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With its vast wilderness, remote towns, drive-up glaciers, and scenic highways, Alaska is best explored on a road trip!
We recently had the chance to do a classic Alaskan road trip, starting and ending in Anchorage, including stopovers in Valdez, Fairbanks, Denali National Park, and Talkeetna.
This trip took roughly 7-8 days and was ideal for the shoulder season (late September, early October).
If you’re looking for a similar experience, with the freedom to explore Alaska at your own pace with a campervan or car, read more below!
In this one-week itinerary, I’ll highlight the best places to visit and things to do on a “classic” Alaskan road trip.
A Classic 7-Day Itinerary to Road Trip Alaska (Anchorage to Fairbanks)
Please note that this road trip includes details for a road trip from Anchorage north to Fairbanks and back, completing a loop.
Depending on your desired activities and the season you visit, you may consider swapping out Fairbanks with 2-3 days touring the Kenai Peninsula south of Anchorage and visiting Homer and Seward.
I’d recommend the itinerary below (Anchorage to Fairbanks) for fall and winter because of the northern lights and wildlife watching.
However, please note that, either north or south, many restaurants and businesses (including glacier tours, sea kayaking, etc) close down after September 15th, as the busy cruise season is over after this date.
While train transport is possible in summer to reach the different destinations in this itinerary, in the shoulder season, it’s better to rent your own vehicle.
However, for an extra adventure, you may consider renting a decked-out campervan. This is the best way to go on a road trip to Alaska and be self-sufficient!
With a van or RV, your transport and accommodation will be covered, and you’ll be free to adapt your daily road trip plans.
For campervan rentals, check out:
- River Wild Campervans
- Escape Campervans
- Vanderlust Vans
- AlaskaVans
- …to name a few!
We spent one week in one of River Wild’s vans and had the ultimate freedom to explore Alaska.
If a campervan isn’t feasible, no worries! This road trip can still be completed by planning accommodation in Anchorage, Valdez (one night), Fairbanks/Chena, and Talkeetna, with optional backcountry camping or lodging in/near Denali National Park.
Days 1-2: Exploring Anchorage & Its Culture, Wildlife, & Nature
Visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center
Alaska’s native history and culture are beautifully rich and alive! To kickstart your trip in the Last Frontier, I highly recommend checking out the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage.
This center is unique; it’s the only (and largest) cultural institution in Alaska that represents all of Alaska’s native peoples, cultures, and art.
The space is stunning and interactive, with classes, galleries, and private tours. Tickets cost $29 per adult, with discounts for residents and youth.
It’s important to remember that, for thousands of years, Indigenous peoples have been living on the traditional territories of today’s Alaska.
Stop by the center to learn more and see how you can support local art, business, and tourism. It’s open weekdays from 9am-5pm.
Hike on Alaska’s Largest Drive-Up Glacier (Matanuska)
Matanuska Glacier is perhaps the closest glacier to Anchorage that you can actually drive up to—and then hike on!
At about 25 miles long, Matanuska is officially Alaska’s largest accessible glacier.
For other glaciers in Alaska, such as Knik Glacier, you’ll need to take a cruise or a helicopter (read more below!).
We had the chance to hike on Matanuska Glacier, and the experience exceeded our expectations!
To book, you can either go directly to the Matanuska Lodge (privately owned) or take a tour with a local travel company.
Note: If you book directly at the lodge, you may join a large (20-person) tour, whereas if you book with a third party, tours will be more all-inclusive and small-group focused.
Take a Flightseeing Tour or Glacier Cruise (Portage)
It’s wise to spend a few nights in Anchorage not only because you’ll get to eat some of the best seafood in the state (not to mention the best Japanese ramen at Whiskey & Ramen) but also because you can take a range of day tours out of Anchorage.
One of the most popular and thrilling things to do out of Anchorage is taking a Knik Glacier tour. You’ll get to soar in a helicopter before landing on Knik Glacier and seeing the bluest, clearest water imaginable.
Days 3-4: Driving the Scenic Richardson Highway (AK-4) to Valdez
Double-check your itinerary (and the weather) before road-tripping to Valdez.
The town is pretty sleepy/closed down after September 15th until winter tours ramp up.
However, driving the Richardson Highway to get there will be the highlight of your trip (if the weather is nice!).
Travel + Leisure even named this highway one of America’s most scenic roads. I’d have to agree!
This highway has some of the prettiest mountain views we saw in Alaska.
And even though the town itself is small, the glaciers around Valdez are worth checking out!
Stops Along the Scenic Richardson Highway (AK–4) to Valdez
The Richardson Highway is why you should drive the 3+ hours to this remote fjord town on the other side of the Price William Sound.
On your way, you’ll drive through the Thompson Pass to get panoramic mountain views and drive up to and hike a small trail to the Worthington Glacier.
Another worthwhile roadside pitstop is Blueberry Lake.
In summer, Valdez is popular for glacier cruises, sea kayaking, hiking, and waterfalls.
However, things settle down during the shoulder season before ramping up for winter activities, so keep that in mind when booking tours and planning accommodations.
Visit one of Valdez’s 8 Glaciers
Valdez, being at the edge of a deep fjord, is the gateway to at least eight glaciers, namely:
- Worthington Glacier (most accessible)
- Hogback Glacier
- Shoup Glacier
- Valdez Glacier
- Columbia Glacier (the big one!)
- Meares Glacier
- Anderson Glacier
- Brilliant Glacier
Columbia, Meares, Anderson, and Brilliant Glaciers are only visible from cruise tours, which are open and active in summer.
