driving trip in alaska

Planning Your Perfect Alaska Road Trip Itinerary (2021 Edition)

December 9, 2021 December 28, 2019 | Christopher Harvey

Last Updated on December 9, 2021 by Chris and Lindsay

If you plan to drive to Alaska you have a lot of options for your Alaska road trip itinerary. Alaska is known as the Last Frontier. So getting there is an adventure in and of itself!

Most of Alaska is inaccessible by vehicle. This means you have to plan to get around via plane or boat.

But depending on your level of adventure, funds and Bucket List, you probably don’t need to worry about trying to reach all of those more difficult places.

In fact, if your goal is to travel to Alaska in an RV, then you’re likely looking to explore the part of the state you can reach by vehicle.

(If you just plan to tent camp or stay in hotels you can use our suggested itineraries. You just may need to plan your accommodations differently.)

Fortunately, most activities you would want to do in Alaska are close enough that you can drive to them.

Before we get into a few sample Alaska road trip itineraries let’s cover a few factors that will impact your drive in Alaska.

The Ideal Alaska Road Trip Itinerary

We believe that your ideal Alaska itinerary should include the following information.

Timeframe : 6-8 weeks

Time of Year : June – August

Starting Location : Glacier National Park, MT (or no further west than Spokane, WA)

Ending Location : Seattle area, WA

Key Places To Visit : Banff & Jasper National Parks (Canada), Alaska Highway, Fairbanks, Talkeetna, Kenai Peninsula, Homer Spit, Seward, Valdez, Haines, Cassiar Highway and Hyder.

Key Things To Do : Drive the Dalton Highway (special advise required), see Mt. Denali in Talkeetna, play with reindeer in Palmer, camp on the beach at Homer Spit and Seward , go halibut fishing in Homer, watch sea lions, otters and bald eagles catch salmon in Valdez, search for grizzly bears in Haines and eat at “the bus” in Hyder.

Total Miles : Approx. 6,000 miles

Read on for more specific information to help you plan your perfect road trip to Alaska!

Factors That Impact Your Alaska Road Trip Itinerary

Planning your Alaska road trip itinerary can be daunting. Just reaching Alaska from the Lower 48 will take days and cover thousands of miles.

One you’re there, where do you go? Where CAN you go? What do you do? Where do you stay? For how long do you stay?

Understanding how the following points impact your Alaska road trip will help you craft your perfect trip!

Starting/Ending Location.

Our Alaska road trip itineraries are going to assume that you will begin your journey in the continental United States (Lower 48) in the northwestern half of the country (Montana, Idaho, Washington areas).

If you’re coming from Florida (as we did) or Maine, then add on extra time accordingly.

Our itineraries will be based on “border-to-border” starting and ending locations.

This means we’re guiding you from a US border crossing into Canada (say, from Glacier National Park in Montana) to a return US border from Canada (say, Seattle area).

We believe this is your best opportunity to see the best parts of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory on your way to/from Alaska.

Amount of time you have.

Alaska road trip itineraries are dependent on your time table.

Whether you’re trying to see Alaska during your two-week vacation, two-month summer vacation or retirement makes a big difference!

If you’re making the “border-to-border” drive to Alaska then we’d recommend no fewer than 6 – 8 weeks .

But it is possible to make the trip in 4 weeks if that’s all the time you have.

Further, our Alaska road trip itineraries are for travelers who will leave/return to the US and not those who will fly to Alaska and rent an RV there.

(Note: We do have a few sample itineraries in that case)

You’re going to want to decide how much time you have (if you even have time limits) before you decide all of the things you want to pack into your Alaska itinerary.

Specific places you want to see

Have you always wanted to see the Arctic Ocean? Maybe you’ve wanted to just see the Arctic Circle? Or what about visiting Mt. Denali National Park?

There are lots of places to see in Alaska. If you hash out a general list then that is a great place to start!

Need help hashing out a list? We’ve got suggestions for you!

If there are places you do and do not want to see, this will greatly impact the amount of time you need to complete your Alaska road trip.

For instance, we LOVE Hyder and think you should stop by to see Jim and Diana and have a fresh halibut sandwich at The Bus . But Hyder is a little out of the way if you are short on time.

Get started on that list!

Important things you want to do

Do you want to watch a grizzly bear catch a salmon in its mouth? What about hooking on to a 100-pound halibut? Maybe you’ve just wanted to be one of the few (10% or less!) who get a clear view of Mt. Denai?

These things also impact your Alaska road trip itinerary. Again, get started on that bucket list!  

Your limits on driving time/distance

Alaska is… well, it is HUGE! Driving distances and times are substantial – especially when you consider the “border-to-border” roundtrip.

Determining how far or how long you want to drive each day is important.

This will help you determine not only the important details of where to stay and when to refuel but also how much time you will spend in any given place.

Our ideal Alaska road trip itineraries are based on a comfortable 4-5 hour drive.

If you feel that’s not comfortable, or you want to get to/from Alaska faster or slower then we have a few options for you too!

Other extenuating factors

Do you have any upcoming appointments or important life events coming up like weddings or medical treatment?

Are you closing on the sale or purchase of a house in the near future?

We wouldn’t tell you to call off your Alaska adventure because of these things.

Just be aware that they might impact your Alaska road trip itinerary.

For example, Lindsay travels with Crohn’s Disease . At the time we drove to Alaska we only had 7 weeks.

This is because every 8 weeks she received an IV infusion to treat the disease. As such we left Washington state the day after her infusion and returned two days before her next one.

We would love to have spent more time in Alaska. But extenuating circumstances like these will impact your itinerary as well.

Alaska Road Trip Itineraries

After you’ve answered some of those questions to help you understand the who, what, where, when, why and how of your road trip to Alaska, check out some sample itineraries that we have put together.

You already figured out, every itinerary is subject to change. Either you’ll change it. Or your circumstances will!

But at least you can get started on planning your perfect Alaska road trip itinerary!

Note: ALL of our itineraries include the following places: Alaska Highway, Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Talkeetna, Palmer/Anchorage, Kenai Peninsula (Turnagain Arm, Anchor Point, Homer , Seward ), Valdez, Haines and Hyder.

The only location we exclude in some itineraries is the infamous Dalton Highway. This drive is not for the faint of heart (or unprepared). You can find more information about driving the Dalton Highway here .

• 4 Week Alaska Road Trip Itinerary
• 6 Week Alaska Road Trip Itinerary
• 8 Week Alaska Road Trip Itinerary

While we are trying to prepare you to be able to drive from “border-to-border,” we do understand that you might be planning to fly to Fairbanks/Anchorage to rent an RV.

If this is the case, you likely have less time than those of us driving from the Lower 48.

Here are a few sample itineraries for your journey:

• 3 Week Alaska Road Trip Itinerary (from Fairbanks/Anchorage)
• 4 Week Alaska Road Trip Itinerary (from Fairbanks/Anchorage)
• 5 Week Alaska Road Trip Itinerary (from Fairbanks/Anchorage)

Tips / Things To Know About Driving In Alaska

Now that you have an idea of your Alaska road trip itinerary, here are a few tips that are going to help you enjoy the drive more.

We had a few. You might too. These greatly change things. Depending on your vehicle/RV and your ability to fix it on the fly, your itinerary will change during a breakdown.

We spent more time in some places we never heard of and less time in others because of break downs. But that’s OK. It all worked out as part of our journey!

NOTE: Breakdowns are inconvenient, stressful and potentially dangerous. We had the policy to help everyone we could when we saw a broken down vehicle and encourage you to do the same.

Wildlife is, well, wild. Would you want it any other way?

On your drive to Alaska you will see moose, bear (black and grizzly), bison, elk, deer, fox and porcupine among dozens of other species.

But mind you, they don’t mind the roads.

Sadly you will likely see their carcasses scattered across the highway with accompanying brake marks in the road.

Be aware, even when there are no signs for wildlife there is always the possibility for it.

Hitting a moose will likely end your great Alaska road trip.

Frost Heaves

Sure they sound cute. But once you get into Alaska you will soon grow weary of them.

Frost heaves are subtle bumps, rolls, ridges and dips in the road that change your pace and make you pucker.

They are formed in the road when the ground freezes and the highway lifts up as the ice expands.

Don’t be afraid of them. But be aware. We drove with both hands on the wheel nearly every mile in Alaska because one sudden jolt by a frost heave could be enough to drive you off the side of the road.

Speed Limits

Most drivers forget that speed limits are “limits” and not “mandatories.” When you drive in Alaska, especially in an RV, you are likely not going to be driving at the speed limit (see Frost Heaves above!).

However, just because everyone around you might be zipping past you do not have to drive excessively fast. In fact, just make sure you are safely traveling over the minimum speed limits (sometimes posted).

Or, just drive at the pace you feel comfortable.

But do note that Alaska actually has a law that states that you must pull over if cars are piling up behind you. We did this frequently, especially along the Turnagain Arm on our way to the Kenai Peninsula.

Don’t be a jerk. Especially if there is a highway patrol officer behind you!

About Author

Christopher Harvey

Christopher Harvey is the co-founder and main copywriter for Called To Wander. His passion is to create content that engages and informs readers and helps them to pursue the Abundant Life on the Road. Aside from writing, he also edits videos for the YouTube channel. He has freelanced for a variety of publications and consults with different brands on SEO and content strategy.

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5 Best Alaska Road Trip Routes (Ultimate Planning Guide!)

So, you’re thinking of venturing out on an Alaska road trip? The state isn’t nicknamed ‘The Last Frontier’ for nothing. The stark mountains, frigid winter climate, and vast miles of land uninhabited by humans give way to its off the map nature.

If you’re looking to cruise alongside stunning scenery and embark on some incredible new adventures, all while enjoying the comforts of civilization along the way, an Alaska road trip is certainly the way to go.

It’s hard to know where to start when planning your own expedition like this, so we’ve done some of the legwork for you. Read on for all of the best routes and must-sees along the way when you embark on your journey through the Last Frontier.

Don’t leave home without: Lonely Planet Alaska (Travel Guide)

How many miles is it to Anchorage, Alaska from:

Table of Contents

• Seattle, Washington to Anchorage, Alaska Via Yukon 1 E ~ 44 hours and 2,261 miles
• Los Angeles, California to Anchorage, Alaska Via Yukon 1 E ~ 61 hours and 3,395 miles
• Chicago, Illinois to Anchorage, Alaska Via Yukon 1 E ~ 61 hours and 3,568 miles
• Atlanta, Georgia to Anchorage, Alaska Via Yukon 1 E ~ 71 hours and 4,210 miles
• Houston, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska Via Yukon 1 E ~ 70 hours and 4,124 miles
• Vancouver, Canada to Anchorage, Alaska Via Yukon 1 E ~ 42 hours and 2,191 miles

5 Best Alaska Road Trip Routes

Alaska Highway

What would an Alaskan road trip be without a journey up to their 1,387-mile namesake highway? Starting in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, you can turn down this uncrowded route and take in the picturesque snow-capped peaks and remote landscape, all the way up to Delta Junction in southeastern Fairbanks, Alaska.

What to See

During your road trip, you’ll find plenty to see and do on the Alaska Highway. Passing through Muncho Lake Provincial Park in British Columbia, you can stop for a bit of canoeing and spend the night in the cozy Northern Rockies Lodge . Just past the park, we recommend stopping to soak in the Liard River hot springs.

Not long after crossing into Yukon Territory, you’ll be able to check out the Continental Divide . Parting the Pacific and Atlantic watersheds. This ridge journeys from Alaska to the tip of South America .

It’s a short but fun stop along the way for anyone who is into geography and spectacular terrain. Also, in the Yukon, there is Kluane National Park and Reserve , a hot spot for adventurers looking to try rafting, mountaineering, and more outdoor activities.

Check-in for a night at the charming Kathleen Lake Lodge before continuing your journey into Alaska. Be sure to stop by Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge to experience the critters of an Alaska road trip – bald eagles, grizzly bears, and trumpeter swans are just a few of the animal species protected by this region.

You might feel inclined to plan your Alaska road trip over the summer to avoid poor weather conditions and take full advantage of the activities along the way, as some businesses may close during the winter months.  MILEPOST , a must-have guide for traveling in the northwest of the continent, makes a good case for tackling the Alaska Highway during the off-season.

Provided you are a responsible driver, you stay on top of your fuel reserves, are settled into your pre-booked accommodation by nightfall, and adhere to road signage. Attractions like the hot springs at Liard River are going to be all the more enjoyable when experienced in Alaska’s famous colder climate.

Parks Highway & Denali Highway

For 362 miles between Anchorage and Fairbanks, you can take in the wild landscape of Alaska’s interior on Parks Highway. From mountains to tundra, it’s the perfect Alaska road trip for adventurous spirits.

Not only is Alaska the Last Frontier, but it’s also the site of what’s known as the Last Great Race on Earth: the Iditarod. After departing Anchorage, you could spend some time at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Museum , where you can dive into the history of this bold and daring race.

Perhaps the most anticipated stop of a Parks Highway Alaska road trip is, Denali National Park and Preserve . Home to the continent’s highest peak, Denali.

This park boasts plenty of summer and winter activities, such as hiking, fishing, mountaineering, and stargazing. Spend the night at one of the quaint cabins in the Denali Backcountry Lodge.

Here, you can also choose to detour from your Parks Highway road trip and embark on an alternate route to take in the full expanse of this cherished park, its glaciers and tundra landscape.

Extending for 134 miles from Paxson to Cantwell and made up of mostly gravel, Denali Highway is no last-minute decision, so make sure if you go this route you’re aptly prepared to forge ahead on a new trip.

While Parks Highway is open all four seasons, Denali Highway is closed in the winter. Traveling during the summer months is probably your best bet for enjoying the full spectrum of Alaska’s interior on this trip.

Seward Highway

Modest in length compared to it’s big Alaska road trip counterparts, Seward Highway is perfect for a small jaunt from Anchorage. Looping 127 miles down to Seward, the sites you’ll encounter are some of the state’s most breathtaking.

Don’t be fooled by the low mileage on this trip – there is so much to see packed into a short distance! MILEPOST is a great resource for examining all of the options available to you.

Your first order of business will be to sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenic view of Turnagain Arm as you cruise between mountains and shoreline.

If you’re willing to turn this mini Alaska road trip into a full-fledged adventure, take some time to stay at Alyeska Resort just southeast of Anchorage, where you can hit the slopes and ski to your heart’s content.

Further down the road, you can check out the trail at Johnson’s Pass before stopping for another night at the Inn at Tern Lake , where you’ll be able to arrange fishing trips or whale watching tours.

Be sure to take your camera out for glossy Kenai Lake before you complete your journey in the pleasant town of Seward .

Any season of Seward Highway won’t disappoint. If you are an avid ski or snowboarder be sure to venture to this region in the winter!

Dalton Highway

Time to go off-road (sort of). Most of Dalton Highway is gravel, so you’ll have to take your sweet time on this massive 415-mile route starting at Elliott Highway and ending in Deadhorse, up by the Arctic Ocean.

This is not a route to be taken lightly, and if you’re renting a car, be sure to double-check for restrictions on traveling on unpaved roadways.

This trek starts at the junction with Elliott Highway, another scenic Alaska road trip looping from Fox to Manley Hot Springs. Spend a couple of nights at Coldfoot Camp , aptly named for the frigid arctic conditions you’ll face while cruising Dalton Highway.

Here, you’ll be able to tour Koyukuk River in the summer, and possibly view the Northern Lights in the winter.

Close by, you’ll pass the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, which really captures the meaning of the word “remote.” Void of set paths, this stop is perfect for some pictures before continuing on your way unless you happen to be an expert in wilderness survival.

Once you reach Deadhorse and Prudhoe Bay, you can stay at the Aurora Hotel , which sits over Colleen Lake and book an Arctic Ocean tour . Who else can say they’ve done that?

You really can’t go wrong here. This far north, you’ll be able to witness the midnight sun during the summer, and you’ll have a shot at the Aurora Borealis during the winter.

Need to book a car for your road trip adventure? We use Discover Car Hire for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.

Bob Blodgett Nome-Teller Memorial Highway

Due to the remoteness of the Last Frontier, most of the more popular Alaska road trips happen in the eastern region of the state, around the major cities and attractions.

If you’re feeling adventurous, think about tackling the 73-mile stretch of pavement running between Nome, on the southwest end of the state, up to Teller, situated on Grantley Harbor and the closest you’ll get to Russia on any of these Alaska road trips.

The sights of Alaska do not disappoint, and this mini road trip is no exception. At the start of your journey, take a detour up Anvil Mountain for a view worthy of a photo-op, and while you’re there, check out some Cold War communications remnants, dubbed by some as “Nomehenge.”

Further on, you can take in more off the beaten path sites, like an abandoned reindeer corral. But don’t be discouraged by these ruins, as you’re likely to spot actual reindeer too! Stop by Penny River Bridge to view some more unique local wildlife, like coho salmon and arctic tern. The road to Teller is full of surprises!

A several hour round-trip excursion, by the time you arrive back in Nome, check-in at the quaint Dredge No. 7 Inn , located just off the highway. Grab a bite at Husky Restaurant , and sit back, relax, and reflect on the day’s adventures.

Like most Alaska road trips, this one is stunning 365 days a year and like most Alaska road trips, some attractions, such as the road to Anvil Mountain, aren’t maintained in the winter months.

Keep this in mind no matter what time of year you decide to venture out. With proper preparation, you’re sure to love cruising through the Last Frontier.

Alaska Road Trip Drive Timetables

North of anchorage: talkeetna, denali, fairbanks.

• Anchorage to Talkeetna: 115 Miles 2.5 Hours
• Anchorage to Fairbanks: 360 Miles 7-8 Hours
• Anchorage to Denali: 265 Miles 4-5 Hours
• Fairbanks to Denali: 120 Miles 2-3 Hours
• Denali to Talkeetna: 150 Miles 2-3 Hours
• Anchorage to Palmer: 43 Miles 1 Hour

South of Anchorage: Portage, Seward, Cooper Landing, Homer

• Anchorage to Seward: 128 Miles 2.5-3 Hours
• Anchorage to Kenai: 158 Miles 3 Hours
• Anchorage to Homer: 221 Miles 5-6 Hours
• Anchorage to Cooper Landing: 100 Miles 2.5 Hours
• Anchorage to Girdwood: 40 Miles 1 Hour
• Seward To Homer: 170 Miles 4-5 Hours
• Denali to Seward: 375 Miles 7-8 Hours

East of Anchorage: Glenallen, Copper Center, Chitina, McCarthy, Valdez

• Anchorage to Glennallen: 180 Miles 4.5 Hours
• Anchorage to Whittier: 90 Miles 1.5 Hours
• Anchorage to Haines Junction: 608 Miles 12.5 Hours
• Anchorage to Whitehorse: 704 Miles 14.5 Hours
• Glennallen to Valdez: 120 Miles 2 Hours
• Fairbanks to Valdez: 365 Miles 8 Hours
• Fairbanks to Haines Junction: 495 Miles 9-11 Hours
• Fairbanks to Whitehorse: 588 Miles 12 Hours
• Glennallen to Chitina: 64 Miles 1.5 Hours
• Chitina to McCarthy: 60 Miles 3.5 Hours

If you are road tripping in Alaska or renting a car you must have:   The Mile Post

Alaska Railroad vs Car Rental

Cons of Driving

• You really don’t get to enjoy the scenery since you are paying attention to the road.
• Driving does not give you access to untouched valleys the railroad travels through, the Placer River Valley and along the Susitna drainage.
• Driving does require some planning since there are a few services available in certain areas.
• It requires stopping for restrooms breaks and to stretch after sitting for long periods of time.

Pros of Driving

• It gives you the flexibility to travel at your own pace.
• Having your own space allows you to bring more.
• It’s quicker than taking the railroad.
• The vehicle provides shelter, so you don’t have to rely on finding accommodation.

Cons of the Railroad

• Taking the railroad in Alaska takes more time than driving.
• The Railroad is more expensive, particularly for large groups.
• There’s a set travel schedule.
• Trains may run late on rare occasions, due to wildlife on tracks or a scheduling problem.
• They require secondary transportation once you arrive at your destination. (Courtesy shuttle, taxi, or walking)

Pros of the Railroad

• Let someone else do the driving, while you just sit and enjoy the views and maybe a glimpse of some wildlife.
• You can get up and stretch your legs without having to stop.
• Don’t need to plan a bathroom or lunch break, everything is already on board.

More on Alaska:

• 21 Alluring Things to do in Alaska
• 15 Cannot Miss Things to do in Anchorage
• Ultimate Guide of Things to Do in Juneau, Alaska
• 13 Epic Things to do in Fairbanks, Alaska (Besides Northern Lights)
• Ultimate Guide to Visiting Chena Hot Springs
• Alaska National Parks-The Fabulous 8
•   Is Spring the Best Time to Cruise Alaska?
• Denali State Park Heli-Hiking Adventure in Remote Alaska
• Ultimate Alaska Packing List
• Visit the Mendenhall Ice Caves Before They Melt – Juneau, Alaska

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Travel planning resources, about lina stock.

Lina is an award-winning photographer and writer that has been exploring the world since 2001. She has traveled to 100 countries on all 7 continents. Member: SATW, NATJA, ATTA, ITWA

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We just got back from our first trip to Alaska. I really enjoyed seeing your pics!!

