Alaska Road Trip: The Best Itinerary for 7, 10, 14 and 21 Days

If you’re thinking about heading to Alaska, I need to warn you about something right off the bat. It’s completely addictive — wilderness in its purest form — and once you’re back home, you’ll ache for those endless forests and glaciers. ☺️ An Alaska road trip is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that changes you. We drove through Alaska back in 2017 during our three-month road trip. We travelled from Calgary, Canada, across the whole of Alaska all the way down to San Francisco in our beloved van we called Chiquita.

We made over a hundred stops along the way, and because we were travelling for so long, we had a very strict budget. Our daily limit was 50 dollars a day for both of us, which meant we ate a lot of pasta with sauce, wild camped everywhere and thought three times before paying for any activity. 😅 Even so, it was an absolutely incredible experience that we still look back on with enormous nostalgia. We explored Anchorage, discovered Whittier and Hatcher Pass, spent three wonderful days in Homer, cruised past glaciers in Kenai Fjords, marvelled at Worthington Glacier and Matanuska Glacier, and made it all the way to Valdez and Haines.

In this article, you’ll find a detailed Alaska road trip itinerary — actually four versions for different trip lengths. I’ve put together plans for 7, 10, 14 and 21 days, designed so that families with children, couples, keen hikers and photographers can all find something that works. I’ll tell you when the best time to go is, what to watch out for when planning, and roughly how much the whole thing will cost.

TL;DR

• Distances are enormous: Alaska doesn’t forgive planning mistakes. Minimise days spent just behind the wheel and explore fewer places properly instead.
• Major restriction in Denali: Until 2027, the road in Denali National Park is closed beyond mile 43 due to a massive landslide (Pretty Rocks). Factor this into your trip planning.
• Northern lights: The years 2024 to 2026 coincide with the solar maximum. If you visit in winter or early spring, you have a fantastic chance of seeing breathtaking aurora borealis.
• Book well in advance: Campsites, hotels and key activities (like Denali buses or glacier cruises) sell out up to six months ahead. Book early.
• Safety first: Buy bear spray on your very first day (around $50). You can’t bring it on a plane, so you’ll need to purchase it once you arrive.
• Accommodation and campsites: If you’re going by RV, I recommend Riley Creek campground in Denali, Williwaw in Portage or Russian River on the Kenai Peninsula.

When to Visit Alaska and Getting Oriented

Let’s look at when the best time to head north actually is. Alaska has very distinct seasons, and what you’ll experience in July is completely different from what you’d get in March.

The main tourist season runs from mid-June to mid-August. This is when it’s warmest, with average temperatures between 15 and 20°C (59–68°F), and the days are incredibly long. In the interior around Fairbanks, the sun barely sets at all. It’s the ideal time for hiking, bear watching and glacier cruises. On the flip side, this is peak season — expect the biggest crowds, highest prices and mosquitoes that can be genuinely maddening.

May and September are the shoulder seasons, and personally, we love these months. In May, nature is just waking up, mountaintops are still blanketed in snow and the roads are peaceful. In September, the tundra turns incredible shades of yellow and red, the mosquitoes have vanished and the northern lights start appearing in the night sky. You do need to keep an eye on opening times, though, as many tour operators and visitor centres close in early September. You can find more details in our dedicated article on when to visit Alaska.

If your dream is to see the dancing green sky, you need to go in winter. Temperatures plunge well below freezing (routinely dropping to -30°C in Fairbanks), but the experience of dog sledding and watching the night sky makes it absolutely worth it. We’ve written about this in detail in our guide on how to see the northern lights in Alaska.

Logistics and Practical Information

Before diving into the actual itinerary, you need to sort out the basic logistics. A trip to Alaska requires a bit more planning than a typical holiday in Europe.

Most flights arrive in Anchorage, which is the state’s main transport hub. The majority of flights from Europe connect through Seattle or via a US hub. From the UK, you can fly with airlines like British Airways, Condor or Icelandair (via Reykjavik) to reach the West Coast, then connect onward to Anchorage. As a British passport holder, you’ll need an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) before flying to the US. Bear in mind that if you’re renting a car in Canada and driving across the border (or have a layover in Canada), you’ll also need a Canadian eTA.

