THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO
alaska
In the summer of 2022 we road tripped to Alaska and it very quickly became one of our favorite destinations we’ve ever visited. During our two and half months in the state we visited 3 national parks, backpacked and hiked in some of the most epic scenery, went ice climbing, witnessed glaciers calving, saw tons of wildlife, and so much more.
Alaska is a dream destination. However, being such a large state, visiting Alaska can be daunting. But we’re here to help!
In this Alaska travel guide we’re sharing ALL of our resources from our trip, to hopefully help you plan yours! On this page you can find every piece of content we created for Alaska, plus itinerary options, planning logistics, and more!
how to get to alaska
You can choose to fly into Alaska (Anchorage and Fairbanks are the two major airports), take a cruise ship, or hop on a ferry from Washington. But for our trip, we drove!
To drive to Alaska you can either take the Alaska Highway or the Cassiar-Stewart Highway. We drove the Alaska Highway to Alaska and the Cassiar-Stewart Highway back down and both were incredibly scenic, with a variety of fun stops to make.
how to get around alaska
There are a variety of ways to get around Alaska. You can hop onto short flights between destinations, you can take the Alaska Railroad, or ferry on the Alaska Marine Highway System. But in our opinion, Alaska is best explored with your own vehicle. Whether you rent a car or drive your RV (you can rent RVs too!), you’ll have the ultimate flexibility this way.
RVING Alaska: Our top tips & Things to know!
There are tons of perks to RVing Alaska and in this guide we share our top tips, things to know, route options, where to camp, and more!
when to visit alaska
Alaska is a year round destination. You can find colorful foliage in the fall, plus snowy peaks, dog sledding, and the northern lights in the winter and spring. But if hiking, coastal adventures, glacial activities, and seeing wildlife is your goal, visit in the summer!
We recommend visiting Alaska between June and early September. This is when you’ll have the best weather and businesses will be open for the season.
THE ULTIMATE SUMMER ALASKA PACKING LIST
We’re sharing everything to bring to Alaska for a summertime visit, plus a downloadable packing list!
where to visit in alaska
Alaska is a HUGE state and figuring out where to go can be challenging. Below is a list of everywhere that we visited during our time in Alaska. Click on the destination you’d like to visit to learn more about it and see all of the content we have.
Denali National Park
Talkeetna
Hatcher Pass
Anchorage
Whittier
Homer
Kenai Fjords National Park
Valdez
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Need help organizing multiple destinations into one trip? We also have itineraries at the end of this page!
Denali national park
Denali National Park is home to Denali, the highest mountain peak in North America, at 20,310 feet. But it’s more than just this epic peak! It also has 6 million acres of wilderness, taiga and tundra terrain, and tons of wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou, and dall sheep, just to name a few.
The ULTIMATE guide to visiting Denali National Park (Things to do, road closure info, & itineraries!)
Read more: The ULTIMATE guide to visiting Denali National Park (Things to do, road closure info, & itineraries!)Hiking the Horseshoe Lake Trail in Denali National Park
Read more: Hiking the Horseshoe Lake Trail in Denali National ParkHow to hike the Savage Alpine Trail (+ Savage River Loop Trail) in Denali National Park
Read more: How to hike the Savage Alpine Trail (+ Savage River Loop Trail) in Denali National ParkHiking the Mount Healy Overlook Trail at Denali National Park
Read more: Hiking the Mount Healy Overlook Trail at Denali National ParkHow to camp at the Teklanika River Campground in Denali National Park (& what to do while there)
Read more: How to camp at the Teklanika River Campground in Denali National Park (& what to do while there)
talkeetna
Talkeetna is a small artistic, outdoorsy, and creative town that has retained a lot of its Alaskan historic charm throughout the years. It is known as the “Gateway to Denali” and is a popular launching point for most climbing expeditions of Denali, as well as other fun excursions. Plus, its mayor is a cat!
VIDEO: Exploring Talkeetna, Alaska
Watch us explore Talkeetna and share some of the best things to do!
hatcher pass
Hatcher Pass was one of the most STUNNING places we visited in Alaska! This section of the Talkeetna Mountains has 300,000 acres of mountainous terrain, more than 30 summits, and numerous glaciers. It’s a mountain lover’s paradise! And the best part? It’s under a 1.5 hour drive from Anchorage!
