Ultimate Alaska Road Trip Itinerary for 2 Weeks (+Map & Tips)

Are you dreaming of visiting Alaska but are not sure how to plan your trip? In this guide, I share a detailed two-week Alaska itinerary based on my recent trip.

This land-based road trip itinerary covers many of the must-see sights and incredible bucket list activities in Alaska. From glaciers to wildlife and the most incredible outdoor activities, this trip is filled with WOW moments from start to finish.

It also includes practical info to help you plan a truly unforgettable trip and make the most of your two weeks in the Last Frontier.

Good to know: This itinerary will bring you to most of the best places in Alaska that you can easily visit by car. In addition, it includes tours and day trips to remote areas that you can’t reach on your own. Most of the destinations covered in this itinerary are inland, so you can do it as a stand-alone trip, but also as an addition to any Alaska cruise.

   

Essential Info & Map

Before we start with the detailed itinerary, there are some things you really have to know when planning a trip to Alaska:

• This Alaska itinerary can only be done in the summer months, between mid-May and mid-late September. While some activities we recommend are possible year-round, most of them are seasonal. In addition, some places can only be visited in the summer, and many hotels and other facilities are completely closed in the low season.

• Since the vast majority of tourists visit Alaska in the summer, it’s not only extremely busy but also very expensive. The only way to avoid disappointment is to book everything in advance. From rental cars and accommodations to tours and even some restaurants – you really have to do research and reserve as much as possible in advance! In May or September, you may still be able to book some things last-minute, but even then, it’s not always simple. In the summer, not booking in advance isn’t an option.

• Most tourists visit Alaska on cruise ships, so if you plan a road trip – even if for a few days before or after the cruise – you can have a more authentic experience. It will still be busy everywhere in the summer, but not nearly as crowded as at the major cruise ports. If you don’t want to rent a car, consider a scenic trip on the Alaska Railroad or simply stay in Anchorage and book some amazing day tours.

• The best place to rent a car for this itinerary is Anchorage (Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport). For car hire, we always use and recommend Booking.com. Keep in mind that most car rental companies in Alaska don’t allow driving on gravel roads. Normally, for this itinerary, it’s not an issue. But if you are planning on driving on gravel, be sure to double-check if it’s allowed when booking a car.

• Some of the most memorable experiences in Alaska can only be done with guided tours (glacier excursions, boat trips, etc.). I used GetYourGuide and Viator for all my tour bookings whenever possible. However, some tours can only booked directly with small local companies. In the itinerary below, I included links to all the tours that I did and recommend, so you don’t have to waste hours and days researching everything.

• The same goes for accommodations – this itinerary includes links to the places I stayed at, as well as additional suggestions for different budgets. As already mentioned, Alaska is a very popular summer destination, and hotels in many places often sell out months in advance. So be sure to book your lodging as soon as you know your travel dates and itinerary!

 

My Alaska itinerary for 2 weeks:

Day 1: Arrival & Anchorage

DRIVING DISTANCE/ TIME: 5 miles (8 km), 15 minutes from the Airport to the city center.

Welcome to Alaska!

Depending on what time your flight arrives, you may have time to do some sightseeing in Anchorage. Below are some recommendations for your first day.

Start your visit with the Anchorage Trolley City Tour. It’s one of the best ways to see Anchorage in a short time. In addition, on this tour, you usually get a coupon booklet that will save you money on souvenirs and some other attractions in town.

Don’t miss the Anchorage Museum, with its unique mix of collections and artworks varying from traditional art to fun contemporary exhibits. It’s also a great place to learn more about the essential aspects of the Alaskan lifestyle, both in the past and present.

 

Where to eat: Anchorage has an interesting food scene with some really good restaurants, cafes, and breweries. For lunch, consider joining a food tour. For dinner, there are tons of restaurants to choose from (you may want to reserve!). For a casual meal, check out 49th State Brewing. For something fancier, Whisky & Ramen. For a special occasion, check out Simon & Seafort’s.

