10 Days in Alaska: How to Plan Your Epic Alaska Itinerary in 2023
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If there is one destination about which I receive more questions than any other, it’s Alaska. At the core, everyone wants to know: how do you plan a trip to Alaska? What’s the perfect Alaska itinerary?
Since I started this blog, I’ve become a bit of an expert in Alaska trip planning and at times I publish so many stories that it seems like I’m running an Alaska travel blog! After all, I grew up in Alaska and I go back to explore my ‘home’ state at least once per year and twice in both 2021 and 2022.
On top of that, I worked for three summers for one of the major cruise companies in Alaska. All this to say: I love answering questions and giving tips about how to plan a trip to Alaska, The Last Frontier, my home state!
If you’re planning a trip to Alaska β a destination many people dream of visiting for years β you’ve got to do it right. As a local and one who has worked in hospitality, I’m happy to share all my knowledge and tips so you can plan a perfect Alaska itinerary and have an amazing trip.
You might see some other bloggers trying to help you plan the ultimate Alaska itinerary β but these are people who’ve visited Alaska once or twice. They either don’t give you enough information (because they don’t know it) or give you so much that you’re still completely overwhelmed after reading. My post hits that Goldilocks sweet spot: after reading, you’ll be able to follow this post exactly to plan your perfect Alaska itinerary for a perfect 10 days in The Last Frontier. Let’s do it!
In this post, I promote travel to a destination that is the traditional lands of the Alutiiq (Sugpiaq), Dena’ina EΕnena, and Tanana peoples. With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgment, extending my appreciation and respect to the past and present people of these lands. To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to explore Native Land.
This post was originally published in September 2017, and was updated most recently in March 2023.
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As part of my Alaska resources, I created a quiz that will give you a simple free Alaska itinerary based on your trip length and travel preferences.
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Alaska Itinerary Planning & Travel Tips
Alaska is a bucket-list destination for many travelers, so there are some important details to know before you start planning your trip. Putting together a good Alaska itinerary requires knowledge of the basics so that you don’t make any easily avoidable mistakes.
How to Plan Your Alaska Trip
To begin, I want to highlight this post: How to Plan Your First Trip to Alaska
In it, I cover a step-by-step process that will help you conceptualize your Alaska itinerary planning process before diving into the details below. I recommend opening that in a separate window on your computer, reading it, then coming back to this post.
The Best Months to Visit Alaska
The vast majority (90%) of people who visit Alaska in any given year visit during the summer months, but Alaska is actually a year-round destination. Yes, it’s colder and darker in the winter, but there are several reasons to visit during Alaska’s winter months:
- Fewer crowds
- Lower costs
- Possibility of seeing the Northern Lights
- Seasonal events like Fur Rendezvous and the Iditarod
Similar reasons make visiting in the shoulder season (spring and autumn) appealing. If you’re on the fence, I put together a list of reasons to visit Alaska in the spring (these apply to autumn too). I personally take most of my Alaska trips during the autumn, because there are fewer crowds and autumn colors are beautiful, even in Alaska.
If you’re looking for the best weather, it’s undeniable that the best months to visit Alaska are June through August. These are the months with the best weather β most sun and least rain β and warmest temperatures. Unfortunately, this short peak season means you’ll be visiting at the same time as every other traveler, so consider whether shoulder or off-season travel might be a better option for you.
Almost all of the activities I recommend in this post are only available in the summer months. If you plan a trip to Alaska in the spring, autumn, or winter, be sure to check the available dates for all activities I suggest below β before you book your flights.
Booking a Guided Tour vs. Doing it On Your Own
There are three main ways to visit Alaska:
- On an Alaska cruise
- On a guided tour
- On your own
I’ve done all three β most recently I visited Alaska on a guided tour (with John Hall’s Alaska in August 2021), and on my own (in September 2021) which also included a cruise with Alaskan Dream Cruises.
Having experienced all three types of Alaska travel, I can say that it’s definitely easier to book with a tour operator or guide. But, it’s not too hard to visit Alaska on your own and book everything independently. It really depends on your travel style!
Alaska may be ‘The Last Frontier,’ but it is well-connected and you can research and book your entire Alaska trip online. This post, all the others in my Alaska Travel Guide, and my Alaska eBooks are here to help!
The Cost of Travel in this Alaska Itinerary
As you begin planning your Alaska trip, you’ll quickly realize: Alaska is not a cheap, budget-friendly destination. That’s not to say you can’t be budget-conscious, but it’s not a default.
I’ve broken down how much it costs to visit Alaska on average, and that link also includes a bunch of tips to help you save if you want to visit Alaska and need to do it on a budget. Click that link and you’ll be able to get a good sense of how much your Alaska itinerary will cost; you can also make a small investment to get my Alaska Budget Bundle and use the tools there to budget and plan your trip.
What to Pack for Alaska
If you’re planning a trip to Alaska, you need to pack the right gear. It’s not the kind of destination where you’ll enjoy yourself if you’re underdressed or underprepared! I’ve put together a full packing list for Alaska, but here are some quick tips:
- Pack layers! You can always take them off.
- Pack rain gear. You don’t want to spend the whole trip feeling damp and cold.
- A hat, gloves, and scarf can’t go wrong, even in summer.
- Skip the skimpy shoes and opt for sturdy walking or hiking shoes.
- Throw sunglasses and an eye mask in your bag. That Midnight Sun is bright!
See the full packing list here. (I also have one for winter and a separate one if you’re taking a cruise too.)
The Perfect 10-Day Alaska Itinerary
Okay, now that we’ve covered all that general stuff, here’s the quick version of what I think is the absolute best 10-day Alaska itinerary:
| Activities | |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Anchorage |
| Day 2 | Explore Anchorage |
| Day 3 | Travel to Denali |
| Day 4 | Visit Denali National Park |
| Day 5 | Sightseeing Denali |
| Day 6 | Travel to/Explore Seward |
| Day 7 | Cruise Kenai Fjords National Park |
| Day 8 | Travel to/Explore Girdwood |
| Day 9 | Exploring Turnagain Arm |
| Day 10 | Return to Anchorage |
This itinerary has been viewed by over 300,000 future travelers and I’ve gotten some great feedback over the years to make it even better. In particular, it allows you to see one region of Alaska (Southcentral) in great depth β and not be rushing constantly from place to place. In the rest of this post, I’ll dive into detail about each day, what to see and do, where to eat, and where to stay.
Day 1: Arrive in Anchorage
Depending on your city of origin, it may take almost one full day to fly to Alaska. For example, from Seattle, most flights to Alaska leave in the afternoon or evening, and you arrive in Anchorage late in the day.
If you’re arriving for your 10 days in Alaska via cruise ship, it will take most of the day to disembark and travel from the ship to Anchorage. Cruise companies typically use Anchorage as a base for “land excursions” in the state, so you can expect to catch a bus or train from Seward or Whittier to Anchorage on your day of disembarkation.
Given that you’re arriving in Anchorage during the evening, don’t plan much for your first day between settling in. For now, it’s best to settle into your Anchorage accommodation and enjoy dinner. For dinner, try 49th State Brewing (my fave) or the Glacier Brewhouse. If you’re staying at the Hotel Captain Cook, Fletcher’s restaurant also does a great reindeer sausage pizza.
If you still have energy and no jet lag after that, you can certainly walk around Downtown Anchorage to get oriented with the area; it’s a simple grid system and very walkable!
Accommodation Resources for Day 1
- Book 2 nights + 1 more night for Day 5 all at the same time; it may help to call and arrange this directly with the hotel rather than booking through a third-party site.
- If you are renting a car for this trip rather than taking the train to/from Denali, you only need 2 nights in Anchorage and Day 5 will be your first of three nights in Seward.
- For hotels, I recommend the Hotel Captain Cook (book on Booking.com or Hotels.com).
- For vacation rentals, consider this water view apartment in a great location (also on Booking.com), this apartment, right near the Coastal Trail and downtown, and this huge house, which is gorgeous and has space for up to two families.
- If youβre looking for other places to eat, check out my list of 30 top Anchorage restaurants.
Day 2: Explore Anchorage
Since I grew up just outside Anchorage, I could easily give you a week’s worth of things to do in Anchorage, but let’s try and keep it to just one day β there’s so much to see in Alaska and it’s such a big state that you need the rest of this Alaska itinerary for 10 days to see other amazing sights (and to travel between them)!
In the morning I recommend starting with an Anchorage Trolley Tour. I did this on my most recent trip and while it wasn’t like, amazing, it was a really good orientation to Anchorage including the history of the city. It’s also only an hour so you can do it and then get on to another adventure!
Then I recommend heading to Pablo’s Bicycles and renting a few bikes; you can easily access the 11-mile Tony Knowles Coastal Trail that runs along the Anchorage waterfront and gives you sweeping views of Cook Inlet and the Alaska Range β including Denali on a clear day!
For lunch, I have two suggestions, based on your preferences. If you want a sit-down meal, head to Humpy’s, a watering hole with a lot of local flavors β literal and figurative! Or if you’re feeling adventurous, seek out Tia’s Reindeer Sausage stand on 4th Avenue; it has the yellow umbrella. There, order a reindeer sausage, and be sure to add the pineapple salsa! No matter where you have lunch, head to Wild Scoops afterward for a sweet treat: fireweed ice cream!
Even if the weather is great, trust me and spend your afternoon at the Anchorage Museum. This huge facility underwent massive renovations that were completed in 2017; you can easily spend 3-4 hours in here if you discover all of the galleries.
From a Smithsonian-sponsored exhibit on the Native cultures of Alaska to the classic Alaskan artwork in the original part of the Museum, the exhibit on Alaska’s unique relationship with Russia to the “Imaginarium” downstairs where kids and alike can experience science firsthand… the museum is a surprising delight.
For dinner, you can choose whichever of the three restaurants I recommended yesterday that you didn’t visit, or opt for the Crow’s Nest atop the Hotel Captain Cook (open to non-hotel guests). If you’re not totally wiped after a day of adventure and dinner, look and see if Ghost Tours of Anchorage is running on this night. It’s a colorful, occasionally creepy way to learn more about Anchorage’s haunted history.
Accommodation Resources for Day 2
- Stay in the same accommodation for Day 2.
