14-Day Alaska Road TripIf your bucket list doesn’t include a trip to Alaska - you need to rewrite it! Alaska is a place where adventure is endless and there is beauty everywhere you look. This road trip itinerary includes all the highlights a first time visitor should see also including some lesser known experiences! Authorsthetravelingdans
DestinationsAlaskaItinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Anchorage

Chugach State Park
Welcome to the Last Frontier! After landing in Anchorage, pick up your rental car or camper van and get ready for an unforgettable adventure.   If you are feeling like some outdoor time after landing, visit Chugach State Park! Just a short drive from downtown Anchorage, Chugach State Park offers sweeping mountain views, alpine lakes, and accessible hiking trails. Hike the Flattop Mountain Trail for a panoramic look over Anchorage and the Cook Inlet, or stroll around Eagle River Nature Center to spot moose and eagles.
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49th State Brewing - Anchorage
Toast to the start of your trip with a locally brewed beer and hearty Alaskan fare. The rooftop patio offers one of the best sunset views in town, and their signature halibut tacos or yak burger are local favorites. We tried both and they were phenomenal!
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Moose's Tooth Pub & Pizzeria
If you are feeling like pizza, this place is worth the hype! They have super unique pizzas and are also located near downtown Anchorage, making it an easy stop on night 1.
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Hotel Captain Cook
Anchorage is the easiest place to find lodging on this trip. We have recommended hotels throughout the guide - we traveled in our van so we cannot attest to the hotels but wanted to include them so you had a jumping off point for booking your lodging.
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Day 2 & 3: Denali National Park

Denali National Park & Preserve Headquarters
Drive north about 4 hours to reach the iconic Denali National Park, home to North America’s tallest peak and some of the wildest terrain in the world. Make sure to stop at the Denali viewpoints, north and south, along the drive!
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Mount McKinley
Stop at the visitor center to orient yourself, check trail conditions, and learn about the park’s history. Keep your eyes peeled for caribou, moose, and grizzlies roaming the tundra. The main way people explore the park is via bus since you cannot drive a personal vehicle past mile 15. Park buses continue deeper into the park, currently to Mile 43 as a landslide prohibits further travel. The bus rides offer a true backcountry experience, complete with wildlife sightings and dramatic views of Denali on clear days. For a choose-your-own adventure and if you want to hike past mile 15, opt for the hop on, hop off GREEN bus. If you want a more narrated tour that includes scenic stops and photo ops, opt for the TAN bus. Tickets can be purchased in advanced online or at the Denali Bus Depot.
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Mount Healy
One of two hikes we loved before Mile 15! Hike this trail for a challenge! This steep 5-mile roundtrip trail is great for panoramic views over the park entrance and Nenana River valley.
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Savage River Loop Trailhead
A relatively easy 2-mile loop along the river canyon with fantastic mountain views and good chances of spotting Dall sheep.
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Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
A great place to stay near the park with food options available nearby.
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Day 4: Palmer & Hatcher Pass

Hatcher Pass
After your Denali adventure - head back towards Anchorage to visit the Matanuska Valley and the historic mining area of Hatcher Pass. Drive the scenic Hatcher Pass Road, visit the Independence Mine State Historical Park, and stop by Downtown Palmer for small-town charm and local shops.
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Reed Lakes Trailhead
If you are up for an adventure, hike to Reed Lakes! One of Alaska’s most photogenic alpine hikes, this 8–9 mile roundtrip trail leads past waterfalls, turquoise lakes, and old mining relics. The emerald color of the upper lake is especially striking on sunny days.
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Hatcher Pass Lodge
Cozy cabins tucked into the mountains make for a perfect base. Enjoy a quiet evening surrounded by rugged peaks and crisp alpine air.
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Day 5: Helicopter Tour - paddleboard on a glacier!

Knik River Lodge Helicopter & Glacier Dogsled Tour
Take off from Palmer for a once-in-a-lifetime experience: landing on a glacier to paddleboard across a surreal, icy lagoon surrounded by blue ice walls. This tour is pricy but we would recommend a helicopter tour if possible because seeing Alaska from above is amazing! Check out the other tours they offer if paddleboarding isn’t for you.
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Turnagain Arm
If you are feeling up for it after your tour, head to the Turnagain arm! The stretch between Anchorage and Girdwood is one of the most beautiful drives in North America. Stop at Beluga Point to look for whales, or time your visit with the bore tide, a rare tidal wave that sweeps dramatically up the inlet.
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Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Again, if you have time, this non-profit sanctuary near Portage is an amazing place to check out. You only need an hour or so here! It is home to bears, moose, bison, and other native species. It’s a fantastic way to see Alaska’s wildlife up close.
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Alyeska Resort
A dreamy resort in Girdwood with great dining options nearby. You can even take the gondola up the mountain for a multi-course dinner at Seven Glaciers restaurant!
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Day 6 & 7: Kenai Fjords National Park & Seward

