Alaska With Kids: Your 7 Day Itinerary
Are you planning a trip up to Alaska with your kids? They must be so excited to visit the prettiest state ever! You and your kids are going to love going on adventures, visiting glaciers, exploring up in the mountains, and looking for local wildlife.
This is the trip on every bucket list for a good reason! Our 7 day itinerary will have you even more excited and prepared for your visit.
Your Kids Will Love Alaska
Alaska is a wild playground that is perfect for kids of all ages. There are activities for everyone to experience childlike wonder. From epic landscapes, to exciting adventure excursions, and new learning experiences, Alaska inspires a deeper connection with nature.
Your family will love making new memories together as they hike to see amazing views, try adventures like ATVing or dog sledding, see wildlife, and experience the Midnight Sun in the s
summertime. We recommend visiting Alaska for at least a week to pack your schedule with adventures and sightseeing!
This family friendly itinerary is best for those visiting for a week in the Summer who want to visit Palmer, Anchorage, Girdwood, and Seward. This route is best traveled mid May to mid September and is perfect for families of all ages and all sizes. Pack your bags and get ready for a trip you’ll never forget!
Travel Tips for Alaska in the Summer
What to Pack
Along with activities to keep your kids busy while in the car, you’ll want to pack well for the weather when visiting Alaska. The following list includes some must haves for everyone. Remember that Summer can still mean rain up in Alaska!
What to Pack for Alaska:
- Rain jackets.
- Warm layers.
- Comfortable, waterproof hiking boots or shoes.
- Wool socks.
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, and bug spray.
- Reusable water bottles.
- Your kids favorite snacks.
- Your camera!
- An eye mask for sleeping.
Rent a Car or Rent a RV?
You may be debating between a rental car or an RV for your trip. Rental cars are great for families who prefer to stay in cabins or hotels and have a very set itinerary, or who may want more room for their family to wind down at night.
RVs can give you and your family more flexibility, but they come with a learning curve. RVs mean driving slower, watching how you take those curves, and learning how to use all the amenities they come with.
With an RV you can camp in lots of beautiful spots and have more say in your trip in case of weather or spontaneous points of interest. Learn more about RVing in Alaska here!
Stop For the Views
Alaska is full of beautiful lookout points that you will want to stop at during your drives between towns. This can be a great way to stretch everyone’s legs and get the wiggles out, or to find a bathroom without always having to stop at a gas station.
Be sure to allow for some extra time when driving to your next destination so that you can take in the scenery. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to catch a glimpse of some moose out in the meadow or look for beluga whales in the Knik Arm!
Plan for Construction
Construction can cause delays when driving especially in the summertime. There are always new projects going on to improve the roads and bridges, and summer is the best time to get many of them done.
Construction might delay your travel, so keep that in mind as you map out your drive. You can see construction patterns here.
Alaska 7 Day Road Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Land in Anchorage, Drive to Palmer
45 minute drive, 44 miles
Land in Anchorage and pick up your rental car or RV. Depending on when your flight gets in, take some time to explore Anchorage or head right to Palmer to check in to your stay and get some rest.
If you and your family need to stretch their legs after the flight, stop at Thunderbird Falls for an easy hike with beautiful views! This will be a short detour off the freeway on your way to Palmer.
Palmer is a small town set between immense mountain ranges. The 360 views are spectacular and there are so many adventures to be had in the area! Explore downtown and grab dinner at Matanuska Brewing.
We recommend staying at Alaska Backcountry Cottages so that you can wake up and walk right over to your ATV tour the next morning! When you book an ATV tour you get 10% off your stay at the cottages. Book now while stays are still available!
-button: Stay at the cottages!
Day 2: ATV to a Glacier!
Grab some breakfast and head to Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours for your first epic adventure in Alaska! The full day Knik Glacier ATV Tour is bound to be fun for the whole family and may end up being your favorite adventure of your whole trip. We are locally owned by a family who enjoys exploring ATV trails together and sharing that experience with other adventurous families.
The side by sides have 4 or 6 seater options to accommodate families of all sizes! While you need to be 16+ to drive, anyone can be a passenger and enjoy the bumpy, splashy ride out to the Knik Glacier!