Day 3: Travel to Denali
Today’s plan: head north to Denali! There are three ways to get to Denali:
- By car, 4 hours via Alaska Highway 1 (the Glenn Highway) and 3 (the Parks Highway)
- By bus, 5.5 hours via the Park Connection
- By train aboard the Alaska Railroad, which takes 7.5 hours
While I have most commonly driven between Anchorage and Denali, I highly recommend the Alaska Railroad, since it offers a unique experience of the Alaskan Wilderness as well as great service and the ability to relax the whole way. If you choose to drive, be sure to keep an eye out for the mountain of Denali (here are some of my favorite Denali viewpoints), and be sure to stop at Miller’s Landing and get a huge ice cream cone!
In 2023, I’m especially encouraging travelers to book on the Alaska Railroad; the rental car shortages have been bad the past few years and it’s a better choice for seeing Alaska without extra driving and costs. You will need a car later in this trip (Day 6-10) so take a look at rental car prices to decide if you can afford to rent a car for the entire trip (and want to drive) or want to split it with the train and car as I recommend.
However you get there, you’ll arrive in Denali in the mid-afternoon, so you can spend the rest of the day relaxing, or get started on this list of the best things to do in Denali. (Almost all of the excursions in Denali offer afternoon start times if something on that list catches your eye.)
For dinner, head to Moose-AKa’s. This European-style restaurant is the hands-down best restaurant in the Nenana Canyon area (where you’ll probably be staying). It was one of the best meals I had on my most recent Denali trip and is absolutely a must-do (or should I say must-eat). There are a number of other great restaurants in Denali if this doesn’t sound like your style; be sure to check my list of where to eat in Denali.
After dinner, call an early night since you’ll likely be rising early tomorrow for your bus tour into Denali National Park!
Accommodation Resources for Day 3
- Book 2 nights in Denali.
- Denali has a limited number of accommodations in the small town; there are a few I recommend, including the Grande Denali Lodge (book on Booking.com or Hotels.com) or Denali Bluffs (book on Booking.com or Hotels.com).
- If youβve chosen to drive for this itinerary, I highly recommend Denali Cabins south of the park (book on Hotels.com); staying there is like summer camp for adults!
- There arenβt a ton of vacation rental options near Denali National Park, so youβll need a car if you choose to stay in a vacation rental instead of a hotel right in town. This house or this house (also on Booking.com) are both good options.
- Book everything in advance. Denali is expensive and sells out early β thatβs just how it is!
- If you take the train, arrange your hotel transfers directly with your hotel; they all offer this service so a car is not needed.
Day 4: Visit Denali National Park
Denali National Park is not accessible by private vehicle, so National Park Service buses are the only way to get into the park, see wildlife, and potentially, see the mountain of Denali herself. After three crazy years, you’ve probably heard that yet another issue has arisen regarding visits to Denali National Park: the road has closed at Mile 43 (of 92) due to a landslide and subsequent construction work.
You might be a bit mystified by the different options for bus tours in Denali National Park, with 100% certainty, I recommend everyone should book the Tundra Wilderness Tour. I know it’s long; I know kids get bored β and adults too. Trust me, that it’s the best way to see Denali National Park β even with the shortened experience. It’s still worth it.
In 2023, as with most things, availability for the Tundra Wilderness Tour is constrained. For this reason, I highly recommend researching all of the parts of your trip including the TWT to confirm the availability on the day you need β or shifting your dates to accommodate this tour.
Since most Tundra Wilderness Tours leave in the morning, you’ll return back to the Visitor Center/Nenana Canyon area in the early afternoon and have the rest of the day to explore the Nenana Canyon or book another excursion in the Denali area (see my list for ideas).
For dinner, you can refer again to my list for where to eat in Denali, or here are a few suggestions:
- The Alpenglow Restaurant (at the Grande Denali, which offers a shuttle down to the Bluffs as well as the Tesoro station in town) is high-end and offers spectacular views.
- My personal favorite pizza place is Lynx Creek Pizza, at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. Order a margarita pizza with artichoke hearts, my off-menu specialty.
If you’re not totally wiped, I have one last suggestion: head to the Denali Salmon Bake for a McKinley Margarita. This towering blue monstrosity is mostly for tourists but local workers enjoy them on occasion too. (Click here to see a very old pic of me enjoying one back in 2009!)
Accommodation Resources for Day 4
- Stay another night at your Denali accommodations.
Day 5: Flightseeing Denali (& Return to Anchorage)
For your final morning in Denali, book the 8:30 am guided flightseeing tour with Fly Denali. If you splurge on just one part of your Alaska itinerary, this is it. Their Denali Glacier Landing tour is expensive at $649 per person, but 100% worth it.
This is hands-down my absolute favorite thing to do in Denali β it’s my other “must-do” after taking a bus tour into the park. You’ll spend almost 2 hours in the air, plus 20 minutes on a glacier on Denali itself. So cool (literally and figuratively β there’s always snow!).
I’ve had the chance to do this flightseeing tour twice: once in 2007 (left above) and again in 2021 (right above) β and both times it was truly mind-blowing to stand among the towering peaks on the surface of the Kahiltna Glacier β which flows from the slopes of Denali! For fun, here’s a comparison of me the two times I’ve done this tour… π
Once you complete your flightseeing tour, you’ll begin making your way back to Anchorage. If you’re riding the Alaska Railroad, you’ll catch the 12:30pm southbound train to Anchorage. You can enjoy dinner aboard the train before arriving in Anchorage around 8pm.
If you [ignored my advice and] chose to rent a car for Days 3-10, you’ll arrive in Anchorage around 4:30pm. I’ve provided several dinner suggestions in the Anchorage sections above, so head back up to Days 1 and 2 if you still need ideas.
Or, see the sidebar for another suggestion on how to customize this itinerary should you choose to.
Accommodation Resources for Day 5
- If arriving from Denali by train, stay another night in Anchorage. As advised above, I recommend booking this night when you book the earlier nights for your 10 days in Alaska.
- If driving from Denali to Seward in a single day, you’ll need to book an additional night of accommodation in Seward (three total, in addition to the two I recommend below).
Driving a rental car? Should you continue onto Seward?
Absolutely, you can drive from Denali to Seward; this is a ~7-hour day of driving, and you’ll need three nights in Seward.
Day 6: Travel to Seward
If you chose to stay in Anchorage last night, Day 6 is another travel day. While the Alaska Railroad is a beautiful route from Anchorage to Seward, I recommend renting a car for this portion of the drive for several reasons:
- It is a 2.5-hour drive from Anchorage to Seward.
- While the Seward Highway is known as one of the more dangerous highways to drive, it is reasonable to drive as long as you are aware of other drivers and don’t take risks while driving or park on the side of the highway to look at whales or Dall sheep.
- The train from Anchorage to Seward leaves at 6:45 am β yuck!
- The rest of this Alaska itinerary works much better if you have a car to get around.
After making the drive from Anchorage to Seward, you’ll have most of the day to explore the city (or all of it if you drove to Seward yesterday). In any case, here are some of the top things to do in Seward. If you need to narrow it down, I recommend spending a few hours at the Alaska SeaLife Center in downtown Seward; you can see a variety of sea creatures including several in rehabilitation or research studies.
In the afternoon, head to Exit Glacier, just north of Seward. As I mentioned in my post about hiking in Alaska, Exit Glacier has a bunch of hiking trails and it’s easy to get pretty close to Exit Glacier and learn more about how glaciers have shaped the Alaskan terrain.
For dinner, head to Seward Brewing Company. The menu is exciting and their beers are a bit experimental (sea salt watermelon salad, anyone?) but delicious.
Accommodation Resources for Day 6
- Book two nights in Seward. (Or 3 if you decided to drive down, as mentioned in the Day 5 sidebar.)
- For hotels, I recommend:
- For hotels, I recommend the Harbor 360 (book on Booking.com) right on the Seward harbor, the Gateway Hotel (book on Booking.com) which is great for families, or the Seward Windsong Lodge (book on Booking.com or Hotels.com), a little ways out of town but beautifully remote.
- In terms of vacation rental options, stay in this retro yet modern apartment, cozy up in this downtown studio, or try this award-winning B&B.
Day 7: Sightseeing in Kenai Fjords
Today, you’ll board a sightseeing tour in Seward that will take you out into Kenai Fjords National Park. As the name suggests, these fjords are massive waterways that are home to some of Alaska’s greatest sea life, including humpback and orca whales, seabirds like puffins, and plenty of otters.
My preferred tour provider in Seward is Major Marine Tours, though there are others to choose from. I’ve taken several tours with Major Marine Tours over the ages and put together a review of two different tours I’ve done recently: the 6-hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise and the 8.5 Hour Kenai Fjords Northwestern Fjord Cruise.
As this tour will take up most of your day, the rest of the day can be spent at your leisure. For dinner, try The Cookery. I’ve never been, but it has rave reviews on TripAdvisor and I’ve heard great things from past Alaska travelers in my Alaska travel Facebook group.
Accommodation Resources for Day 7
- Stay another night at your Seward accommodation.
Day 8: Travel to Girdwood
For Days 8 and 9 of your 10 days in Alaska, the pace of travel slows significantly; there’s much less time spent traveling and more spent relaxing and/or looking around at the sights.
After the second night in Seward, the goal is to reach Girdwood on Day 8, a 1.5-hour drive. This obviously won’t take the whole day, so today is a great day to book a morning half-day fishing excursion in Cooper Landing before continuing back north. I haven’t personally done this excursion but I know fishing in Alaska is a popular reason to visit; google “Cooper Landing fishing” and you’ll see a bunch of options.
After either spending a leisurely morning in Seward or out on the river fishing, I recommend taking a small detour to enjoy lunch and walk around my favorite small Alaska town, Hope. There isn’t a ton to do in Hope, but it gives you a good picture of what life is like outside the “cities” in Alaska. Enjoy lunch at the Sea View Cafe, walk along the river, and try your hand at gold panning.
In Girdwood, spend the afternoon taking the Alyeska tram up Alyeska mountain. This tram is part of the Alyeska Resort and takes about seven minutes to bring you up the mountain. En route, you’ll see hanging glaciers on nearby mountains, and maybe even some wildlife in the landscape below.