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The Ultimate Alaska Road Trip Itinerary

Updated November 2023,  The Ultimate Alaska Road Trip Itinerary was originally written in January 2020

Alaska’s big and a major bucketlister for many a traveler. For many travelers that aren’t on a high budget, an Alaska road trip is the best way to see the 49th state without forking over your life savings.

People will explore this however they want, some people will buy themselves a campervan, whilst others might prefer to figure out their own way around Alaska. Whatever they decide to though it still makes for a great trip – a trip that plenty of people (people like you) want to take. So read on to learn how to take on an Alaska road trip written by someone born, raised, and still currently living in Alaska.

Please note that I’ve started the road trip from Anchorage as that is the most common starting point. This can also be started from Fairbanks for those flying in there, or Tok for travelers arriving overland from Canada.

You’ll also notice I have broken the Alaska road trip itinerary into 3 one-week legs (4, if you include the Dalton Highway). Each leg can be done in a week, but depending on interests or if you plan to add a hike or a few, they can easily be spread over more time.

Need Travel Insurance and Evacuation Services for Alaska?

Start shopping for travel insurance plans over at  IATI Insurance . Readers of the Adventures of Nicole get a 5% discount off your plan.

The Adventures of Nicole partners with Global Rescue to offer the world’s leading medical evacuation and security advisory services. To travel with peace of mind, shop evacuation coverage at Global Rescue .

Homer to Anchorage

Dalton highway (add on), alaska road trip week one.

Welcome to Alaska! This is the most common jumping-off point for an Alaska road trip as  Anchorage  has the most domestic and international connections.

As Anchorage will be a starting point for many of you reading this post, Anchorage will be where you’ll pick up your rental car and most supplies. Anchorage has numerous grocery, department, and gear stores such as Fred Meyer, REI, Walmart, and more.

Anchorage also is home to some of the best hotels in Alaska and has a small handful of budget accommodations and hostels for those on a tight budget. Check out  this post to see a list of cheap accommodations . Another great option is Airbnb.

You will be in Anchorage a couple more times on your Alaska road trip, so you may choose to explore the city right away or at a later point in your trip.

Check out  2 Days In Anchorage  and  Free Things To Do In Anchorage  for ideas on what to do in the city. Wanna get out of the Anchorage bustle, but not stray too far? Check out the  16 Best Day Hikes Near Anchorage .

Plan your stay in Anchorage with the  Anchorage Travel Guide

Where To Stay In Anchorage

Basecamp Anchorage |  Booking.com  |

Inlet Tower Hotel & Suites |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

The Hotel Captain Cook |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

Anchorage to Girdwood

• Distance: 35 Miles
• Time: 40 Minutes
• Places to stop: McHugh Creek, Beluga Point, Bird Creek

Girdwood  is a small town about 40 minutes south of Anchorage along the scenic Turnagain Arm. Home to Alyeska Ski Resort for those visiting in winter/spring months that may want to get in some turns. Girdwood has several good restaurants, plenty of hiking options, and is quite scenic.

Some will make a quick pitstop here while others may want to spend a few days.

Check out Girdwood accommodations  here .

Things To Do In Girdwood

• Ski or snowboard at Alyeska Resort
• Walk to  Virgin Creek Falls
• Hike the Winner Creek Trail
• Go dog sledding
• Take a flightseeing tour
• Take a helicopter to a glacier

Where To Stay In Girdwood

Alyeska Resort |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

Alyeska Cabin |  Booking.com  |

Everything you need to know to plan a perfect visit:  The Girdwood Travel Guide

Looking for some awesome things to do in and around? Check out  Virgin Creek Falls  or nearby  Byron Glacier

Girdwood to Whittier

• Distance: 25 Miles
• Places to stop: Portage Ghost Town, Portage Glacier, Byron Glacier, Whittier Tunnel

Whittier & Portage

Not much further south from Girdwood is a tunnel that pierces through the mountains to a little town named Whittier on Prince William Sound. Even to this day it still surprises me every time I cross through the tunnel at how different the landscape is just on the other side.

From Whittier, it’s possible to take day cruises in the sound out to beautiful calving glaciers, go out on a fishing charter, hike, camp, and more. Note that a 2-way ticket for the Whittier tunnel is $22 per car.

Don’t miss Portage & Byron Glaciers that sit very close to the opening of the Anchorage side of the Whittier Tunnel.

There aren’t a lot of accommodation options in Whittier, however, there are campgrounds.

Things To Do In Whittier & Portage

• Take a glacier cruise from Whittier to explore Prince William Sound
• Take a Portage Lake Cruise
• Hike Portage Pass
• Visit Byron Glacier

Looking for more info on Byron Glacier? Learn more to plan your visit  here

Wanna break from driving?  Visit Spencer Glacier On The Whistle Stop Train

Whittier to Seward

• Distance: 110 Miles
• Time: 2 Hours 30 Minutes
• Places to stop: Turnagain Pass, Hope, Kenai Lake, Moose Pass, Primrose/Lost Lake Trailhead, Exit Glacier/Harding Icefield Trailhead

Seward  is the Gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park and a port city for southcentral Alaska. The city of Seward isn’t very large, but depending on your interests some may need a few days to tick off all the things on their to-do list.

Shop Seward accommodations  here .

Looking for a stop on the way to Seward? Check out the tiny town of  Hope, Alaska

Things To Do In Seward

• Visit the Sealife Center
• Take a halibut or salmon charter
• Hike along Exit Glacier
• Take a Kenai Fjords National Park glacier cruise (I recommend booking with Major Marine Tours )
• Hike to Harding Ice Field
• Visit the boat harbor
• Trek up Mount Marathon
• Kayak in Resurrection Bay
• Go flightseeing
• Take a whale watching cruise
• Spend a night or two over in nearby Kayaker’s Cove

Where To Stay In Seward

Camping |  Cityofseward.us  |

Nauti Otter Inn & Yurt Village |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

Hotel Seward |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

Harbor 360 Hotel |  Booking.com  |  Agoda.com  |

Seward Windsong Lodge |  Hotels.com  |

Orca Island Cabins |  Expedia.com  | Located on a private island in Humpy Cove, Resurrection Bay

Looking for more ideas? Check out my  Seward Travel Guide  for everything you need to know

Seward to Kenai

• Distance: 105 miles
• Time: 2 hours
• Places to stop: Cooper Landing, Soldotna

There isn’t much in the way of attractions or things to do in Kenai itself unless you’re planning to get in some fishing on your way down to Homer, but Kenai can be a decent place to stop over between Seward and Homer.

Shop Kenai accommodations  here .

Where to Stay In Kenai & Soldotna

Kenai Airport Hotel |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

King’s Haven Lodge |  Booking.com  |

Southern Bluff B&B |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

Read more details on my  One Week Kenai Peninsula Road Trip itinerary

Kenai to Homer

• Distance: 85 Miles
• Time: 1 Hour 30 Minutes
• Places to stop: Ninilchik, Anchor Point

Homer is a usual fan favorite of those tourists that road trip around Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula.

Check out Homer accommodations  here .

Things To Do In Homer

• Wander around the beaches, shop,s and campgrounds on the Homer Spit
• Visit the Islands Ocean Visitor Center
• Grab a drink at the Salty Dawg Saloon
• Take a halibut charter
• Go flightseeing and bear viewing over in Lake Clark National Park
• Hike around Kachemak Bay State Park
• Take a water taxi across the Bay to Halibut Cove
• Grab a beer at Homer Brewing Company

Where To Stay In Homer

Camping (tent & RV) |  City of Homer  |

Beluga Lake Lodge | Booking.com | Hotels.com |

Lands End Resort | Booking.com | Hotels.com |

Make the most of your time in Homer with the  Homer Travel Guide

If you’re planning to spend the night in Halibut Cover,  click here  for a list of accommodations and  here  for campgrounds. In Seldovia, you can try the  Sea Parrot Inn , or  click here  for more info on camping in Seldovia ($10/night for tents and $15/night for RVs).

• Distance: 225 Miles
• Time: 4 Hours 15 Minutes
• Places to stop: Anchor Point, Kenai, Soldotna, Cooper Landing, Girdwood

Alaska Road Trip Week Two

Time to loop back to Anchorage. For those of you that are only in Alaska for a week, you may be bidding your goodbyes here, but if you’re continuing for two weeks or more, use this time to re-stock up before hitting the road to the north toward Denali and Fairbanks.

Shop Anchorage accommodations  here .

Things To Do In Anchorage

• Take a hike up Flattop for panoramic views of Anchorage
• Bicycle down the Coastal Trail
• Shop around downtown Anchorage
• For more ideas check out my post  Free things to do in Anchorage

See more and plan the perfect trip with the  Anchorage Travel Guide

Anchorage to Eklutna

• Distance: 20 Miles to Eagle River | 22 Miles more to Eklutna
• Time: 25 Minutes to Eagle River | 35 Minutes to Eklutna
• Places to stop: Arctic Valley, Eklutna Graveyard

Eagle River & Eklutna

I’m actually from Eagle River, and from a tourist’s perspective, there isn’t much of anything to see in Eagle River unless you want to get out into nature. Eklutna is one of the oldest inhabited parts of the Anchorage area, estimated at 800 years old.

Shop Eagle River accommodations  here .

Things To Do In Eagle River

• Hike around the Eagle River Valley at the Eagle River Nature Center
• Trek back to glacial-fed  Symphony & Eagle Lakes
• Walk up Mt Baldy for panoramic views of the Knik Arm

Things To Do In Eklutna

• Hike, bike or kayak at  Eklutna Lake
• Visit Eklutna Historical Park
• Walk to Thunderbird Falls

Where To Stay In Eagle River

Eagle River Microtel |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

Eklutna to Hatcher Pass

• Distance: 45 Miles
• Time: 1 Hour
• Places to stop: Knik, Butte

Hatcher Pass

Even after a lifetime here, Hatcher Pass is one of my favorite places in Alaska. With countless adventures to be had into the Talkeetna Mountains, it’s got something just about anyone could enjoy.

Things To Do In Hatcher Pass

• Visit Independence Mine
• Trek up or cross country ski around April Bowl
• Visit  Reed Lakes
• Take on longer backpacking routes like  Snowbird to Bomber  or the  Mint-Bomber Traverse

Hatcher Pass to Talkeetna

• Distance: 93 Miles
• Time: 1 Hour 50 Minutes
• Places to stop: Nancy Lake, Willow, Susitna River

Talkeetna is a small town, that once had a cat as a mayor, north of Wasilla. Talkeetna makes a great base for adventures around Denali National & State Parks.

Shop Talkeetna accommodations  here .

Things To Do In Talkeetna

• Take a Denali flightseeing tour
• Go on a jetboat trip

Where To Stay In & Around Talkeetna

McKinley View B&B |  Booking.com  |

Susitna River Cabins |  Booking.com  |

Talkeetna to Denali

• Distance: 174 Miles
• Time: 3 Hours
• Places to stop: Trapper Creek, Denali South View, Denali Viewpoint, Byer’s Creek Trail, Chulitna River, Hurricane Bridge

Cantwell, Denali National Park, Healy

This is one of the top places to visit in Alaska, with Denali National Park being one of the most well-known destinations in the state. If you’re planning to visit in the summer months, June, July, and August, I highly recommend making arrangements and booking accommodations and/or campsites well in advance as things do fill up quickly and accommodations in your budget range may sell out long before your arrival.

If you’re not fussed to camp in a tent (or camper/RV) and outside the park though, you can usually find a slot at a campground even at the last minute.

Denali has plenty to offer with narrated bus tours, flightseeing, wildlife viewing, walking, hiking, backcountry backpacking, and so much more.

Shop Denali accommodations  here .

Things To Do In & Around Denali National Park

• Take a narrated bus tour of  Denali National Park  (note that you cannot drive the park road beyond Savage River (mile 15) in your own vehicle unless you’ve got a  Denali Road Lottery Permit )
• Go on a flightseeing tour
• Take a  backcountry safari down the Stampede Trail
• Hike K’sugi Ridge over in Denali State Park
• Go whitewater rafting
• Drive the  Denali Highway  to Paxson
• Get a  Denali Road Lottery permit  for September and self-drive the entire national park road

Where to Stay in & Around Denali

Alpine Creek Lodge |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

Aurora Denali Lodge |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

McKinley Park

Grande Denali Lodge |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

Plan your visit to Denali National Park with the  Denali Travel Guide

Read more about the  Denali Road Lottery  & learn how you can do it too

Denali to Nenana

• Distance: 54 Miles
• Time: 55 Mintues
• Places to stop: Nenana River

Nenana is a small town, just north of Healy, on the way to Fairbanks. There are only a handful of sights to see in town, making it a nice stop to break up the journey between Denali and Fairbanks.

Click here  to shop Nenana accommodations.

Things To Do In Nenana

• Whitewater raft the Nenana River
• Visit the Alaska State Railroad Museum
• Check out the Alfred Starr Cultural Center and Museum

Check out the hit the highlights road trip:  Anchorage to Fairbanks

Nenana to Fairbanks

• Distance: 55 Miles
• Places to stop: Esther

Alaska’s golden heart city, with plenty of things to do whether you’re visiting under the midnight sun of midsummer, or you’re braving the cold in the dead of winter. One of the main draws for people to Fairbanks is the chance to see the northern lights dance in the sky, which means for a chilly winter visit (but spring and fall usually yield some aurora activity too!), but the awesome things about Fairbanks is that there’s plenty of other things to check out in town or just outside if you come for the aurora and the weather (and solar flares) don’t behave for you.

Check out Fairbanks accommodations  here .

Things To Do In & Around Fairbanks

• Soak it up at  Chena Hotsprings
• Hang out on the beach at  Tanana Lakes
• Explore downtown Fairbanks
• Take a  Riverboat Discovery Tour down the Chena River
• Check out antique cars at the  Fountainhead Auto Museum
• Hike up  Table Top Mountain
• Get outside the city (if you’re there in fall, winter, or spring), and  go hunt for the aurora borealis
• Visit The  Aurora Ice Museum
• Go to the  Museum of the North  at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
• Pay a visit to the  Morris Thompson Cultural Center 
• Take the kids to have fun at Pioneer Park

Where To Stay In Fairbanks

Billie’s Backpacker Hostel |  Booking.com  |

Pike’s Waterfront Lodge |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

Sophie Station Suites |  Booking.com  |

Going to Fairbanks? Look no further!  The Fairbanks Travel Guide

Alaska Road Trip Week Three

Optional: Dalton Highway Road Trip

• Distance: 992 Miles (return)
• Time: 24 Hours (return)
• Places to stop: See  here  for sights

The Dalton Highway is a crazy road trip that will take you from Fairbanks to the north coast of Alaska, up a dirt road, that passes beyond the Arctic Circle. You will want to have plenty of food, water, gasoline, and camping gear for the journey…. and a spare tire or two because flats are the norm (happened to a friend just this past summer).

If you want to do a day trip to the Arctic Circle via the Dalton Highway and don’t want to deal with the logistics or worry about breakdowns, you can book this  Arctic Circle day tour from Fairbanks .

Two really cool add-ons to consider for your Dalton Highway adventure is a day (or more) hike into ANWR and a multi-day hike into Gates of the Arctic National Park .

If you wanna read up more on the road trip up the Dalton Highway, read this post  here .

Alaska Road Trip Week Four

Fairbanks to Delta Junction

• Distance: 95 Miles
• Places to stop: North Pole, Salcha

Delta Junction

There isn’t heaps to do in Delta Junction itself but you’ll pass through here if you’re planning to explore between Fairbanks and Valdez or even Anchorage via the Richardson Highway.

Shop Delta Junction accommodations  here .

Things To Do In Delta Junction

• Rika’s Roadhouse & Big Delta State Historical Park
• Sullivan’s Roadhouse Historical Museum
• Quartz Lake Loop Trail
• Gulkana Glacier Trail
• Bert Mountain Trail
• Lost Lake-Moose Pond Trail
• Take a road trip tour from Fairbanks to Delta Junction

Delta Junction to Tok

• Distance: 108 Miles
• Time: 1 Hour 45 Minutes
• Places to stop: Tanana Valley State Forest

Tok, much like Delta Junction doesn’t have tons of things to do in itself, however, it’s a good jumping-off point for further adventures. Tok is at a crossroads if you will.

Heading east along the Alaska Highway will take across the border and into Canada, a turn north will take you along the Taylor Highway to Chicken, Eagle, Yukon Charley River’s Nature Preserve and eventually onto the Top of the World Highway to cross the border into the northern Yukon Territory and to Dawson City. Heading southwest out of Tok is the Glenn Highway, which will take you past Gakona and Glennallen where you can either head south to Valdez or southwest to Anchorage.

Shop accommodations in Tok  here .

Things To Do In & Around Tok

• Tok Mainstreet Visitors Center
• Forty Mile Country

Tok to Wrangell St. Elias National Park

• Distance: 261 Miles
• Time: 6 Hours
• Places to stop: Paxson, Gakona, Glennallen, Chitina

Wrangell St. Elias National Park

From Tok, take the Glenn Highway down to Glennallen and from there head south on the Richardson to Copper Center. In Copper Center, I’d recommend making a stop at the Copper Center Visitor Center to learn what activities and trails to hike in Wrangell St. Elias National Park.

A little way down the highway after Copper Center head out onto the Edgerton Highway to Kenny Lake and Chitina, before making the remainder of the journey on the McCarthy Road that gives access to McCarthy and Kennecott Mine. McCarthy is the main jumping-off point into Wrangell St. Elias National Park.

Wrangell St. Elias is the largest national park in the US, and as such, most of the park is only accessible by multi-day hikes and by small plane.

Shop for cabins and accommodations in McCarthy  here .

Things To Do In Wrangell St. Elias National Park

• Hang out in the small town of McCarthy
• Visit Kennicott Mine
• Charter an air taxi to check out the Wrangell St. Elias backcountry, or to stay in one of the public access cabins
• Walk out onto Kennicott Glacier & Root Glacier

Wrangell St. Elias National Park to Valdez

• Distance: 180 Miles
• Places to stop: Thompson Pass, Bridal Veil Falls

Valdez is a small port on a fjord in Prince William Sound that’s most well known as the terminus of the Alaska Pipeline.

Shop Valdez accommodations  here .

Things To Do In Valdez

• Valdez Museum & Hisotrical Archive
• Take a glacier cruise to Colombia Glacier & Mears Glacier
• Hike Mineral Creek Trail
• Go seakayaking to explore the fjords around Valdez
• Whitewater raft the Lowe River through Keystone Canyon

Where To Stay In Valdez

Camping (RV & Tent) | City of Valdez  |

Glacier Hotel |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

Want more details? Check out my  one week in Alaska Wrangell St. Elias & Prince William Sound Road Trip

Valdez to Matanuska Glacier

• Distance: 196 Miles
• Time: 3 Hours 15 Minutes
• Places to stop: Thompson Pass, Bridal Veil Falls, Gelnnallen, Eureka

Matanuska Glacier

Matanuska Glacier is one of Alaska’s easiest-to-visit glaciers. For those not as adventurous it’s easy enough to stop at viewpoints along the Glenn Highway for views of the glacier, but if you’re wanting to get out on the ice drive into Matanuska Glacier Park where you can pay the $30 per person access fee and continue to drive to the toe of the glacier.

Once there, park the car and head on out to the ice, following the trail marked by orange cones. I recommend dressing warm and wearing cleats out there to help prevent slips. If DIY isn’t your thing you can book glacier tours  here .

Matanuska Glacier to Anchorage

• Distance: 103 Miles
• Time: 2 Hours
• Places to stop: Matanuska River, Palmer

Finally back to Anchorage to wrap up your Alaska road trip!

More Posts from Alaska:

Twin Peaks & Eklutna Lake

The Best Places To See The Northern Lights in Alaska

9 Tips For Viewing The Aurora

Girdwood Travel Guide + 5 Things To Do In Girdwood, Alaska

Anchorage To Fairbanks Road Trip: One Week In Alaska

The Big Loop Alaska Road Trip

2 Day Anchorage Itinerary

Hiking The Mint-Bomber Traverse

Travel Alaska On A Budget

How To Visit Gates of the Arctic National Park

A Guide To The Denali Highway

Visit Spencer Glacier On The Whistle Stop Train

Visiting Byron Glacier

How To Get To Mendenhall Ice Caves

16 Best Day Hikes Near Anchorage, Alaska

What to Pack for Alaska, Written by a Local

Anchorage’s Best Hotels: Where to Stay in Anchorage

Biking to Knik Glacier in the Winter

A Day Hike Into ANWR

Fairbanks Travel Guide + 13 Things To Do In Fairbanks

Shrine of St. Therese In Juneau, Alaska

How Much Does It Cost To Travel In Alaska?

The Best Way To Explore Kenai Fjords National Park: Major Marine Tours

The Ultimate Alaska Highway Guide: Driving the Alcan between Canada & Alaska

Wrangell St. Elias Road Trip, Alaska

A Quick Guide To Hope, Alaska

How To Get A Denali Road Lottery Permit

The Rabbit Lakes Hike In Anchorage, Alaska

Kayaker’s Cove: My Favorite Escape From Seward

Homer Travel Guide + 14 Things To Do In Homer

34 Best Things To Do In Alaska

Williwaw Lakes Hike In Anchorage, Alaska

The Ultimate Alaska Travel Guide

Kenai Peninsula Road Trip

Anchorage travel guide + 20 things to do in anchorage.