Where to stay in Anchorage: I recommend either Hotel Captain Cook (4*) or Aviator Hotel (3*). I stayed at both of these hotels – one at the beginning and one at the end of the trip – and really liked them both.

Captain Cook is a traditional luxury hotel with all the facilities you may need (restaurants, shops, pool, etc.) Aviator is more modern but is also a lot simpler. The location of Captain Cook is a bit nicer, but they are both very central, within walking distance of everything, including the train station.

When to pick up a rental car? You will need a car for the biggest part of this itinerary. If you decide not to take a scenic train to Seward (see day 2), then simply rent a car for the entire duration of your trip at the airport (book in advance!!!).

If you decide to take a scenic train ride to Seward first (see day 2), then you can simply take a taxi/Uber/Lyft to town upon arrival and walk/taxi to the railway station in the morning. In that case, you rent a car when you get back to Anchorage (in the evening of day 3 or the morning of day 4).

 

Day 2: Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic & Seward

DRIVING DISTANCE/ TIME: Anchorage to Seward – 125 miles (200 km), 2.5 hours by car OR 4.5 hours by train.

I highly recommend starting your Alaska adventure with a scenic train journey on the Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic route from Anchorage to Seward. It’s one of the most breathtaking train rides in the world.

The landscape is absolutely stunning! For me, this was the first introduction to Alaskan nature and I was in awe from the start. If you do just one section of the Alaskan Railroad route, make it this one. From everything I heard and read, it’s by far the most scenic part.

TIP: Book your tickets for the train well in advance. If you can, opt for GoldStar service for glass-roof views and access to an elevated outdoor terrace. You can find more information and check availability on the official website.

Alternatively, if you prefer to keep things simple (and cheaper), you can also rent a car in Anchorage for the entire duration of this trip and simply drive to Seward. The drive is just 2.5 hours and it’s also very scenic, so count some extra time for photo stops.

Good to know: The train departs from Anchorage early in the morning and the ride takes 4.5 hours. Your luggage gets delivered straight to your Seward hotel, so you can start exploring right away.

 

The train arrives in Seward around 11.20 am. Most people head straight to the harbor for the Kenai Fjords cruise and take the same train back at 6 pm. Indeed, boat trips align with the train schedule, so you could easily do a boat trip today (and even head back to Anchorage by train if you are short on time). But we recommend staying in Seward for at least two days. So you can also do the boat cruise the next day, as described in this itinerary.

Instead, on the first day, you could opt for one of the amazing outdoor activities that Seward is known for. The most popular options are summer dog sledding, (glacier) hiking, rafting, and kayaking. Many of these tours take just 2-3 hours and have several departures per day. I did this 3-hour rafting adventure on the Resurrection River, and it was great fun.

Afterward, visit the Alaska SeaLife Center, walk around the waterfront, and explore the historic old town.

Where to eat: For dinner, I recommend either the Cookery and/or Flamingo Lounge. Both are excellent restaurants, so if you stay in town a few days, be sure to check out both of them!

Where to stay in Seward: I stayed at the Harbor360 Hotel. The location couldn’t be better – just next to the railway station and right at the harbor.

 

Day 3: Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise

DRIVING DISTANCE/ TIME: None if you already have a car and stay in Seward OR 2.5-4 hours by shuttle or train if you have to get back to Anchorage to rent a car there.

Kenai Fjords National Park should be on every Alaska itinerary! The best way to visit is by taking a boat tour from Seward. There are different cruises to choose from, varying from half-day to full-day tours.

The shortest tours take about 4 hours and stay on Resurrection Bay. The 6-hour tours visit Resurrection Bay but also take you very close to at least one glacier inside Kenai Fjords National Park. Longer tours (7-8 hours) visit several glaciers and spend more time close to them. You can expect to see wildlife, including whales, on all of these tours.

