The 4 Best Road Trips in Alaska

From coastal towns to the tallest mountains in North America, through Arctic tundra, boreal forest, braided river valleys, high mountain passes, and communities large and small, road tripping lets you experience Alaska at your own pace. Though much of the state is inaccessible by road, Alaska’s vast and varied road system stretches north to south across the entire state, from Seward and Homer on the Kenai Peninsula all the way up to Prudhoe Bay / Deadhorse in the Arctic, and east towards Canada’s Yukon Territory with connections to Haines and Skagway from the Alaska Highway. 

With over 17,000 miles of public roads in Alaska, you could spend a lifetime road tripping throughout the state. Here are our picks for the top four most iconic road trips in Alaska, with itinerary recommendations for each route:

Seward & Sterling Highways

From: Anchorage to Seward and Homer
Distance: 519 Miles Round-Trip

Alaska’s Seward Highway is one of the most beautiful and easily accessible drives in the state, combining coastal views, mountains, glaciers, wildlife, and access to a plethora of attractions and communities along the way. Starting in Anchorage, the drive heads south along the Turnagain Arm, where mountain goats are often seen perched on the cliffs and beluga whales migrate through the ocean waters. Stop at the scenic pullouts along the way to soak up the views of wildlife and scenery. Several hiking trails depart along the stretch of highway between Anchorage and Girdwood. 

The Seward Highway continues south past the ski town of Girdwood, a mountain-ringed community that is a must-see year-round. Stop here for lunch, a hike, or a ride up Mount Alyeska on the Aerial Tram. Just beyond Girdwood, you can stop at Portage Glacier for mellow hikes or a short glacier cruise, or visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center for up-close views of Alaska’s wildlife. About 20 miles before you reach the town of Seward you’ll be treated to stunning views of the turquoise waters of Kenai Lake. 

The Seward Highway ends in the coastal town of Seward, gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park and basecamp for a wide variety of adventures including kayaking, glacier and wildlife cruises, hiking, fishing, and so much more. While the Seward Highway can be driven in a day, we recommend at least three days round trip from Anchorage so you can take your time on the way to and from Seward and spend at least one full day in town. 

This road trip can easily be extended into a multi-day Kenai Peninsula road trip by driving to Homer along the Sterling Highway, which takes you through the towns of Cooper Landing, Soldotna, and Kenai and alongside the Kenai River. From Kenai, the Sterling Highway heads south alongside Cook Inlet, with sweeping views of the mountains and volcanoes across the inlet on clear days. Once in the artsy town of Homer, you can go hiking or kayaking in Kachemak Bay State Park, take a bear viewing flightseeing tour of Lake Clark or Katmai National Parks, browse the galleries and shops on the Homer Spit, take a fishing charter, walk along the beach, and enjoy delicious food at one of Homer’s many excellent restaurants and cafes. 

7-Day Round-Trip Itinerary:

Day 1: Anchorage to Seward (127 miles)
Day 2 – 3: Seward
Day 4: Seward to Homer (169 miles)
Day 5 – 6: Homer
Day 7: Homer to Anchorage (223 miles)

Image

Parks Highway

From: Anchorage to Fairbanks
Distance: 248 Miles (one way)

The Parks Highway connects Alaska’s two largest cities and provides access to of the state’s top destinations: Denali National Park. Along the way, you’ll be treated to expansive views: the Susitna and Nenana Rivers; the Chugach and Talkeetna Mountains and the impressive Alaska Range; rolling tundra; and, on clear days, incredible views of the tallest mountain in North America, Denali. 

Destination highlights include the small town of Talkeetna, where you can join a jet boat or rafting tour, take a flightseeing trip around Denali, or spend the afternoon wandering the quirky Main Street. Beyond Talkeetna is Denali State Park, which offers several hiking trails, campgrounds, and incredible vantage points for viewing Denali on clear days.

The Parks Highway passes through an area known as Denali Park, which provides accommodations, restaurants, and activities near the entrance to Denali National Park. The Denali National Park Visitor Center is just 1 ½ miles from the Parks Highway turnoff. From there, you can learn about the park, hike the frontcountry trails, visit the Sled Dog Kennels, and board narrated and transit buses that take you into the park. 

As you head north from Denali National Park you’ll pass through the small towns Healy and Nenana. The jagged peaks of the Alaska Range give way to the rolling hills surrounding Fairbanks, located just over 2 hours from Denali National Park. Once in Fairbanks, you can enjoy the city’s museums, restaurants, and breweries, hike in Chena River State Recreation Area or enjoy a soak at Chena Hot Springs, take a riverboat tour, go flightseeing over the Arctic Circle, and more.

We recommend a minimum of 3 days to drive the Parks Highway if you can arrange a rental car pick-up in Anchorage and drop-off in Fairbanks. However, to have enough time to enjoy an unhurried pace and plenty of time to experience Denali National Park, 5-7 days is ideal. 