Once you’ve arrived at the top of the tram, you can hike around (if you like hiking, be sure to check my list of must-do hikes in Alaska) then return to the valley floor by tram β or hike back down if you’re feeling ambitious!
For dinner, hop in the car and make the short drive to the Double Musky, a Cajun steakhouse that will delight all of your senses (no more on that so you can really enjoy it when you walk in the door!). This was my parent’s favorite restaurant in Alaska when we lived there (they used to make the hour drive each way for special occasions!) and Mr. V and I had the chance to try it ourselves on our September 2021 visit β it is absolutely fantastic.
Accommodation Resources for Day 8
- Book two nights in Alyeska.
- As for where to stay in Girdwood, your options are a bit limited. I recommend:
- The funky Ski Inn (from $80/night on Hotels.com)
- I don’t recommend the Hotel Alyeska due to my own poor experiences and those reported to me by other readers too.
- For vacation rentals, this gorgeous wooden home (from $173/night) is a perfect mountain home base, this guest suite (from $140/night) is nicely modern, or you can stay at this alpine home (from $130/night) with a hot tub.
Day 9: Exploring Turnagain Arm/Whittier
On the last full day exploring Alaska, you have a bit of flexibility. While I don’t recommend staying at the Alyeska Resort, I definitely recommend booking a session at their new Nordic Spa; I visited in August 2022 as part of their soft opening and it’s a truly lovely space to relax as your trip winds down.
After relaxing in the morning, you can grab brunch at The Bake Shop; their sweet rolls are a must-try but they have tons of other delicious breakfast options.
From there, I recommend heading out of the Girdwood valley to explore other areas along Turnagain Arm β the waterway you drive along from Anchorage to Seward and Seward to Girdwood. There are two main experiences I recommend while based out of Girdwood for the day:
- Portage Glacier Tour β A short boat tour to see Portage Glacier, an easily accessible glacier.
- Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center β A facility where many species of native Alaskan animals live permanently or in rehabilitation. This gives you a good chance to see some animals you may have missed while traveling.
Both of these activities will take a few hours, so you probably only have time for one unless you skip the Nordic Spa in the morning.
You could also choose to plan this day in Whittier; the 26 Glacier Cruise is quite different from Kenai Fjords cruises; here’s a breakdown of the differences in cruising from Whittier vs Seward. There are also loads of other things to do in Whittier worth checking out if you want a more adventurous day.
For dinner, head back to Girdwood for a meal at Jack Sprat; this used to be one of my favorite restaurants in Alaska. It has gone downhill a little bit since my best experience there in 2021, but I dined there again in 2022 and it was still a great option in the Girdwood area.
Accommodation Resources for Day 9
- Stay a second night at your Girdwood accommodation.
Day 10: Return to Anchorage
Wake up on your final day of this Alaska itinerary. It’s an easy day: all you need to do is get back to Anchorage from Girdwood (~60 minutes driving). Along the way, you could stop and do the following:
- Go for a short hike at McHugh Creek, a day-use hiking area.
- Walk along the boardwalk at Potter Marsh, a huge wetland where you can still occasionally spot a moose.
- Go for a hike up Flattop, one of Anchorage’s popular hiking mountains near the city.
- Watch airplanes land at Earthquake Park near the Anchorage airport.
- If you’re flying out on a Saturday or Sunday, attend the Anchorage Market at the Dimond Center Mall. It’s a great place to stock up on any last souvenirs!
- Spend an extra hour driving to visit the Eagle River Nature Center (in the town where I grew up!).
If you have time before your flight, stop for dinner at the Moose’s Tooth. This is a local favorite pizza shop with great beer (and great root beer!).
Now that we’re at the end of your trip, you’ll need to board a plane home at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Many flights are red-eye when heading east toward the contiguous United States, so settle in for the long flight with dreams full of your Alaskan adventures!
Accommodation Resources for Day 10
- Nothing else β we’re all done!
What to Do if You Have…
…9 Days in Alaska
If you only have 9 days in Alaska, how should you change this 10-day Alaska itinerary? I recommend dropping the full day in Girdwood/Turnagain Arm/Whittier. This means you’ll depart Seward on Day 8, spend one night in the Girdwood area, then drive from Girdwood to Anchorage on Day 9 for departure.
…11 Days in Alaska
If you have an extra day β that is, 11 days in Alaska β, how should you modify this plan? Adding an extra day to your Alaska itinerary gives you a lot of flexibility! With 11 days, here’s how I would change your travel plans: Depart Seward on Day 8 and drive to Homer (further down the Kenai Peninsula). Stay there for Days 9-10, then drive up to Girdwood for one night (similar to the 9-day adjustment I just suggested).
If you’re visiting for a different length of time, I also have two itineraries for 5 days in Alaska, two 7-day Alaska itineraries (with suggestions for if you have 6 days or 8 days), and one suggested itinerary for 12 days in Alaska with tips for 13-, 14-, and 15-day trips.
No matter how long you’re visiting Alaska, I offer the perfect tool to help you finish your Alaska itinerary: my Alaska Itinerary Planning Packs range from 5-12 days in length and are perfect to 1) help you create a custom itinerary for your own travel style, 2) reduce overwhelm, and 3) help you avoid any FOMO about doing every must-do activity in Alaska!
Have questions about this Alaska itinerary? Let me know in the comments or join me in my Alaska Travel Tips Facebook Community!
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Valerie
I was born on the East Coast and currently live in the Midwest βΒ but my heart will always be out West. I lived for 15 years in Alaska, as well as four years each in California and Washington. I share travel resources and stories based on my personal experience and knowledge.
214 Comments
Ruthie Ridley
Such a great re-cap! I cant wait to go one day!!
Valerie
Thanks, Ruthie! I hope you can make it!
Shane
Great suggestions on the 10 day as it sounds amazing. We are planning a trip but we all want to charter a fishing trip sor salmon. Any suggestions?
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Shane! I don’t have specific recommendations but I’d look at what’s available in the Seward/Kenai/Cooper Landing area. It also depends when you’re visiting, of course!
Ashley Stephenson
Alaska has never really been on my radar but looks so much fun! My best friends dad has a hunting resort in Alaska!
Valerie
Oh very cool! Do you know where the resort is??
Tori Moore
Alaska is totally on my bucket list!! My parents went a few years ago and I was so jealous then, and even more jealous now!
Valerie
It’s pretty amazing, I hope you can visit someday!
Melissa
Is it any harder to travel with a wheelchair dependent person in Alaska?
Valerie
Great question. As I am not a wheelchair user, I can’t speak from personal experience, but the answer is yes β but not impossible. Basically everything in Alaska that’s on the main “tourist trail” is set up to be ADA compliant, and you can always call to inquire about specifics to ensure you don’t hit any bumps (literal or figurative!).
Crystal @ Dreams, etc.
This post is so, so helpful! Definitely pinning this for later. I’m one of the many who would love to go to Alaska someday. I wouldn’t mind going during winter or spring, either.
Valerie
Thanks, Crystal! I hope you can make it at least sometime in the future, no matter the season!
Patricia Conte
Wow! Such great and detailed info! I realllllly want to make a trip to Alaska. It’s on my short list! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Valerie
Thanks β you can make it a priority! It’s closer than you think, and super accessible for U.S./Canadian travelers! Good luck planning your trip π
Ruth Barclay
I need this trip Planning Aug -Sept 2018 Nothing is mentioned about Fairbanks or Talkeetna. If I want to add a few days here would you give me some ideas. Also my first thought when I began planning was to start in Fairbanks Thoughts?
Valerie
Thanks for your comment, Ruth! So are you planning to try and do all of the spots I mentioned plus Fairbanks and Talkeetna too? That would be pretty ambitious in just 10 days! Happy to give you some tips, if you can please confirm how long your trip will be π
Ruth Barclay
Yes, we would add 2-3 more days. We would follow your itinary going in the opposite direction flying into Fairbanks and fly out of Anchorage. We would plan to go by train and rent a vehicle
Valerie
Ruth, if you’re adding extra days, it should be no problem to add in Fairbanks for sure — you don’t really need more than a day there, and you definitely don’t need more than a day in Talkeetna. If you want to do Talkeetna though, you probably need to rent a car and make the drive from Fairbanks > Denali > Talkeetna > Anchorage.
Ruth Barclay
Well I’ve got my flight. We start in Fairbanks. Because of the flight times we will spend 2 nights in Fairbanks but really only one day. From there to Denali. I would like to go to talkeetna prior to our trip heading south to Anchorage. Do you have any thoughts or excursion ideas to add Following most of your itinerary we will have 2weeks I welcome yours or anyone else input
Valerie
Ruth, sorry I missed your reply! This sounds like a great trip. You have 2 weeks for Fairbanks > Denali > Talkeetna > Anchorage?
Kaelee
What are your thoughts one a one way trip, into Fairbanks and down to anchorage vs in/out of anchorage?
Will it allow you to save driving time but not take the train to Denali? Are there issues with one way rentals?
I am trying to understand the differences, looking at a trip in July with 9 whole days in Alaska, +1 day flying on the front and back of trip.
Valerie
Thanks for asking, Kaelee. A couple of comments:
1. Please don’t book a trip to Alaska if you don’t already have one planned. There is no guarantee that Alaska will allow out-of-state visitors this summer, and it costs all of the hotels/tour operators/etc when you book AND when you cancel or change your reservation β even if it’s because of coronavirus. Here are my travel suggestions this year: https://www.valisemag.com/alaska-travel-coronavirus/
2. You can totally do a 1-way trip β it’s easy to book a single one-way flight from Anchorage back up to Fairbanks and have a round-trip ticket to/from Fairbanks if that’s cheaper. I would definitely take the train though, as one-way car rentals are a lot more expensive (usually 1.5-2x more) in Alaska. You can then rent a car in Anchorage to drive to Seward or anywhere else you want to go.
I hope that helps!
Becky White
Thanks for sharing this itinerary! We’re planning our first trip to Alaska this year… my partner wants to go for 2 weeks in the summer (July) but after reading your blog I’m wondering about late June/early July! Is 10 days sufficient to fit in a few decent hikes and still see Denali and Seward. I’m also worried Denali may not be open at this time. What’s your thoughts? I’m mainly motivated by the price but your ‘reasons to visit in Spring’ post did make me think maybe money isn’t the only reason!