We opted for the most popular option, a 6-hour cruise. The scenery was phenomenal during the entire trip, with lots of wildlife viewing opportunities. We saw lots of dolphins, sea otters, seals, mountain goats, bald eagles, all kinds of birds, and even a whale in the distance. But by far the most impressive part of the tour for me was getting close to a tidewater glacier and seeing it calve. Another WOW moment of this Alaska trip!

LEARN MORE: Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise

 

Good to know: No matter which boat tour you choose, they all aim to get back to town around 5-5.30 pm, in time for the train to Anchorage (which normally leaves at 6 pm). Alternatively, you can also book a shuttle ride with Red Eye Rides back to Anchorage.

The main reason to get back to Anchorage is to rent a car for the rest of your trip. While there are several local car hire companies in Seward, it may not always be possible to drop off the car in Anchorage at the end of this trip (not even mention the rental cost). The best place to rent a car is from the airport. If you take the shuttle, they can drop you off there.

Where to stay: This depends on how you travel. Without a car, return to Anchorage and spend a night there (see hotel recommendations on day 1 of this itinerary). If you decide to skip the train ride altogether and rent a car at the beginning of the trip, then spend another night in Seward – it will save you some driving. In that case, you could even do another tour the next morning before leaving Seward.

If you have more time: There is a lot to see and do in Seward, so you could easily add another day or two here. For more information and additional recommendations, please see our detailed guide via the link below.

LEARN MORE: Seward Itinerary & Things to Do

 

Day 4: Drive to Homer & Homer Town

DRIVING DISTANCE/ TIME: Anchorage to Homer – 220 miles (355 km), 4 hours OR Seward to Homer – 170 miles (275 km), 3.5 hours.

The next stop on this Alaska road trip itinerary is Homer, a quaint town located on the other side of the Kenai Peninsula from Seward. The drive to Homer is very scenic, so you will want to plan some extra time for photo stops. No matter if you come from Anchorage or Seward, the big part of the journey – Sterling Highway – is the same.

If driving from Seward, stop at Upper Trail Lake near Moose Pass. If driving from Anchorage, there are some good photo stops along Turnagain Arm. Once on the Sterling Highway, be sure to stop at Kenai Lake near Cooper Landing. A bit further down the road, the Russian River is known as a good place to spot bears (in the summer).

TIP: For lunch, you can stop in Soldotna (we had some delicious soup at The Goods + Sustainable Grocery store/cafe). If you just want to stretch your legs, check out the riverside trail behind the Soldotna Visitor Information Center.

Just before you reach Homer, don’t miss the Baycrest Overlook viewpoint on the right side of the road. Here, you’ll also find the ‘Welcome to Homer’ sign.

 

Spend the afternoon exploring Homer, known as Alaska’s premier culinary and arts destination. There are lots of good restaurants and tons of art galleries in town.

In addition, don’t miss The Homer Spit, a narrow stretch of land filled with shops, tour operators, and dining spots. This is where you’ll find Homer’s harbor, the starting point for boat tours, fishing trips, and water taxis.

The Spit offers some of Homer’s best views. Enjoy a meal at a local restaurant, stroll along the beach, or unwind with a drink and watch the boats drift by.

TIP: Stop by the iconic Salty Dawg Saloon, famous for its quirky interior covered in dollar bills!

Where to eat: For dinner, I recommend The Kannery – the best food we had in Homer! For simpler meals, check out Alibi Bar and Fat Olives.

Where to stay: I stayed at Homer Inn & Spa, a boutique oceanfront hotel with saunas, outdoor hot tubs, and great views. If you stay here, see if you can reserve some spa experiences and spend the evening at the hotel. Alternatively, Land’s End at the end of the Spit is also a great option if you prefer a bigger resort with all the facilities.

 

Day 5: Homer – Boat Tour, Bear Viewing, or Fishing

DRIVING DISTANCE/ TIME: None – stay in Homer.