Juneau Travel Guide + 19 Things To Do In Juneau

The Best Road Trips In The World

Denali National Park Travel Guide + 14 Things To Do In Denali

10 Reasons to Visit Alaska

Seward Travel Guide + 18 Things To Do In Seward

MacDonald Spit, My Favorite Coastal Alaska Destination

Visiting Virgin Creek Falls In Girdwood, Alaska

Free Things To Do In Anchorage

K’esugi Ridge Hike in Denali State Park, Alaska

The Dalton Highway Road Trip

Snowbird-Bomber Hike in Hatcher Pass

The Reed Lakes Hike In Hatcher Pass, Alaska

10 day alaska itinerary.

Eagle & Symphony Lakes Hike, Alaska

The Perfect Coastal Alaskan Winter Getaway: Between Beaches

Kenai Fjords National Park Travel Guide

Best Hostels in Anchorage, Alaska

Free places to Ski & Snowboard Near Anchorage

10 Off The Beaten Path Destinations For 2021

Arrigetch Peaks Expedition: Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska

The Surreality of the Underbelly: The Mendenhall Cave, Inside a Glacier

The Road To Kantishna

Eating My Way Across The Alaska State Fair

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Alaska Road Trips: The Ultimate Guide to Driving in Alaska

By Karen Joustra

With over 660,000 square miles of wilderness, driving in Alaska has long been a favorite with visitors to America’s largest state. And with wide open roads, expansive vistas and next-to-no traffic, it is little wonder that the freedom and flexibility of an Alaska road trip appeals to so many.

Alaska’s legendary roads – such as the untamed Dalton Highway that stretches almost to the Beaufort Sea deep in the high Arctic, or the Top of the World Highway that connects Alaska to Canada’s Yukon Territory – evoke images of early pioneers, the Gold Rush era and intrepid travel for all who seek it. So if you're just getting started on planning your Alaska road trip, here's our ultimate guide to driving in Alaska. And for those with a little more time, driving through Canada to Alaska.

How long does it take to drive to Alaska?

With the vast Coast Mountains in Alaska’s panhandle forming an impenetrable barrier to entry further south, most drivers make entry to Alaska via the Alcan border point at Beaver Creek in the Yukon, so the obvious answer to this question is ‘it depends where you start’!

The journey from Vancouver to the border is 1,775 miles or around 32 hours of driving while the drive from Calgary is fractionally shorter at 1,682 miles and around 29 hours. Whichever way you cut it, this is a serious undertaking with around three long days on the road. And it is worth remembering that even once you cross the Alaskan border, it is still another 430 miles or eight hours to Anchorage!

Despite the distances involved, the rewards for those who tackle the drive come in the form of the incredible landscapes of the Yukon. Breathtaking Kluane National Park alone more than makes up for what can be some fairly monotonous roads further south. Or for those with a little longer still, a relatively short detour further north will take you to historic Dawson City which sits on the famous Yukon River and served as the heart of the Klondike Gold Rush.

But if the thought of driving over 2,000 miles doesn’t appeal, it's possible to hire a car in Whitehorse in the Yukon and drive into Alaska from there – a journey of a little over 300 miles. Just be aware that the car will need to be returned to Whitehorse at the end of your trip. With that in mind, it is possible to take a fantastic figure-eight route that starts in Whitehorse, crosses into Alaska at the Alcan border and returns to Whitehorse via the Top of the World Highway and Dawson City. Ideally, a journey like this would take around two weeks.

Where to rent cars in Alaska

Despite its vast size, Alaska really only has two cities - Anchorage towards the south and Fairbanks just north of the center. If you can pick up your car in one and drop it off in the other it is possible to explore Alaska without doubling back on yourself. With an increasing number of flight options to both cities, this is a great way to begin exploring Alaska.

As you might imagine with somewhere as remote as this, the number of cars available to rent is limited and it's a significant logistical challenge to increase that number when demand is high. For that reason, we always recommend booking your car at the same time as the rest of your travel arrangements instead of leaving it to chance when you arrive. We work with a number of providers to ensure we have access to a range of vehicles; not all cars are allowed on all roads, so we always choose vehicles accordingly.

What is driving like in Alaska?

Roads between the main centers are paved and generally well maintained, wide enough to comfortably accommodate the largest of road-going vehicles and well marked with signs to help keep you on track. With few opportunities to turn off, it is hard to go wrong in Alaska – the biggest challenge is not being distracted by the incredible scenery on all sides! And with over 100,000 black bears and 40,000 grizzlies in Alaska the chances of seeing wildlife as you drive is relatively high so keep your eyes peeled.

Once out of the cities you should find that you have the roads pretty much to yourself and other than from the air, these open roads are arguably the best way to truly appreciate just how expansive Alaska really is.

One consideration to keep in mind is the distance between gas stations. We always recommend stopping to top your car up whenever you see one, even if you don’t necessarily need gas immediately. It could be several hours until the next opportunity!

Which are the best roads to drive in Alaska?

While you may have heard of or even aspire to drive some or all of the Dalton highway, a 414-mile stretch of road that begins just north of Fairbanks and ends close to the northern coast, it is a rough gravel road with only three settlements on the entire route, whose combined total permanent population totals no more than 100 people.

One of these towns is the ominously named Deadhorse, which should give you an idea of the type of place this is – one of the most isolated roads in the United States. Traveling in small vehicles comes with significant risk and anyone undertaking a journey on the Dalton should carry survival gear, just in case.

Luckily, there are plenty of roads further south of this that are far more hospitable, far less isolated and more welcoming to Alaska’s visitors. Some of our favorites include:

• The Glenn Highway: Leaving Anchorage, this route takes you east towards the Yukon culminating in breathtaking views of the massive Mount Wrangell that fill the windshield as you approach.
• Richardson Highway: One of two routes leading from Fairbanks to the south, the Richardson intersects the Glenn Highway and takes you all the way to Valdez on the edge of beautiful Prince William Sound, skirting Wrangell St. Elias National Park as you go.

What are the best Alaska road trips?

Our team has driven many of the roads in Alaska and explored all corners of the state so our itineraries are designed from first-hand experience. While it is possible to reach some of these places by train , having a car will allow you to stop at your leisure en route, structure your own day independently and be in some of these places before any crowds arrive. And of course, cars can access some places that trains don't run, with key places such as Wrangell St. Elias, Valdez, much of the Kenai Peninsula and the interior of Alaska and the Yukon border crossings.

Below are some of our most popular Alaska road trips, designed to encompass some of the very best self-drive destinations, must-sees and otherwise inaccessible places. If you don’t see what you’re looking for we can design an itinerary from scratch that will tick every box on your list, so get in touch with our Travel Designers to discuss your ideas.

7 Days: Northern Exposure

This 7-day Alaska road trip showcases the best of South and Central Alaska, beginning in Anchorage and ending in Fairbanks. Spend a full day in Prince William Sound viewing over 26 tidewater glaciers, explore Kenai Fjords with its inhabitants of orca & humpback whales, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, puffins and eagles, and head north to Talkeetna and Denali National Park for a full day backcountry adventure tour.

• DAY 1 Anchorage to Seward | Prince William Sound 26 Glacier Cruise
• DAY 2 Seward | Kenai Fjord Wildlife Cruise
• DAY 3 Seward to Girdwood
• DAY 4 Girdwood to Talkeetna
• DAY 5 Talkeetna to Denali National Park
• DAY 6 Denali National Park Backcountry Tour | Coach | Flightseeing
• DAY 7 Denali National Park to Fairbanks

9 Days: Alaska's Mountains, Glaciers & Wildlife

Explore two of Alaska's most popular National Parks on this leisurely 9-day road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks . This tour is designed for travelers with limited time, but thoughtfully includes a Prince William Sound cruise, Homer on the Kenai Peninsula, Denali National Park and Kenai Fjords. A guided bus tour will take you into Denali National Park, where you can enjoy pristine wilderness and look out for wildlife.

• DAY 3 Seward to Homer
• DAY 4 Homer | Day at Leisure
• DAY 5 Homer to Girdwood
• DAY 6 Girdwood to Talkeetna
• DAY 7 Talkeetna to Denali National Park
• DAY 8 Denali National Park Backcountry Tour | Coach | Flightseeing
• DAY 9 Denali National Park to Fairbanks

10 Days: Alaska Highlights Tour

Visit some of Alaska's most popular places on this 10-day Alaska road trip departing from Anchorage . Packed with true and authentic Alaskan experiences, this self drive will take you off the beaten path and into adventures you can only imagine. Highlights include Talkeetna, Denali National Park, Fairbanks, Prince William Sound, Valdez and Kenai Fjords National Park. Don't forget to pack your camera!

• DAY 1 Anchorage to Seward
• DAY 2 Seward | Kenai Fjord National Park Cruise
• DAY 3 Seward to Talkeetna
• DAY 4 Talkeetna to Denali National Park
• DAY 5 Denali National Park Backcountry Tour | Coach | Flightseeing
• DAY 6 Denali National Park to Fairbanks | Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise
• DAY 7 Fairbanks to Valdez
• DAY 8 Valdez | Prince William Sound Columbia Glacier Cruise with lunch
• DAY 9 Valdez to Sheep Mountain Lodge
• DAY 10 Sheep Mountain Lodge to Anchorage

12 Days: Alaska National Parks Explorer

This bestselling 12-day Alaska road trip showcases three of Alaska's majestic National Parks. Cruise Kenai Fjords National Park, take a full day trip into Denali National Park with a return scenic flight, witness Wrangell St. Elias National Park and take a glacier cruise into Prince William Sound. Along the way, make sure you keep your eyes open for moose, bears and whales as you adventure!

• DAY 4 Talkeetna to Denali National Park Entrance
• DAY 7 Fairbanks to Chitina | Chitina to McCarthy | Flight
• DAY 8 McCarthy | Kennicott | Root Glacier Hike
• DAY 9 McCarthy to Chitina | Flight | Chitina to Valdez
• DAY 10 Valdez | Prince William Sound Columbia Glacier Cruise with lunch
• DAY 11 Valdez to Sheep Mountain Lodge
• DAY 12 Sheep Mountain Lodge to Anchorage

13 Days: Best of Alaska Road Trip

This 13-day 'best of Alaska' road trip features most of the highlights of the central Alaska region - Kenai Fjords, Denali and Wrangell / St. Elias National Parks. Take a flightseeing tour to Mount Denali, watch out for wildlife in its namesake park, explore Fairbanks and visit McCarthy and the Kennicott Mine. Wrapping up the trip, you'll hike to Exit Glacier and join a spectacular Kenai Fjords glacier cruise.

• DAY 1 Anchorage to Talkeetna
• DAY 2 Talkeetna to Denali National Park
• DAY 3 Denali National Park Backcountry Tour | Coach | Flightseeing
• DAY 4 Denali National Park to Fairbanks | Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise
• DAY 5 Fairbanks | Day at Leisure
• DAY 6 Fairbanks to Chitina | Chitina to McCarthy | Flight
• DAY 7 McCarthy | Kennicott | Root Glacier Hike
• DAY 8 McCarthy to Sheep Mountain | Flight | Chitina to Valdez
• DAY 9 Sheep Mountain Lodge to Seward
• DAY 10 Seward | Full Day Northwestern Fjord Cruise
• DAY 11 Seward to Homer
• DAY 12 Homer | Day at Leisure
• DAY 13 Homer to Anchorage

To request rates and check for early booking offers, contact our Travel Designers toll free at 1-855-465-1001 or email [email protected] and the team will gladly personalize your dream Alaska road trip.

Still trying to decide on our 40th wedding anniversary vacation in May - July 2024.

Melvin M Kurtz , 08/05/2023

I am considering crossing most of the US incl Alaska with my own motorbike.

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The 5 Best road trips in Alaska

Last Updated on April 9, 2024

If you love road trips, then you absolutely must do one of these road trips in Alaska in your lifetime! Alaska’s highways are remote and vast with absolutely spectacular scener y that makes the miles pass quickly.

My top 5 Alaska road trips are all on paved roads , making them accessible in any rental car in reasonable weather. I’ve included some bonus trips on unpaved highways for even more adventure, but be aware that most of those road trips are not an option in most rental cars. There are local companies that will allow you to drive on gravel roads, make sure to book them far in advance as they are in high demand!

I’ve done all these epic road trips in Alaska at least once, most of them many times. In addition to living in Alaska for seven years, I’m also a road logger for the Milepost , so it’s part of my job to make sure the information for travelers is accurate and helpful. I love road trips and any time I do a road trip in Alaska, I’m reminded that these really are some of the best I’ve ever done in my life. As a former Alaskan, I might be biased, but I think you’ll agree these are some unforgettable scenic drives.

• General tips for driving in Alaska

Seward Highway – Anchorage to Seward

Richardson highway – fairbanks to valdez, glenn highway – anchorage to glennallen.

• Parks Highway – Fairbanks to Denali to Anchorage
• Klondike Loop – Skagway to Whitehorse, Yukon to Haines
• Bonus Alaska Road trips on unpaved roads
• What to pack for Alaska Road trips

Listen to our conversation with the Editor of the Milepost about Alaska Road trips:

Tips for driving in alaska.

As a former Alaskan and a guide, I’ve done lots of road trips in Alaska! At the bottom of this article is a section specifically about what to bring with you. Some additional tips:

• Make sure you are not driving a rental car on any highways that are prohibited in your rental agreement (like gravel roads). Not respecting this can be VERY expensive and is not the right thing to do
• Expect road trips in Alaska to take much longer than in the rest of the United States. Road construction , two lane highways with infrequent passing lanes, stunning scenery , wildlife and unpredictable weather are just a few reasons! Slow down, don’t speed, keep your eyes on the road and make the journey a part of the adventure rather than a way to get from place to place.
• Expect to have limited or zero cell service in places. Carry paper maps or downloaded maps on your phone, and download those playlists, podcasts and audio books. I’ve included some information about cell service along each route, based on my experience. Depending on your cell service provider, your experience may be different.
• Drive a car with tires in good condition , which minimizes your chances of a flat. Just in case have a full size spare and tire changing equipment.
• Most rest areas have only pit toilets (no flushing toilets or sinks). I have indicated the flushing toilets along each route, so plan ahead if that’s important to you!
• Check road conditions before you go at the State of Alaska’s website.

Why the Seward Highway is one of the best road trips in Alaska

A road trip from Anchorage to Seward is an unforgettable Alaska experience! This is my favorite road trip in Alaska to recommend for visitors! Every single moment of this drive is surrounded by stunning scenery, from the bore tides of Turnagain Arm to the mountains of Turnagain Pass and glaciers of Portage Valley and Prince William Sound. There are lots of wonderful stops on this trip, so give yourself the entire day to do it, you won’t regret it!

• Distance : 130 miles (longer if you extend your road trip further onto the Kenai Peninsula )
• Minimum drive time (without stops): 2 hours, 45 minutes
• Cell service : Good most of the way
• Best restrooms : Girdwood, Portage Glacier Visitor Center
• Essential stops : Girdwood, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage Valley, Exit Glacier
• Extending this road trip : The Kenai Peninsula is full of outdoor adventure, big views, fishing and kayaking opportunities, so if you have more time, head further down the peninsula to Soldotna or Homer .

Why the Richardson Highway is one of the best road trips in Alaska

The Richardson Highway is my personal favorite highway in Alaska. While a busy highway for traffic across Alaska and a connector to the Alaska Highway connecting Alaska to the “lower 48”, many visitors do not even know about how gorgeous this highway is. The mountain views are just incredible, from the Eastern edge of the Alaska range to the Wrangell Mountains to Thompson Pass near Valdez .

Driving the whole Richardson Highway takes you from Fairbanks to Valdez, from the dry and extremely cold or hot (depending on the season) interior of Alaska, through multiple mountain ranges and down to the fishing port of Valdez. This route also parallels the route of the Trans Alaska Pipeline, which you see from time to time from the road.

• Distance : 360 miles
• Minimum drive time (without stops): 6 hours, 30 minutes
• Cell service : Good in towns, limited or non existent between towns.
• Best restrooms : Hub of Alaska (Tesoro in Glennallen), Wrangell-St Elias Visitor Center
• Essential stops : North Pole Santa Claus House, Big Delta Brewing, Castner Glacier (depending on conditions – hire a guide for safety if you want to see the inside of the cave), Wrangell-St Elias National Park visitor center, Worthington Glacier, Thompson Pass
• Extending this road trip : You can extend this road trip in a few ways. One option is to take the ferry from Valdez to Whittier and then drive back to Anchorage from there. You could then loop back to Fairbanks on the Parks Highway. Another option is to take the Glenn Highway over to the Parks Highway to return to Fairbanks.

Why the Glenn Highway is one of the best road trips in Alaska

The Glenn Highway has some seriously stunning mountain scenery as well as glaciers. Most people would not do this drive just to go to Glennallen, but it is often a part of a larger road trip from Anchorage to McCarthy or Anchorage to Valdez (connects with the Richardson Highway discussed above).

• Distance : 180 miles
• Minimum drive time (without stops): 3 hours, 15 minutes
• Cell service : There is at least some cell service most of the time, with a few dead spots. After you leave Palmer, service is more limited (not enough for data).
• Best restrooms : Palmer, The Hub of Alaska (Glennallen)
• Essential stops : Thunderbird Falls, Palmer Musk Ox Farm, Matanuska Glacier
• Extending this road trip : This road trip is usually part of a larger one as mentioned above. You can also connect this trip to the Richardson Highway to go up to Fairbanks.

Parks Highway – Anchorage to Fairbanks

Why the Parks Highway is one of the best road trips in Alaska

Honestly, the Parks Highway from Anchorage to Fairbanks is not my favorite road trip in Alaska. Not because it isn’t beautiful, because it is, and it has more services than most other highways in Alaska. It’s really just because some of the others are even MORE gorgeous. This is still a beautiful drive by any standard, and it takes you right to Denali National Park , and between Alaska’s two largest international airports, Anchorage and Fairbanks . Make sure not to overlook the incredible viewpoints of Denali from Denali State Park, south of the national park and well signed.

• Cell service : Some coverage most of the time, but not full bars. A few dead spots
• Best restrooms : Wasilla, Denali National Park Visitor Center
• Essential stops : Eagle River Nature Center, Iditarod headquarters, Denali State Park, Talkeetna, Denali National Park
• Extending this road trip : I recommend doing this road trip round trip if you have a rental car, since a one way car rental is extremely expensive. To make a loop, you can go the other way on the Glenn and Richardson Highway for even more amazing scenery.

Klondike Loop – Skagway to Whitehorse to Haines

Why the Klondike Loop is one of the best road trips in Alaska

The Klondike Loop really has it all – spectacular scenery from coast to mountains to arid country, a trip between the US and Canada with two border crossings, and if you want to do the full loop, a ferry ! It’s a long drive from anywhere to start this road trip, but especially if you’re driving between the “lower 48” and Alaska , this is a worthy diversion. You can start in either Skagway or Haines . It’s also an option to make this part of a longer Yukon road trip .

• Distance : 350 miles (plus a ferry ride to complete the loop)
• Minimum drive time (without stops): 7 hours + one hour ferry ride (longer with waiting for the ferry, boarding and disembarking)
• Cell service : Non existent except in major towns (Skagway, Haines, Whitehorse )
• Best restrooms : Skagway, Whitehorse, Haines (mostly pit toilets in between)
• Essential stops : White Pass viewpoints, Carcoss Desert, Emerald Lake, Whitehorse, Kathleen Lake, Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
• Extending this road trip : If you want to explore even more of the Klondike country in the Yukon, consider adding Dawson City to your itinerary. This is a good add on to a trip on the Alaska Highway.

Bonus – Gravel road Alaska road trips

If you really want to have an epic adventure, and you are confident in tire changing (and have all the equipment plus a full size spare) as well as have a vehicle that allows driving on gravel roads, then you can access some additional epic Alaska road trips!

I don’t necessarily recommend these Alaska road trips for most travelers, due to their remote location and the stress that can come with an unpaved road in a remote area. Also, a long drive on a gravel road can be beautiful, but it also uncomfortable (potholes!), slow and messy (especially if it’s raining). Most rental cars do NOT allow you to drive on any of these roads. There are smaller, local companies that let you (ask in advance and book way ahead of time as they have limited cars and book up fast).

Do not count on any cell service for navigation, looking up how to change a tire, or streaming any kind of music, podcasts, audio books or games.

Here are four epic unpaved Alaska road trips:

• The Dalton Highway – Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay – 500 miles one way: This is the most well known of these bonus trips, and probably the most challenging. An important thing to note is that you cannot drive to the Arctic Ocean! You are a few miles away where the road dead ends at the oil field in Prudhoe Bay. There is a shuttle you can take to the Arctic Ocean (arrange in advance). There is some incredible beauty here and some interesting highlights such as the Yukon River, Arctic Circle and the Mountains of the Brooks Range. The road is also really long and slow and there are many trucks and steep, sketchy turns on gravel!
• The McCarthy Road – Chitina to McCarthy – 60 miles one way: This road weaving in and out of Wrangell-St Elias National Park is honestly not super exciting. There aren’t any big views and it’s slow (plan on at least 3 hours one way). If you like lonely roads though, you’ll love it!
• The Denali Highway – Paxson to Cantwell – 135 miles one way: Probably the biggest payoff for the challenge of driving on gravel, the scenery along the Denali Highway is unforgettable. It also gives you the opportunity to make a big loop from Fairbanks along the Richardson Highway and the Parks Highway, or from Anchorage along the Parks, Richardson and Glenn Highways. Note that the Denali Highway is NOT the road going into Denali National Park (that road is called the Denali Park Road).
• Top of the World Highway – Tok to Dawson City – 185 miles one way: my personal favorite on this list, this highway takes you far above the tree line to a vast landscape straddling the US/Canadian border and taking you to the wonderful and unique town of Dawson City in the Yukon Territory. You’ll need a passport for this trip as well as checking the times the border crossing is open (hours are limited).