As for getting around once you’re there, you essentially have two options: a regular car with hotel or motel stays, or an RV (campervan). We absolutely swore by camping in our Chiquita. It gives you incredible freedom — you can cook your own meals (which massively saves money) and sleep in the middle of stunning wilderness. Some of our favourite spots were Riley Creek campground right at the entrance to Denali, the beautiful Williwaw Campground in the Portage Valley, and the campsite at Russian River on the Kenai Peninsula, where you can watch fishermen (and the occasional bear) catching salmon right from your tent.

An interesting alternative to endless driving is the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) ferry network. It’s a brilliant way to reach places that aren’t connected by road, and the journey itself is an experience. You’ll find full details on transport and car hire in our guide to Alaska travel logistics.

Alaska Itinerary 7 Days: A Quick Taste (Couples and Families)

This seven-day Alaska itinerary is ideal if you’re short on time but want to see the absolute essentials. We’ll focus on the classic route from Anchorage north to Denali National Park, then south to the glaciers on the Kenai Peninsula. It’s a well-balanced mix of mountains, wildlife and ocean.

This route is particularly great for families and couples, as it doesn’t involve extremely long drives and sticks to well-maintained main roads. In a week, you’ll see the highest mountain in North America (weather permitting) and experience a cruise among icebergs where enormous chunks of ice thunder into the sea.

Day	Route	Km / Time	Highlights	Where to Sleep
1	Anchorage	0 km	Arrival, stock up on supplies, acclimatise	Anchorage Marriott Downtown
2	Anchorage → Talkeetna	180 km / 2 h	Flightseeing over Denali, Nagley’s Store	Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge
3	Talkeetna → Denali NP	245 km / 2.5 h	Drive north, visitor centre, evening relaxation	Holland America Denali Lodge
4	Denali NP → Anchorage	380 km / 4 h	Denali Bus Tour, Eklutna Lake on the way back	The Hotel Captain Cook
5	Anchorage → Seward	205 km / 2.5 h	Seward Highway, Alaska SeaLife Center	Seward Windsong Lodge
6	Seward	0 km	Kenai Fjords cruise (Aialik Bay), marine wildlife	Harbor 360 Hotel Seward
7	Seward → Anchorage	205 km / 2.5 h	Return to airport and fly home	–

Day 1: Arrival in Anchorage and Preparations

Dedicate the first day entirely to acclimatising and getting sorted. After picking up your rental car or RV, head straight to a supermarket (Fred Meyer or Walmart) and stock up on supplies for the coming days. Food prices inside the national parks are astronomical. The single most important task for today is buying bear spray. It costs around $50 (about €45) and I hope you’ll never have to use it, but don’t venture outside the city without it.

If you have time and energy left, take a walk along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, where you might spot moose grazing freely on your very first day. For dinner, head downtown — we love Moose’s Tooth Pub and Pizzeria, which has excellent craft beer and a great atmosphere. For accommodation, try the Anchorage Marriott Downtown, which offers comfy beds after a long flight.

Day 2: Drive to Talkeetna and a Flightseeing Tour

In the morning, head north along the Parks Highway. Your destination is the charming little town of Talkeetna, home to fewer than a thousand residents and the main base camp for mountaineers heading up Denali. The town has an amazing, slightly hipster and wonderfully laid-back vibe. In the centre, don’t miss the historic Nagley’s General Store. Not only do they serve great coffee, but you might also meet the town’s mayor. It’s not a person, though — it’s a cat named Aurora who holds court right from the counter. 😁

The highlight of the day should be a flightseeing tour. Talkeetna Air Taxi offers jaw-dropping flights around the Denali massif. Yes, it’s not cheap — an hour-long flight costs over $300 (around €275) — but the views of endless glaciers and razor-sharp mountain peaks are absolutely worth every penny. For a late lunch or dinner, stop at the West Rib Pub & Grill, a favourite haunt of local bush pilots and mountaineers, where they serve Ice Axe Ale on tap. Spend the night at the lovely Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, which has direct views of the highest peak on a clear day.