For this itinerary, we foresee two full days in Homer. As with all the places on this Alaska road trip, you could stay longer here, but then you would need a lot more time than just two weeks in Alaska…

Since most tours in Homer require a good part of the day, we recommend doing a full-day activity on your first day here. No matter what you decide to do, you really have to book well in advance, especially if traveling in the peak summer season.

Here are the most popular options to choose from:

• Kachemak Bay boat tours. One of the best ways to enjoy the stunning scenery and wildlife around Homer is by taking a boat tour of Kachemak Bay. There are many options ranging from short 2-3 hour tours to half-day and full-day tours. I recommend this full-day Seldovia Bay boat tour. Alternatively, see more options here. These tours are very popular and require advance reservations.

• Fishing. Homer is known as “The Halibut Fishing Capital of the World”, so fishing tours are extremely popular here. Whether you are a fishing enthusiast or a complete beginner, it’s great fun! See here and here for some of the best options and be sure to book ahead.

• Bear viewing trips. Because of its proximity to Alaska’s prime bear-viewing spots – Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks – Homer is the best starting point for bear tours. These parks are only accessible by air, and you’ll need a whole day. Be sure to book well in advance because bear-watching tours always sell out!

Good to know: The best location to see bears depends on when exactly you visit, so not all tours are bookable during the entire summer. It’s also possible to do bear-viewing tours from Anchorage. The main difference is that the flight to Katmai National Park from Anchorage takes much longer than from Homer, so the prices are also higher.

TIP: For bear-viewing tours from Homer, check availability with Adventure Airways, Northwind Aviation, or Emerald Air. All these companies use floatplanes to reach the best location in that specific season. Alaska Helicopter Tours also offers this bear-watching trip by helicopter. Just to be clear – you only travel by air; bear-watching itself is land-based and how exactly it’s done depends on location.

My experience: I visited Alaska in the second half of September when most bear-viewing tours from Homer had stopped running already. So I did a Kachemak Bay boat tour in Homer and booked a bear tour to Lake Clark National Park from Anchorage at the end of my trip. We flew in by floatplane and then boarded a small boat to watch bears along the shores of the lake (see day 13 of this itinerary for more information).

TIP: If you book a bear tour from Homer, you’ll have an extra free day to add somewhere else in this itinerary. In that case, you could stay in Homer another day and do a scenic boat tour or go fishing as well. Or spend more time in Seward.

Where to eat & where to stay: Same as day 4 of this itinerary.

READ ALSO: Alaska in September

 

Day 6: Homer – Kachemak Bay State Park

DRIVING TIME/ DISTANCE: None if you spend a night in Homer OR 190 miles (305 km), 3.5 hours to Alyeska Resort.

On the second day, we recommend visiting Kachemak Bay State Park on the other side of the bay. Here, you can do a beautiful hike to Grewingk Glacier Lake. It’s a short and rather easy hike, but the views are incredibly rewarding!

On the way back, you could also visit Halibut Cove. Only accessible by boat, this tiny community is one of the most unique places to see near Homer.

Good to know: You will need to take a water taxi to reach these places. We used Mako’s Water Taxi, and there are quite a few others as well. Alternatively, you can book this hike here, and they’ll arrange all the transportation for you.

For more details and all our tips for visiting Homer, see our detailed guide via the link below.

LEARN MORE: Best Things to Do in Homer

 

Where to stay: Depending on what you choose to do, you could stay in Homer. However, that would mean a very early start and a long drive the next morning, so I recommend leaving late in the afternoon and sleeping closer to your next destination.

Driving in the late afternoon, you may get lucky to see some wildlife next to the road (animals tend to be more active around sunset). We had some of the most amazing sunset colors as well…

TIP: One of the best places to stay for the next two nights is Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, 190 miles, a 3.5-hour drive from Homer. Alternatively, you can also stay somewhat closer, e.g. Summit Lake Lodge (about 1 hour less driving), but that would likely mean changing hotels more often or backtracking the next day.