What to pack for an Alaska road trip

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For the most part you want to pack the same things for road trips in Alaska as you pack for road trips anywhere else. You’ll also want to make sure to bring everything on my Alaska packing list for all types of Alaska travel. A few things to call our specifically that are extra important here are:

• Make sure you bring clothing for all types of weather , it can change quickly!
• You’ll need to have food and water with you as there can be long stretches without anywhere to buy much
• Make sure your vehicle has a full size spare tire , all the tire changing equipment and that you know how to change it.
• The Milepost – this guide covers every highway in Alaska, the Yukon and all the access roads to get here. Updated every year, it will tell you the locations of services, rest areas and pullouts and is critical if you are in remote areas without cell phone service.
• I carry a GPS satellite communicator with me for peace of mind and in case of emergency in areas without cell service. I carry it on all my hikes as well as on road trips with areas without cell service. I use the Garmin Inreach mini, which you can get here on Amazon or here at REI .

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The Ultimate Alaska Road Trip Itinerary (From Fairbanks To Seward, Alaska)

Read More: The Ultimate Alaska Road Trip Itinerary (Everything From Homer To Fairbanks!)

Looking to elevate your adventure this summer?

Nothing is more adventurous or more rugged than Alaska. It’s not called “The Last Frontier” for just any reason! From the endless options for backcountry trails, off-road adventuring, or just sightseeing, you’re sure to get a hefty dose of the outdoors on an Alaska road trip.

In this post, we’re sharing the ultimate Alaska Road Trip itinerary, one that takes you from Homer to Fairbanks, to show you some of the most iconic spots in the state.

We’ll spill the beans on Denali National Park, whale watching in Seward, hot springs in Fairbanks, and share some of the best secret spots to check out near Girdwood!

It’s all here, so keep scrolling and let’s get planning one of the best west coast road trips in the USA !!

When Is The Best Time To Plan An Alaska Road Trip?

The best time to take an Alaska road trip is in the summer months, which are from May to September (the best times being July and August!). You can probably get away with planning a trip until October, but be prepared for snow if the winter season comes early!

Alaska Road Trip Planning Tip: We don’t suggest traveling in April, often called “mud season”, as the snow is melting which in turn makes Alaska hiking trails slushy and roads slippery and wet. Local businesses are also often closed, shifting gears from Alaska winter tours to summer tours.

Psst, want to make your trip even easier?  Try downloading the app  The Dyrt  for their  trip planner feature . You can set your route and waypoints, and it will find you the best campground and gas stops along your Alaska road trip route! Try their pro membership free for 30-days when using our code MANDAGIES !

How To Get To Alaska

If you’re wondering where to start your Alaska road trip itinerary, we highly suggest starting your trip to Anchorage. 

Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska, which means you are able to easily rent a car, stay overnight in the city, and purchase any last-minute gear before you take your road trip in Alaska.

You’ll fly into Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) , likely on Alaska Airlines.

Make sure to reserve a window seat because the views upon landing are absolutely spectacular! You get to fly over the Chugach Mountains which look as if they plunge right into the bay below. This view told us we were going to have the best Alaska itinerary start ever!

Renting A Car In Anchorage, Alaska

There are a lot of great options when deciding to rent cars in Alaska. What kind of Alaska trip you want to have will determine what kind of car you should rent! Here are some of our suggestions below:

Renting A Regular Car: If you are planning to stay in lodges and hotels during your itinerary, we suggest renting a car like a sedan, SUV, or hybrid vehicle. These generally can fit in all parking garages and covered areas.

Outdoorsy: If you are hoping to go experience some wild Alaska camping, we suggest renting a camper van or recreational vehicle for your road trip. Try Outdoorsy – it’s like Airbnb but for car campers! You can borrow someone’s vehicle with full insurance coverage for a unique road trip experience.

Vintage VW Bus Rentals – Trickster Trips: Looking to have a one-of-a-kind road trip? Take your Alaska itinerary in style and rent a vintage Volkswagen van! Last Frontiner Westys rents out vans that have built-in heaters, a fully stocked kitchen, and sleeping gear for your trip. Did I mention they are incredibly photogenic??

Alternative: Don’t rent a car! It’s possible to see a ton of Alaska without having to rent a car! You can make your home base in the city and take day trips from Anchorage every day. From train travel to tours that pick you up, it’s a very possible (and fun!) way to stay in one place.

When Planning A Road Trip In Alaska, Remember This: Anchorage is, unfortunately, one of the cities with the highest car theft rate among U.S. cities. Make it a habit of hiding your valuables out of sight in the car’s trunk, or better yet, taking them along with you.

10-Days In Alaska: The Best Alaska Itinerary To See Everything

Day 1: anchorage, alaska.

Begin your Alaska road trip itinerary in the city of Anchorage. This is where you will find plenty of options for food, fuel, and gear, so double-check that you have all the items necessary for your journey. ( See our Alaska road trip packing list here! )

Want to do a little bit of exploring around the city? Check out the viewpoint of the Sleeping Lady (Mount Susitna) near the airport at Point Woronzof Overlook.

You can also take a quick hike around the Chugach Mountains at Flattop Mountain trail (or just snap a beautiful photo from the parking lot!). Either way, we definitely recommend spending a bit of time exploring the things to do in Anchorage – they are a fun part of your Alaska road trip and a chance to get to know the city a little better!

Day 2: Homer, Alaska

From your starting point in Anchorage, drive south to Homer, Alaska, for the southernmost point of your Alaska road trip route , and the Alaska highway system! Stop along the way to take photos of the Russian River and then in  Ninilchik to see the famous Russian church – Transfiguration of Our Lord Church. 

Homer is known for its halibut fishing , so if you want to spend a few more days of your Alaska itinerary here, consider going on a Halibut fishing charter  to see what it’s really like on an Alaska fishing trip!

You can camp on Homer Spit, or browse these campgrounds off Soldotna / Kenai Peninsula.  Additionally, you can check out Land’s End Resort , for their cozy accommodations and fun hot tub with amazing views!

Wake up to take a walk on Bishop’s Beach, and grab some coffee and pastries at Two Sisters Bakery for the stroll!

Day 3: Seward, Alaska

Working your way back up north on your road trip in Alaska, make a stop in Seward, Alaska. This town is known for its large marina and boating access (and some limited foot access) to Kenai Fjords National Park.

Continue to the small town of Seward, where we recommend spending the night at the Harbor 360 Hotel . Here, you can walk behind the hotel and visit the Seward Boat Harbor. This is an extremely photogenic place on a good day, with towering mountains in the distance for a stunning backdrop.

Seward is also a popular place for going whale watching! The best time to see whales in Seward, Alaska is late May and early June, but Major Marine Tours do many different tours depending on the time of year.

Best places to eat in Seward, Alaska:

• Resurrection Coffee (coffeehouse in an old church)
• Railway Cantina
• Chinooks Restaurant 

Day 4: Kenai Fjords National Park

If you are looking for a unique activity to do during your Alaska road trip, we suggest visiting Exit Glacier . This glacier is one of the few accessible ones left in Alaska and is always finding itself as an example of climate change for its rapidly melting pattern over the recent years.

For a fun way to stretch your legs and get out of the car,  hike the Harding Icefield  to Exit Glacier. The trip all the way to the impressive top of the Harding Icefield is an 8.2-mile round trip, but you can easily check out Exit Glacier with a very easy walk to the (quickly melting) base.

Stopping here for a hike will also give you access to the Kenai Fjords National Park and the Visitors Center. Come and get your passport stamped!

Day 5: Hatcher Pass and Matanuska Glacier

Heading north out of the Kenai Peninsula and past Anchorage, the next stop on your Alaska road trip itinerary will be at Matanuska Glacier and Hatcher Pass!

Matanuska Glacier is the largest glacier accessible by road in Alaska. At its longest, it stretches 27 miles and at its widest, it spans 4 miles wide. There are many ways to visit Matanuska Glacier – from its several viewpoints around the Glenn Highway, taking a walking tour , and even enjoying lunch at a rustic lodge overlooking the views. Additionally, you can camp here to maximize your time exploring the glacier.

Continuing your Alaska road trip north, drive the Hatcher Pass Scenic Byway (AKA Fishhook Road), a 60-mile detour from Palmer to Willow for incredible alpine tundras and mountain wildflowers! Some of the most iconic views on this road are Independence Mine and the Hatcher Pass Lodge. You’ll easily recognize Hatcher Pass Lodge by their iconic red A-frame cabins on the side of the hill.

With the iconic red lodges standing out against the white snow (and even more beautiful with green meadows, too!) make sure to plan a road trip stop here at any point in the year!

Hatcher’s Pass Pro Tip: Stop for a while to photograph them, but remember to respect the space, as it’s a private rentable cabin for guests of the lodge! Please respect guest privacy and don’t get too close!

Day 6: Talkeetna

Talkeetna, Alaska is a small town located at the base of Mount McKinley (Mount Denali) . Most of their industry is focused on outdoor adventure tourism, so this is an excellent place to book fishing tours, float trips, scenic flights and tons of other backcountry trips in Alaska.

Don’t have a ton of money to spend? Talkeetna has an entire page on their website about Alaska activities on a budget , which is really helpful when you’re trying to plan out 10 days in Alaska!

Plan a road trip stop here for a good dose of adventure in Alaska, near and far!

Read More: The Ultimate Alaska Packing List For The Adventurous Traveler

Day 7: Denali National Park

This is the part of your Alaska road trip that will take you northbound towards Fairbanks and Denali National Park, towards the Interior of Alaska. Probably one of the most anticipated stops on any Alaska road trip route is Denali National Park, which will be your next trip!

There are so many things to do in Denali National Park! Take a hike with a ranger, go whitewater rafting on the Nenana River, or even go hiking in the backcountry. A popular activity is taking an entire day for the  Kantishna Experience Tour  (11-12 hr, 92 miles one way), which drives the whole Park Road and has an accompanying park ranger for the full park experience.

Don’t forget to stop by and see the husky kennels! They are official rangers in Denali, which assist in backcountry rescues that require sledding into the scene. If you love animals, make sure to bring your camera in Denali because in addition to the huskies, make sure to look out for the “Big Five” animals – caribou, Dall sheep, grizzly bears, wolves, and moose!

All the best Alaska itineraries include a stop in Denali – don’t miss this one!

Campgrounds Near Denali National Park:

• Riley Creek Campground (showers and RV sites)
• Savage River Campground (limited amenities but it’s INSIDE the park)

Note: Many of these campgrounds in the park are open in summers only, except for Riley Creek Campground. It’s first-come-first-serve and free during the off-season! Check out our guide to sleeping in your car if you find yourself running into chilly nights!

Day 8: Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks will be the northernmost stop on your Alaska road trip! Fairbanks is known for many iconic Alaska activities, including the midnight sun in the summertime, endless nights in the winter, and ample opportunities to witness the northern lights!

Looking to relax after all those hours in the car? Consider taking a visit to Chena Hot Springs . This resort uses naturally sourced hot spring water to heat their pool for an incredible experience outdoors. Other activities at Chena Hot Springs Resort include touring the ice museum, the Chena Kennels, and even staying overnight at the grounds!

In the town of Fairbanks, visit the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum , the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska, or the Running Reindeer Ranch for hikes with these majestic creatures!

Read More: 10 Awesome Things To Do In Fairbanks, Alaska

Day 9: Drive Back to Anchorage (Or Denali National Park OR Fairbanks Again)

On day 9 of your 10 days in Alaska, this is the day you’ll have quite a few options.

If you are concerned about getting to the airport on time, we suggest driving the long trek back to Anchorage this day. (Make sure you download these road trip podcasts for some fun listening along the way!)

You can explore the nearby Turnagain Arm , and stop at the many scenic overlooks and hikes in the area. You can also drive over to Girdwood, Alaska and hike the Winner Creek Trail. There are many places to stop driving from Anchorage to Seward, and all of these locations aren’t very far away from the city at all!

Do you want to spend more time in Denali National Park? Consider spending another night in the park! Stay close by the entrance and take a tour of the Denali Kennels to meet the cute pups and speak with a Park ranger about their life training for the noble work of park safety!

You can choose to camp in the park, or stay in nearby towns like Cantwell or Healy for a no-fuss stop at the end of your Alaska road trip.

Day 10: Anchorage, Alaska

It’s day 10 and your Alaska road trip has come to an end! Before you return your Alaska rental car and hop back on the plane to go home, squeeze in one final adventure!

Try visiting the nearby Eklutna Lake for a last-minute Alaska photography opportunity, and sip some coffee on the shores before your long travel day home. (Our favorite coffee shops in town are Kaladi Brothers , Snow City Cafe , and Black Cup Coffee ).

There are a lot of nearby hikes in Anchorage to choose from, and the most convenient options are Flattop Mountain Trail and Thunderbird Falls.

Read More: 10 Adventurous Things To Do In Anchorage, Alaska

Alaska Road Trip Itinerary Map

Below, you’ll find our Alaska itinerary broken down into stops, and suggestions of places to check out along the way. Thanks for reading and we hope you have a great Alaska trip!

Have you ever planned an Alaska road trip itinerary? What were some of the best Alaska destinations on your route? Share your story with us in the comments below!

More alaska adventures.

The Ultimate Packing List For An Alaska Road Trip

10 Adventurous Things To Do In Anchorage, Alaska

The Ultimate Guide To Seward, Alaska (Whale Watching, Hikes And More!)

10 Epic Things To Do In Fairbanks, Alaska

Love your blog! I live in Anchorage, Alaska and I love many of the places mentioned above. If you ever stop in Alaska again, I would love to share some more pretty places and optimal photo opportunities!

Hi Sophia! Thanks so much for the sweet comment! We’re actually planning a trip to Alaska again this summer! Stoked to see more of it, I’d love to connect up if that’s in the stars! <3

Home > Road Trip Itineraries > Alaska > Road trip in Alaska: 3 Recommended Itineraries to Explore on Your Own

Road trip in Alaska: 3 Recommended Itineraries to Explore on Your Own

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The boundless spaces of the American continent inevitably inspire road travel and the great north is no exception. Alaska ‘s long distances are perfect for driving for hours across unknown lands, admiring wild landscapes, and hoping to meet wild animals here and there. The desire to come across animals is fulfilled more often than one imagines.

Unfortunately, the rugged terrain and sparse population have meant that much of the state has no road connections . But fear not, the existing roads are more than enough to commit you to a multi-day trip to Alaska.

Itinerary 1: 7/8 days in Prince William Sound

Itinerary 2: 10 days in prince william sound and kenai peninsula, itinerary 3: 10 days in central alaska from anchorage to fairbanks, best time to drive in alaska.

If you’ve already read my article about Alaska’s climate , you may have realized that not every month of the year is ideal for traveling by car in this cold northern state. In winter, many roads are closed to traffic due to excessive snow or because they are too dangerous, considering that even some of the main routes are not paved.

While the roads in the city are kept clean, long drives for non-locals can be dangerous even along roads open to traffic. If you go to Alaska in winter, I suggest you to choose other means of transportation: have a look at the article dedicated to how to organize a trip to Alaska .

If you travel between May and September , you should have no problems and you can rent a car freely. Unless you plan to drive the Dalton Highway , or you are coming from Canada, the best place to fly to and rent a car from is Anchorage .

I have therefore thought of 3 possible itineraries that will allow you, depending on the days you have available, to discover the best of what Alaska has to offer. In my article on Anchorage instead, you can discover some short day trips that depart from the city, that you could perhaps integrate into your itinerary.

Prince William Sound is one of the most interesting regions of Alaska, where land and sea form an indissoluble union with glaciers that plunge into the ocean and you can choose between hiking and kayaking along the coast every day. Looking at the map, one immediately realizes how this part of the gulf (about 31×69 miles in size) is full of fjords and islets, which make it the perfect habitat for numerous marine and terrestrial species.

But Man has also chosen these lands as his home since time immemorial: the tribes of the Ahtna, the Alutiiq and the Eyak have for centuries settled respectively in the areas of the St. Elias National Park, the south-western coast and the Copper River Delta. A drive through these lands will not leave you disappointed .

Days 1 and 2: Anchorage

The day of your arrival and the following day are dedicated to Anchorage. You can acclimatize and start to become familiar with the place. Find out here what you can do in the city along with some advice on where to sleep.

Day 3: along the Matanuska

Early in the morning hop in the car and leave Anchorage behind and head north on the Glenn Highway. In less than half an hour you’ll reach some interesting sites to choose from for your morning stop: Thunderbird Falls (which involves a 2-2.5 mile trek), and the village of Eklutna, where you can discover the culture of the natives. With a few minutes more drive, you’ll cross the Knik and Matanuska rivers, which join together right here.

The road then turns east following the course of the latter, which will be your companion for a long time. If you travel at the end of August , a little further on, in Palmer, you will find indications for the Alaska State Fair : a big fair full of events, which can be an interesting stop to discover and try local products and attend shows and concerts.

Following the course of the Matanuska River, the road crosses the valley that divides the Alaska Range from the Chugach Mountains, offering spectacular views from both sides. One of the most interesting areas to stop is the Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site (about 2 hours from Anchorage), where the river springs from the glacier of the same name. Excursions on the river and glacier are organized nearby. If you don’t make stops in the morning, you can head straight here to devote the day to a hike.

With only 10 minutes more driving time, you instead reach a rest area (obviously called Glacier View ) with a refreshment stand. The Lionhead Mountain Trail also branches off from here, a 1.2-mile trail on one of Alaska’s most famous rocks (the ‘Lionhead’) from where you can enjoy a breathtaking view from over 1750 feet overhanging the glacier.

Resuming the route, we cross an area where Dahll’s sheep roam in large numbers and it is very easy to spot them. When you reach the village of Glennallen (3h from Anchorage) you will have a scenic view of Mount Drum, which stands out in front of you at the end of the road. Here the Glenn ends with a T-junction on the Richardson Highway: turn right, heading south, and look for a place to stay overnight in one of the first villages, such as Copper Center .

• Overnight tip: an interesting place to sleep is the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge .
• All available accommodations in the area

Day 4: Wrangell-St.Elias National Park & Preserve

Spend a day visiting Wrangell-St.Elias , one of Alaska’s most beautiful parks . Halfway between Tazlina and Copper Center (about 10 minutes from each) you’ll easily find the park’s visitor center, where you’ll get all the information you need to embark on a day tour. Stay overnight in the same place as the night before so you have the full day available. Only a small part of this boundless territory can be visited without difficulty on foot. If you can afford it, board a tourist plane to see the mountain range from above.

Days 5 and 6: Valdez

The Richardson Highway runs parallel to the pipeline from Prudhoe Bay to the port of Valdez . It takes, two hours to get from Copper Center to Valdez and I recommend a stop on the shore of Willow Lake and the Worthington Glacier State Recreation Site . Valdez is worth a visit, in particular for the suggestive Valdez Glacier Lake : the lake that forms immediately below the glacier due to its melting, and where you can see the icebergs falling off.

In town don’t miss the Whitney Museum with its walrus ivory carvings. You can stay overnight in Valdez and devote the next day to a boat trip to the Columbia Glacier (one of the largest in Alaska) or perhaps a shorter kayaking trip around Valdez.

Columbia Glacier Cruise from Valdez

• Overnight tip: a good solution within walking distance from the port is the Best Western Valdez Harbor Inn , while those who prefer the atmosphere of a bed and breakfast to those of a large hotel chain can opt for the ‘ House on the Rock .
• All hotels in the area

Day 7: Cordova and the Copper Delta

Please note : for the next 2 stops you need to travel by sea and you need to be strategic in your planning: on checking the ferry schedules you will notice that, unfortunately, the Aurora ferry (the one that serves the ports of Cordova, Valdez, and Whittier) runs every 2-3 days depending on the month, this means that you will have to organize your itinerary according to the departure of the ferries themselves. The only other alternative (other than going backwards all the way and driving over 5 hours) is to fly from Valdez airport to Anchorage in about 40 minutes. To shorten the itinerary by 1 day and have more variables in your choice you can also consider skipping this leg  and taking the ferry to Whittier from Valdez, availability permitting.

Cordova is one of the homelands of salmon, being located at the mouth of the Copper River , and the large delta is definitely worth a day of touring. If you come here in May, you’ll come across the migration of millions of waders, to which a festival is dedicated: the Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival.

• Advice on accommodation: the Cordova Rose Lodge is built on a structure that resembles an old moored barge, around which birds and otters nest. Don’t expect a hovel: sauna, library, and patio with barbecue are just some of the amenities it offers.

Day 8: Across Prince William Sound

From Cordova, you can take a ferry to Whittier, a western port on the Kenai Peninsula . The crossing takes several hours (7 from Cordova, 6 if from Valdez), but it’s worth it for both the scenery and the chance to spot whales right from the ferry. After disembarking at the port of Whittier, you will be back in Anchorage with a drive of an hour and a half.