Major Marine Tours
To explore Kenai Fjords National Park, you will base yourself in Seward. The main way to see the park is by boat. We booked with Major Marine Tours and our 6-hour tour came with lunch and the option for a glacier ice margarita! This tour takes you cruising through a landscape of glaciers, fjords, and abundant wildlife. Watch for humpback whales, puffins, sea lions, and calving tidewater glaciers. Longer tours are available that venture deeper into Aialik Bay or Northwestern Fjord for unforgettable scenery.
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Harding Icefield Trailhead
This strenuous, full-day hike is incredible and worth it if you can hike 10 miles with 3,000 feet of elevation gain! At the top, you are rewarded with jaw-dropping glacier vistas and views of the largest ice-field in the USA. For an easy hike option, hike to Exit Glacier!
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Seward Brewing Company
An incredible brewery in Seward with great food and beer. They also brew their own root beer so don’t forget to order a root beer float!
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Flamingo Lounge
The best place in town for craft cocktails and a more upscale dining experience.
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Alaska SeaLife Center
Learn about marine conservation and see puffins, seals, and octopus up close. They also have a touch tank if you are traveling with kids, this is a fun place to visit.
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Seward Gateway Hotel
A great basecamp in Seward to stay while here.
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Day 8 & 9: Homer

Kachemak Bay
Visit Alaska’s first state park! This park is only accessible by water taxi from Homer. Once in the park, hike lush coastal trails or kayak among sea otters and glaciers.
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Boardwalk Fish and Chips
You have to visit the Homer Spit while in Homer! We loved strolling along the boardwalk visiting quirky shops, art galleries, and taking in ocean views. Boardwalk Fish & Chips is a local favorite for fresh halibut but there are many other restaurants to try on the spit as well! If you are craving pizza with a view, check out Finn’s!
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Salty Dawg Saloon
A must-see landmark packed with character (and thousands of dollar bills tacked to the walls!)
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Land's End Resort
A cute hotel on the spit that would be the perfect place to stay while in Homer.
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Day 10: Fly from Homer to a National Park

Brooks Falls
Homer is a great place to take a float plane to one of two remote national parks! Katmai National Park has the famous Brooks Falls! This is where salmon leap and bears fish just feet away from you. This is truly bucket-list Alaska.
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Trip Highlight
For a more remote, lesser known experience - visit Lake Clark National Park! This is a wild paradise of volcanoes, waterfalls, and turquoise lakes. Many visitors come for bear viewing along the riverbanks. After your national park adventure - you can head back to Anchorage to fly home if you only have 10 days to spare BUT if you can extend your trip to be 14 days long..here are a few more stops we would make if possible! 👇
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Day 11: Whittier

Byron Glacier
Whittier is a small fishing town that can be accessed by a ONE WAY TUNNEL. You can drive to Whittier every half hour (5:30, 6:30, etc) and you can drive back from Whittier at the top of the hour (6, 7, etc.). There is a fee to drive through the tunnel, it was $13 when we visited. Before the tunnel - if you are looking for a quick hike to stretch your legs, don’t miss this! Byron Glacier is a short, scenic hike leading to the foot of a beautiful blue glacier.
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Portage Glacier
After the tunnel, if you are looking for a workout, check out this hike to a stunning glacier lake. The hike is called Portage Pass and is 4.5 miles with 1,400 feet of elevation gain.
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Trip Highlight
Once in Whittier, it is a pretty quick town to explore but there are some cute shops to visit. Whittier is where the ferry leaves to go to Valdez, your next stop of the trip! We HIGHLY recommend this ferry ride - it is such a scenic journey across Prince William Sound with waterfalls and possible whale/wildlife sightings. Alternatively, you can drive to Valdez but the drive is long. **Ferries can book up so make sure you book in advanced on the Alaska Marine Highway platform.
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Day 12 & 13: Valdez

The Solomon Gulch Hatchery
Valdez was our absolute favorite town we visited in Alaska! The scenery is truly like nothing else. This fish hatchery near town was the best place to see wildlife. Millions of salmon return to lay their eggs so you will see eagles, sea lions, bears, and more all interact and feed at this FREE fish hatchery.
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Valdez Glacier Lake
Paddle among floating icebergs on a guided tour. It is such a surreal experience being eye level with glaciers and huge chunks of floating ice!
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Thompson Pass
Explore alpine trails near the pass surrounded by wildflowers and mountain views. This drive is great for seeing waterfalls too! Don’t miss Bridal Veil and Horsetail Falls along the Richardson Highway.
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The Potato
Our favorite place we ate at in Valdez! Every dish is good but the salmon roll was to die for!!
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Best Western Valdez Harbor Inn
Valdez doesn’t have many lodging options but this stay looked nice and comfortable!
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