 

Day 7: Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center & Prince William Sound Cruise

DRIVING DISTANCE/ TIME: +- 60 miles, 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening if staying at Alyeska Resort OR 190 miles (305 km), 3.5 hours if driving from Homer + 25 miles (40 km) 1 hour in the evening.

In the morning, visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) where you can see all kinds of Alaskan animals from close (the animals here are either orphaned or have been brought in after injury). You can enjoy the amazing scenery and see wildlife enclosures on a self-tour of the scenic 1.5-mile loop, which is accessible by foot, by bike, or by car.

Good to know: In the summer season, the AWCC is normally open from 9 am, and you really should be there when it opens because you need at least an hour here. You can find more info and book your tickets here.

Next, head to Whittier, which is the starting point of Prince William Sound cruises. With over 100,000 glaciers in Alaska, you will see quite a few of them on this trip. But there is no better place to see so many glaciers in a short time than here. Some boat tours bring you close to as many as 26 (!) glaciers in half a day.

Cruises: There are several boat tours from Whittier. Most of them start in the early afternoon (12.30-1 pm) and take 4-6 hours. We recommend this highly-rated cruise that visits 26 different glaciers and offers plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities. It also includes lunch.

What distinguishes this cruise from others is the ‘no-seasickness guarantee’. They use high-speed catamarans that are much more stable on the water than regular boats. So if you are worried about rough seas on Kenai Fjords National Park cruises in Seward, then this boat tour is a better option.

 

Good to know: Whittier is a quirky little town with a population of about 250 people, and most of them live together in one big apartment building. You can only reach Whittier via a one-lane railway Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel that is used by both cars and trains on an alternating schedule.

In the summer season, it normally opens to traffic from each side once per hour: 30 minutes past the hour from Bear Valley and on the hour from Whittier.

TIP: Be sure to check the tunnel schedule when planning your itinerary (you can also purchase a pass online)! Most tours recommend you plan to drive through the tunnel from Bear Valley to Whittier at 11.30 am. This is the reason why we suggest arriving in the area the night before. If you drive from Homer, you will need to leave by 7 am and won’t have time for photo stops along the way, let alone visit the Wildlife Center.

Where to stay: The best place to stay in this area is Alyeska Resort. Among other things, this resort has an amazing spa center to unwind at the end of the day.

 

Day 8: Mt Alyeska, Turnagain Arm & Knik Glacier Helicopter Tour

DRIVING DISTANCE/ TIME: Mt Alyeska via Turnagain Arm to Alaska Glacier Lodge: 90 miles, almost 2 hours without stops.

In the morning, take the Mt Alyeska Aerial Tram to the top of the mountain for stunning views of the Chugach Mountains and surroundings. There is also a nice restaurant at the top. Keep in mind that the tram only starts running at 10 am and in the high season, you may have to book ahead (more info here).

Next, drive the scenic Seward Highway toward Anchorage, exploring the shorelines of the Turnagain Arm. Surrounded by mountains and known for the highest tide variations in the USA, the scenery here is different every time you drive by.

There are multiple scenic pullouts where you can stop for photos (Turnagain Arm Scenic Boardwalk, Bird Point, and Beluga Point, to mention just a few). You may even get lucky and spot some whales from the shore.

 

In the afternoon, head to Palmer, north of Anchorage, where we recommend spending the next night. There is a lot to see in this area, but whatever you do, don’t miss the Knik Glacier helicopter tour. It will be one of the absolute highlights of your trip!

Good to know: There are two types of Knik Glacier helicopter tours: regular 1-hour tours that include one landing on a glacier and a ‘grand’ 2-hour tour that includes three different landings, one of them on the glacier.