3-Day One-Way Itinerary:

Day 1: Anchorage to Denali National Park (238 miles)
Day 2: Full day in Denali National Park
Day 3: Denali National Park to Fairbanks (121 miles)

5-Day One-Way Itinerary:

Day 1: Anchorage to Talkeetna (114 miles)
Day 2: Talkeetna to Denali National Park (152 miles)
Day 3 – 4: Denali National Park
Day 5: Denali National Park to Fairbanks (121 miles)

7-Day Round-Trip Itinerary:

Day 1: Anchorage to Denali National Park (238 miles)
Days 2 – 3: Denali National Park
Day 4: Denali National Park to Fairbanks (121 miles)
Day 5: Fairbanks
Day 6: Fairbanks to Talkeetna (273 miles)
Day 7: Talkeetna to Anchorage (114 miles)

Image

Glenn & Richardson Highways

From: Anchorage to Valdez
Distance: 300 miles one-way

Starting in Anchorage and ending in the stunning coastal town of Valdez, this road trip along the Glenn & Richardson Highways brings you to more off-the-beaten-track destinations along Alaska’s road system and offers the option of combining with one of the state’s most unique road trip options: the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System. 

The Glenn Highway travels through the heart of the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Valley, heading east alongside the Matanuska River. Mountains, alpine glaciers, and river views provide a beautiful backdrop to the winding road. Be sure to stop at Matanuska Glacier – one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska. You can view the glacier from scenic pull-offs along the way or join a guided glacier hike. The route gradually climbs to the high point at Eureka Summit, with tundra and mountain views in every direction. 

Once you reach the small hub of Glenallen, head south along the Richardson Highway towards the town of Copper Center. Here you’ll find accommodations and the visitor center for Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Those who want to explore Wrangell-St. Elias (the largest national park in the United States) beyond the visitor center have a couple of options, both of which require a detour off of the Richardson Highway onto the Edgerton Highway. After driving the Edgerton Highway for 33 miles you’ll reach the small town of Chitina. From here, you can take a scenic flight on a small bush plane to the town of McCarthy, your basecamp for exploring Wrangell-St. Elias and Kennicott Mines. With several flights daily, you can visit McCarthy & Kennicott for the day, but this spectacular and fascinating area deserves at least one overnight stay to explore the area and soak up the McCarthy vibes. Alternatively, you can drive the 60-mile McCarthy Road from Chitina to spend a couple of days exploring the Kennicott/McCarthy area, but keep in mind that many car rental companies don’t allow their vehicles on this road due to rough road conditions. 

If you’re bypassing Wrangell-St. Elias, you can still enjoy views of the park’s Wrangell Mountains from the Visitor Center and while heading south along the Richardson Highway. The drive towards Valdez offers non-stop sights as you pass through Thompson Pass and drive by Worthington Glacier and the waterfalls of Keystone Canyon. Once in Valdez, you can spend a day or two hiking, kayaking, taking a glacier & wildlife cruise, fishing, and more. 

From here, you have a couple of options for your road trip: you can drive back the way you came, or you can take your vehicle onboard the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System to the town of Whittier. This half-day ferry ride takes you through the beautiful bays and islands of Prince William Sound. Please note that the ferry does not run every day, so be sure to check ferry schedules while planning your route. From Whittier, it’s a 60-mile drive back to Anchorage.  

6-Day Round-Trip Itinerary: 

Day 1: Anchorage to Copper Center (195 miles)
Day 2: Copper Center* to Valdez (105 miles)
*Optional 2-day add on to McCarthy & Wrangell-St.-Elias National Park, fly or drive
Day 3 – 4: Valdez
Day 5: Valdez to Glacier View near Matanuska Glacier (195 miles) – cabins available to rent in Glacier View area
Day 6: Glacier View to Anchorage (105 miles)

5-Day Loop with the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry Itinerary:

Day 1: Anchorage to Copper Center (195 miles)
Day 2: Copper Center* to Valdez (105 miles)
*Optional 2-day add on to McCarthy & Wrangell-St.-Elias National Park, fly or drive
Day 3 – 4: Valdez
Day 5: Valdez to Whittier via the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry, then drive to Anchorage (60 miles)

Image

Alaska Highway

If you’re looking for an even bigger driving adventure that takes you from the Lower 48 to Alaska, consider the ultimate road trip: The Alaska Highway. This 1,387 mile highway travels from Dawson Creek, British Columbia through the Yukon in Canada to Delta Junction in Alaska. Multiple routes connect the Lower 48 to the Alaska Highway, whether you’re interested in traveling through Alberta, heading north through B.C., or incorporating the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System. Learn more about Alaska Highway routes and trip planning. 

Image