Alaska Cities & Towns

From rural Alaska Native villages to coastal towns to urban cities, Alaska is home to a broad range of communities, each with their own unique activities, cultures, and attractions. The state's three largest cities — Anchorage, Juneau, and Fairbanks — are the state's air service hubs and are ideal jumping off points for Alaska adventures.  

Arctic Cities Overview

The Arctic is a vast, remote region home to a handful of small towns and Inupiaq villages. The largest town is Utqiaġvik, the United States' northernmost city. Nome is famous as the end of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, and the town of Prudhoe Bay / Deadhorse sits at the beginning of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Small towns including Coldfoot, Wiseman, Bettles, and Anaktuvuk Pass offer the only visitor services within the Brooks Range. 

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Interior Cities Overview

The hub of Interior Alaska is Fairbanks, which is also the second largest city in the state. The majority of the region’s small towns are situated along the road system, with several Athabascan villages accessible only by plane. Several small communities are located near the entrance to Denali National Park, including Healy, Cantwell, and Denali Park. 

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Southcentral Cities Overview

The Southcentral region home to over half of the population of Alaska, including the state’s largest city – Anchorage, which makes up 40% pf the state’s population. The town of Seward serves as gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, while Copper Center and McCarthy are gateways to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Coastal and riverside communities on the Kenai Peninsula like Homer and Kenai provide excellent bases for fishing and other adventures. Inland, towns such as Palmer and Wasilla lie in the Mat-Su Valley, known for agriculture and mountains. This easily accessible region is dotted with many visitor-friendly communities that are home to a wide range of visitor services, accommodations, and activities. 

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Southwest Cities Overview

The communities of Southwest Alaska stretch from Bethel and the Yup'ik and Cup'ik villages in western Alaska all the way down to the Unangax̂ villages located along the Aleutian Islands, including Unalaska. The largest city in this remote and rugged region is Kodiak, located on Kodiak Island. The region is also home to two of Alaska’s national parks: Katmai National Park and Lake Clark National Park. 

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Inside Passage Cities Overview

Alaska’s Inside Passage is a chain of coastal cities and towns nestled among forested islands and fjords, with a rich history of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian culture. Most summer visitors explore this region by cruise ship. Juneau, the state capital, is the largest city in the region and the third largest city in Alaska. Ketchikan serves as the southern gateway to this region as it’s usually the first port of call on Alaska cruises. Sitka is known for it’s Russian and Tlingit history, while Skagway provides a colorful glimpse into Alaska’s gold rush past. Smaller communities such as Wrangell, Petersburg, and Haines each offer their own unique character. The town of Gustaves serves as gateway to Glacier Bay National Park. 

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Population data taken from the 2020 U.S. Census.