Day 3: To the Gates of Denali National Park

After breakfast (I highly recommend the giant cinnamon rolls at Talkeetna Roadhouse), you’ve got roughly a two-and-a-half-hour drive to the commercial zone known as Glitter Gulch, which sits right at the entrance to Denali National Park. The drive itself is gorgeous — the Alaska Range unfolds on your left with sweeping views the whole way.

Spend the afternoon at the visitor centre, where you can grab maps and get up-to-date information on wildlife movements. If you fancy a short walk, try the Horseshoe Lake Trail. It’s an easy 3.5-kilometre loop that’s great for families with kids, and at the end you can spot an active beaver dam. For accommodation in this area, I’d recommend the sprawling Holland America Denali Lodge, which even has lovely fire pits for evening gatherings.

Day 4: Denali Bus Tour and Heading South

Today calls for an early start and the main highlight of your time in the park. I have to be upfront about the current situation, though. Due to a massive landslide at Pretty Rocks, the park road is completely closed beyond mile 43, and will remain so until at least 2027. Buses used to run all the way to Wonder Lake; now they turn around roughly at the halfway point. Even so, it’s still well worth doing.

You can choose between the green Transit Bus (cheaper, essentially a shuttle for hikers) and the narrated Tundra Wilderness Tour. Both end at exactly the same point, so if you want to save money and don’t mind the lack of a guide, the green bus is the way to go. Keep your eyes peeled during the ride — the chances of spotting grizzly bears, moose and caribou herds are huge. After returning from the park, jump in your car and head south back to Anchorage. On the way, make a quick detour to Eklutna Lake, a gorgeous glacial lake with stunning turquoise water. Overnight in Anchorage, perhaps at the iconic The Hotel Captain Cook.

Day 5: Seward Highway and the Ocean

This morning you’ll leave Anchorage and set off along one of the most beautiful roads in the world — the Seward Highway — heading to the Kenai Peninsula. The road hugs Turnagain Arm and the views of mountains plunging straight into the ocean are genuinely breathtaking. Stop at the Beluga Point lookout; with a bit of luck, you’ll spot white beluga whales.

In the afternoon, you’ll arrive in the port town of Seward. If you’re travelling with kids, or if it happens to be raining, definitely visit the Alaska SeaLife Center. It’s a fantastic marine animal rescue centre where you can see seals, sea lions and puffins up close. For dinner, try the Apollo Restaurant, which does wonderfully prepared fresh seafood. Rest your head at the comfortable Seward Windsong Lodge, tucked away in a peaceful wooded valley just outside town.

Day 6: Kenai Fjords and Calving Glaciers

Today you’ll spend on the water. A cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park is an absolute must. Companies like Major Marine Tours offer full-day cruises to Aialik Bay. You’ll witness enormous glaciers calving — massive chunks of ice breaking off and crashing into the sea with a thunderous roar.

Here’s a very practical tip from personal experience. When we sailed out of the calm waters of Resurrection Bay into the open ocean towards Aialik Bay, the waves tossed us around so badly that half the boat turned green. Seasickness tablets are an absolute necessity here — trust me. 😅 And don’t forget to dress warmly; it’s bitterly cold near the glaciers even in July. For your last night, I’d recommend staying right by the harbour at the Harbor 360 Hotel Seward.

Day 7: Return and Departure

On your last day, it’s simply the drive back along Seward Highway to the international airport in Anchorage. Leave plenty of time for returning the car and checking in.

Alaska Itinerary 10 Days: The Best of Both Worlds

This ten-day plan is probably the best compromise if you want to see both the inland wilderness and the coastal beauty of Alaska without completely running yourself ragged. We’re adding some interior exploration and also my personal favourite — the town of Homer at the very tip of the Kenai Peninsula.

It’s an ideal choice for active couples and families with older kids who don’t mind the occasional longer drive. In ten days, you’ll soak up the true Alaskan atmosphere, taste the best halibut of your life and walk up to a retreating glacier.