8+ EPIC things to do in Hatcher Pass in Alaska
Read more: 8+ EPIC things to do in Hatcher Pass in AlaskaThe ULTIMATE guide to hiking the Reed Lakes trail in Hatcher Pass (Alaska)
Read more: The ULTIMATE guide to hiking the Reed Lakes trail in Hatcher Pass (Alaska)How to backpack the Gold Mint trail to the Mint Hut (Hatcher Pass in Alaska)
Read more: How to backpack the Gold Mint trail to the Mint Hut (Hatcher Pass in Alaska)
anchorage
Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska. And while you may not be visiting Alaska to experience city life, don’t skip out on Anchorage. Here you’ll find delicious local food (Wild Scoops is a MUST!), coastal pathways, and epic mountain hikes just minutes from town!
We’re sharing all of our favorite hikes from Alaska (including a few located in Anchorage), plus a few at the top of our list for next time!
whittier
Whittier is located about 1.5 hours southeast of Anchorage and despite its size, is loaded with outdoor adventures! Here you can find huge mountains, beautiful bays, waterfalls, fishing tours, boat excursions, and glaciers.
Access to the town requires going through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. The tunnel does have operating hours so you’ll need to check the schedule before you head out.
HOW TO HIKE THE PORTAGE PASS TRAIL IN WHITTIER, ALASKA
The Portage Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska. Learn how to experience it yourself on the Portage Pass Trail.
homer
Nicknamed the Halibut Capital of the World, Homer is known for its amazing fishing, plus jaw dropping scenery. It’s a gateway to different excursions, such as seeing the bears at Katmai National Park or visiting Alaska’s first state park, Kachemak Bay.
HOW TO VISIT GREWINGK GLACIER LAKE AT KACHEMAK BAY STATE PARK
While in Homer, hop across the water via water taxi to see Grewingk Glacier. Learn how visit as a day hike or backpacking trip!
kenai fjords national park
Kenai Fjords was our favorite national park out of the three we visited in Alaska. It is home to numerous fjords, mountains, forests, tons of wildlife, dozens of glaciers, and the largest ice field entirely in the United States. It combines everything that makes Alaska unique and majestic, all into one park!
8 EPIC things to do in Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska
Read more: 8 EPIC things to do in Kenai Fjords National Park in AlaskaHiking the Harding Icefield Trail at Kenai Fjords National Park
Read more: Hiking the Harding Icefield Trail at Kenai Fjords National ParkHow to experience the Exit Glacier Hike in Alaska’s Kenai Fjords National Park
Read more: How to experience the Exit Glacier Hike in Alaska’s Kenai Fjords National Park
anchorage to valdez
The drive from Anchorage to Valdez takes a little bit over 5 hours, but it’s well worth dedicating a whole day. With an impressive glacier that you can walk or climb on, endless views, and a fun hike, it may be one of the most scenic 5 hour drives in Southcentral Alaska!
valdez
We both agreed that Valdez was our favorite town in Alaska. It is loaded with towering peaks, coastal views, fjords, giant waterfalls, a scenic canyon, glaciers, wildlife, and so much more. Compared to some other areas in Alaska, it doesn’t feel overly touristy and still maintains an authentic vibe. Plus, it had one of our favorite coffees of the trip!
12+ FUN THINGS TO DO IN VALDEZ, ALASKA
We’re sharing the best things to do and delicious places to eat, plus itineraries and trip planning logistics for your time in Valdez!
wrangell-st. elias national park
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the largest US National Park and boasts huge mountains, glaciers, and mining history! In the park you can backpack, hike, walk ON a glacier, go on flightseeing tours, visit the town of McCarthy, explore the Kennecott Mines, and so much more!
The BEST things to do in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (The largest in the US!)
Read more: The BEST things to do in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (The largest in the US!)How to drive McCarthy Road to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Read more: How to drive McCarthy Road to Wrangell-St. Elias National ParkHiking the Bonanza Mine trail in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Read more: Hiking the Bonanza Mine trail in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
alaska itineraries
If you need help planning your route and itinerary for Alaska, check out our 7 and 10 day itineraries. Each itinerary includes multiple options, depending on your interests.
