Alaska Road Trip Itinerary
The True Alaskan Experience
Start / End
Anchorage, Alaska
States Covered
National Parks
Denali, Wrangell St. Elias
Total Distance
1,200 (1,900 KM)
Suggested Days
At least 12 – 14
Suggested Seasons
Summer, Fall
#ThisIsMyRoute
Overview
This route is perfect for people who want to truly experience Alaska. What an adventure it is to spend a few weeks on the road in one of the most wild places in the country. Follow our Alaska road trip itinerary at your own pace—there’s a lot of ground to cover and so much to do. In this itinerary we’ll suggest the route and activities that we think will give you the full value of the state. Getting to parts of Alaska can sometimes be difficult, but luckily our route has you flying in and out of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Alaska Air even offers nonstop flights from some cities like Frankfurt, Reykjavik, Chicago, Los Angeles and more. After your arrival into Anchorage, you’ll begin your trip north and explore two national parks along the way. If walking on a glacier or flying over a fjord in a helicopter aren’t on your bucket list, they should be now!
Preparation
Alaska has a reputation for being remote, rugged and unforgiving. These are all true, but with this road trip itinerary we’ve made it easier than ever to navigate the unfamiliar territory with your friends or family. That being said, Alaska is still more spread out and less developed than most US states, so be prepared. You might not be able to run to your local Target if you forget a rain jacket. Depending on what month you are planning to go, do your research to determine the predicted weather. A good rule of thumb in Alaska is to always have a rain jacket and warm layers with you, even if it’s a blue bird day with 75 degree temperatures. Weather can be very unpredictable there, especially in the mountains. This Alaska road trip is intended for the summer, but can also be done in the early fall before snow comes. We recommend about two weeks for this trip, especially if you’re planning on doing some hiking in the parks. If you’re going to fly all the way to Alaska, you might as well stay as long as you can!
Add to your packing list:
• SMALL PAIR OF BINOCULARS FOR WILDLIFE VIEWING
• RAIN JACKET & PANTS/WIND LAYERS
• SMALL DRY BAG
• HIKING BOOTS
• CAMERA
• COLLAPSIBLE HIKING POLES
• BACKPACKING WATER FILTER
Itinerary
ANCHORAGE
Pick up your rental car and check in at your hotel. We recommend the Lakefront Hotel for the views of Lake Hood, the world’s largest and busiest float plane base. You can enjoy a meal on the deck watching planes take off and land on the water.
Take time to rest and adjust to the time change. You will also need to get used to the longer-than-average daylight. During the summer solstice, Anchorage gets about 19.5 hours of daylight!
Explore downtown with an hour-long Anchorage Trolley Tour. We also recommend checking out the South Anchorage Farmer’s Market and buying local fish, meats, vegetables, fruits, flowers and so much more!
SCENIC FLIGHT TO PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
15 MINUTES – 5 MILES/8 KM
Enjoy a scenic float plane ride with one of the local aviation companies. We recommend flying with Rust’s Flying Service. Be prepared to take lots of photos and videos while you enjoy glaciers and wilderness from a bird’s eye view for the first time. Don’t worry about where you sit in the plane—there’s great views everywhere.
Enjoy dinner in downtown Anchorage at one of the many great spots to eat.