One of the reasons why it is worth visiting Alaska is the Kenai Peninsula, a paradise for bird-watchers and favorite habitat of elk that graze undisturbed in large swampy areas, but above all home to the most beautiful fjords of the American continent (I have already spoken of them in my Top 10 Alaska ). Easily reachable from Anchorage by car, and in part also thanks to the railroad, the Kenai Peninsula is also a perfect match for a larger road trip, like the one I suggested in the previous paragraph.

Days 1-5: Anchorage-Valdez

Consider the previous tour up to Valdez, an ideal stop to visit the spectacular glaciers of Prince William Sound .

Days 6-7: Seward

It takes about 6 hours by ferry from Valdez to Whittier, but you’ll find that it’s not long enough to take in the unique scenery of one of North America’s most scenic gulfs. From Whittier, you can reach Seward in a couple of hours driving along the Seward Highway , perhaps the most spectacular road in Southern Alaska.

Kenai Lake is just one of the scenic spots where a stop is inevitable. The town is small but lively, particularly in the marina area. In addition to the pleasant walks along the waterfront, it is worth renting a kayak to paddle around and visit the Alaska SeaLife Center : a museum and research institute among the best in the state, and certainly the most quoted to discover the secrets of the Alaskan sea.

• Tip on staying overnight: the Seward Hotel is a hotel with a gold rush atmosphere, next to the Alaska SeaLife Center.
• All accommodations in the area

Day 8: Kenai Fjords

Book a day tour to explore the Kenai Fjords, one of the wonders of Alaska. You won’t regret it!

• Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise : This is a full-day cruise along the spectacular Kenai Fjords and its glaciers where you will also have the opportunity to see some of the local wildlife such as whales, killer whales and sea lions in their natural habitat.
• Half-day cruise between Kenai Fjords and Resurrection Bay : if you don’t have a whole day to dedicate to the cruise, this could be the best solution for you since the whole excursion will last only three and a half hours, allowing you to see the best that the area has to offer.

Day 9: Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

If one of the reasons you came to Alaska is moose, devote a day to this park, where there are several hiking trails and, most importantly, you get around by canoe. The Kenai national wildlife refuge canoe trail is considered the best in the state, and not without reason. It will take you about a 2-hour drive from Seward, and I also suggest a quick ride to the nearby town of Kenai, famous for its Russian Orthodox community. In the evening, head to Homer, only a 1h 30 minute drive away.

• Overnight Tip: Homer has B&Bs, chalets, and ocean view apartments that give a great view of Kachemak Bay. Check the availability of the Oceanhouse chalet Alaskan Suites or the Land’s End Resort . The latter boasts a fabulous location at the very end of the peninsula.
• Other accommodations in the area

Day 10: Homer and the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge

Homer is the town of shellfish and, like so many other Alaskan towns, lives off the sea. Why stop here? Because it is a privileged point to discover the colonies of seabirds, millions of specimens of dozens of different species. The most comfortable and agile way to enjoy this reserve is to participate in one of the free activities organized by the rangers, including the search for shellfish and sea creatures (tidepooling) or the simple Beluga Slough Trail walk.

In the afternoon, you can leave to return to Anchorage (it will take 4 hours by car), or you can choose to spend another night here and leave at leisure the next day. The town of Homer also has an airport that can be used to get to Anchorage in about forty minutes, although it probably won’t be very convenient compared to continuing the trip by car.

If what you’re looking for are long roads across endless moors , you can make a loop from Anchorage that touches the northern stronghold of Fairbanks . This will give you a taste of mountains, forests and wilderness like you’ve never seen before.

Days 1-3: From Anchorage to the Richardson Highway

Consider Route 1 to the edge of the Wrangell-St.Elias National Park & Preserve, the point where the Glenn Highway intersects the Richardson Highway , which connects Fairbanks with the southern port of Valdez. The mountain scenery here is incredible, and a stop on the slopes of the mountain range is worth the stop. However, if you plan one or more hikes, add days to the itinerary.

Day 4: Head to Fairbanks on the Richardson Highway

Early in the morning take the Richardson road north: with the pipeline as your faithful companion. It takes about 5 hours of driving to reach Fairbanks, but there are many points along the way where it may be worth stopping to stretch your legs and maybe take some pictures.

A couple of examples are the Richardson Monument ( coordinates here ) or the Rainbow Ridge : a mountain ridge so named for the red and green colors of its volcanic rocks (it’s clearly visible from this point on). You’ll only need the afternoon to visit the small town of Fairbanks and the ice sculpture museum.

• Advice on accommodation: if you want a truly unique accommodation choose the Aurora Express , a B & B created inside 7 railway carriages of the early twentieth century, located in the heart of the forest and transformed into elegant accommodation.
• For those who want to sleep surrounded by nature I recommend the Fairbanks Moose Manor , a simple but well cared for bed and breakfast.

Days 5 and 7: To the Arctic Circle or other excursions from Fairbanks

The city lends itself as an excellent base for many interesting excursions or activities. So I suggest you spend a couple of nights here and here are some suggestions of things to do.

• For an adventurous trip, but that will surely remain as a lasting memory, take the first part of the impressive Dalton Highway , but consider that if you want to reach the Arctic Circle you will have to drive for 5 hours and then return (in the linked article above, you will find information on the possibilities of overnight stays along the road); if you want to simplify things you can join an organized tour.
• For something less long, you can opt for a day at the Chena Hot Springs : natural hot springs, just over 1 hour from Fairbanks. The road through the tundra is well worth the drive and soaking in the steaming waters, while outside even in summer the air is cold, is definitely a good feeling.
• A third option to consider is a visit to Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge : an 800+ acre oasis right next to the town houses, where thousands of migratory birds congregate in the spring and fall.

Many other experiences will help you to enjoy your stay in Fairbanks: a sled dog ride or a visit to the Museum of the North; a walk in the world’s northernmost botanical garden or in the Large Animal Research Station, where musk oxen and caribou await you.

If the most popular proposals do not satisfy you, you can always improvise yourself as a prospector and venture into an abandoned mine : along the Steese Highway you will find the signs for Gold Dredge No. 8 , an old mine now accessible by a short railroad, where you can try your luck sifting for gold.

Days 8 and 9: Denali National Park

The Parks Highway connects Fairbanks with Anchorage, but halfway you will find one of the best stops you can make in Alaska: Denali National Park , where I recommend you spend at least a couple of days, considering that the first one will not be complete because of the trip.

Before arriving, make a stop in Nenana : this village of 400 inhabitants has little to offer besides the Alfred Starr Nenana Cultural Center (a museum that tells the story of the natives), but it is interesting for its location. From here, across the Yukon and Tanana rivers, boats depart to supply the more distant villages during the thaw period.

During the months of February and March, people place bets (300,000 lottery tickets are sold each year) on the exact time when the ice will melt, freeing Nenana; the topical moment is identified by a tripod placed on the shore, which makes a clock stop when it falls.

Another suggested stop is the small Healy, where you can see the bus used for the movie Into the Wild . To plan a visit to the park in detail, I refer you to my guide on how to visit Denali National Park .

( June 2020 update : Unfortunately, due to constant distress calls from inexperienced tourists trying to get to this location, the bus has been permanently removed . At the time of writing this update, a possible new location has not yet been decided.)

Day 10: Return to Anchorage

It takes about 4 hours to get to Anchorage and to make a stop a little past the halfway mark, I recommend Talkeetna , a quaint little town famous for having a cat as its mayor! With 900 residents, it has practically more animals than people and is located on the end of a background-free road that branches off the highway, nestled at the point where the Talkeetna River flows into the Susitna.

If you arrive here hungry, stop by the West Rib Pub & Grill and sample one of the signature musk ox burgers ! If you have more time, you can book a tour on the Hurricane Turn: a train that shuttles between the town and the picturesque Hurricane Gulch, crossing a bridge that is definitely not for those who suffer from vertigo.

Warning: Operating hours can change and closures for extraordinary events can occur, so we strongly suggest to check the venues official websites.

Andrea Cuminatto

Journalist and traveler. I love seeing new places, but more than anything, I love to meet those who live there.

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Discover Prince William Sound: things to do, best cruises and tours

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Road Trip To Alaska: Everything You Need To Know About Driving The Alaska Highway

By: Author Robyn Robledo

Posted on Last updated: April 16, 2024

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to drive the Alaska Highway?

Is it your dream to pile yourself, your partner, or your family in the car and head out on a road trip to Alaska? Are you curious about what grand adventures await for you in The Last Frontier?

In 2019, my 5 kids and I started in San Diego and drove all the way up to Denali National Park in our 30′ Class C motorhome. We’ve fulltime traveled for the past 9 years and this trip was one of our top 5 favorites.

If you love seeing wildlife, exploring vast areas of undeveloped land, and are ready to chase the feeling of adventure, then a road trip to Alaska is for you. In this blog I’m sharing all the tips I have from our road trip to Alaska.

If you decide to take a road trip to Alaska, you will want to buy this book . It was a great companion on our travels through Canada to Alaska!

Table of Contents

The Alaskan Highway Overview

Many people are confused when I tell them we drove the Alcan Highway but it’s the same highway as the Alaska Highway, just a different name. Psst, it stands for Alaska-Canada Highway….Al-Can 🙂

Where the Alaska Highway Starts

Dawson Creek, BC is 700 miles north of the US/Canadian border. Don’t confuse this with Dawson City which is near Alaska and north of Whitehorse.

Where the Alaska Highway Ends

The Alaskan Highway ends at Delta Junction, AK, which is right before Fairbanks. But many people who aren’t visiting Fairbanks choose to take the Tok cutoff which takes you down to Anchorage.

Length of the Alaska Highway

1,390 miles one way from Dawson Creek to Delta Junction.

Road Conditions on the Alaska Highway

The Alaskan Highway is a completely paved road and is open all year, although you do need to carry chains from October through April.

Almost all of the Alaskan Highway through Canada was great. There are some short sections though that are under construction and may be dirt roads or bumpy for a bit.

There are also a lot of logging and semi trucks driving the highway in some sections and between the construction areas and since it’s a two-lane highway, the big rigs would often spray up dirt and rocks making your vehicle/RV get very muddy and sometimes sending little rocks flying into the windshield.

Not to worry though, finding RV washes along the way is easy and inexpensive and due to the common windshield cracking issue, there are a variety of places to get minor repairs done quickly.

Tip : The first part of the Alaskan Highway, after you cross the border into Alaska, is a bit rougher and if you take the Tok Cutoff to go towards Anchorage, the road gets VERY rough and bumpy so you’ll want to take it slower.

Cities Along the Alaska Highway

The Alaskan Highway passes through a few major cities but mostly through really small towns.

From south to north, it passes through:

• Dawson Creek (Major town)
• Fort St John (Major town)
• Fort Nelson
• Waston Lake
• Haines Junction

Fort St John and Whitehorse are the two biggest cities, both having Walmarts, in case you need to restock along the way, as well as many options for food and lodging.

Fort Nelson was much smaller with a few grocery, restaurant, and lodging options. While Watson Lake and Tok are very small (we’re talking one block long) but big enough to fuel up, grab a bite, and find a place to stay if needed.

Depending on how you get to Dawson Creek , the start of the highway, you will probably pass through the very large cities of Prince George’s or Calgary, which will be great places to stock up in.

You should always fill up on fuel in these major towns: Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, Watson Lake, Whitehorse, and Tok.

Distance between Gas Stations

One of people’s biggest fears when driving the Alaska Highway is running out of gas. The truth is, it would require a hell of a lot of recklessness to actually run out of gas. You fill up at each town, then you drive, and you never skip filling up in a major junction.

All of the big towns have gas stations and there are a few gas stations in between but they will cost a lot more.

Gyms along the Alaskan Highway

There are a lot of recreation centers along the way, but not all of them are the best in terms of workout facilities. The larger the city, the better the fitness area tended to be.

Stopping at rec centers along the way was a great way to get my kids to burn energy swimming, gave us a chance to work and stretch, broke up the monotony of the drive, and was very affordable, usually costing less than CAD 20 for the entire family.

Is the Alaska Highway Dangerous?

If you asked me this when we finished driving it, I’d say no. There were many other RVers on the road and you never felt like you’d be waiting too long for someone to stop and help you.

But of course the roads are rough on this highway, and terrible winds and/or surprise weather patterns are very common, this is a bit of a stress but i don’t think it represents the Alaska Highway as dangerous

One thing I do tell friends when they ask me if I felt safe driving the Alaskan Highway is that some of the smaller towns felt very poor and run down and as always, you should let your instincts guide you. When we pulled into Watson Lake we were exhausted and ready to stop for the day, but I didn’t like the vibe there so we drove on to an area where I felt safer.

Another time I didn’t like the vibe was when we were parked across the street from Liard Hot Springs. I didn’t realize there was plenty of RV parking near the Springs and there was a huge dirt parking area where other RV’s were camped for the day to ride ATVs in the surrounding trails. While we were eating lunch, a couple in the RV next to us started getting into a very loud altercation and it took less than a minute for us to grab our belongings and get the heck out of there. It might’ve turned into nothing but better safe than sorry.

How Long It Takes To Drive The Alaskan Highway

It depends on your style of travel and what you are driving. For us, when we are on long road trips in our motorhome, we tend to average only 80kph (50mph). For the most part, the roads are good enough that a car can average 105 kph (65 mph).

While there are places you can stop along the way, the Alaskan Highway section only took us a total of 5 driving days, but this doesn’t include the detour we took driving the Golden Circle and to Valdez, plus, 3 of those were only half days of driving. Without those detours, I could’ve easily done it in 3 days–Dawson Creek to Muncho Lake, Muncho to Whitehorse, and Whitehorse to Delta Junction. I know some people could probably even do it in 2 days.

When we drove back, even though it was via the Cassiar and Yellowhead Highways, it only took us three days of driving–Anchorage to Whitehorse, Whitehorse to Dease Lake, and Dease Lake to Prince George.

When I was planning our trip I thought I didn’t want to drive more than 250 miles per day, which would be about 5 hours a day, and therefore figured it would take me 6 days of driving. I mapped out where we could stop and researched things to do each day to make it a perfectly balanced trip but…it took me about 5 minutes of driving the Alaskan Highway to realize that was a dumb idea.

Even though there are places you can stop along the way, there’s nothing worth stopping for plus, the hikes and bike rides I planned on doing weren’t going to be fun because it was raining on and off most days.

In the end, I saw the forecast for Whitehorse, sunny and seventy, and hightailed it there. (See my detailed itinerary at the end of this blog.)

Where to Sleep Along the Alaskan Highway

There are plenty of motels, campgrounds, and free camping opportunities all along the Alaskan Highway. If you like to drive during the day and stop in a campground or motel at night, you’re covered. We like to boondock as much as possible because not only does it save money, but it allows us to do more adventures during the day and get our driving done later in the evening, which worked well for us on this trip.

Except in the Yukon, where there are signs that explicitly say “No Overnight Camping”, there were plenty of dirt pullouts and rest areas to sleep at. The only two places we got a campground along the Alaskan Highway were Strawberry Flats Campground on Muncho Lake and High Country RV Park in Whitehorse both of which I highly recommend.

Strawberry Flats Campground: This is one of the most scenic campgrounds on the entire Alaska Highway. There are pit toilets and well water but not much else for amenities. Here, you’re coming for the beautiful lakeside sites.

High Country RV: I loved this campground and that is saying something because I rarely stay in campgrounds. I liked that it was reasonably priced, the showers were hot and free, there was a little store in the reception area that sold beer, and there was a dishwashing station.

Recommended Stops Along the Alaska Highway

You could easily drive the Alaska Highway straight through and just go have a blast in Alaska, but chances are you’ll need to stop occasionally to sleep or stretch your legs so here are the top 5 places I’d plan on doing that:

1 | Chill at Muncho Lake

The mountains surrounding Muncho Lake are jaw-droppingly gorgeous, although so are most of the mountains in Alaska. Camping at Strawberry Flats campground, which is at mile marker 437 when driving from Dawson Creek, was certainly a highlight for us mountain lovers.

2 | Swim at Liard Hot Springs

Liard Hot Springs is as gorgeous and relaxing as all the hype makes it out to be and it’s extra fantastic when you think about how few other things there are to do along the highway nearby. I would highly recommend trying to go early or late and camp at the campground adjacent to the hot springs.

3 | Eat Cinnamon Rolls at Tetsa River Lodge

While you don’t necessarily need to stay the night here, you absolutely must stop to try one of the cinnamon rolls, which the owner bakes fresh daily. They were out of this world delicious! And if you like knives, the store has a rad collection of knives for sale.

4 | Camp or Hike at Summit Lake

This was high on my list of places I wanted to camp and hike but it had too much snow in May so we had to skip it. The campground here is really pretty and a great place to stop for a night if it’s later in the season (or you have warmer blankets than we had).

5 | Explore Whitehorse

Whitehorse in itself is a great destination. While some of the towns on the Alaskan Highway are good to stretch your legs for a few hours, Whitehorse is a place you should plan on staying in for a few days . Detouring from here to the Golden Circle was a nice change of scenery for us.

Related Blog : Golden Circle: Guide to Whitehorse, Skagway, and Haines

Recommended Detours off of the Alaska Highway

While there isn’t a lot to see and do on the Alaskan Highway, if you detour less than a hundred miles off it in many directions you can find epic adventures. Here are a few detours you should consider when planning your Alaska road trip itinerary.

1 | Glacier National Park

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Adventure Travel Family (@nomadswithapurpose) on May 16, 2019 at 10:33am PDT

Glacier National Park is one of our all-time favorite national parks for a good reason. There is a little bit of everything here. You can

• Stay at the lodge on Lake Mac Donald and enjoy gorgeous sunrises, sunsets, and boating.
• Ride the free shuttle to Logan Pass and enjoy the dramatic views of the mountains and wildlife.
• Do one of the many short hikes to glacier-fed lakes or past meadows filled with wildflowers?
• Photograph wildlife and wildflowers
• Take a backpacking trip and sleep beneath glaciers.
• Embark on an epic day hike to the most incredible glacier views.

If you choose to add Glacier National Park to your itinerary, be sure to read our blogs: Tips for Camping in Glacier National Park and 5 Best Hikes in Glacier National Park .

2 | Banff, Jasper + Icefields Parkway

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Adventure Travel Family (@nomadswithapurpose) on May 21, 2019 at 6:21pm PDT

Driving through the Canadian Rockies is almost as incredible as Alaska itself and again, highly recommended if you can fit it into your itinerary. Banff, Lake Louise, Icefields Parkway, and Jasper are incredible but can be crowded and overwhelming. Take some time to plan out this section of the trip if you do go.

At the bare minimum, you should allow 3 days for this area. If you are looking to explore more of the Canadian Rockies, click here to read our Canada National Parks Road Trip Itinerary.

You can easily explore Lake Louise in one day and if you do, click here to get details on the best hike at Lake Louise . Next, take at least one full day to drive Icefields Parkway. There are many great overlooks and hikes to do along the road or click here to sign up for the Colombia Icefields Tour and do the Glacier Skywalk . Last, spend one day in Jasper National Park.

3 | Sea To Sky Highway

This is one of the best adventure destinations in the world. There is seriously a lifetime’s worth of hiking, climbing, off-roading, and mountain biking in these mountains. Plus, you have the rad town of Squamish and the hip town of Whistler , both of which you could spend days exploring and eating your way through.

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4 | The Golden Circle

The Golden Circle refers to the area of Whitehorse, Carcross, and Haines Junction in the Yukon, and Skagway and Haines in Alaska. You can combine all 5 towns into a great road trip and see the world’s smallest desert, go over the White Pass, which could easily be one of the world’s best mountain passes, and immerse yourself in gold rush history. There is so much hiking, mountain and road biking, fishing, and adventures at sea that this could fill weeks of your travel.

5 | Dempster Highway + Dawson City

While Dawson City just felt a bit too touristy for me, I was bummed that we weren’t prepared to drive the Dempster Highway. We hadn’t allotted enough days in our schedule and honestly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to drive our Class C on this just in case it did break down but I know I missed out on one epic adventure.

The Dempster Highway starts near Dawson City and in 736 km it takes you to Inuvik, which is only 100 km from the Arctic Ocean. Seriously off-grid! And at least 12 to 16 hours of driving each way. But if you’re brave and prepared, it could be an adventure of a lifetime.

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Getting To The Alaskan Highway

The Alaskan Highway doesn’t start at the US/Canadian border. There are four main routes that you can take to get to the start of the Alaskan Highway:

West Access Route: The West Access Route takes you from Seattle through Vancouver BC, Cache Creek, Williams Lake, and Prince George BC.  I highly recommend you take the detour on The Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Cache Creek.  

East Access Route: This is the most direct route from Great Falls, Montana, through Calgary, AB and Edmonton, AB.  

Central Access Route: This route starts in Ellensburg, WA, and will take you through Kamloops. Probably the least scenic way in my opinion.

Canadian Rockies Route: We chose to get to the Alaskan Highway via the Canadian Rockies Route which starts in Couer d’Alene. If you are driving here through Idaho, click here for some inspiration on where to go on an Idaho Road Trip .

Alternate Routes: Driving the Cassiar Highway

We chose to drive the Alaskan Highway on the way up and the Cassiar to the Yellowhead to the West Access and Sea to Sky Highway on the way back and I can’t say enough how perfect this itinerary was.