If you’re traveling in the shoulder season, by campervan, or in winter, you may need to adapt your itinerary. We visited Worthington Glacier, which is pretty neat but nothing to rave about compared to Matanuska, for example.
Days 4-6: Chasing Northern Lights & Hot Springs in Fairbanks
From Valdez, the drive to Fairbanks takes around six hours. Along the way, you won’t pass much in terms of towns, but you will have a gorgeous ride, thanks to the mountains around you.
Once in Fairbanks, count on staying 1-3 nights, depending on your plans. You may have to pivot based on the weather forecast.
Actively Hunt for the Aurora Borealis
Fairbanks is famous for its northern lights activity. However (and this is important!), the aurora borealis isn’t always visible, and your chances of seeing it depend greatly on good weather, cloudless skies, and high aurora activity.
If you have the perfect recipe, you’ll have a good chance of seeing the northern lights from one of Fairbank’s top viewing spots.
While we had a campervan rental and boondocked outside of town, I recommend booking a yurt for optimal northern lights viewing.
Soak in the Chena Hot Springs
While in Fairbanks, consider checking out the Chena Hot Springs resort.
This remote resort includes overnight cabins/accommodation, the famous hot springs facility, a restaurant, and an “activity center” through which you can book tickets for the on-site ice sculpture museum, dog-mushing kennels, and greenhouse.
After visiting, I wouldn’t consider Chena a must-do for first-time visits to Alaska, but it is worthwhile if you’re keen on lounging in natural hot springs (especially in the colder months!).
The one-hour road trip to Chena Hot Springs Resort from Fairbanks makes for an easy day trip. It is easiest to visit on a guided tour or with your own vehicle.
Days 6-7: Explore the Alaskan Wilderness in Denali National Park
After Fairbanks, you’ll continue south counterclockwise to drive through Denali National Park, down to Talkeetna, and back to Anchorage to complete the road trip loop.
Hike a scenic trail in Denali National Park
The great Denali National Park is synonymous with Alaska’s breathtaking landscapes. You’re extra lucky if you witness Denali Peak, which is usually shrouded in mist and clouds. But we did!
Denali is the most accessible national park in Alaska, which is why many people visit for a day.
However, if you can, enrich your time in Denali by staying a night or two backcountry camping and hiking a longer trail.
Beyond outdoor recreation (hiking and camping in its wilderness), swing by the Denali Visitor Center (8am-6pm, summer only; closed September 24–May 11) to learn about the park and its wildlife.
If you only have time (and resources or energy) for a scenic drive and a short trail, then I recommend these trails:
- Horshoe Lake Trail
- McKinley Station Trail
- Savage River Loop
- Oxbow Loop Trail
Additionally, after the Visitor Center, drop by the Denali sled dog kennels along Park Road to pet the sweet dogs leading the teams and the veteran pups of the Iditarod and Yukon Quest races.
Learning more about Alaska’s dogsledding culture and history was a highlight of visiting Denali National Park and Alaska in fall!
When planning your itinerary, keep in mind that the winter hours for visiting the Denali dog kennel are weekends only from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Take a Denali Flightseeing Tour
Denali flightseeing tours will take you into the heart of the Alaska Range. These tours technically fly out of Talkeetna, the cute town about two hours south of Denali’s park entrance.
Ride the Alaska Railroad in Talkeetna
Talkeetna is known for its flightseeing tours and historic downtown with cute, quirky cafes and shops. But did you know? You can also ride the iconic Alaska Railroad!
The railroad also connects Seward, Whittier, Denali, Anchorage, and Fairbanks!
Check the train schedule to find available routes during the month you visit. In summer, Talkeetna serves the Denali Star Train, Hurricane Turn Train, and, in winter, the Aurora Winter Train.
Alternative One-Week Itineraries for Experiencing Alaska
The Anchorage to Fairbanks loop, with stopovers in Valdez and Denali, makes for an epic one-week Alaskan road trip.
However, if you’re looking for an Alaska itinerary that skips the standard Anchorage-Fairbanks-Denali loop, here are some unique 7-day options (road trips optional or not possible for some routes).
Juneau, Haines, Skagway (Southeast Alaska)
In summer, an additional flight from Anchorage to Juneau will land you in the heart of Alaska’s southeast, teeming with cute towns and glaciers.
On this itinerary, you can ferry from Juneau to Haines to Skagway, visiting attractions such as Mendenhall Glacier, Tracy Arm Fjord, and Glacier Bay National Park.
Kenai Peninsula
As mentioned earlier, you can swap out portions of this road trip to add 2-3 nights on the Kenai Peninsula located south of Anchorage.
This choice will add in the cute and artsy coastal towns of Homer and Seward.
With this itinerary, you can take a boat tour to see glaciers, sea lions, orcas, and puffins, hike on Exit Glacier, and visit the Harding Icefield!
You could also take a 30-to 60-minute flight from Homer to reach the rich bear territories of Katmai National Park or Lake Clark National Park.
During summer, before the shoulder season, the above option would be a good choice if you want to combine Talkeetna and Denali and/or Valdez with the Kenai Peninsula.
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to do and see everything in only seven days in Alaska! The state is vast, wild, and rich with wildlife, culture, and nature.
Nevertheless, our 7-day road trip itinerary will give you a fantastic mix of stunning glaciers, national parks, towns, wildlife, and more! 🐻
Please comment below if you have any questions about the above itinerary for first-timers and road-trippers! I’ll do my best to help you plan your epic Alaskan road trip.
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