Valerie
I would highly recommend June over July — there’s a joke among locals that July 4th marks the start of rainy season in July!
I think 10 days is enough for what you’re suggesting, but it’s worth clarifying: are these “decent hikes” day hikes? Or multi-day hikes?
Also, Denali will definitely be open! Summer is a great time to visit the park. Be sure to research backcountry camping/hiking through the Park Service if that’s on your itinerary.
Feel free to ask any other questions you have and I’ll get back to you as I can π
Becky White
Okay great – we’re thinking of going Memorial weekend to early July. When I mean decent hikes I mean day hikes (but longer than 5 miles). I am an experienced hiker but backpacker not so much… and I love the outdoors but love sleeping indoors (!) I would be open to camping but am worried about temperatures at this time of year. I read your blog last night and it really got me inspired (thanks for reply on kayaking trip too) – here’s what I am thinking for an itinerary:
Day 1: Fly to Anchorage
Day 2: Pick-up hire car, food shop, drive to Seaward (Portage Pass hike en-route)
Day 3: Harding Icefield hike
Day 4: Kenai cruise
Day 5: Kayaking/ shorter hike
Day 6: Lost Lake/other hike
Day 7: Driving day – Seward > Denali (lunch-stop in Anchorage)
Day 8: Denali (entrance and hike)
Day 9: Denali (coach trip)
Day 10: Drive back to Anchorage (hike at Hatcher Pass en-route)
Valerie
Becky, Memorial Day to July is the sweet spot — I was there Memorial Day weekend 2017 and it was great weather!
Everything on your itinerary sounds pretty good with two notes:
– Day 7 – that’s a long day in the car (1.5 Seward > Anchorage, 4 Anchorage > Denali); just be prepared! π
– Day 10 – Are you planning to enter Hatcher Pass on the west side and exit on the east side? Google’s mapping it at 5 hours but NOT by traversing Hatcher Pass (not a well maintained road). Be sure to try and figure out if the Hatcher Pass road is even open before trying to cross it… looks like it only opens on July 1st typically.
Good luck!
Becky White
We’re pretty used to long drives (last year we drove from California to Montana) so am happy to do it. We plan to leave very early and take our time. Thanks for pointing out about Hatcher Pass – I’d given it no further thought than “oh that’s on the way” (must do some more research). You’ve sold me on a May trip!
Avijit Sen
Hello Valerie,
Many thanks for sharing this itinerary, as we (a family of three, including our 7 year old daughter) are planning the same trip from 30th of April to 9th of May 2018. We are from India (wrong side driving) and will be carrying our IDP, and wanted to know the rules & tips while renting out a car in Anchorage. Finally will the rules allow us to drive with our Indian license & International Driving Permit (IDP)?
Finally is it a good time of the year to do the same itinerary?
Cheers & Thanx
Avijit
Valerie
Avijit, sorry I missed your comment. Your IDP should be sufficient, but I recommend checking the terms of your rental car reservation to be sure.
Teena
Hi , thanks so much for itinerary, sounds like fun. I am planning a trip for my son 21 and myself. We want to do kayaking, water rafting, salmon fishing and dog sledding. Can you suggest where would I go to do that in your itinerary ?
Valerie
Hi, Teena! I got your email as well so I relied there π
Sarah Smith
My husband and I would love to visit Alaska for our next vacation. Your advice on how to plan our trip is very helpful. I think it would be best to find a vacation package, though.
Valerie
Thanks so much for reading, and for your comment Sarah! I hope you have a great trip!
Vipinder
Hi Valerie,
Thank you for suggesting an awsome 10 day iternary. I have been searching for this and your’s definately tops among few others! We are family of 4 ,kids are 19 and 21 years old, we are outdoorsy and love to do outdoor activities. We are planning to visit in early august this year for 10 days on ground and 2 days for airline travel from California, we were thinking of driving to fairbanks on day 1 via delta juction and stay a night at fairbanks and then go to denali the next day from Fairbanks and that way we can see the little city of North Pole ….but we dropped that idea as we thinking it might be too much but we do want to add Homer to this iternary, what do you suggest?
Thanks
Vipinder
Valerie
Thanks for your comment, Vipinder. I think you’re trying to squeeze too much in, to be honest. I’m also not as familiar with Fairbanks and interior Alaska. Good luck planning your trip!
Bill
I’ve looked a dozens of suggested itineraries and I think yours is the best I’ve read. We’re planning on using almost this exact itinerary when we go in mid August this year however I had looked at and really wanted to add in Wrangell St. Elias National Park for a few days of hiking and wondered if you had any thoughts on that. Thanks Valerie!
Valerie
Thanks so much for your kind words, Bill! I’ve actually never been to Wrangell St. Elias… so I’m not much help there! Have an AMAZING trip!
Mark & Leita Biden
Valerie
Thanks for putting this up for people to use. We are from Brisbane Australia.
We have spent time in Canada a few years ago but missed Alaska. We are coming back for a second visit to Alaska this time in August 2019.
We are starting with a 7 day cruise from Vancouver to Seward (16th-23rd August)
We will then travel from Seward to Anchorage on the 23rd by train and stay in Anchorage over night.
We have already arranged the hire of a car in Anchorage from the 24th August until the 2nd September.
From there I am up for suggestions from yourself or locals on what to see and do. We love the outdoors and wildlife but aren’t big hikers. The thing that I have gathered so far is that I need to stay 3 nights at Denali. The rest is up for grabs.
I have ready your itinerary for 10 days. How would you suggest adjusting it to suit the stuff that we have already booked?
Thanks in advance.
Regards
Mark & Leita
Valerie
Mark, thanks for reaching out! I’d recommend maybe 3d/2n in Anchorage (maybe 1 night at the beginning and one at the end), 4d/3n in Denali, and 3d/2n in Fairbanks (I don’t know Fairbanks too well, so Google is your friend here!). That makes the most sense given the time you have! You won’t be moving at a fast pace like my original itinerary, but you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy what each place has to offer. I hope that helps give you some ideas!
Susette Hallmark
Do you have suggestions for landing in Fairbanks to Denali? Itinerary suggestions with tips for Arctic Circle tour and town of North Pole, worth visit? We Riverboat?
Valerie
Susette, sorry, I’m not familiar with Fairbanks. Alaska’s a pretty big place so it wasn’t close enough to visit often, and I was only there a few times.
Kevin
Thanks for this great itinerary! I would be looking at avoiding the busy summer season. Either May or late August/very early September. Which would be best? Any closures or limitations to accessing anything on this itinerary either of those times?
Thanks
Valerie
Those are still part of the summer season, so nope, no restrictions until mid-September.
Ivan
Hello Valerie,
Your tips are amazing.
I’m planning my trip, but right now i’m only able to spend 5 days in Alaska. I’m trying to get one more day but not sure if will be possible.
What do you recommend that should be a must? I know that this is difficult but this is my only opportunity to go to Alaska and I want to go there, even for 5 days only.
Thanks,
Ivan
Valerie
Ivan, thanks for reading! I’d do Anchorage and Denali in a five day trip:
Day 1 – Arrive
Day 2 – Anchorage
Day 3 – Train to Denali
Day 4 – Day in Denali
Day 5 – Train to Anchorage, fly home
I hope that helps!
Vinod Nair
Thanks for your detailed itenary.I am planning a 7 day drip to Anchorage, Denali and Seward.For Denali I am planning to take a RV from Anchorage to Denali and Back. I have not travelled on a RV before but thought it may be interesting . And for Seward I am planning to take the train and back.
Valerie
Sounds like you’ll have a great trip, Vinod! Drive safely π
Luke
Hi Valerie –
I am looking to check Alaska off my bucket list. I will be travelling solo. I often pay for guided tours because it can be fun to meet new people, travel with a group. As you know these can be stupidly expensive so I am thinking on doing it differently this trip.
I love the cold weather and my vacation time is around October- January. When I vacation I vacation for months at a time. So Iβm thinking maybe two weeks in Alaska. I am all about adventure and the outdoors when I travel (rafting , kayaking, backpacking, camping etc..). I want to see and experience the landscapes. I donβt need fancy accommodations.
Any thoughts and local adventure companyβs that could help me put together an amazing trip.
Thanks,
Luke
Valerie
Luke, thanks for reading! Unfortunately I don’t know any companies who are good at winter adventure travel… that’s not my area of expertise. I hope you have a great trip!
Teena Fitzpatrick
Hi,
Where will I fit in river rafting and fishing?
Valerie
Teena, I think I responded about this in my email. Please check that out.
You can go rafting in Denali. Unfortunately, this itinerary doesn’t work for fishing, and I don’t think you can fit this in with all the other activities I have recommended.
Sandra Patterson
Wow, I had no idea that you can visit Alaska year-round! My husband and I have always wanted to visit Alaska. We will be sure to check that the things that we want to do are operational during the winter months.
Valerie
Sounds like a great trip βΒ have a good one, Sandra!
Rajvi
Hi Valerie,
We are planning for family trip to Alaska this Aug 2019. We are so confused whether to take land or cruise at the first place…both has their own pros and cons but this is our first trip to Alaska . Please suggest.
Secondly, If we just do land tour or fly out to Anchorage what’s should be our best places to visit in 7days itinerary?
Thanks
Valerie
Thanks for your comment, Rajvi. I don’t think it matters whether you do land or cruise first, to be honest. Regarding a 7-day itinerary, I recommend looking at what I say for 10 days and adjusting it to the time you have based on your interests.
Teri Avery
Valerie,
Great post! My husband and I usually travel independently. But, because of the vastness of Alaska I was considering a tour. YOU HAVE CHANGED MY MIND! Thank you!
One question – What do you suggest regarding bear viewing? I’ve read mid-to late July is best near Homer. Is there a plane service you suggest to fly us for the day from Seward (or other town) to view bear catching salmon? I know. I’m a cheechako. It’s soooo obvious!
Thank you for your assistance!