You can combine the Yellowhead and Cassiar Highways instead of the Alaskan Highway to get through Canada on your way to Alaska.  The Yellowhead Highway runs east-west starts in Edmonton and ends at Prince Rupert.  Right before you get to Prince Rupert you can turn onto Highway 37, which is the Cassiar Highway.  The Cassiar runs north-south and connects the Yellowhead Highway with the Alaskan Highway near Watson Lake. 

The Cassiar Highway is a much narrower road, especially the section closest to Watson Lake. This part had no centerline and no shoulder and I would’ve hated to break down along this section because I think we only passed a handful of other cars between Watson Lake and Dease Lake.

Sightings like this are a regular occurrence on both the Alcan and the Cassiar Highway however on the Cassiar, you can just stop in the middle of the road

The Dease Lake to Yellowhead Highway junction route got busier; the Cassiar junction gas station had cheaper fuel overall.

Most of this highway is freshly paved though, so even though it’s a little windy and requires driving it at a slower pace (we averaged more like 45mph/70kph along the Cassiar), it was nice not worrying about potholes like we did on the Tok cutoff (seriously, that highway is horrible).

I wish it had a few more pull-offs because it is way more scenic than the Alaskan Highway. While driving the Alaskan Highway you are mostly in a constant sea of trees, the Cassiar Highway goes over and beside more rolling hills and a few mountain passes. The only problem, you can’t really stop and take it in.

The beauty and free camping opportunities at the top of some of these passes tempted me to stop and sit still for a few days to enjoy but I wasn’t prepared for it.

There aren’t many stores along this route nor gas stations, so it would be a good idea to stock up before you drive this in case you want to stall for a few days along the way.

Should I Drive The Alaskan Highway?

While it was easy to find blogs on How To Drive The Alaskan Highway and Stops Along The Alaskan Highway , I could never find anything on Should I Drive The Alaskan Highway when I was researching our trip.

I asked many people, most of whom happened to be retired, who all raved about how great it was. In retrospect, this wasn’t the best source of information, not because they were lying, it’s just, that they were probably more time-rich than me, and more importantly, they didn’t have 5 antsy kids riding with them .  

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Adventure Travel Family (@nomadswithapurpose) on May 29, 2019 at 3:47pm PDT

While the Alaskan Highway provides so many opportunities to learn about history, it’s not the driving force in my life right now. For this summer, I just want some epic scenery, solitude, and a nice challenging hike.

Driving the Alaskan Highway is LONG and in all honesty, BORING. However …

We saw 17 bears within five hours (on May 17th to top it off), but after sharing this with locals I learned that this is not the norm.   I’m starting to think the smell of our toilet attracted them *facepalm .*

Why I Chose To Drive To Alaska and Not Fly To Anchorage

Next time I will just fly up but I am so glad I drove it once for five big reasons:

1 | Self Sustained

Once I was in Alaska, I loved that I had my RV with me and all the things I needed for this adventure. We’ve flown to Europe and New Zealand with just a backpack on our backs and road-tripped through them but it was hard traveling so lightly. With this trip, I had my entire RV packed to the brim with necessities and non-necessities that made me feel prepared and I liked that sense of independence and security .

2 | Overall it Costs Less

From a financial standpoint, it saved me a good chunk of money by paying the gas to drive there and back instead of flying 7 people up and renting an RV.  

3 | Canada is So RAD

We were able to explore so many other incredible destinations in Canada on the way up and down, like Banff, Jasper, Whistler, and Squamish, that I would’ve been disappointed to miss if we had just flown straight to Alaska.

4 | The Wildlife

My kids will remember seeing 17 bears on May 17th for the rest of their lives. We didn’t see a single bear in Alaska. We saw plenty of eagles, sheep, caribou, moose, and foxes, but no bears. Although we did see about 40 bears in Canada just on the side of the road.

Now, if you have money to throw on some excursions in Alaska, I’m sure you can pay to see some incredible wildlife. But we travel on a budget and seeing this many bears for free was worth the cost of gas and long boring sections of open road.

5 | Peace, Solitude, Appreciation

I’d be driving for hours on end lost in my thoughts, half listening to my 8-year-old ramble on again about her birthday that’s 4 months away and half singing along to the same songs I’ve heard a thousand times on Jiraiya’s playlist while passing a sign that says 1000 km to Whitehorse and think to myself NO FRIGGIN’ WAY when all of a sudden a huge black dot interrupts the sea of trees that I’m immersed in (which btw is what allows me the luxury to half-heartedly listen to my beloved children while pondering the meaning of life instead of focusing on the road). I hit the brakes. It’s another bear.

I wish I was a better writer and could capture for you the excitement that builds in the RV as we get closer to that black speck on the horizon and we realize that it’s our seventeenth bear sighting in 3 hours and feel slightly glum that as rad as it is, it’s almost cheating because, from the comforts of my vehicle, there is no risk of harm.

The drive is long, but just like another pregnancy or childbirth, you endure it and look back so fondly at it.

By the time you get to Whitehorse (and then to the border and eventually to Anchorage or Fairbanks or Denali) and you spend a few days sitting still, allowing the vibration of the road to finally stop pulsating through your body, you actually start reminiscing about the solitude that the ALCAN provides and the peace you felt in those few days escape from the consumer driven rat race of the world.

Why I’d Fly To Alaska Next Time

The main reason I’d fly to Alaska next time is purely because the absolute best part of Alaska for us was the Kenai Peninsula . There are just so many great outdoor activities, camping opportunities, and other adventures in that small area that I could be happy for weeks, if not months, there.

There’s a reason the destination is Alaska.

While Northern BC was pretty, Alaska is so diverse and jaw-droppingly beautiful. The raw nature is incomparable to anywhere else in the world.

Do You Need The Milepost?

The Milepost is a book with mile-by-mile highway logs for 30 major routes and 60 side trips to and from Alaska. It has tons of information on campgrounds, hotels, excursions, and most importantly, over 100 maps. However, the book itself can be super overwhelming, making you feel more confused than you’d be without it.

If you love planning, and maps, want every detail of information on detours and alternative routes, or if you love history, I highly recommend buying it. I am an overplanner and enjoyed having it but you don’t NEED it.

If you aren’t the planning type and intend on just driving the Alaska Highway with no detours, you don’t need the book. Driving the Alaskan Highway is super easy, straight forward, and you’re never that far from a city or someone who can help out.

Our Road Trip To Alaska Itinerary

Day 1: dawson creek to muncho lake.

We pretty much drove the stretch from Dawson Creek to Muncho Lake in one day. We arrived in Dawson Creek only a few minutes before the visitor center closed, which I was thankful for so that the kids could get their “Driving the Alaskan Highway” certificate and so we could grab brochures to help us plan what detours we wanted to take.

After taking a picture in front of the famous Dawson Creek Mile 0 statue, we drove an hour up to Fort St John so that the kids could swim and we could work out at the recreation center there. When it closed at 9 pm, we drove just a bit further to a rest area to sleep for the night.

If you weren’t stopping at the rec center, this would be only about an hour and a half of driving and could easily be tagged on to what we drove the next day.

The next day I didn’t have the intention of driving so far, but there wasn’t anything that amazing to stop for except for the 17 bears we saw along the highway.

Other than stopping to admire the bears for a few minutes each time and refueling, we also stopped by Tetsa Campground for their famous cinnamon rolls. THEY WERE SO GOOD!!!

I had my sights set on camping that night at Summit Lake campground but we were too early in the season. The sites were snow-free but the lake was still frozen over and the hike we wanted to do there was still covered in snow. I was too worried that even if we tried to sleep there we’d freeze overnight so we drove on towards Muncho Lake.

If you are later in the season I highly recommend spending two nights at Summit. As we were driving along Muncho Lake we stumbled upon another gem of a campground. Strawberry Flats is one of the most gorgeous campgrounds I’ve ever stayed at. It sits right on the turquoise lake that was still partially covered in ice and is surrounded by snow-capped mountains. It was heavenly!

Day 2: Muncho Lake to Teslin

We took our time getting going from Muncho Lake since the scenery at Strawberry Flats was so incredible. In retrospect, I would’ve stayed an extra night at Strawberry Flats and done a nearby hike that day.

Then we broke up the drive by relaxing at Liard Hot Springs for a few hours. It was a Sunday so it was a bit crowded and if you can coordinate getting here midweek or at least not mid-day, you will enjoy the experience much more.

We ended up spending this night at another rest area, but if I had known how nice the Teslin RV park was I probably would’ve pushed on to there.

Day 3: Teslin to Whitehorse

Teslin to Whitehorse was only three hours of driving for us. I wanted to make sure I got a campsite as close to town as possible since I was planning on spending a few days here.

Whitehorse was amazing and I highly recommend at least 2 days here. Whitehorse is part of the Golden Circle which encompasses Whitehorse, Carcross, Skagway, Haines, and Haines Junction. You definitely want to read our blog Golden Circle of Yukon + Alaska: Guide to Whitehorse, Skagway + Haines to get detailed information about Whitehorse and to help you decide if adding the Golden Circle to your itinerary is worth it.

Day 4: Haines Junction to the Alaskan border

This was also only a half day of driving because we had spent most of the day hiking King’s Throne near Haines Junction. This is a great hike and camping near here or even just spending a day on Kathleen Lake would be a great addition to your itinerary.

Tip for border crossing: I almost always time the crossings to be later in the evening just in case the wait is long. For crossing here by Beaver Creek it probably doesn’t matter but I know the border crossing by Skagway can get long with all the tourists off the cruise ships.

Day 5: Alaska + recommended detours

If you want off-the-beaten-path adventure, wildlife and gorgeous Alaskan scenery, I highly recommend checking out Valdez.

When we reached Tok we left the Alaska Highway, 100 miles before its official end. I really had no interest in Fairbanks for this trip and even though I was curious about Dawson City, I felt like I had had enough touristy things when we did the Golden Circle. I was ready for jagged mountains, glaciers, and epic hikes so we headed down to Valdez.

Valdez is a bit out of the way but you get to drive over the pass and one of my favorite parts of our Alaska road trip was all the passes we went over.

The mountains were still fully covered in snow so we couldn’t hike at the pass, but in the town of Valdez, we did a short hike to this incredible viewpoint and discovered a free camping area at the base of a glacier.

Another night we camped right on the water and saw many sea otters playing right in from of the campground.

From Valdez, we drove straight towards Anchorage and if you don’t choose to detour to Valdez or Wrangell-St Elias NP, then you can easily do the drive from the Alaskan border to Anchorage or Fairbanks in one day. One the way out of Alaska, we did Anchorage to Whitehorse in one day, but it was a long day of driving.

Between Valdez (or Tok) and Anchorage, there’s the Matanuska Glacier that you might want to hike. We only stopped to take a picture of it from the rest area because we had plans to visit Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords and Portage Glacier near Whittier.

If we had more time or weren’t doing the Kenai Peninsula, then I would have spent a little time in this area of Glacier View since there are a lot of other epic adventures you can do here like white water rafting, ATV riding, and zip lining, along with some great camping spot.

However, I would tell everyone to prioritize time on the Kenai Peninsula. Check out our blog 15 Things to Do on the Kenai Peninsula: Alaska’s Best Destination for help planning that part of your itinerary.

Just an hour past Glacier View you will arrive in Palmer. While the town itself isn’t something to write home about (though it was nice to be back in a lively civilization again), the area just north of it, Hatcher Pass , is something you shouldn’t skip. We included our two favorite hikes and an epic campground in Hatcher Pass in our blog 25 Epic Things To Do Near Anchorage.

How Much Our Road Trip To Alaska Trip Cost Us

All the prices below are in USD except for fuel.

Total Campgrounds Cost $900

This was our total cost for all the campgrounds we stayed at over our entire 4 months of travel. We only stayed in campgrounds for a total of 30 nights some were as little as $9 per night and others were as expensive as $70 a night. Honestly, most of this was in Whistler and Squamish .

Total Airbnb Cost $650

Throughout the 4-month road trip, we got an Airbnb for one night four times. Once in Kalispell, Palmer, Anchorage, and Squamish. It’s nice on long road trips to have a day in a big kitchen to cook huge meals, catch up on laundry, take long hot showers, and get WiFi to write blogs. But it ends up being a little exhausting and very expensive when you compare this number to the cost of camping.

Total Fuel Cost $3,800 + $300 Ferry

This was our total fuel expense from San Diego, California to Denali (including all our detours) and back. We also took the ferry from Skagway, Alaska to Haines, Alaska, which is only a one-hour boat ride but ended up costing almost $300 for 6 of us and our RV.

Fuel prices in Canada (CAD per liter) :

• Lake Louise $1.32
• Grand Prairie Costco $1.19 (everywhere else in Grand Prairie was $1.32)
• Fort Nelson $1.42
• Muncho Lake $1.89
• Watson Lake $1.37
• Teslin $1.41
• Whitehorse $1.37
• Haines Junction $1.42
• Junction to Highway 37 $1.48
• Iskut $1.50
• Meziadin Junction $1.55
• Junction of Cassiar and Yellowhead $1.26
• Prince George $1.32
• Pemberton $1.30
• Whistler $1.36
• Squamish $1.45

For US travelers: If you want to compare the price of gas from CAD to USD take the price per liter and multiply by 3.78 then multiply that by the current exchange rate of CAD 1 to the USD (at the time that was USD 0.76). Or simply…. multiply the Canadian liter price by 4 and take three-fourths of that. So in Grand Prairie, we paid about $1.20 per liter times 4 is $4.8, and 3/4 or that = $3.60 per gallon, which wasn’t much different than what we paid in the States. Okay, enough math!

Fuel Prices in Alaska (USD per gallon) :

• Glenallen $3.62-$3.78
• Costco in Anchorage $3.09-$3.34
• Wasilla $3.27
• Homer $3.28

Travel Tip: The cheapest gas in Canada was at the Costco in Grand Prairie but they don’t take Visa (only Master Card I believe) so we had to go inside to buy a Costco cash card with Canadian dollars.

If you made it this far, CONGRATS because you are going to have an epic trip up the Alaska highway with all the info you just read. I truly hope I helped you plan an amazing Alaska Highway road trip! This is a trip of a lifetime and most everyone who does it once wants to go back and do it again.

If I left any of your questions unanswered, don’t hesitate to comment on the blog and let me know!

Congrats! Now That You Made It Through The Alaska Highway, It’s Time To Plan Your Time In Alaska

• Watch all our Alaska YouTube videos here
• Plan your Denali Trip here
• Plan your Anchorage Trip here
• Plan your Kenai Peninsula Trip here
• Plan your Skagway & Haines Trip here

Before You Go

• If travel, adventure, and RVing excite you, download our free adventure resource bundle where you get all our pack lists, gear guides, inspirational stories from our travels, and more.
• If you love to hike or want to improve your hiking ability, download our free Fit To Hike Program .
• If trip planning overwhelms you, hire me to plan it for you.

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Saturday 9th of March 2024

We are planning another trip, our 5th maybe 6th, up to Alaska this year. We have reservations to go to Kodiak this time. Any good info about Kodiak for me?

Great info here, we've been to most all of these places. Just too old for the hiking!

Robyn Robledo

Sunday 17th of March 2024

I wish I could help you with this but unfortunately we didn't visit Kodiak.

Thursday 9th of January 2020

This is so perfect! I’ve been all over the internet trying to find exactly this...a post from a family, with and RV, and their actual route and recommendations. I laughed when you mentioned the gyms/rec centers because that’s totally one of my concerns. Ha! Truly. Thanks for taking the time to share so much info! Our family is considering a June trip and this blog will really help our process.

I'm so glad this helped you! It was really hard planning our trip last year because there wasn't enough info so I'm glad you found our blog. The rec centers were definitely life savers some days. The bears along the side of the road were the best part of the trip.

Alaska Self-Drive Packages

Hop in the car and go explore, Alaska awaits.

• Alaska Vacations
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• Itinerary: Alaska Discovery
• Itinerary: Paddle Alaska
• Alaska Rental Cars
• Premium 4x4 Car Rentals
• Local's Advice: Top 5 Best Drives in Alaska

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Alaska Self-Drive Vacations

Despite the allure of scenic train and bus travel packages , many visitors to Alaska prefer the freedom and fun of driving themselves. Since these packages often go beyond where trains travel, they give you the chance to explore towns like Valdez or Cooper Landing and distant national parks like Wrangell-St. Elias .

All self-drive packages include a rental car plus all accommodations and activities so that you can travel as you please, while still enjoying a well-planned itinerary. They can also be an economical option for large groups of four or more traveling together.

Each of the below travel packages gives visitors plenty of time to travel between destinations , leaving space to discover many other hidden gems along Alaska's scenic highways. They are also fully customizable . You can upgrade your vehicle type, add destinations, and change your activities.

Renting a Car in Alaska

There are two rental categories available, a standard rental car or a premium 4x4 rental . You can do plenty with a standard rental, especially if Denali National Park , Seward , Fairbanks , and even off-the-beaten-path places like Girdwood and Homer are on your must-see list. A premium 4x4 rental gives you access to remote gravel thoroughfares in Alaska like the Denali Highway and McCarthy Road. Another benefit of a 4x4 rental is the convenient one-way drop-off option. You can pick up your rental in Anchorage and drop off in Fairbanks or vice-versa, giving you more time to travel without having to "backtrack" on highways you've already explored.

• Want to know more about traveling by car in Alaska? Check out Banned Roads in Alaska and 3 Driving Tips for Alaska Travelers .

If you'd like trip planning assistance from our team of local travel experts, you can send us a general request for information , contact us online, or give us a call at 800-208-0200.

Alaska Discovery Self-Drive - Tour 168

Visit Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Palmer, and Seward on this nine-day vacation package featuring travel by rental car for the utmost freedom to explore as you go. Learn More >

Alaska Glaciers & Wilderness Adventure - Tour 181

Enjoy the freedom to travel Alaska's remote highways on this 13-day vacation package featuring adventures in Anchorage, Seward, Valdez, Fairbanks, and Denali National Park. The package includes a 4x4 rental car. Learn More >

Alaska Kayak Exploration - Tour 180

A paddler's dlight! Road trip from Kachemak Bay and the fjords of Seward to the heart of Denali National Park with stops for several guided kayaking trips on the way. Learn More >

Both Sides of Denali Self-Drive - Tour 148

Cruise by rental car from Anchorage to the Denali National Park area for five days of Alaskan adventures. The trip includes flightseeing, rafting, and a Denali Park Road tour. Learn More >

Northern Exposure Alaska Sampler - Tour 169

Made for active adventurers eager to get out and explore Alaska, this seven-day rental car package includes exciting outdoor excursions in Anchorage, Talkeetna, and Denali National Park. Learn More >

Paddle Alaska Road Trip - Tour 128

Travel by rental car on this seven-day vacation package featuring iceberg kayaking, river rafting, a coastal day cruise, and Denali Park bus tour. The trip begins and ends in Anchorage. Learn More >

Ultimate Iditarod Winter Wonderland - Tour 980

Travel from Fairbanks to Anchorage on this eight-day group tour. Celebrate the start of the Iditarod, see Denali Park draped and snow, and maybe even glimpse the northern lights. Learn More >

Pre-Cruise Alaska Road Trip - Tour 135

A weeklong, pre-cruise, self-drive itinerary that starts in Anchorage and ends in Seward. Convenient one-way rental car included. Learn More >

Driving to Alaska: Everything You Need to Know Before

By: Author Adam

Posted on Last updated: 29 April, 2024

We put this Alaska road trip guide from what we learned by driving to Alaska the entire way, both north and south. Below is what worked well for us (and what didn’t) – to make your drive to Alaska even better than ours.

Are you looking for the ultimate road trip? The journey to Alaska from the lower 48 States is most travelers’ top road trips. It is one of our favorite road trips to date!

Before hitting the road, make sure to pick up the most up-to-date Alaska Milepost book here .

First of all, the drive to Alaska is much easier than most travelers expect. When most people envision the drive to Alaska and driving in Alaska, they start to turn into doomsday preppers.

Often people think driving the Alaska Highway will be all winter driving with crazy icy road conditions the entire journey. WRONG! 

Most travelers think they’ll need three spare tires and gas cans strapped to every flat surface of their vehicle. Driving in Alaska isn’t nearly what you think, and the entire Alaska Highway is better than you think.

You do need to prepare when you drive north to Alaska, but not like this. We’ll explain – while giving you all of the Alaska by car tips, the best routes to Alaska, the best scenic stops along the Alaska Highway, and itinerary advice for the Alaska drive for this epic adventure!

We get several comments & emails every week asking what to pack when driving to Alaska. Here is our list of must-have items on Amazon.

You should really start with a copy of the Milepost Alaska travel planner. It will help you get detailed information to plan your trip, and it’s even better to have it in the car when driving—because there is not going to be cell service, let alone internet, for most of the drive to Alaska and along the Alaska Highway.

Click Here To Buy The Milepost 2024 Edition 

2024 Milepost – Best Alaska Map for an Alaska Road Trip

Can you drive to alaska in 2024.

Yes, you can drive from the US to Alaska in 2024. There are NO COVID-19 requirements for entry into Canada. You can now cross the Canadian border from the States like before COVID-19 ever happened.

Best Guidebook for Driving to Alaska

The best or only real guidebook is the Milepost book . If you are making the journey, you should probably have one of these. We recommend picking one of these up well in advance of your trip to help plan.