Day	Route	Km / Time	Highlights	Where to Sleep
1-3	Anchorage → Denali	380 km	Flightseeing, Talkeetna, arrival at Denali	Denali Bluffs Hotel
4	Denali NP	0 km	Park bus tour, wildlife watching	Denali Bluffs Hotel
5	Denali → Anchorage	380 km / 4 h	Long drive south, historic village of Hope	The Hotel Captain Cook
6	Anchorage → Seward	205 km / 2.5 h	Seward Hwy, Exit Glacier hike	Seward Windsong Lodge
7	Seward → Homer	270 km / 3 h	Kenai Fjords cruise, evening drive to Homer	Land’s End Resort
8	Homer	0 km	Homer Spit, Salty Dawg Saloon, beach	Best Western Bidarka Inn
9	Homer	0 km	Halibut fishing or Kachemak Bay State Park hike	Best Western Bidarka Inn
10	Homer → Anchorage	350 km / 4.5 h	Return to airport and fly home	–

Days 1–4: Northern Loop to Denali

The first four days mirror the beginning of the seven-day itinerary. After arriving in Anchorage and stocking up on supplies, you’ll head through the community of Talkeetna all the way to the gates of Denali National Park. You’ll enjoy a flightseeing tour, have a pint with the locals and take the green bus ride deep into the park. For accommodation in the Glitter Gulch area, try the Denali Bluffs Hotel, which sits on a hillside and offers lovely views over the valley.

Day 5: Long Drive South and the Charm of Hope Village

Day five involves quite a bit of driving as you head from the interior back south towards the coast. Once you’ve passed through Anchorage and joined the Seward Highway, I recommend a detour to the historic gold-rush village of Hope. Barely 160 people live here permanently, and time seems to have genuinely stood still. It sits on the shore of Turnagain Arm and is an incredibly photogenic spot. If you’re after a bit of adrenaline, nearby Six Mile Creek offers some seriously wild whitewater rafting. In the evening, base yourself in Anchorage, or if you’ve got the energy, push on closer to Seward.

Day 6: Seward and Face-to-Face with a Glacier

You’ll arrive in Seward in the morning. Before heading into town, turn off towards Exit Glacier. It’s one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska — you can reach it on an easy walk from the car park. Along the path, signs mark the years showing how far the glacier once extended. It’s a sobering sight, as the glacier is retreating at an alarming rate of 13 to 15 metres per year.

If you’re feeling fit, tackle the Harding Icefield Trail. It’s a demanding full-day hike (nearly 1,000 metres of elevation gain) that takes you above the glacier to a vast ice field. It’s tough going, but the views from the top are unforgettable. Afterwards, soothe those aching muscles at the comfortable Seward Windsong Lodge.

Day 7: Cruise and Drive to the End of the World

In the morning, take the whale and glacier cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park (and don’t forget those seasickness tablets!). After returning to the harbour, get in the car and head along the Sterling Highway to the southwestern tip of the Kenai Peninsula. Your destination is the town of Homer. The drive takes about three hours and passes through stunning scenery with views of volcanoes across Cook Inlet. You can stay right at the tip of the spit at the iconic Land’s End Resort.

Days 8–9: Kicking Back in Homer

We spent a full three days in Homer and absolutely fell in love with it. The main attraction is Homer Spit — a narrow gravel bar stretching over seven kilometres out into the sea, packed with colourful little buildings, coffee shops and fishing outfitters. You absolutely must not miss the Salty Dawg Saloon. It’s an original log cabin from 1897, and inside, every wall and the ceiling are plastered with thousands of signed dollar bills. We had a beer there and, of course, left one of our own signed notes behind. ☺️

Homer is the self-proclaimed halibut fishing capital of the world. If you enjoy fishing, book a full-day charter (around $400–$500 per person, roughly €360–€450). If fishing isn’t your thing, take a water taxi across the bay to Kachemak Bay State Park, where you can do a beautiful and easy trek to Grewingk Glacier Lake. For a brilliant breakfast with enormous cinnamon rolls, head to Two Sisters Bakery near Bishop’s Beach. As a quieter base in town, I’d recommend the Best Western Bidarka Inn.

Day 10: Back to Reality

Your final day means a long drive — around four and a half hours — from Homer back to the international airport in Anchorage.