Valerie
Teri, glad I inspired you! You can totally do it on your own π
I’ve never done a flightseeing tour for bears, but I think the greatest variety of option will be available from Anchorage…. A popular company, Rustβs Flightseeing Tours, based in Anchorage, offers a full-day Grizzly Bear viewing tour. I hope that helps!
Liam Patterson
Awesome post! In fact I planned my trip for Boulder Colorado, also one of the finest places in USA.
John
Valerie, my wife and I just returned from our first trip to Alaska. We used your itinerary as a an outline and customized it for the things we desired to do (ie: fly fishing Talkeetna). It was absolutely amazing! Great pace, awesome weather (although really hot) and we really felt like we got a great feel for this wonderful place.
We were supposed to go to Alaska 25 years ago for a honeymoon. In the time frame between getting married in late September and the delayed honeymoon the next Summer, we got pregnant and thus cancelled the trip.
With your help we finally made it and it seems to have been worth the wait.
John and Marna, Williston Vermont
Valerie
John, this is the kind of comment that makes it all worth it. I’m so glad you had a great time and enjoyed your trip to Alaska β even if it was a bit delayed in your life plans. Happy travels, wherever you go next!
Sangeeta
Loved this itinerary-will follow it for our trip.
How soon can one reserve the train tickets?
When should one book the hotels/lodges?
Thanks
Valerie
Sangeeta, thanks for your comment. I recommend booking as soon as you know your dates β you can always call the hotels if you are unable to book online for some reason. Alaska is very popular during the summer and big tour companies tend to fill up the hotels so it’s best to try and arrange everything as early as you can.
Randy
Great site! There appears to be a mistake in this paragraph. I believe you mean Seward instead of Denali.
“After the second night in Denali, the goal is to reach Girdwood on Day 8, a 1.5-hour drive. En route, I recommend taking a small detour to enjoy lunch and walk around my favorite small Alaska town, Hope.”
Valerie
Randy, thanks for the catch! I fixed this error.
Joel Lavoie
Great trip plan Valerie. Do you need to rent a car for the first few days or doe you wait until you return from denali?
Valerie
Great question, Joel. You don’t need a car for the Anchorage days, nope. You will need to use Uber or a taxi or hotel shuttle to get to your hotel though.
Anshu
Excellent post, thanks a lot! Do you know if uber or lyft is available for pickup from Denali hotels to Denali visitor center? Looking at the map it seems to be 2-3 miles away from visitor center. Are there buses available which may drop to the visitor center?
Valerie
Thanks for your comment, Anshu. No, I don’t believe there is Lyft or Uber in Denali β so you should definitely contact the hotel you’re staying at to confirm their shuttle arrangements. (All of the big hotels have shuttles and buses to help people get to/from the Visitor Center.)
Kate Thomas
We did this itinerary with an extra stay over in Anchorage on day 6 to allow some of our party to return home. The rest of us went on to Seward, Kenai, Girdwood and Turnagain Arm. Can’t thank you enough for the recommendations and tips. We did it all by rental car in late August – early Sept. 2019. This was a great time to see wildlife in Denali as they were feeding to fatten up for winter. Beautiful autumn colors too. Major Marine informed us of high swells on the day of our cruise and gave us the option to reschedule the next day, which we did and the weather was perfect. Glad we had the flexibility in schedule and transport. A super trip — thanks again!
Valerie
Kate β so glad to hear you had an amazing trip!! If you have any photos, I’d love to see them by email (and share with the community if you’re okay with that!): valisemag@gmail.com
Evelyn Rodriguez
Hi Valerie!! So excited to have found you! Iβm planning an Alaska vacation, grad gift for my daughter, May 28th-June 7th,2020. So overwhelmed by this! Iβve booked all hotels & 1 tour (Backcountry Adventure in Denali) not that Iβm excited about spending all that time on a bus but wanted the opportunity to fully see Denali. Can I please share my itinerary for your suggestions before booking more tours/activities? Iβm also going to guide myself by your 10 day itinerary.
Kindest regards!
Evelyn
Valerie
Evelyn, thanks for reading! I can’t really do custom itinerary suggestions, but if you follow my suggestions and your instincts, you’ll be great!
Kate and Wayne Young-LaSell
Hi Valerie! Great travel tips to see Alaska. My husband and I are planning a summer 2021 RV trip, going leisurely for several weeks. Do you have suggestions for RVing? We will also be towing a car so day trips are important. Also, what’s it like traveling with two small registered service dogs?
Thanks for any and all assistance and advise you can offer!
Kate & Wayne
kateandwayneRVing@gmail.com
Valerie
Thanks for reaching out, Kate & Wayne. I don’t have any experience RVing in Alaska βΒ it’s on my list though (was supposed to do a trip back in 2020!). I recommend double-checking every attraction to see if your service dogs will be allowed, as I’m also not familiar with the policies for that. Have a great trip!
Tom
Great guide on all all the things to do and see in Alaska, have to see the coastal brown bears while there. Well worth the trip.
Valerie
Great tip, Tom! Thanks for sharing π
Sarang M
Hi Valerie – A great guide for Alaska. We are planning a trip this summer ? A question for you, if we plan our trip during May end (memorial day weekend), will we be able to cover Denali ? Are all roads open in Denali National park ?
Thanks,
Sarang
Valerie
Thanks for your comment, Sarang! I recommend checking out the Denali National Park website to be sure they’ll be open on the specific dates you have in mind. They’re the ultimate source for that info!
Caleb Oakley
Val,
thanks for the amazing itinerary… I am heading to sterling in June for a friends wedding! what would you say the ball park price is for the trip you suggested minus the air fare to and from…?
Thanks again
Valerie
Thanks for your comment, Caleb! Unfortunately, tough to say without knowing which hotels you’re staying at, which days (weekends vs not), and which restaurants you plan to eat at… I’ve never priced it out because there’s too many variables!
Cindy
Valerie, can you provide any information about Valdez, Alaska? We are planning to travel there for a few days and mainly looking for the best place to stay.
Valerie
Thanks for your comment, Cindy. I’ve never been, so unfortunately I can’t help there!
Nitin Doshi
Hi Valerie,
Ok, so i read a lot of the posts above and of course your blog too ( a super pointer towards a 10 day trip ) and i was wondering if there are any Dog sled rides to be had /
My family ( 5 of us ) and a close friend n his family(also 5) are looking to traveling to Alaska ( departing SFO, Early June, say June 11 ) for a 10day trip.
We were doing a budgeting plan and i reckon , that possibly the biggest chunk of the expense would be accommodation. So we figured maybe we could do an RV trip – 2 RVs of 5-6 beds each- what would you suggest ? The Route you outlined is pretty much similar to the one we had in mind….
Awaiting your suggestions / feedback and pointers.
Thanks in advance.
Do reply/email me directly(too!) :-)… much appreciated.
Nitin
Valerie
Thanks for your comment, Nitin. There will not be any dog sledding available on snow in June because of the weather. Additionally, I have not done an RV trip so I am not confident to recommend where you could rent RVs or where you should stay with your RVs. Unfortunately Alaska is not a budget destination and I don’t recommend trying to make it so or you’ll miss out on the fun of being there!
Damaris
If you were to add another 2-4 days to this trip, what are some other accessible, must see destinations that might naturally fit into this itinerary?
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Damaris! Try checking out my other Alaska posts for inspiration: https://www.valisemag.com/guides/alaska/
Helen
Dear Valerie,
How would one fit in a day or two exploring Glacier Bay via a cruise and/or kayaking? Where would you get there from on your itinerary, and is there a reason you do not include it? We could expand our trip to 12 -13 days and plan this in August 2020.
Thanks very much,
Helen
Valerie
Helen, I don’t think you could fit this into my suggested itinerary. It’s also not something I have ever done, so I’m sorry but I can’t really provide any suggestions on how to do it.
Keith Nelson
Great itenary, will be arriving in June 2020, I also have an RV rented for 10 days. I am retired military so I plan to use as many military base campgrounds as possible. I would appreciate your input. Looking at doing Anchorage- Delani for two days – Steward- Valdez – Homer Spit. Thoughts??
Valerie
Thanks for your comment, Keith! I offer consulting on itineraries like you’re asking for as a paid service. You can learn more and buy an itinerary here: https://www.valisemag.com/product/custom-alaska-itinerary/
Hari
Hello Valerie,
Can you give me an itinerary related to driving north from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay on the Dalton Highway? What all places can be seen and what all activities can be done along the way etc? Thanks!
Valerie
Hari, sorry but I have never done this and it’s not a common trip βΒ most car rental companies won’t let you rent a car to do this either. I recommend reaching out to the team at Explore Fairbanks to see what they suggest: https://www.explorefairbanks.com/
Denise Acra
Great ideas! You’ve given me more budget friendly ideas than I’ve found on my own. I’m a 65 year old female and have slightly limited mobility. My plan is to take a roadtrip in 2021 based in Girdwood. No hiking or long walks so you’ve given me several great ideas for tours and sightseeing. Thank you!
Valerie
Sounds like it will be a great trip, Denise! Happy to help π
Kara R Maceross
What an amazing state to be born and raised! I had an opportunity to explore Alaska for the first time this December and was just blown away! I wrote about the first part of our trip where we explored Seward and Anchorage a bit before heading more North to try to see the Northern Lights. We were told about Alyeska while we were on our trip and didn’t get the chance to check it out, but it looks beautiful! I can’t wait to return in the Summer or Fall and explore even more!
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Kara! I hope you can make it back up there soon β I’ll be headed back in the autumn this year and I’m really excited for it. (I was just there in February and there’s definitely a magic about winter too!)
Jo
Alaska is definitely on our bucket list. I love your itinerary break down, thank you. My husband and I reviewed and he would like to go salmon fishing while in Alaska. Any recommendations where we could fish and fit into this itinerary?
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Jo! I’m not a fisher-person so I typically don’t suggest fishing excursions, but I recommend checking for half- or full-day tours you could book from either Anchorage or Seward based on this itinerary. I hope that helps!