My experience: I did this amazing 2-hour tour with Alaska Helicopter Tours. They depart from Alaska Glacier Lodge in the Knik River Valley. The drive to the lodge is so scenic that by the time we reached it, we felt that it was worth coming just for the views along the road… Little did we know that this was just an intro to the most incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience ahead of us!

No words or even a thousand pictures can express how special the helicopter tour is. We were completely speechless. All we kept saying was WOW WOW WOW (and that for 2 hours non-stop! :)). I have to add that it was a gloomy grey afternoon, and we even got some rain. Despite that, it’s one of the most unique experiences ever and it’s worth every cent. Do it – you won’t regret it!

Where to stay: If you like remote lodges and watching stars at night (or the Northern Lights if traveling in early fall), you’ll love Alaska Glacier Lodge. This is the same place where our helicopter tour started, but there are multiple companies, so keep in mind that not all heli tours start here, and double-check when you book. If you prefer to stay in town, there are quite a few nice accommodations in Palmer (e.g. The Pioneer Motel).

LEARN MORE: Knik Glacier Helicopter Tour Review & Photos

 

Day 9: Palmer

DRIVING DISTANCE/ TIME: Depends on what you decide to do, +- 2-3 hours in total.

As already mentioned, there is a lot to see and do around Palmer. Below are some of the most popular options – you can easily do several of these in a day.

One of the top places to visit near Palmer is Hatcher Pass. Located in Talkeetna Mountains, between Willow and Palmer, Hatcher Pass is a popular recreational area with many nice hiking trails.

We recommend the Gold Cord Lake hike – it’s family-friendly, is less than 2 miles round-trip, and is very rewarding. At the same place, you can also visit the Independence Mine State Historical Park, a historic gold mining camp. In addition, check out these popular ATV tours!

Palmer also has several animal farms – a Reindeer Farm and a Musk Ox Farm – that could be a nice addition to any itinerary. It’s a family-friendly activity, and you don’t need much time, so you could visit these before/after the Hatcher Pass.

Both farms offer guided tours, and if you want to be sure to visit at a specific time, it’s best to book in advance. If you want to see reindeer but don’t have time in Palmer, you can also do it on the next day in Talkeetna (see day 10 below). If you go to the Musk Ox Farm, don’t miss Matanuska River Scenic Overlook just across the road!

 

If you just can’t get enough of glaciers, you could also visit Matanuska Glacier, about 1-hour drive east of Palmer. This is Alaska’s most-accessible glacier, extremely popular for glacier hiking tours.

Most people visit here with organized day tours from Anchorage, but you could also drive there yourself and book a glacier hiking tour directly (book in advance!).

I had some extra time in Anchorage and visited Matanuska Glacier with a guided day tour from the city. It was very nice, but not comparable to a Knik Glacier helicopter tour (see day 8 above). So if you have time to do just one of these glacier tours, I highly recommend the Grand Knik helicopter tour instead of Matanuska Glacier hike.

Where to stay: If you don’t like to change hotels too often, stay at the same place as the previous night. Alternatively, if you opt for an ATV tour around Willow and don’t like backtracking, stay further north, around Talkeetna (Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge is great).

 

Day 10: Talkeetna, Denali Flight & Drive to Denali National Park

DRIVING DISTANCE/ TIME: Palmer to Talkeetna 80 miles (130 km), 1.5 hours + Talkeetna to Denali NP: 150 miles (240 km), 2.5-3 hours.

The main highlight of this day is the Mt Denali flight from Talkeetna. There are several companies offering air tours with multiple departures throughout the day, so no matter where you are driving from/to, it’s very easy to add this to any Alaska itinerary when passing Talkeetna. (Book well ahead!)

As already said, the Denali airplane tour was one of the absolute highlights of my trip to Alaska, together with the Knik Glacier helicopter tour (day 8 of this itinerary). So I highly recommend them both. And no, I really wouldn’t be able to choose the views and the experiences are totally different.