2 Week Alaska Road Trip Itinerary: Deep into the Interior

A two-week Alaska itinerary is the standard and probably the most popular option for first-time visitors who want enough time to really explore. To the Kenai Peninsula and Denali, we’re adding the rugged interior, the city of Fairbanks and a visit to Matanuska Glacier, where you can walk across the ice wearing crampons.

This plan is brilliant for photographers and lovers of deep wilderness. The drives are longer, you’ll cruise along the iconic Glenn Highway and soak up the atmosphere of places where people live in extreme conditions.

Day	Route	Km / Time	Highlights	Where to Sleep
1-5	South (Anchorage, Seward, Homer)	–	Kenai Fjords, Homer Spit, Exit Glacier	Land’s End Resort
6-7	Talkeetna and Denali	–	Drive north, flightseeing, Denali bus tour	Grande Denali Lodge
8	Denali → Fairbanks	200 km / 2.5 h	Drive through the interior, evening in Fairbanks	Pike’s Waterfront Lodge
9-10	Fairbanks	0 km	Museum of the North, Riverboat, Northern Lights	Sophie Station Suites
11	Fairbanks → Chena Hot Springs	90 km / 1.5 h	Hot springs bathing, relaxation	Chena Hot Springs Resort
12	Chena → Matanuska Glacier	480 km / 6 h	Long drive via Richardson Hwy, glacier walk	Sheep Mountain Lodge
13	Matanuska → Anchorage	160 km / 2 h	Glenn Highway views, arrival in the city	Hotel Alyeska
14	Anchorage	0 km	Souvenir shopping, departure	–

Days 1–7: Southern Coast and Denali National Park

The first week of this itinerary combines the best of southern and central Alaska. You’ll start by exploring Seward and Homer, feasting your eyes on ocean and glacier views. Then you’ll head north through Talkeetna to Denali National Park. Everything I described in the previous plans applies here too. In Denali, I’d recommend the lovely Grande Denali Lodge, perched high on a hill with an excellent restaurant.

Day 8: Drive to the Golden Heart of Alaska

From Denali, you’ll continue north along the Parks Highway to Fairbanks. The city has only around 31,000 residents, but for the vast interior it’s the absolute centre of civilisation. It sits just 315 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle. Along the way, you’ll notice the landscape changing — the trees shrink and the forests thin out. In the evening, treat yourself to a great steak at the stylish Pump House Restaurant, decorated in gold rush-era style. You can stay right on the riverbank at the popular Pike’s Waterfront Lodge.

Days 9–10: Fairbanks and the Northern Lights

Fairbanks is a city of extremes. In summer, the sun never sets; in winter, it’s bitter cold. Don’t miss the Museum of the North on the local university campus (admission around $22 / €20). They have a fantastic exhibit on Indigenous peoples and even a mummified bison from the Ice Age. In the afternoon, you can take a cruise on the sternwheeler Riverboat Discovery along the Chena River, which includes a stop at a sled dog kennel.

If you’re travelling from late August onwards, you’ve got a fantastic chance of seeing the northern lights. Thanks to the solar maximum in 2024–2026, solar activity is at its peak. Drive out of town at night — Murphy Dome viewpoint is a good shout — to escape light pollution, and wait for the show. As a base for the next few days, try the spacious Sophie Station Suites.

Day 11: Chena Hot Springs

Time for a bit of a breather. About 90 kilometres east of Fairbanks lies the Chena Hot Springs Resort. They have an outdoor thermal pool heated to 41°C (106°F). Soaking in the hot water while the air is chilly around you is a perfect experience. I have to be honest, though — the resort itself has seen better days, and the changing rooms and facilities sometimes receive justified criticism from visitors. Definitely bring your own flip-flops. Even so, the relaxation alone is worth the trip. You can spend the night on-site at Chena Hot Springs Resort.

Day 12: Long Drive South and Matanuska Glacier

Today means a lot of driving along the Richardson and then Glenn Highway back south. Your destination is Matanuska Glacier. Unlike the glaciers we’ve seen from a boat, you can actually walk on this one! The glacier stretches over 40 kilometres and is accessible only with a licensed guide (such as NOVA Alaska Guides). For around $170 (about €155), you get a helmet, crampons and a three-hour guided walk right between blue crevasses and towers of ice. It’s a completely different experience from admiring a glacier from a distance. You’ll find accommodation near the glacier, for instance at the charming Sheep Mountain Lodge, where you can spot Dall sheep through binoculars from the terrace.