Rene
I am planning a trip to Alaska in September, 2020. I hope that they open their doors to tourists and let us fly into the state. My husband and I had booked a cruise for our 50th Anniversary. It was cancelled. π It’s VERY important to us to go this year. We have promised each other that we would go BACK to Alaska for our 50th! We lived in Anchorage the first 3 years of our marriage. I have planned and booked a very similiar itinerary that you have posted here. I love your suggestions and will be updating mine!! Thank you!! I HOPE ALASKA WILL BE THERE FOR US THIS YEAR!! <3
Valerie
You’re so welcome, Rene! I hope Alaska will be open by then too β I’m set to go on a cruise in September also!
Gabe
Thank you for this write up. I’m anxious to finish off all 50 US states with Alaska and Hawaii, hope to combine them. Safe travels!
Valerie
I hope you can make it! Both aren’t quite ready for visitors right now, but they’ll be eager for them soon!
Courtney
Hi! This was a helpful read but I was wondering if you have any advice or tips about a bike tour? For maybe a round trip between Anchorage and Fairbanks? Thanks so much!
Valerie
Courtney, sorry but I don’t have any suggestions here. I’m not a cyclist and I’ve never heard of tours like this. That doesn’t mean they don’t exist on it β but I’m definitely not the person to make a recommendation!
Haley
Hi! We are looking at staying inside Denali at one of the few lodges. Do you have any recommendations? Would any of the lodges include transit and/or to where you would not need to do the Denali tour bus to see things? We would be taking the train in from Anchorage and staying 2-3 nights in Denali.
Valerie
Haley, I’m not sure what you mean by “inside” Denali β there’s only one lodge in Denali but I don’t think it’s open this summer. Try checking out this article: https://www.valisemag.com/denali-summer-2020/ but be aware I don’t think non-residents will be likely to get any of the drive-in permits and you’d need to get a rental car to do that. Also, there is no way to see Denali except to take the tour bus or get one of those permits β so if you want to see the park, you have to take a bus.
Ray
Hi! This is an excellent summary. We are planning to go the first week of September. A couple of questions:
1. Do you have any recommendations for making this trip a little more active – maybe some half day hikes or some other physical activity?
2. As far as you know, are all of these places open this summer? Is there anything else that we would have to prepare this summer compared to last year?
Thanks!
Valerie
Ray, thanks for reaching out. Try checking here for more Alaska tips: https://www.valisemag.com/guides/alaska/ I have written about hiking already!
And regarding what’s open β no, I can’t verify that all of these places are open. I don’t recommend people book trips to Alaska this year, so you’ll need to check everything you’re interested directly. (I especially recommend calling hotels since I’ve heard that Booking.com/Hotels.com have been listing properties as “open” when they’re actually not.) Have a good trip!
Sarah Geyer
Fantastic post! We are currently scheduled to cruise from Vancouver July 2021 but this post has me replanning! Weβre not sure weβll be comfortable with the current health scare but I still want to come to Alaska. This is perfect.
Valerie
Glad to help, Sarah! I think cruising *might* be okay by 2021, but I would definitely look into a small ship instead of a big one! Have a great trip, whenever you go and whatever you do!
Amanda Andrews
This is a great itinerary — we’re planning on Honeymooning here early Oct 2020 — do you have any tips on AK in October? Also, if we were looking to extend our trip to closer to 14 days instead of 10, would you recommend spending extra time in Anchorage or elsewhere? Add another stop along the way?
Thanks!!
Valerie
Thanks for reaching out, Amanda! I’ve got this article about Alaska in the autumn: https://www.valisemag.com/visit-alaska-fall/ It might help give you more insight into what it’s like during October! With 14 days, I would look into visiting Fairbanks too, so you can try to see the northern lights. Here’s an article about that too: https://www.valisemag.com/alaska-northern-lights-trip/
Raymond Boaz
Great guide. Assuming Covid allows looking at September 2021 or even 2022 for our first trip to Alaska. We are 68 year old couple. For 3 nights in Denali would you recommend staying inside the park if available?
Valerie
Raymond, sounds like you’ll have a great trip! I recommend staying in McKinley Village near the park (as I did in this post), as the only place to stay *in* Denali requires a 12-hour bus trip each way!
Dan G.
Valerie, amazing post–most helpful info I’ve read for my family’s first trip to Alaska (summer 2021)! We are a family of 6 (four kids ages 13, 16, 18, 21). Our kids are especially eager to see wildlife (wolves and bears). Any advice on your suggested itinerary to maximize those opportunities?
Thanks so much,
Dan
Valerie
Dan, thanks so much β and thanks for reading! Denali is a must for wildlife; if you’re heading south to Seward too, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center should also be high on your list! Have a great time!
Tom
This is so helpful. Weβre planning to visit in the summer…state #50 on my bucket list!!! You mentioned not getting a rental car until returning from Denali…but day 2 is explore Anchorage day. Is it easy to see Anchorage without a car? Thanks
Valerie
Tom, depends on what you want to do in Anchorage, but generally yes, Anchorage has most of its main attractions in a downtown core area. If you want to go hiking, head out to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, or something like that, you would need a car though!
Tom Wells
On day 2 above, is it easy to navigate Anchorage without a car? Thanks, Tom
Valerie
Yep, Day 2 is all planned to be done by walking if you stay in a downtown hotel or Airbnb.
Emily Forrest (Edman)
Valerie! I’m planning a summer 2021 visit for my family and what a surprise to stumble upon the site of a middle school friend! I am so glad I did. We will be visiting all of the places you listed. I have not been back to Alaska since leaving after 9th grade and my kids (14, 12, 5) have been begging to see the state. I can’t explain how excited I am and how big of a help this itinerary is!
Valerie
Emily, great to hear from you βΒ and lovely that you found me! I hope you have a great trip and let me know if you have any questions!
Meghan Murray
Hi there! Your blog is amazing!!! I do have a few questions…
I am thinking I might start the trip going south to Seward first. Is there a reason to head north first? Also, if we wanted to spend a day/sleep in Homer would it be better to drive from Anchorage to Homer (straight through) and stop in Seward for the night and Girdwood for the night? Is it worth it to stay in Girdwood?
Side note, we were only thinking of staying in Homer because one of the bear tours we wanted to go on leaves from there. Is a bear tour worth it?
Sorry for all the questions!! Thanks for your time:)
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Meghan! You can definitely go south first if you want; the only constraint should be the schedule of things you want to do if they only happen on certain days.
I haven’t done any bear tours from Homer, but if your choice is between bears in Homer and Girdwood, I’d definitely do Homer!
Betty
Hi Valerie,
This is Betty – happy I found your blog! We live in Miami and weβre planning a July trip (my hubby, son and me). Your itinerary sounds perfect, definitely needed something like this to plan. Quick question for you – on the last couple of days, after Seward, what are your thoughts about driving into Homer. My son is an avid fisherman and I hear itβs a great fishing area. Is that doable? Wondering about the road between Seward and Homer. If you could let me know, that would be great. Thanks, Betty π€ PS – not sure if youβve been to Miami, but if you havenβt and decide to visit, I can certainly share some tips on where to go. Natives always know the best spots!
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Betty! I haven’t been to Homer so I can’t make any recommendations, but I know Seward has great fishing options too! It’s a longer drive just to get to Homer, so I’d check what’s in Seward to see if that fits what he’s interested in doing!
Julie Birschbach
Hi Valerie,
I am thinking of a mid to late August visit with my BFF to celebrate turning 60 this year!!! One thing on our list is seeing bears in the wild. Could you suggest how to fit that experience into this itinerary, either by adding or subbing out something at the end of your 10 day itinerary?
Thank you so much.
Julie
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Julie! The best way to add bears is to cut out at least a half-day in Anchorage for a flightseeing tour from Anchorage (I recommend booking with Rust’s Flying Service). I hope that helps!
Cady
I’ve been dreaming of an Alaskan trip for years. This sounds spectacular. Can you give me a ball park of how much to budget for this 10 day voyage? I’d always thought a cruise would be the better option to see Alaska but my husband and I love the idea of being away from the masses and exploring on our own. Is there really anything we’d be missing out on, such as cruising through the inside passage, that this itinerary doesn’t cover? I’m hoping to take all your advise and take this trip of a lifetime May 2022… I”m thinking that may be the better time to get off season prices and not experience all the July rain.
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Cady! Late May is a good time to visit and still take advantage of discounts since it’s not the peak season. I don’t have an estimate (it’s on my to-do list to write just such a post), but I think you should probably estimate $4,000-$5,000 for two people doing this itinerary. I hope that helps!
In terms of missing the Inside Passage, yes, it’s a different part of the state and worth its own visit at some point in the future!
Nancy Evans
Would a senior woman traveling alone encounter any problems? I went solo to Iceland and it was easy to book local tours out of Reykjavik.
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Nancy! You should have no problems with visiting on your own. It’s an easy place to get around, as long as you plan everything out that you need inadvance!
Lisa
We just booked our tickets for Alaska! I’m SOO excited and your blog has been super helpful. I do have a question – I get your “travel to Alaska” email tips and the one today was “spend 2-4 days in Anchorage.” We have a couple days planned in Seward, but my husband is questioning whether we need to spend any time in Anchorage. Any tips? I’d like to work in the Anchorage Market and possibly the Museum but are there things that might be more convincing for him? We’re going in May.
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Lisa! It depends on when you’re visiting in May as to how long I suggest in Seward vs Anchorage, but absolutely you need at least 1 full day in Anchorage (that means a night on either side, to clarify for your husband π). Tell him that’s my expert advice! π
Eric S
Hey Valerie…. We loved your itinerary so much we booked it for our family this August. My wife and daughter and I are super excited to NOT be going to Aruba this year. Something different is just what the doctor ordered!
Valerie
Sounds like a great plan β you’re going to have an awesome time!
Eric S
@Valerie, in Anchorage now, just back from Denali. What a spectacular trip so far. Your itinerary has been awesome!
Valerie
So glad to hear it!! Have a great trip!
Maire
Great read, now following!
Valerie
Thanks, Marie!
KAREN
Valerie, thank you for this resource, but I’m confused by your 10-day itinerary below. The way I read this, you need 3 nights in Denali, days 3-5, and then travel back on day 6 via train and spend the night in ANC. On the day 7, you would drive to Seward. Day 6, you spend the night in ANC. Am I missing something? We are photographers and think we need at least two full days in Denali, right?
Thank you!