The #1 thing to buy for a trip to Alaska, it helps plan & you’ll need it in the car when driving!

It takes some time to get used to the layout, but once you do, it will have more info than you’ll ever need on all the Alaskan roads & Alaska Highway and the route to Alaska through Canada. You can order the Milepost book online here .

Cell Phone service and Best Carriers for a road trip to Alaska?

Cell coverage on the ride up to Alaska was better than expected for the most part but still a lot worse than the roads. Once you are north of Calgary, expect very little service along the Alaska Highway except in the small towns. While traveling through small towns, you will almost always have cell service, and most will also have data too.

Best Satellite Communicator To Have

If you’re driving by yourself or have a loved one driving to Alaska alone and you want some extra piece of mind, you should consider packing a satellite communicator . A satellite communicator can send messages, emails, and emergency SOS messages. For less than $200, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have it.

• Buy Now 2024 Best Satellite Communicator

In Canada – Many U.S. carriers extend their plans into Canada at no extra cost. We found T-Mobile shared towers with many Canadian carriers and worked better than our Verizon line for both calls and data. It’s best to contact your carrier to see how your plan will work in Canada before switching it on across the border.

In Alaska – Cell and data coverage are overall better than in Canada, but it is the U.S., so many carriers will switch to roaming, which is limited on most plans. There is better coverage between towns in Alaska than in northern Canada, but mostly for calls, the internet is still limited to the towns and cities. AT&T and Verizon, according to locals, are the best for coverage in Alaska.  We had a Verizon line, and it worked all right, but it was still pretty limited.

Our T-Mobile line picked up GCI a majority of the time. We were told by T-Mobile we only got 200MB of roaming data included in our plan, but it never shut us down. We called to inquire how much data we had used in Alaska, and they said 0 MB. So, we were able to use our T-Mobile with no problems the entire time. GCI has prepaid options from $20+, depending on how much data you need. GCI is Alaska’s largest wireless network and fastest 4G network.

Related Article: Things To Do In Homer Alaska

Best Vehicle to Drive to Alaska?

ANY vehicle is capable of making the drive to Alaska in the summer months. You don’t need a 4×4 or anything crazy. We’ve seen motorcycles, full-size RVs, trucks with a 5th-wheel camper, and even our basic grocery-getting minivan was fine on the Alaska Highway.

If those giant RVs pulling cars can make it on the roads, so can your car. Our 11-year-old DIY campervan made the drive to Alaska without issue. Click here to watch our YouTube video and see what our van looks like.

It’s a good idea to make sure your vehicle is in good mechanical order because from anywhere in the lower 48 of the U.S., a drive to Alaska is at least 48 hours of drive time.

Driving to Alaska FAQ

Q.) Is driving to Alaska worth it?

A.) Yes, driving to Alaska is absolutely worth it! I am positive anyone who has made the drive will agree. There’s nothing quite like it, and you get to see so much along the way.

Q.) Is it safe to drive the Alaska Highway?

A.) Yes, driving to Alaska is generally safe, and so is the Alaska Highway. There are normal road hazards, but with normal, careful driving and some planning, you should have a safe trip. If you do run into trouble, people along the highway tend to help each other out.

Q.) Can you drive to Alaska without going through Canada?

A.) No, you can not drive all the way to Alaska without going through Canada. However, with the use of the Alaska Marine Highway system , you can take your vehicle to Alaska without going through Canada – just a short 97 hours on the ferry.

Q:) Can you drive to Alaska during the winter months?

A:) Yes, the Alaska Highway is open year-round. See more below about driving to Alaska during the winter.

Q.) Can I drive through Canada to Alaska without a passport?

A.) No, you need your passport. It’s required to cross the Canadian border into Canada and back into the United States when you read Alaska.

Q.) Can you drive to Juneau, Alaska?

A.) No, you can not drive to Juneau without the use of ferries. There are no routes to Alaska that enter Juneau by car without taking the ferry. If you want to bring your car, you will have to take the car ferry to Alaska.

Q:) What month is best to see the Northern Lights in Alaska?

A:) Between August and April is your best chance of seeing the Northern Lights in Alaska. If you are driving the Alaska Highway driving back to the States, plan to spend a few days in Fairbanks. Fairbanks is one of the best places in Alaska to see the Northern Lights.

How are the Roads to Alaska on the Alcan Highway in 2024?

In the middle of the Summer of 2022, there was a section of the Alaska Highway / Alcan highway that was washed out just south of the British Columbia and Yukon Border—apparently caused by a beaver dam that gave way (yes, really) and flooding. There has since been a 3 km detour created to reopen the flow of traffic. It is unclear at this time when this portion of the Alaskan Highway will be fully repaired.

In most years, the condition of the roads will depend on how tough the winter is and how much it heaves the roads. Overall, on our last trip, the roads were far better than we expected while planning an Alaska road trip.

For the vast majority of the drive to Alaska, the road is a two-lane asphalt paved highway with a gravel shoulder large enough for a standard vehicle. There are passing lanes periodically, but the traffic is very thin, and passing is generally not an issue.

When is the Best Time to Drive to Alaska?

The best time to drive the Alaska Highway is from May to September. During the summer months, the road conditions on the Alaska Highway will be at their best.

During the summer, there are more hours of daylight, the best driving conditions, and more services are open along the Alaska Highway. Several places close during the winter months, as very few travelers make the journey during the winter.

Driving The Alaska Highway in Winter

The road is less traveled due to shorter hours of daylight and winter driving conditions. Be prepared for icy road conditions and snow-covered roads. Don’t rush. Give yourself plenty of time when driving to Alaska during the winter.

If you are up for this adventure, make sure you are prepared and have a backup plan! Always have extra gas with you. Gas stations along the Alaska Highway in the winter have very limited hours. Expect extreme cold temperatures. Make sure you have the appropriate cold-weather clothing and gear in your car.

The road conditions and driving will be worse in the Yukon and the interior parts of Alaska in the winter. The chances of seeing wildlife along the Alaskan Highway are much less.

*Note that winter tires are required when driving in British Columbia from October 1 to March 31.

Can you Drive from Seattle to Alaska?

Yes, you can drive from Seattle to Alaska. There are two route options. Both of the routes below have you driving from Seattle to Prince George, British Columbia, along the Trans-Canada Highway. Once you are in Prince George, you will have two routes to choose from.

Most travelers cross the Canadian border at the Sumas-Huntingdon border crossing, which is just north of Seattle and is open 24 hours a day.

You can either take Highway 97, which will connect with the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek, or we suggest driving the Cassiar Highway.

The Cassiar Highway is technically shorter in distance than the Highway 97 route, but it is the longer route from Seattle. It is 100 miles shorter, but the Cassiar Highway is more remote and the more scenic route, in our opinion. It is less traveled, only a two-lane road, has a lower speed limit, and offers a better chance of seeing wildlife. The Cassiar Highway joins the Alaska Highway by Watson Lake in the Yukon Territory.

If you decide driving Highway 97 from Seattle is your preferred route, you will drive the entire Alaska Highway starting at Mile 0, which starts in Dawson Creek. Highway 97 is the fastest route in regard to time and has more restaurants, hotels, gas stations, etc., along the route, but it is 100 miles longer.

Both Highway 97 and Cassiar Highway are scenic drives through British Columbia with high chances of seeing some wildlife along the way. You could drive to Alaska from Seattle via Highway 97 and then drive Alaska to Seattle on the Cassiar Highway. That way, you can experience each route.

Quick Alaska Highway Facts

The Alaska Highway is 1,382 miles/2,224 km long and starts in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and ends in Delta Junction, Alaska.

The highway is open year-round. The road, for the most part, is paved the entire length of the highway. You will run into patches of construction along the route.

It once was 1,422 miles long, but after some rerouting and construction, the highway in Alaska is now 40 miles shorter. You may notice this if you pay attention to the mile markers. Alaska has yet to change its mile markers to the new length. You may notice this when you cross the Alaska-Yukon border.

The Alaska Highway is also known as the Alcan Highway. It got the name Alcan by shortening Alaska and Canada.

The Alaska Highway ends in Delta Junction, Alaska. Many travelers think it ends in Fairbanks, but that is incorrect. The Delta Junction to the Richardson Highway, which goes to Fairbanks.

How Much Time Do I Need in Alaska?

Alaska is a massive state, and how much you will see will depend on how much time you have. We would suggest you spend about two weeks in Alaska at minimum (more is better) to see most of the drivable highlights of the state. A longer trip is better than a short trip.

If you don’t have a month to drive to Alaska, you should probably fly to Alaska and make an Alaska road trip instead. Most Alaska road trips start from Fairbanks or Anchorage, as they have the best flight options. Whether you are flying to Alaska from California, New York, or Wisconsin, like us, there are daily flights to Alaska. We would suggest flying into Anchorage and renting a car to start your journey.

While there are many amazing things to see on the way to Alaska, you don’t want to have to get all the way there to turn around. There are several amazing National Parks in Alaska and Canada, tons of wildlife, including moose & bears, often right along the Alaska Highway, and you can’t forget the gorgeous Canadian Rockies.

Renting a Car in Alaska

If you want to explore Alaska by land but don’t have time to drive the whole way, you can rent a car in Alaska or rent an RV.

Car rental prices in Alaska are NOT CHEAP. I am talking $150+ a day.

There is such a short season, and rental cars in Anchorage and Fairbanks airports are in high demand. Once you know your travel dates and are planning your adventure, book your rental car now. We book online here .

Most rental cars come with unlimited miles (but double-check your terms). If you have time, see if you can explore Canada and Alaska. That way, you could make a mini adventure to the Yukon as well.

Wildlife along the Alaska Highway

We saw sooo many moose and bears just off the road. There become a point where we stopped pulling over to take photos or just watch the wildlife.

The best time to see moose in Alaska is September and October during their breeding season.

The best time to see bears in Alaska is from July through September. We saw more bears along the highway in the Yukon. You most likely will not see a bear in Alaska if you are on an Alaska road trips.

We shouldn’t have to say this, but keep your distance. Do not get out of your car and approach wildlife!

How Much Time Do I Need to Drive to Alaska?

Keep in mind while planning you are going to need at least a week to drive up and another week to drive home from Alaska. It can be done quicker, but then you are going to miss some of the greatest sights in North America and the Rockies.

Two weeks of drive time will allow you to make some stops and actually enjoy the journey –  again, if you don’t, you might as well fly to Alaska. See our Alaskan road trip guide and itinerary for everything to see while in Alaska.

Actual drive times will depend on where your trip starts. The time is really dictated by what you want to see along the way. Do you want to drive right through the Yukon, or do you want to see some sights? We suggest one week to drive safely to Alaska without too many stops.

The Best Route to Drive to Alaska and Road Trip Itinerary

If your goal is to get to Alaska the fastest way possible, you’re better off flying to Anchorage and renting a car in Alaska. As they say, it’s not the destination; it’s the journey.

There are lots of AMAZING things to see on the way to Alaska, and you should make time to see them along the way. You might want to take one route there and another back, possibly going back through Seattle one way. We wish we had had time to drive the Cassiar Highway and make the drive from Alaska to Seattle.

From the eastern half of the United States, most map programs will have you travel through North Dakota into Canada to Edmonton and then finally join the Alcan Highway in Dawson Creek. Take this route if you like loooooooong stretches of flat, boring land. However, if you add just 9 hours of driving to your route, you can see some of the most fascinating landscapes in North America.

Here are our perfect routes to Alaska. No matter which part of the country you are coming from, it would be a road trip sin not to stop in the Canadian Rockies. Make time in your itinerary on either the way to Alaska or on the journey home. No matter which route you take, you’ll be going through the Yukon Territory and British Columbia and jumping on the Alaska Highway near Dawson Creek.

Since everyone is coming from somewhere different, this addresses the Canadian and Northern US portions of the route only. You should allow a minimum of four weeks for this route, and 5-6 weeks would be more comfortable. For the Alaska portion of the suggested itinerary, see our Alaska Road Trip itinerary and guide.

Related Article: One of Alaska’s Best Kept Secrets – Hatcher Pass

Essential Stops on the Drive to Alaska:

Glacier National Park – Montana, USA

If you are in a hurry, you can cover most of the driving highlights of this park in a single day. However, if you have time, we suggest about three days to properly see Glacier National Park . It is one of our favorite National Parks in the United States.

The high mountains can cause weather issues (even in early summer). Extra time would allow a better chance to see this stunning park under blue skies.

If you’re short on time, at least drive the Going to the Sun Road that crosses the park. If you have more time, take in a sunset at our favorite spot, Two Medicines Park Road, or hike the Avalanche Trail.

Banff National Park – Alberta, Canada

One of the most picturesque places on the continent, Banff, should really be part of your trip. A trip to British Colombia requires a few days in Banff National Park. Even those in a hurry should plan three days to take in the sights between Banff, Jasper, and the Icefields Parkway.

Places not to miss while in Banff are Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Peyto Lake, and Bow Lake.

If you have more time, three days in Banff will cover the major highlights. If you’re really short on time, you can jump on a Banff helicopter tour and see the park from a whole other level. Banff is a well-known ski area, but year-round, there’s so much to see and do in Banff.

Related Article: Things to do in Banff

Icefields Parkway – Alberta, Canada

Another must visit in British Columbia is driving the Icefields Parkway. It is one of the most scenic drives you’ll ever take. While only 144 miles (232km), you could drive it in just over 2 hours.

There are literally hundreds of stops along the way. This drive deserves at least a day of your road trip to Alaska. Two days would allow you to walk on the Columbia Icefield and really see this amazing place properly.

Jasper National Park – Alberta, Canada

At the top of the Icefields Parkway is another impressive Canadian Park. Jasper National Park is full of more impressive mountains and glacial feed lakes and rivers. Some of the national park highlights not to miss are the Valley of 5 Lakes hike and the massive Pyramid Mountain. Plan at least a day inside Jasper, and three days would allow you to cover most of the highlights.

From Jasper, make your way up HWY 40 in Alberta to connect with the Alcan Highway in Dawson Creek, where the Alaskan Highway starts.  From the Alcan Highway, there are fewer possible deviations since this is the main route.

Good Stops:  Muncho Lake Provincial Park,  Stone Mountain Provincial Park, Destruction Bay, Tetlin Junction, Skagway. From Jake’s Corner in the Yukon, you can make your way down to Skagway & Haines, Alaska.

For the Alaska portion of the suggested itinerary, see our Alaska Road Trip itinerary and guide.

What to pack to drive to Alaska

While it’s good to be prepared for the very long drive to Alaska, but after doing it – there’s a more reasonable approach. Here, we will go over some of the things we packed that worked well and some that didn’t.

Do I Need a Full-Size Spare Tire when Driving to Alaska?

Having a full-size spare would help you to make you more independent and better prepared for any issues. However, the roads to Alaska are, in general, in pretty good shape.

If a flat tire occurs, a small donut tire would likely get you to the next town that could repair it. This would slow down your trip, but you’re not going to be eaten by bears if you don’t have a full-size spare.

To answer the question better, we spent a few hundred dollars and two days adding a spare tire to a vehicle that was not made to carry one. In hindsight, it was not worth it. However, if you can easily add a full-size spare tire to your vehicle, do it. Call a junkyard and get a rim and a used tire, and you’ll be ready if something does happen.

Do I need extra jerry cans of gas to drive to Alaska?

The simple answer is no. There is no stretch of road anywhere on the route to Alaska that is longer than 200 miles without a gas station. However, you’ll see all kinds of vehicles with multiple gas cans strapped to the back (we did too).

Overall, we found it unnecessary to carry extra gas. However, it was a peace of mind while in what felt like the middle of nowhere. The main exception is if you plan on driving longer, more remote stretches of the road to Alaska at night or early in the morning.

Many of the gas stations along the route to Alaska (especially in Canada) are old-school, without card readers, meaning the stations have to be open to get gas. Our minivan campervan gets around 400 miles to the tank, and we just never let it get too far under 1/2 a tank and never had an issue.

If you plan on going to more remote areas off of the main highways in Alaska and northern Canada, you still will want an extra gas can. We really liked the nice sturdy metal gas can we brought for this trip, which actually fit inside of our full-sized spare that was on a carry-in our hitch receiver.

Random things you should know before driving the Alcan or Alaska Highway:

• In British Columbia, if you are caught going more than 40 kph over the speed limit, they will impound your car for seven days . Watch your speed when driving! We found this out when we got stopped going around 30 kph over. The trooper let us off with a warning because he was on his way to a missing person. Lucky for us, not so much them. However, he made it seem like his hands would be tied if caught over 40 kph.
• Canada restricts certain types of weapons from being brought into the country, including pepper spray. This makes carrying bear spray into Canada a little bit of a gray area. According to most sources, it is now legal if it’s bigger than 9oz, and the label states USDA repellent registration. Also on the restricted list are handguns and military-like assault weapons. If declared, you can bring in rifles and shotguns for hunting. You must register at the border and pay a fee. See a more comprehensive list and regulations on the RCMP official website .

How Much Does it Cost to Drive to Alaska?

Calculating the cost of a road trip to Alaska will depend on your route, gas mileage/price, driving habits, road conditions, lodging, and food along the way. Everyone’s trip will be different, but here are a few tips on how to budget your Alaska drive trip.

• Use a map tool to calculate how many miles your trip will be. Take that number and add in some miles for sightseeing and then double it for driving home.
• If you know your vehicle’s gas mileage, you can easily figure out the gas cost.
• Plan out your route, where you would like to stop along the way, and the type of accommodations you want. Will you be camping or staying in hotels along the way to Alaska? This will be one of your biggest budget factors.
• Make sure to factor in a budget for food. It could be as little as $10 per day per person if you’re cooking your own meals or much higher if eating primarily in restaurants. There are not a ton of restaurants in the Yukon or along the Alaska Highway except in the larger cities.
• Lastly, make sure to leave some money for seeing the sights – entrance fees, park passes, etc.

Are you planning to drive to Alaska? Or have you already done the drive? Share your questions and tips in the comments!

Don’t forget to pin me for later.

Sherrie seward

Saturday 1st of July 2023

Thank you for so much informative information.

Sunday 13th of March 2022

Thanks for posting this! My wife and I are getting ready to drive to AK from Central Wisconsin this summer in our Sienna mini van. Planning for about 10 weeks, lots of things to see and do.

Monday 28th of June 2021

The Alaska Hwy is all paved now. So, the drive is much easier than it used to be. The Canadian border officials can be a real pain. But, you just have to put up with it. DO NOT have a temper flare up! If you do they'll just deny you entry and turn you around. DO NOT try to sneek a hand gun into Canada. If they search your vehicle and they find it you're in big trouble. They really don't like any kind of gun.

Make sure you've got good tires. If you need to buy tires they will charge an arm and a leg. Same for batteries. There are plenty of places to stay, buy gas/diesel and food. No need to carry gas cans.

Summer time is a good time to drive. Winter can be bad because of the cold. There are places where it can get down to -50F or -60F. It can get colder than that.

If your vehicle takes premium gas when you get into Alaska the highest octane you can buy is 90. And it's lousy. You'll get less power and worst mileage. Buy octane booster before you leave home or in the states.

Also, make sure you've to all the paperwork for your vehicle. Insurance, and registration. They might ask you for it at the border. You'll also need a passport to get into Canada.

The border is still closed as of today, Monday June 28th 2021. No telling when they'll reopen it.

The people here (Alaska) are very friendly. Alaska is more than 2.5 times bigger than Texas.

Diane Huffman

Tuesday 13th of April 2021

Awesome and informative post! I worked in Denali YEARS ago ('99,00, and '01) and did that drive back and forth each summer from Utah and Colorado. It's interesting to hear that there are still gas stations that don't have pay-at-the-pump. I remember sleeping at the gas station waiting for it to open because I needed more gas to continue. It is an incredible drive, I'd love to do it again some time when COVID restrictions end.

John LeMaster

Thursday 8th of October 2020

My wife and I drove from Washington to Alaska and back with our travel trailer about 10 years ago. We really enjoyed our trip and would like to do it again. However, we are concerned that it may not be the same because of over crowding and heavy traffic during the summer months. If that's the case we may want to remember it the way it was. That's true of so many places we used to enjoy visiting, but now avoid because they are totally jammed with cars and people making everything a real hassle. What have conditions been like the past couple of summers?

Thursday 11th of February 2021

I don't think 'heavy traffic' applies with a drive to Alaska yet. On our last drive, I think there were days when we saw less than a dozen cars all day.

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Self Drive Tours for independent travelers with accommodations, rental car assistance & roadtrip routes.

Home » Tours » Alaska Driving Tours » Self-Drive

There’s nothing like exploring Alaska on a self-drive tour on a road trip by rental car or RV. Our independent Alaska road trip routes and tour itineraries take you to many of Alaska’s most popular destinations and typically are 8 to 15 days in length, transporting you along the Alaska Highway and other Alaska roadways. Some of our Alaska driving routes also include travel aboard the Alaska Railroad or on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry. We can help you customize your Alaska self-drive tour to allow you to spend the vacation time where you want to, when, and how.

Browse our many self-drive tours below to explore Alaska at your own pace, get creative with your Alaska itinerary, and reserve the driving trip that maximizes your fun in America’s Last Frontier.