Days 13–14: Back to Civilisation

On the penultimate day, you’ll wind your way back along the gorgeous Glenn Highway, which twists between mountains, back into Anchorage. Here you can pick up last-minute souvenirs, enjoy a good coffee and get ready for your flight home. If you want to treat yourself before departing, book a night at the Hotel Alyeska in nearby Girdwood, which has a fantastic spa and a cable car up the mountain.

Alaska Itinerary 21 Days: The Complete Exploration

This is the itinerary for true adventurers who want to experience Alaska in all its glory. Three weeks will allow you to reach places the vast majority of tourists never see. We’re adding a drive beyond the Arctic Circle on the legendary Dalton Highway and the enormous, wild Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

I wouldn’t recommend this plan for families with young children, as you’ll spend hours bouncing along rough gravel roads. But for hikers, lovers of remote places and anyone craving a real “Into the Wild” experience, this is the ultimate adventure.

Day	Route	Km / Time	Highlights	Where to Sleep
1-9	South and Denali	–	Anchorage, Homer, Seward, Talkeetna, Denali	Denali Bluffs Hotel
10-12	Fairbanks	–	Fairbanks area, museums, relaxation	Pike’s Waterfront Lodge
13	Fairbanks → Arctic Circle	315 km / 5 h	Dalton Highway (Haul Road), Arctic Circle Sign	Coldfoot Camp
14	Coldfoot → Fairbanks	410 km / 6 h	Return from the Arctic, Wiseman village	Sophie Station Suites
15	Fairbanks → McCarthy	500 km / 7 h	Challenging drive to Wrangell-St. Elias, McCarthy Road	Ma Johnson’s Hotel
16	Wrangell-St. Elias (Kennecott)	0 km	Kennecott copper mine tour, Bonanza Mine Trail	Kennecott Glacier Lodge
17	McCarthy → Valdez	280 km / 5 h	Drive to the coast, Worthington Glacier	Best Western Valdez Harbor Inn
18	Valdez	0 km	Exxon Valdez history, Mineral Creek Trail	Totem Hotel and Suites
19-21	Valdez → Anchorage	480 km / 6 h	Drive back, Matanuska Glacier, departure	Anchorage Marriott Downtown

Days 1–12: Classic Alaska

The first twelve days are spent thoroughly exploring the south (Kenai Peninsula) and the main artery through Denali up to Fairbanks. You already know all these stops from the previous itineraries, but with 21 days, you won’t have to rush anywhere at all.

Day 13: Dalton Highway and Driving to the Arctic Circle

This is a day for the bold. From Fairbanks, you’ll head north on the iconic Dalton Highway, nicknamed the “Haul Road.” It’s primarily a supply road for the oil pipeline infrastructure up north, and you’ll share it with enormous trucks that barrel past in clouds of dust and gravel. The goal is to reach at least the sign marking the Arctic Circle at mile 115. It’s a raw, gritty experience, but standing beyond the Arctic Circle is simply priceless. If you’re game and have a vehicle that’s cleared for gravel roads (most standard rental companies prohibit it — you’ll need a specialist 4×4 hire), spend the night at the wonderfully rugged Coldfoot Camp.

Day 14: The Coldest Place and the Return

In the morning, drive the short distance to the historic village of Wiseman, just beyond Coldfoot. It was here in 1971 that the lowest temperature ever recorded in the United States was measured: an unbelievable -62°C (-80°F)! Then it’s the long, dusty road back to civilisation in Fairbanks. Treat yourself to a hot shower that evening — you’ll need it. Stay at the comfortable Sophie Station Suites.

Day 15: Into America’s Largest National Park

Today you’ll drive to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. It’s the largest national park in the United States — six Yellowstones could fit inside it. From the town of Chitina, a 96-kilometre unpaved and bone-rattling McCarthy Road leads to the park’s heart. It was built on the remnants of an old railway and you can still occasionally spot old railroad spikes poking through the surface. The road ends at a river, which you cross on a footbridge, and from there a shuttle takes you to the settlement of McCarthy, population roughly 28. It’s the real Wild West. You can stay at the historic Ma Johnson’s Hotel, which looks like a living museum.