1Arrive in Anchorage
2Explore Anchorage
3Travel to Denali
4Visit Denali National Park
5 Sightseeing Denali
6 Travel to/Explore Seward
7 Sightseeing in Kenai Fjords
8Travel to/Explore Girdwood
9 Exploring Turnagain Arm
10 Return to Anchorage
Valerie
Karen, thanks for reading. Based on how I wrote this, you would spend Day 3 traveling to Denali (whether by train or car) and nights 3, 4, and 5 in Denali before traveling back to Seward (through Anchorage) on Day 6. If you take the train to/from Denali, you can still drive to Seward (90 minutes) in the evening of Day 6, or wake up early on Day 7 to make the drive instead. I hope that helps.
Trudy Barker
Very nice resource. I have been to Alaska a couple of times and had a 14 day driving trip planned last summer, that I had to cancel π Now starting again and planning to come for 10 days from June 16th – 26th. I want to move between Denali, Kenai Peninsula and Wrangell-St Elias NP. Would like to have one base in each place, as I would rather spend time driving than packing and unpacking the car. So that’s my task – to decide on the “home base” locations. I am thinking of Soldotna, Cantwell / Healy and Gulkana area? Going Anchorage to Denali to Gulkana to Kenai to Anchorage. Have picked out some of your suggestions to blend into my itinerary π Especially glad to see you had Girdwood, as I had picked that out, but most bloggers don’t seem to π
Valerie
Glad you found it helpful, Trudy! It sounds like you have a great trip planned!
David
Valerie,
Great article. Now maybe a challenge for you?
I was thinking of renting an RV in Anchorage, how does that work with your itinerary? planning to be in Alaska two weeks, starting in Anchorage. Spend a few days near Anchorage, then get the RV for a week or so? Any ideas?
Thank you
Valerie
Thanks for reading and asking, David. Definitely a challenge –Β and one that’s above me! I have actually never rented an RV in Alaska (it was on my list in 2020 and I’m trying to reschedule for 2021), so I’m not the right expert on this topic yet. My main advice is to plan your trip using my resources but use Google to find RV campgrounds and be sure to book reservations in advance for the size RV you have. Good luck!
Judy
Hi, Valerie,
Your article is one of the most comprehensive and straightforward itineraries I’ve seen so far. Thank you so very much for putting this together.
We are planning to go end of July – the first week of August. Looking at our schedule, I think we have about 1-2 days more that we can spend in Alaska.
Do you have any recommendations on perhaps how we can spend these extra 1-2 days? Should we spend more time at one of the locations or even venture to other new spots? We have a 3-year-old and a 5 year-old…..Thank you so much!
Valerie
Glad to help, Judy! I’d look at adding Fairbanks to your itinerary; that’s a good option, and you can easily book one-way flights back to Anchorage for your departure βΒ or just fly home from Fairbanks directly!
Judy
@Valerie,
Thank you so much for your response! I can’t believe I just saw it today. We have went ahead added Fairbanks to our trip. Right now we are planning Anchorage – Seward – Girwood – Anchorage – Denali – Fairbanks – Anchorage.
I am so glad I came back and saw your response. We were gonna take the 12 hour train back from Fairbanks to Anchorage. I don’t know why I didn’t think of checking the one-way flight. It was actually way cheaper than the train ride, not to mention it gives as extra half-day back to spend in Anchorage!!
Thank you so much!
I do have one other question that I can’t seem to find information anywhere. I hope you can help me… I see Denali National Park says car seats are required on the buses….. The problem is, since we are going to Denali by rail, we won’t have car seats with us…. So how strict are they on that rule? Or do you have any other suggestions or maybe even know if there is “car-seat-only” rental in the area??
Thank you so much again!
Valerie
Judy, thanks so much! I’m not sure about the car seat policy βΒ that’s something you’d need to contact the park tour bus operator to confirm. Have a great trip!!
Liam
Hi Valerie,
This itinerary is great. Thank you! We are planning our first trip to Alaska this July. We were wondering if the following variation would work:
Day 1- Day 4: exactly the same as you suggest but we decide to drive to Denali instead of taking the train. By doing this, we are planning to do the following:
Day 5: Explore Denali a little more and drive to Girdwood directly. Stop by Anchorage for dinner. Stay at Girdwood for one night.
Day 6: Explore Girdwood or drive directly to Seward and explore Seward. Stay at Seward.
Day 7: 6-hour fjord cruise. Stay at Seward.
Day 8: Explore Seward more (kayaking, hiking). Stay at Seward.
Day 9: Drive to Homer or something else (suggestions?). Drive back to Seward after dinner. This saves time of hotel check-in and check-out and uses the night time for driving.
Day 10: Drive back to Anchorage and stop by places that were missed earlier.
What do you think of this plan? Any suggestions for things to do around Seward since we stay there for four nights? Thank you very much!
BTW, we are going with our friends. One family has a small child (age 5).
Valerie
Sounds like a good itinerary, but I think you should skip Homer if you only have one day β it’s a 2-day minimum place given the driving time. I hope that helps!
Liam
Thank you Valerie. If we skip Homer, what other activities can we do around Seward on Day 9? Four nights at Seward give us lot of time around that area. Maybe do hiking on Day 8 and hiking on Day 9? Thanks.
Valerie
I’ve got a whole post to help with that π https://www.valisemag.com/things-to-do-seward/
Diane
Hi Valerie,
Another one here saying this is a great site, thanks so much for your wonderful suggestions! We plan follow this itinerary the first week in September, but would like to skip the day in Anchorage (love being outdoors!) and add a night in Talkeetna. With the train schedule as it is, that would give us 3 nights in Denali and 1 night in Talkeetna. Then follow the rest of the trip as you have planned. What are your thoughts on that?
Valerie
Sounds like a great trip, and thanks for your kind words, Diane! Safe travels!
Alekhya
This helped me a lot to make my itinerary. I made a 7 day itinerary out of this and then found out your ‘https://www.valisemag.com/7-days-alaska/’ and so glad it almost similar. The problem we are facing is to have a three day trip to Denali, due to the train schedule, we have to leave anchorage on Saturday to reach back on Monday. Any other day of the week, Denali trip is going to be 4 days. I really want it to be 3 days.
But the problem is we will miss Anchorage market on weekend(If we leave for Denali on Saturday) and I want only 7 day itinerary and there will not be one more Saturday. Do you have suggestions? Any suggestion will be greatly appreciated.
Valerie
Alekhya, how about taking the train north, and taking a bus back to Anchorage? This company offers that service: https://www.alaskacoach.com/routes/denali-anchorage.html
Wilma
What type of car is needed to travel from Anchorage and around the Kenai peninsula area in August? Is a compact car sufficient or is larger the way to go?
Valerie
A compact car is fine! π
Karwyn thill
Trying to get into Denali with a bus tour they are booked. What are other options
Valerie
Karwyn, unfortunately there are no other options. I recommend bookmarking the page and checking every few days or daily to see if they add additional bus tours.
Kenny Hoggan
As an option to the bus tour in Denali, check into the Denali Shuttle (the green busses). Cheeper, more flexibile timing, on-off options, just don’t get the narrated tour.
Valerie
Thanks, Kenny, but I don’t recommend that since people are visiting just one time and I want them to have the best experience.
Antonina
What is the approximate budget for such a trip? Excluding a flight of course.
Valerie
It’s impossible to say, Antonia. Costs vary so much based on when you visit and how much hotels cost β plus which hotels you choose, whether you rent a car or take the train (or both), and which tours you choose!
Anuja Verma Mehta
Hi Valerie, went through your post. This was some amazing information on Alaska. We are planning to be there from 5th July for around 10 days. However we havent been able to find any cars for rental. Everything seems to be sold out. Would you be able to recommend any car rental companies who would still have availability ? We would need a 6 seater with space for 5/6 bags. Thanks in advance.
Valerie
Anuja, sorry but I do not know of any car rental companies that have cars available anymore. This is one of the biggest difficulties visiting this year but I have no special advice.
Anuja Verma Mehta
Hi Valerie, I have another question. Is it possible to drive from Seward to Denali directly. You have recommended a halt in Anchorage. We were preferring to drive directly. Whats your view on it ?
Valerie
It’s possible, but I recommend stopping in Anchorage so you can take the train instead; most people prefer to take the train. It just depends on your itinerary as to whether that makes sense to drive straight through.
Ray
Hi Valerie. What a wonderful post! Thank you so much. Iβm curious do you have any thoughts/recommendations regarding Kodiak island? We were thinking of going there on the last few days after Seward.
Valerie
Ray, I don’t typically recommend Kodiak β it’s not as much of an attraction as other places you could visit on your first trip.
Kristin
Hey Valerie this itinerary is awesome! I really want to take the train to Denali but don’t want to waste half a day taking it back to Anchorage. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Valerie
I don’t consider it a waste, Kristin β it’s a gorgeous ride! There is a bus too (https://www.alaskacoach.com/) but I think that’s a far less interesting ride.
Joshua Thomas
Valerie,
I want to thank you so much for your detailed itineraries for 7-10 day trips to Alaska. My mom has always dreamed of visiting Alaska, and I just coordinated a 7-day trip for 12 people total. We had an INCREDIBLE time and totally followed your recommendations! We did the first two nights in Anchorage, three nights in Denali, and two nights in Seward. Just want to thank you so much – don’t know what I would’ve done without you!
Valerie
So glad to help, Joshua, and thanks for coming back to share how your experience was. It’s awesome to hear back after people have an epic time using my articles!!
Julie
A great itinerary! We want to do some fishing while we are in Alaska. Where is the best deep sea fishing outfits?
Valerie
Thanks so much! You have a few options, but within this itinerary the best and easiest choice is Seward. This is where my dad and grandfather always used to go out and had great luck!
Bet Loy
Iβm going to attempt to use this itinerary and plan a trip for May 2022!
Bet Loy
Valerie
Awesome! Have a great trip, Bet Loy!
Justin Schaper
Valerie,
Thank you SO much for all of the great information and insights here. My wife and I just got back from 12 days in Alaska and planned much of our itinerary based on your recommendations. It was truly a trip of a lifetime. We spent a few days in Anchorage first, visiting the Anchorage Museum, the Anchorage Market, and doing a trolley tour. Those gave us such great historical and cultural context for the rest of the trip. We also highly recommend Snow City Cafe for breakfast or brunch. And Moose’s Tooth was simply phenomenal pizza.