As far as Denali flights go, there are several options to choose from, each with optional glacier landing that adds about 30 minutes: South Side Explorer (1-1.5 hours), Mountain Voyager (1h15 – 1h45), and Grand Denali (1h30-2 hours).

The main difference between these tours is the time spent in the air and how close they get to Mt Denali. The shortest tour only goes to the south face of Denali. The middle one includes the south, east, and west sides and passes the three major peaks: Denali, Foraker, and Hunter. The Grand Denali tour is the only one that goes all around the mountain, including the north face.

My experience: I opted for the middle option – Mountain Voyager, including glacier landing. It was just perfect and long enough to admire the scenery and phenomenal views of Mt Denali and surrounding peaks and glaciers. Landing on a glacier in front of Denali was absolutely epic! We had plenty of time to walk around, enjoy the most unique scenery, and take way too many pictures.

If I were to do this again, I would opt for either Grand Denali or Mountain Voyager, but definitely not for the shortest tour. In any case, with glacier landing included. Oh, and if you are worried about motion sickness, ginger chews did the trick for me, and it was perfectly fine.

LEARN MORE: Denali Flightseeing & Glacier Landing (Alaska’s #1 tour)

 

In addition to the flight, there are other things to do in Talkeetna, depending on the season and your interests. For example, you can also go zip-lining or river floating. None of these were possible at the end of September, so I visited a small reindeer farm in Talkeetna.

In the late afternoon, drive to Denali National Park. The drive is incredibly scenic, and it just gets better and better the closer you get to Denali. There are several scenic viewpoints along the way too. Don’t miss The Overlook just before Talkeetna, and Denali View South and North along the Parks Highway.

Depending on when you arrive, you may be able to drive a bit into the park and look for wildlife at around sunset – the prime viewing time.

Where to stay: Ideally, you stay as close to the entrance of Denali National Park as possible, for example, Denali Bluffs Hotel. However, the closer to the National Park, the more expensive it gets. My friends highly recommend Denali Cabins – just a bit further away and offering a much better price/quality ratio. At the end of September, when I visited, all these accommodations were closed, however. The closest place that was open was Backwoods Lodge (luckily, very nice), about half an hour’s drive from the park entrance.

Good to know: Depending on where you are staying, make sure to double-check what kind of facilities your accommodation has. If you need to buy any food, it’s best to do it in Talkeetna. This is also the best place to get affordable fuel before heading to Denali.

 

DAY 11: Denali National Park

DRIVING DISTANCE/ TIME: Depends on where you stay and what exactly you plan to do, but in any case, not much.

Denali National Park is one of the must-see places in Alaska. It’s a big park, but there is just one road going through it. It’s 89 miles long, but in the summer season, private vehicles are only allowed to drive up to the first 15 miles.

You’ll need to take the park shuttle if you want to get deeper into the park. So it’s best to leave your car at the hotel (if staying nearby) or at the park entrance and take a shuttle from there. Plan at least one full day for this area so that you don’t have to rush.

For more information about visiting the national park, shuttles, etc. see the official website. Please keep in mind that Denali shuttle buses need to be reserved in advance (months in advance if visiting in the peak summer season)! You can find more information and make reservations on the Reserve Denali website.

TIP: If you are looking for something else to do in the area, check out Denali ATV tours. It’s a great way to get off the beaten path and explore this amazing area without the crowds and too much organization.

 

Day 12: Outdoor Activities & Drive to Anchorage

DRIVING DISTANCE/ TIME: Denali NP to Anchorage: 240 miles (385 km), 4 hours.

A long drive today since it’s time to head back to Anchorage. That said, the entire drive is just 4 hours and the day is long, so you can easily plan some extra activities – either in Denali, along the way, or closer to Anchorage. But you do have to plan ahead and pre-book anything that you want to do!

Close to Denali National Park, you can go hiking, rafting, zip-lining, ATV tours, etc. etc. See all the best options here.

