseeing tours, so pick the one you are most comfortable with. We used Talkeetna Air Taxi and were incredibly happy with the service and experience. The flightseeing trip is one of those tours you want to book in advance to ensure you don’t miss out. As expected, flights depend entirely on weather conditions, so they can be delayed or canceled at short notice.. Make sure to build a little flex into your itinerary to reschedule your flying time if the weather necessitates it.
Day 6-7: Denali National Park
Next up is Denali National Park – home to North America’s tallest mountain peak, 20,310 feet above sea level. Denali is an incredible national park offering an abundance of hiking trails, opportunities to visit the dog sledding team, and bus tours into the wilderness.
The vast majority of Denali is inaccessible in a private vehicle. Private vehicles are allowed up to the 15-mile mark. Beyond that, the only way to see Denali is on foot or on an authorized bus tour. Buses can take you to mile 43 and beyond that is wilderness, accessible only on foot.
Consider booking your bus pass for Denali before you travel. Booking ahead will save you time on the day and allow you to see as much of this incredible national park as possible during your visit.
We stayed in a refurbished RV bus Airbnb in Healy, not far from Denali National park. This accommodation was one of the most memorable highlights of our trip. We loved the bus’s history, the stay’s location, and the local family we spent the evening with around the fire!
Day 8-9: Fairbanks
The last stretch of your road trip takes you north toward Fairbanks – Alaska’s second-largest city. There are numerous museums and an opportunity to see more of Alaska’s rich Native American culture at nearby tribal villages, such as the Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC).
Within reach of Fairbanks is Chena Hot Springs Resort – a premier spot for seeing the North Lights. Finally, no trip to Alaska would be complete without a visit to Santa Claus House in the North Pole, just 25 miles from Fairbanks. You will have the opportunity to meet Santa Claus himself and explore his Christmas shop filled all year round with everything Christmassy.
Ending your Road Trip
You could choose to depart from Fairbanks, which offers regular flights across the US. Alternatively, you can travel back to Anchorage (about 6.5 hours) and leave from there.
We got a better deal on flights and car hire by flying into and out of Anchorage, so we chose to return and do a final overnight in Anchorage before departing for home.
Deciding on your Alaska Excursions
Alaska’s stunning scenery and incredible wildlife ensure that just about everyone that visits Alaska falls in love with it. The primary tourist season in Alaska is from May 15th to September 15th, with much of Alaska remaining closed between mid-September and mid-May each year. The short tourist season means excursions and day tours can book out long in advance.
The most popular time to visit Alaska is typically between mid-June and mid-August. If you plan to visit during this time, I highly recommend you consider booking your excursions in advance. You do not want to miss out!
Some of the things you will want to consider adding to your itinerary are a boat trip to Kenai Fjords National Park, a flightseeing trip to Denali, dog sledding, and overnight accommodation in Denali National Park. If you plan to go further afield, consider booking your trips to Wrangell St. Elias National Park, Glacier Bay National Park, Gates of the Arctic National Park, and Kobuk Valley National Park.
The flightseeing trip to Denali peak glacier was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my trip to Alaska and one of the most beautiful trips I’ve done in my 25 years of travel. I’ll be sharing more about this and other unmissable excursions soon, so stay tuned or reach out if you have any questions.
In Summary – Falling in Love with Alaska
Alaska truly is the adventure of a lifetime! From Anchorage up north to Fairbanks—and even beyond—you’ll get to witness firsthand why they call it The Last Frontier, with breathtaking views around every corner that will leave lasting memories forever!
So what are you waiting for? Start planning your Alaskan adventure today!