Day 16: The Ghost Town of Kennecott

From McCarthy, you’ll continue a bit further to the abandoned Kennecott copper mine. The enormous red-painted wooden buildings clinging to the mountainside next to a glacier look utterly surreal. For fit hikers, there’s an extreme challenge — the Bonanza Mine Trail. It’s 15 kilometres return with a punishing 1,000+ metres of elevation gain, but it takes you right up to the ruins of the old mine high in the mountains. If your budget allows, splash out on a flightseeing tour over Bagley Icefield — it’s truly something else. For the night, the lovely Kennecott Glacier Lodge is a wonderful choice.

Days 17–18: Valdez and Worthington Glacier

From McCarthy, you’ll return to paved roads and head south towards the coastal port of Valdez. Along the way, you’ll drive through Thompson Pass and stop at Worthington Glacier. We stopped here ourselves and it’s an incredible feeling to walk practically right up to the glacier’s face straight from the roadside.

In Valdez, make sure to visit the local museum. They have a powerful exhibition on the Exxon Valdez tanker disaster of 1989, when millions of gallons of oil spilled into the sea — the ecological consequences are still visible today. If you fancy a lovely outing, head to the Mineral Creek Trail leading to an abandoned stamp mill. In Valdez, I’d recommend the Best Western Valdez Harbor Inn with views over the harbour full of fishing boats.

Days 19–21: Return via Richardson and Glenn Highway

Spend your final days on the drive back to Anchorage. Stop at Matanuska Glacier, take a walk on the ice, stock up on salmon jerky as a last souvenir, and — full of experiences you’ll still be processing long after you get home — head to the airport.

How Much Does It All Cost? (Budget)

Alaska is expensive — there’s no getting around it. Our punk-rock budget of $50 a day for two from 2017 is virtually impossible today unless you want to live on plain rice and hitchhike. Here’s a rough estimate per person (excluding flights from Europe):

• 7 days (budget, camping, self-catering): approx. $800–$1,200 (€730–€1,100)
• 7 days (hotels, restaurants, Denali flightseeing): approx. $2,000–$3,000 (€1,800–€2,750)
• 14 days (mid-range, car + motels): approx. $3,500–$4,500 (€3,200–€4,100)
• 21 days (deep exploration with off-road vehicle hire): approx. $6,000+ (€5,500+)

The biggest expense will always be car or RV hire (often over $200/day in peak season, around €180) and accommodation. A decent motel in summer typically runs $150–$300 per night (€135–€275). Excursions are pricey too — a Kenai Fjords cruise costs around $200 (€180), and a Denali flightseeing tour over $300 (€275). For a detailed price breakdown and money-saving tips, check out our article on how much an Alaska holiday costs.

What to Pack for Alaska

The weather in Alaska is unpredictable. Even in July, you might wake to a frosty morning and be walking around in a t-shirt by afternoon. Layering is key.

• Quality waterproof jacket (Gore-Tex) and trousers: Alaska can be seriously rainy, especially along the coast.
• Merino wool: Base layers, long johns and socks in merino keep you warm even when sweating, and they don’t get smelly.
• Sturdy, broken-in hiking boots: The terrain is often boggy and rocky.
• Binoculars: Absolutely essential for spotting bears, whales and mountains from a safe distance.
• Insect repellent and a head net: Alaskan mosquitoes are legendary, especially in the interior in June and July. Products with a high DEET concentration are a must.
• Bear spray can only be purchased once you arrive — pick it up at a supermarket or outdoor shop!

Where Next: Travelling Around North America

If you’re planning a longer road trip or other northern destinations are calling, definitely check out our articles on Canada. From Alaska, you can easily drive through the Yukon all the way to British Columbia and Alberta:

• Western Canada Road Trip: 14–21 Day Itinerary
• Guide to Banff National Park
• What to See in Jasper National Park

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions About an Alaska Road Trip

I’ve gathered the most common questions I get from readers planning an Alaska road trip. If there’s anything I haven’t covered, feel free to drop me a message.