Along the way, you could stop for summertime dog sledding in Willow. We booked this dog ‘sledding’ experience, and it was quite fun. I found it a bit muddy and prefer traditional dog sledding on the snow, but my friend had the time of his life!

Closer to Anchorage, you could stop at Eklutna Lake. You can simply walk around a bit, but the best way to explore is either by bike or kayak. That said, when I visited here, it was so busy that I had to drive around for a long time to find a parking spot – and it wasn’t even the peak season. So if you are passing by here in the afternoon on a nice summer’s day, I’m afraid that it may not be worth the detour…

Other nice short stops in this area include Thunderbird Falls, Reflections Lake, and Mirror Lake (especially the latter). Mirror Lake is just next to the highway and has a large parking and a picnic area and is one of the nicest detours that won’t take much time.

Where to stay: Stay in Anchorage. I recommend either Hotel Captain Cook (4*) or Aviator Hotel (3*).

TIP: Since you don’t really need a car in the next few days, you may want to drop it off at this point. Car hire is usually very expensive in the summer, and parking in Anchorage isn’t cheap either. Taxi/Uber is quite affordable. You could also drop off the car at the airport the next morning – the bear tour departs very close to the airport.

 

Day 13: Bear viewing from Anchorage

DRIVING DISTANCE/ TIME: The starting point of the bear tour at Lake Hood, which is located close to the airport, just 15 minutes drive from downtown. If you don’t have a car anymore, simply take a taxi/Uber.

As already mentioned on day 5 of this itinerary, Homer is the most popular place for bear-viewing tours in Alaska. However, if you didn’t get a chance to do it at that time, you can do a tour from Anchorage.

I was in Alaska at the end of the season when tours from Homer weren’t running anymore, but I was able to book this tour from Anchorage. At that time of the year, Lake Clark National Park is the best place to see bears in Alaska. Earlier in the summer, most tours go to Katmai National Park.

Bear viewing tours by floatplane are really expensive, but it’s such a unique experience that I felt it was more than worth the money. Even at the end of the season, we saw dozens of bears strolling on the shores of the lake, fishing for salmon, swimming, or simply chilling around and watching us with the same curiosity as we looked at them…

Where to stay: Stay in Anchorage, same hotel as last night.

 

Day 14: Anchorage & Departure

DRIVING DISTANCE/ TIME: None – stay in the city.

For your last day in Alaska, I recommend staying in Anchorage and exploring the city. Depending on your interests and at what time your flight leaves, here are some of my recommendations for things to do (see also day 1 of this itinerary):

• Tony Knowles Coastal Trail bike tour. This beautiful coastal trail offers stunning views and is a great way to explore the nature side of Anchorage and see wildlife (usually moose). This e-bike tour is good for most ages and all fitness levels.

• Alaska Native Heritage Center. Located just outside the city, this center/ open-air museum is a great place to get acquainted with Alaska’s Indigenous Culture, learn about the history, see some artworks, etc. If you don’t have a car anymore, you’ll need to take a taxi to get here.

• Food & history tour. This is the most popular and highly-rated city tour in Anchorage. I didn’t have the time for it anymore, but the friends who did it, said it was great.

TIP: If you want to buy some Alaskan souvenirs before heading to the airport, there are quite a few gift shops in downtown Anchorage, mostly on 5th and 4th Avenues.

 

This sums up my Alaska itinerary. I hope that you found some inspiration in this guide and that it helps you narrow down what you want to see and plan your trip.

Of course, you can switch things around, add additional places, or skip something that doesn’t interest you. But if you don’t have the time to do extra research, and follow this itinerary to the t, I can guarantee that you will experience the very best that Alaska has to offer in these two weeks.

It’s one of the most wonderful trips I have ever done and I would go back in a heartbeat!

Have a wonderful trip!

P.S. If you enjoy reading our blog, subscribe to our free newsletter and come back when planning future trips. Check out our destinations page for some amazing places we have written about!

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin these images!