Choose from 15 vacations in Alaska related to Self-Drive

All Alaska Classic Self Drive Tour

Duration: 15 days

Starting at: $3649 / pp

Explore three of Alaska's National Parks: Denali, Wrangell - St. Elias, and Kenai Fjords. Excellent wildlife viewing opportunities throughout. Travel on four designated National Scenic Byways showcasing Alaska's natural beauty with its jagged mountain peaks, lush alpine meadows,... Browse itinerary

Family Fun Vacation by Car

Duration: 9 days

Starting at: $2459 / pp

An excellent family itinerary designed to allow for a leisurely travel pace with plenty of time for family-oriented activities. Top destinations include Denali and Kenai Fjords National Parks. Touring highlights include riding aboard a "whistle stop" train operated... Browse itinerary

Great Alaskan Road Trip

Duration: 8 days

Starting at: $1889 / pp

Explore Denali, Seward, and the Matanuska Valley with the freedom of a rental car. These three destinations complement each other with natural beauty from mountains to valleys to coastlines. The bus tour into Denali National Park is a... Browse itinerary

Alaska Highlights Self-Drive Tour

Duration: 10 days

Starting at: $1809 / pp

This independent Alaska self-drive tour features many of the state's most popular attractions and scenic roadways. Visit Denali National Park and Kenai Fjords National Park and the cities of Anchorage, Fairbanks, Valdez, and Seward. The circular... Browse itinerary

Circle Alaska Adventure Tour

Duration: 12 days

Starting at: $3139 / pp

Ride the Alaska Railroad, explore Denali National Park, search for gold, meet a sled dog team, and much more! Travel abroad on the Alaska Railroad to Denali and Fairbanks and by car to Valdez, Seward, and Anchorage. We... Browse itinerary

Alaska by Rail and Car Tour

Starting at: $1879 / pp

This rail and road trip takes you from Anchorage to Fairbanks on a classic Alaska train trip aboard the Alaska Railroad with an independent tour by car from Fairbanks to Valdez, driving the scenic Richardson and Glenn Highways.... Browse itinerary

Quintessential Alaska: Denali, Glaciers & Fishing

Starting at: $2339 / pp

Travel by train to see Denali National Park. Travel into Denali on a bus tour. Return to Anchorage by coach and pick up a rental car. Drive to Whittier for a glacier cruise in Prince William Sound. Spend... Browse itinerary

Alaska’s National Parks Tour by Car

Duration: 14 days

Starting at: $5539 / pp

Visit 4 National Parks: Kenai Fjords, Denali, Wrangell-St. Elias and Katmai (or Lake Clark National Park for bear viewing). Plus, an add-on opportunity for a 5th national park with a visit to Gates of the Arctic National Park... Browse itinerary

Adventure Driving Tour

Starting at: $2079 / pp

Enjoy an Alaska adventure vacation from Anchorage, exploring Alaska’s “playground” of the Kenai Peninsula and discovering Denali National Park by car. Raft, hike, and discover fantastic scenery and wildlife throughout your Alaska road trip. You’ll first leave Anchorage... Browse itinerary

Discover Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula by Car

Starting at: $1199 / pp

A relaxed driving tour of the Kenai Peninsula and a day cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park. Enjoy unlimited mileage in your midsize rental vehicle. Overnight stops in Seward, Homer, and Soldotna provide opportunities for world sport... Browse itinerary

Alaska Lodge Driving Tour

Duration: 13 days

Starting at: $6909 / pp

Travel to off-the-beaten-path locations, including overnights at wilderness lodges and inns that offer options for hiking, kayaking, and canoeing adventures. The touring route includes a spectacular flight into the expansive Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve and the... Browse itinerary

Alaska’s Finest Self Driving Tour

Starting at: $3429 / pp

This Alaska self drive tour is designed for independent traveler's seeking the best available accommodations Alaska has to offer while road touring. Enjoy spectacular mountain, glacial and coastal scenery while visiting several must-see locations such as Prince William... Browse itinerary

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Which road trip itinerary would be best? - Alaska Forum

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Which road trip itinerary would be best?

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I’m thinking of changing it to Anchorage to Copper Center to Glacier on Day 1. Day 2 will be to Denali. Day 3 will be Denali to Anchorage.

Is one plan better than the other? Both lodging places have availability for the switched nights and I’m assuming they’d be open to it but I haven’t asked yet. If it’s a no, I’ll stick with the original itinerary.

My teen son and I are National Park fans and while it is not ideal, we are ok with just the options near Copper Center. I am no longer up for more rigorous backcountry adventures and he has his whole life ahead of him if he wants to return. We have talked of a longer, more intense trip for his graduation where we will visit the fly-in parks. This trip is a quick teaser so I can visit my 50th state before my 50th birthday.

5 replies to this topic

To be honest, I would not do what you are thinking of doing.

No. The buses will not be running when we are there.

What I would do in such short time:

Driving to Denaly NP, taking a room as near as possible to the entrance. If there is time in the afternoon I'd drive as far as it is allowed into the NP.

Book a tour with the East-fork-Shuttle the next day (not the tour-bus!!) This could take, if you want, the full day. If not, you could make some smaller hikes near the park-entrance. See the sled-dog-demonstration maybe on day 3.

Why driving all the way to Wrangel St. Elias Visitor-center? From Glacier View to it and back to Anchorage is at least a 6 hours drive.

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Lonely Plan-it: A fishing trip to Alaska

Apr 24, 2024 • 7 min read

Bird Creek in the shadow of the Chugach Mountains is lined with fisherman hoping to catch silver salmon © Karen Timmons / Getty Images

For many Alaska visitors, the chance to drop a line in the briny depths of the ocean, or cast a fly rod upon a rushing river, is the reason they’ve traveled north – and for good reason. There is nothing quite like fresh fish – caught amid the stunning scenery of Alaska – consumed over a dinner table filled with tales of the day itself.

Alaska’s commercial fishing industry is its second-largest economic generator, with a wide variety of species found across the state. From mid-April to August, saltwater fishing vessels of varying sizes and shapes take to the sea and net or line-catch salmon, halibut, cod and other species for markets around the world. Sport fishing is also a huge business in Alaska, including the Arctic and Northwest regions, where species like Arctic char are considered a fly-fisher’s dream for their fight on a line. 

For these reasons, you’ll need to consider the seasons, types of fishing and the most accessible locations for your fishing holiday. In a state with 3,000 rivers, three million lakes, and over 6,000 miles of coastline, the toughest part is deciding where to go. 

What are the regulations for fishing in Alaska?

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is the state’s overseeing agency for all things sport fishing, and it tightly controls where, when, and what species you can catch. Dividing the state into three regions (Southcentral, Interior, and Southeastern) the agency provides up-to-date listings of open and closed areas, and forecasts for salmon runs each spring, when many anglers are making  plans for fishing trips. 

All nonresidents aged 16 and older must purchase and carry a current fishing license , available either online or at retail outlets in just about every city. Additionally, those wanting to fish for king salmon must secure a stamp indicating this intention, which is added to your license. It must be noted here that the ADF&G does not take fishing without a license lightly: officers are constantly patrolling shorelines and salt waterways – and fines for non-licensed fishers are hefty.

Know your halibut from chinook

It behooves the fishing visitor to have an idea of what type of fish they’d like to catch while in Alaska. Those looking for salmon have the choice to fish in either saltwater near Whittier, Seward, Valdez or Homer and nearby environs; or in the rivers and streams flowing near these communities, but also in Anchorage and along the Southwest regional areas like Dillingham and Katmai National Park. 

Know that the farther away from the road system one goes, the more expensive fishing will get, especially if you need a float plane to reach a river. Alaska's waters house five species of salmon: chum, sockeye, pink, chinook and coho. Each spawn at different times of year, beginning with chinook (also known as king salmon) in late spring.

Other freshwater fish include Arctic char, grayling and trout – the latter usually fished in September and October. 

Saltwater species are abundant and accessible in any harbor community, but halibut are predominant in the community of Homer at the tip of the Kenai Peninsula . In fact it is known as the “halibut capital of the world” with fish hauled in here reaching 200 pounds in weight. 

Best destinations for a DIY fishing trip

• Cast a line into the river for world-class salmon fishing on the Kenai River near Cooper Landing .
• Head out to deeper waters of Cook Inlet from Homer to fish for halibut. 
• Show up to Ship Creek in Anchorage and rent the entire kit to fish like a local. 
• Fly-fish the sparkling waters of the Little Tok River near the community of Tok, in the Yukon-Charley Rivers Preserve.
• Try the family-friendly Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's Tour in Ketchikan for a look at the dangerous deep-sea crab industry.  

Top tips for fishing in Juneau

Located along Alaska’s Inside Passage, Juneau is a great landing spot for Southeast fishers wanting to haul in a halibut or salmon. Charters depart from both downtown docks and Auke Bay about 15 miles from the city center. 

Where to stay: Spend the night downtown at the Silverbow Inn and take in the charm of Alaska’s capital city. 

Where to eat: For fresh seafood and local atmosphere, dine at the Hangar on the Wharf and watch floatplanes and ships come in and out. 

What to expect in Seward 

A popular destination for both cruise ship and independent travelers, Seward is also a hotspot for Anchorage residents looking for a weekend getaway. The calm waters of Resurrection Bay glean salmon, halibut, rockfish and cod and are great places for youngsters to learn the art of saltwater fishing. 

Where to stay: Harbor 360 hotel sits right at the small boat harbor and offers a complimentary breakfast and access to downtown Seward activities, including fishing charters.

Where to eat: The Cookery in downtown Seward is small but its menu of fresh seafood and produce packs a delicious punch. 

Visiting Valdez

This scenic Prince William Sound community lives hard by the sea, with daily salmon, halibut, and rockfish charters departing from its small boat harbor. Visit during the pink salmon run in early July and see the commercial purse seiners hauling up enormous nets of delicious fish.

Where to stay: Totem Hotel and Suites is a good option and a short distance from the downtown docks. 

Where to eat: Try The Fat Mermaid for locally-sourced seafood right along the main street of Valdez and within walking distance to activities.

Remote fishing experiences in Alaska

If a remote fishing experience is on your bucket list and within budget, these lodges provide a truly immersive once-in-a-lifetime Alaska fishing trip. 

Waterfall Resort

Located on scenic Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska, this homey lodge is reached via a 45-minute floatplane ride from Ketchikan and offers pristine scenery while fishing for salmon in the calm waterways around the island. This former salmon cannery-turned fishing lodge is a wonderful choice for groups and families. 

Alaska Sportsman’s Lodge

A luxury resort located near one of the most productive sockeye salmon waterways in Alaska, the Kvichak River, this lodge is for serious fishers, with daily guided forays into the wilderness to cast a line. Want to fly fish for trout? This is the place for that as well, with large fish regularly caught and released. 

Tordrillo Lodge

Want to throw in some other adventures while still finding time to fish? This hidden lodge deep in the Tordrillo Mountains just an hour floatplane ride from Anchorage is pretty much perfect, with salmon and trout fishing intermingled with heli-skiing, hiking, and rafting. 

Be bear aware

Alaska’s bears frequent the same fishing rivers and streams as humans, and they always have the right of way. If you are fishing without a guide, review the Alaska Department of Fish and Game rules and guidelines for fishers , and always keep an eye out for bears, especially if fishing in the long, dusky Alaska evening hours. 

What to pack for your fishing trip to Alaska

If taking a charter vessel, dress for inclement weather and a near-constant day of wetness and fish scales. Wear rubber boots, or non-slip, close-toed shoes – and bring rain gear, a warm hat and gloves. 

For those heading out into the open waters of Prince William Sound or the Gulf of Alaska, consider pre-dosing with an anti-seasickness medication or wearing a behind-the-ear patch to prevent nausea during the trip. Even the most ardent sailors sometimes feel the rolling ocean swells to be too much to manage without medicine. 

For river fishers, waders are a must, and non-felt wading shoes. 

Don’t have gear? There’s no need to worry: most guiding outfits provide everything you need for a comfortable experience. 

Here is more expert advice to help you plan your trip to Alaska:

The best time to go to Alaska? Save this guide on when to visit .  Get around in Alaska with these  transport tips .  Be sure to add these top experiences to your Alaska itinerary. And make time for some epic road trips  to the highlights in Alaska.

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Can You Drive to Juneau Alaska? Travel to Juneau (2024)

H ave you found yourself scratching your head and wondering if you can drive to Juneau, Alaska? If so, you’re not alone. This question has puzzled many travelers planning their Alaskan adventure.

Can you drive to Juneau Alaska? The short answer is no, you can’t drive directly to Juneau from anywhere.

As someone who lived in the huge state of Alaska for seven years, I’ve gathered a wealth of knowledge about its unique geography and transportation quirks.

In this post, we’ll unravel the mystery surrounding the accessibility of Juneau, a city known for its stunning landscapes and rich history.

We’ll tackle the complexities of Alaskan geography and transportation, providing clear, reliable information to dispel any doubts you might have.

Whether you’re planning a trip to the Last Frontier or just satisfying your curiosity, this post is designed to guide you through the confusion.

Can You Drive to Juneau, Alaska?

Despite being the capital city of Alaska, Juneau is unique in that it’s not connected to the rest of the state by a road system.

Nestled at the base of towering mountains and surrounded by the waters of the Gastineau Channel, Juneau is what’s known as a ‘roadless city.’

It is a city that’s as unique as it is beautiful. Nestled in the heart of the Inside Passage of the Alaska Marine Highway, it’s a place where mountains and glaciers serve as the backdrop to everyday life.

But there’s that weird catch – if there isn’t a road that leads directly to Juneau, how do you get there?

Well, it’s all part of the Alaskan adventure! You could drive to Bellingham in Washington State and hop on a ferry for a scenic journey.

Or, if you’re up for an epic road trip, you could traverse part of the iconic Alaskan-Canadian Highway and then catch a ferry from Skagway to Juneau.

Either way, the journey to Juneau is just as memorable as the destination itself!

Is Juneau Only Accessible by Boat?

While boat travel is a popular way to reach Juneau, it’s not the only option. Juneau is primarily accessible by two means: by sea and by air.

BY SEA : The Alaska Marine Highway System operates ferries that connect Juneau with other communities in Southeast Alaska, as well as with Bellingham, Washington. This is a scenic and popular way to reach Juneau, allowing you to bring your vehicle with you.

BY AIR : Juneau International Airport serves as a major hub for air travel in Southeast Alaska. It offers regular flights to and from several Alaskan cities and towns, as well as seasonal flights to Seattle, Washington.

So, while you can’t drive directly to Juneau, you have options when it comes to choosing your mode of transportation. Whether you prefer the leisurely pace of a ferry ride or the speed and convenience of air travel, getting to Juneau is part of the fun!

How Do I Get My Car to Juneau?

If you want to bring your car to Juneau, the most feasible option is to use the Alaska Marine Highway System, which operates a network of ferries that transport people, vehicles, and cargo to various locations in Alaska such as Whittier, Valdez , Homer, Ketchikan, and Haines, to name a few.

Here’s how you can do it:

• Drive to a Ferry Terminal : The southernmost terminal of the Alaska Marine Highway System is in Bellingham, Washington. You can drive your car to this terminal.
• Take the Ferry : Once you reach the terminal, you can load your car onto the ferry. The ferry will then transport you and your car along the scenic Inside Passage to Juneau. The journey takes about 2-3 days, depending on the specific route and schedule.

Remember to book your ferry passage in advance, especially during the busy summer months. Also, note that the cost of ferry travel will depend on the size of your vehicle and the number of passengers.

So, while you can’t drive directly to Juneau, you can certainly bring your car with you and enjoy the freedom of having your vehicle once you’re there!

What to Pack for Your Juneau Adventure

Heading on an adventure to Juneau, Alaska, is an exciting prospect! To ensure you’re well-prepared for your trip, it’s important to pack appropriately. Here’s a practical guide to help you decide what to bring, depending on the season and your planned activities.

Clothing : Regardless of the season, layering is key in Juneau. The weather can change quickly, so it’s best to be prepared.

• A mix of short and long-sleeved tops
• Warm sweater or fleece, and a waterproof jacket
• Knit hat and light gloves
• Comfortable walking shoes for exploring the city
• Gore-Tex hiking boots if you plan to hit the trails.

Outdoor Gear : If you’re planning outdoor activities, consider packing the following items to make your day more comfortable and efficient.

• Binoculars for wildlife viewing
• Reusable water bottle
• Backpack for day trips

Summer Accessories : If the sun is shining, which admittedly, doesn’t always happen, you will want some protection!

• Cap or baseball hat
• Bug spray can also be useful

Winter : Winter in Alaska can be brutally cold. Juneau can be damp as well as it is rainier in this area.

• Warm waterproof mittens
• Fleece-lined hat
• Thermal Layers
• Waterproof winter boots

Essentials : Everyone has those personal needs that one doesn’t want to forget to pack! Make a list and check it twice.

• Travel documents
• Medications
• Any specialty items you might not be able to find easily in Juneau

Remember, packing for Juneau is all about preparing for adventure and being ready to embrace the elements, whatever the weather may bring.

Top Attractions in Juneau Alaska

Here are some of the top attractions that visitors to Juneau, Alaska, should not miss that work well for day trip ideas:

• Mendenhall Glacier : This stunning glacier is located just 12 miles from downtown Juneau and is one of the city’s most popular attractions. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities here, including hiking, wildlife viewing, and exploring the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.
• Tracy Arm Fjord : Known for its stunning natural beauty, Tracy Arm Fjord offers breathtaking views of glaciers, mountains, and wildlife. Boat tours are a popular way to explore this area.
• Mount Roberts Tramway : This tramway offers a quick and scenic ride to the top of Mount Roberts, where visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Juneau and the surrounding area.
• Alaska State Museum : This museum offers a comprehensive look at Alaska’s history, culture, and art. It’s a must-visit for those interested in learning more about the state.
• Juneau Whale-Watching Tours : Juneau is a great place to spot humpback whales and killer whales (orcas), especially between April and November. Several tour operators offer whale-watching excursions.
• Alaska State Capitol : A tour of the Alaska State Capitol building provides insight into the state’s political history and processes.
• Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure : This botanical garden offers guided tours through a lush rainforest, with beautiful views of the surrounding landscape.
• Juneau-Douglas City Museum : This local museum provides a look into the history and culture of the Juneau-Douglas area.
• Macaulay Salmon Hatchery : Here, visitors can learn about Alaska’s important salmon industry and even see thousands of salmon up close.
• Treadwell Mine Historic Trail : This trail offers a glimpse into Juneau’s gold mining history, with interpretive signs and remnants of the old Treadwell Mine along the way.

Looking for some popular tours and activities in Juneau?

• Best Private Whale Watching Tours in Juneau

• Best Juneau Helicopter Tours

• Best Juneau Whale Watching Group Tours

FAQS: Can You Drive to Juneau, Alaska?

Understandably, people have quite a few questions about how to get to the small city of Juneau, Alaska! Here are some common ones and some answers.

Why is Juneau not accessible by car?

Juneau’s unique geographical location is the primary reason it’s not accessible by car. The city is nestled in the Southeast Alaska panhandle, surrounded by water on one side and towering mountains and glaciers on the other. This rugged terrain makes it impossible to build a road that directly connects Juneau to the rest of Alaska or the lower 48 states.

Are there any roads going to Juneau Alaska?

While there are no roads that connect Juneau to the rest of Alaska or the continental United States, the city itself does have a road system. The Juneau road system covers the local area, including the Mendenhall Valley, Auke Bay, and out to Thane and the Kensington Mine. However, these roads end where the city ends.

Are there cars in Juneau Alaska?

Yes, there are cars in Juneau, Alaska. Despite the city’s unique geographical location and lack of connecting roads to other cities, Juneau has a local road system that residents and visitors use for transportation within the city and its surrounding areas.

People use cars for daily commuting, running errands, and exploring the local area.

The local road system covers areas such as Downtown Juneau, the Mendenhall Valley, Auke Bay, Douglas Island, and out to Thane and the Kensington Mine.

Additionally, cars can be brought to Juneau via the Alaska Marine Highway System, which operates ferries that can transport vehicles. There are also car rental services available in Juneau for visitors who need a vehicle during their stay.

Do you need a car when visiting Juneau Alaska?

Whether you need a car when visiting Juneau, Alaska, largely depends on what you plan to do during your visit! If you’re planning to stay mainly in downtown Juneau and visit attractions such as the Alaska State Museum, the State Capitol, or the historic district, you might not need a car.

Downtown Juneau is quite walkable, and many of the main attractions are within a reasonable walking distance of each other.

However, if you want to explore areas outside of downtown, such as the Mendenhall Glacier, having a car can be beneficial. Public transportation in Juneau is limited, and while there are some bus services, they may not align with your schedule or go to all the places you want to visit.

There are also taxi services and tour companies that offer transportation to popular attractions. Some visitors also choose to rent bicycles or scooters to get around.

The Bottom Line: Can You Drive to Juneau Alaska?

So while we’ve determined that you can’t drive to Juneau, Alaska, this unique aspect only adds to the city’s charm and allure!

The journey to Juneau, whether by ferry or plane, is an adventure in itself, offering spectacular scenery in the Alaskan wilderness.

Once there, you’ll find a city rich in history, culture, and natural beauty, from the bustling downtown to the serene Mendenhall Glacier.

So, don’t let the lack of a road deter you. Embrace the adventure, set sail for the horizon, and discover the unforgettable experience that is Juneau.

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