We then flipped things around a bit and took the train south to Seward. The scenery and wildlife along the way were so memorable and the ARR staff made it very special. We were blown away by the fjord Major Marines cruise out of Seward as well as a fishing charter by Miller’s Landing. Staff shortages meant some restaurants were closed but there were plenty of great spots. And we are now BIG fans of the The Cookery (recommend booking WAY in advance). We also went to the SeaLife Center and again found that helped to tie everything together for us (including great close up encounters with puffins and sea lions).
We wrapped it up by renting an RV and driving to Denali, camping at Riley Creek. The Tundra Wilderness bus tour was a spot on recommendation with sightings of bears (one actually on the road), moose, Dall sheep, and caribou. And finally we cannot say enough good things about Fly Denali. We booked for the glacier landing but due to weather that particular outing was cancelled. However, the staff gave us several options and we ended up with a “Pilot’s Choice” flight that was once in a lifetime. Our pilot, Eric, used one of their park access passes and flew us over the park itself, landing at a remote strip in the park (as permitted). The scenery was just incredible including a life lasting memory of clouds parting for a view of the Denali north and south peaks. Eric was a wealth of information about the park, took great care of us, and delivered an unforgettable experience.
So Valerie, our sincerest gratitude! We would never have put all this together without your information and guidance. Even the packing list was a huge help (although you need to post a warning about leaving room for souvenirs – we had to buy an extra bag for the trip back).
Valerie
I’m so glad you found everything helpful, and thanks for sharing what you loved and what you recommend!! Safe travels onto your next adventure!
Mary
Hey! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so I came to take a look.
I’m definitely loving the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
Great blog and superb design.
Valerie
Thanks so much for reading and sharing, Mary! I’m glad you think it will be helpful to your followers too.
Beth
We are planning a road trip to Alaska in 2022 by rental car. Do you know if the major car rentals will allow you to take vehicles on gravel roads in Alaska?
We would like to return for a cruise on the inside strait at another time. What cruise lines do you recommend other than the large cruise ships? I don’t want anything too small because I am afraid I will get seasick.
Valerie
No major car rentals will allow you to take their vehicles on gravel roads; there are some local companies you can find via Google that might.
For cruises, I recommend both Uncruise (https://www.valisemag.com/uncruise-adventures-alaska-cruise/) and Alaskan Dream Cruises (https://www.valisemag.com/alaskan-dream-cruises-review/). If you don’t want a ship that small, I don’t have any experience to recommend from.
Beth
I wish you would do a travel guide for older people who cannot walk great distances. The hikes sound great, but my husband is not able to do those due to back problems. We need tours and boat trips!
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Beth! That’s a bit too niche-y for me to write about; I generally people can just adjust the itinerary for their own interests and abilities.
ALEX
Nice information it really helps me a lot.
Due to the coronavirus, travel restrictions were imposed and it was a difficult time to travel. However, I was lucky to have my reservations done with Alaska airlines. The Alaska airlines cancellation policy allowed me to cancel my travel ticket without any cancellation cost.
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Alex. Yeah, Alaska Airlines has a good policy!
Sam
We are travelling from US. We are following your 10 day itenary. Any suggestions for Car rental companies that will allow to pick from Seward and leave at Anchorage? Have checked and seems National can rental does not have option for pickup in Seward.
Sam
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Sam! The only rental agency in Seward is Hertz, and I don’t know if they allow one-way rentals from Seward. That’s not a common thing people try to do, so they may not allow it.
Shari
Great information. Our first time to Alaska. We are a retired couple so, we have some flexibility with length of time being gone. I have been doing research on what we would like to do. Planning on 10 days. I need to know if we can get this all in that time period. We enjoy short hikes 1-4 miles seeing wildlife, dog sledding, fishing , Alaska wildlife center and Sealife center, breweries, taking one of the Marine tours maybe the Prince William Sound one. Farmers Market. Having time to see the beautiful scenery.
Day 1 Anchorage arrive early afternoon.plan on doing the trolley car and would like to see the Alaska Native Historic center learning about the culture.
Day 2. Girdwood stay 2 days there?
Day 3. ?
Day 4 Whittier
Day 5 Seward. Dog sledding.
Day 6. Homer?
Day 7 Homer- fishing
Day 8 Palmer if I can fit it in?
Day 9 back in Anchorage
Day 10 leave in the Am
Looking at the last week of July to early Aug.
Not sure in what order I should plan the trip.
I would prefer not to have to book a hotel every day.
Any suggestions would be great.
Shari
Valerie
Thanks for reaching out, Shari! I don’t provide free consultations on itineraries, but you’re welcome to book a paid consult here and I can help: https://calendly.com/valerievalise/45min
Priyanka Kanherkar
Hi Valerie,
Your itnerary is bomb.com. We are planning to go to Alaska in November (umm, forgot that we are already in Nov, specifically Nov 23rd to Dec 4th). We have been to Alaska in SUmmer earlier but wanted to go mainly for Northern lights and given the fact that we wanted to enjoy the winters and feel Alaska during winter. I have a few questions though, is it worth taking the Northen Lights tour? or can we see it ourselves? Is there any location? We’re planning to go to Fairbanks. Do you know the area and can suggest some places where we could enjoy Northen Lights?
Thanks a lot
Valerie
Thanks for reading! I’ve got tons of resources. Try checking my Alaska travel guide: https://www.valisemag.com/guides/alaska/
Toby Theule
Hi Valerie! I’m a big fan of having a ‘progression of climactic-ness’ on trips. I see you have suggested Denali before Seward on your 10 days. Is that for any particular reason, like geography, or anything else? Thank you so much –
Toby from CA π
Valerie
No particular reason other than I love Denali and want to get there ASAP when I’m there! You can certainly rearrange this itinerary π
Joana P
Hello Valerie,
Thank you for a great itinerary. I’m planning to go by myself at the end of March, but I noticed watching for aurora borealis was not mentioned in your itinerary. Can I see the aurora in any of the places in your 10 day itinerary? Also, I didn’t grow up around snow, would it be ok to just take the train to see the places you recommended? I would, of course, adjust everything else for this. Thank you!
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Joana. As I say in the post, “Almost all of the activities I recommend in this post are only available in the summer months.” If you’re visiting in winter (March), I recommend checking out my winter itinerary: https://www.valisemag.com/alaska-winter-itinerary/
Erika S.
Hi Valerie! Thanks so much for this blog. I am currently trying to plan a trip with my husband to Alaska and we are looking to book at the end of May/early June. We were curious about the blackfly and mosquito season. Should we be worried about this (especially in parks like Denali)? Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Erika! I would just be sure to pack mosquito repellant and you’ll be fine. It’s impossible to predict how good or bad the year will be, so it’s best to bring the right items and hopefully not use them!
Marianne
Thank you for all this wonderful info. We are planning a trip in August. We definitely would like to do a day cruise to see glaciers and wildlife. I’ve read on the internet that the Kenai Fjords trips out of Seward can get pretty rough and a lot of people get sick. You and others have suggested going out of Whitter on the 26 Glacier Cruise. When you read the descriptions of both cruises it sounds like you see a lot of the same thing. If we want to avoid seasickness would you recommend going out of Whittier? We were also thinking of renting kayaks in Seward or something so we get to see part of the national park.
Your help is appreciated, thank you!
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Marianne. I’m assuming you saw this post I wrote: https://www.valisemag.com/whittier-or-seward/
I’ve been seasick on both bodies of water, so unfortunately it’s just a matter of the weather. I’m pretty sensitive, but personally, I would do the boat tour in KFNP with tons of seasick meds and kayak in Prince William Sound. That’s just me!
Elena Gilbert
This is a great post! I’m looking forward to planning my 10-day Alaska itinerary in 2022.
Valerie
Thanks, Elena, but if you haven’t started planning yet, I recommend waiting to visit Alaska in 2023 βΒ the 2022 season is almost over at this point!
Karolina
Hey, what an amazing overview! We’re just finalizing our 2023 itinerary and I wonder what are the best ways/ places to watch bears in July? Is there anything you would recommend? Anything you experienced yourself? Thx π
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Karolina! The two places I’d recommend to see bears are in Denali National Park, and in Katmai National Park. Denali is part of this itinerary; to visit Katmai, you’ll need to arrange a flightseeing tour through someone like Rust’s Flying Service (https://www.flyrusts.com/bearviewing/katmai-national-park/).
Jen
Hi Valerie!
Thanks for the great itinerary!
Question – If you take the train up to Denali, how would you get to the flight tour from the train station? Also how would you get to your hotel to the bus tour the next day? Are ride sharing services readily available in Denali?
Thanks again!
Valerie
Thanks for reading, Jen! There are shuttles if you book a hotel in the Denali area β those will transport you to from the train depot, and then you can let Fly Denali know where you’re staying for them to arrange pick-up.
ayaz sayeed
Thanks so much for this wealth of information you have shared for us curious travellers! MY wife and I plan to visit in May 2023. Any tips for extended hiking adventures in Denali? We’re looking to explore beyond the bus routes and popular spots.
Valerie
Hi, Ayad. Have you read the resources on the Denali National Park website? They have good information about backcountry hiking and what you need to do to be allowed to do it and how to do it safely.
Melissa Elm
Hi Valerie,
Thank you for the insight. We are taking a cruise+land trip with Holland America early July. We’ve never been to Alaska. I want to book one flight or helicopter tour. If there is one place to go on a flight or helicopter tour, which stop do you think would be the best? Our stops are Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Denali, and Fairbanks.
As a side note, it looks like there is a major rockslide in Denali, so the bus tours cannot go very far in.
Thank you!
Melissa
Valerie
Melissa, hi! If you can only do a helicopter tour, I’d do it in Juneau. If you can do (plane) flightseeing, I’d book that for Denali as I recommend in this post. Also, the road is definitely closed through 2026, but that’s no reason to skip Denali! (I cover it here: https://www.valisemag.com/denali-national-park-worth-it/) I hope that helps!