On your tour you and your family can look for wildlife, enjoy the splashy river crossings, and play at the glacier lake. Your kids will love looking at the icebergs and playing with any chunks of ice that may be near the shore. Enjoy kid friendly snacks along the way and a hot campfire lunch once you reach the lake!
The ride back is just and exciting as the ride to the glacier. Explore new terrain and coast up sand dunes before bidding your guide farewell. You’ll have worked up an appetite. Head to the Palmer Alehouse for a meal the whole family will enjoy or grab burgers to go at The Butte Burger Place. Enjoy a good night’s sleep for tomorrow’s day of adventures.
Day 3: Explore Palmer, Drive to Girdwood
1.5 hour drive, 81 miles
The town of Palmer offers so much to explore! Head up to Hatcher Pass for a family hike or to just take in the views. The Reed Lakes trail is beautiful but more challenging and includes some sporty boulder field crossings. Gold Cord Lake or Summit Lake are more ideal for any ability level.
You can also hike around the Indepence Mine to learn about gold mining history in Hatcher Pass. The views are gorgeous and there is so much to learn!
Head into town for lunch at Turkey Red or Vagabond Blues. Walk around downtown Palmer and pop into some shops like Poppy Lane or Fireside Books.
Then, head over to the Musk Ox Farm to learn all about the most unique creatures that are native to Alaska. Your tour guide will tell you funny stories about the oxen and teach you about the farm’s husbandry efforts.
If you and your family are visiting August 15th-September 1st, head over to the Alaska State Fair for lunch and fun instead!
Want more ideas for Palmer? Check out our favorite adventures in the Mat-Su.
After your tour hit the road and drive south to Girdwood. You can opt to make a detour to Eklutna Lake along the way if you want to get another short hike in and break up the drive.
Girdwood is a cute mountain town nestled in a temperate forest. The mountains in this area are impressive and it’s no surprise that it is home to Alaska’s largest ski resort. Grab dinner at Jack Spratt, Chair 5, or Coast Pizza before checking into your stay for the night. You’ll want to get some rest before the jam packed day that is in store for tomorrow!
Day 4: Explore Girdwood, Take the Train, and Drive to Seward
20 minutes, 14 miles to the Train Depot | 1.5 hours, 79 miles to Seward
Grab some coffee and breakfast before heading over to Alyeska Resort to ride the tram. The tram ride up into the mountains offers beautiful views of the valley and the Knik Arm. Take in the views and go for a short hike while you try to spot all 7 glaciers in the mountains before you. After exploring, take the tram back down so you can head to the Portage Train Depot for your next adventure!
Meet up with Chugach Adventure guides to take a train ride to the Spencer Glacier and go for a scenic float down the river. On your train ride you may see wildlife out the train windows and you will have the chance to grab some lunch. Enjoy the ride before a short hike to reach Spencer Glacier Lake.
The beautiful glacier lake views will remind you of your ATV tour, but this time you’ll be putting on a PFD and getting into a raft! Enjoy the two hour scenic float down the river. After an exciting float, you’ll meet up with the train and ride back to the depot.
Once you get back to the train depot in Portage, start your drive south to Seward! If you and your family have the energy, stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to support conservation efforts and learn about local Alaskan wildlife. You can see animals like Bears, Wolves, Elk, Wood Bison, and so many more up close!
Enjoy the beautiful scenery on your way to Seward. Opt for a late dinner at Ray’s Waterfront for some Alaskan seafood before checking in to your stay.
Day 5: Boat Tour in Seward
A trip to Seward wouldn’t be complete without the chance to see whales, wildlife, and glaciers from aboard a boat!
This 6 hour boat ride with Major Marine Tours is the perfect way to have a chance at spotting wildlife and seeing an active tidal glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. On this tour you can see whales, puffins, seals, porpoises, eagles, sea lions, and more as you sail from Resurrection Bay to the National Park. Gaze out at a tidal glacier and watch for calving ice that becomes icebergs in the ocean!
Lunch is included on this tour and the cabins are all heated. Get there early so you and your family can snag a window seat! Your kids will enjoy the sights out the windows and from the deck, and you all will learn so much from the Captain’s narration.
Grab some dinner at Gold Rush Bistro. After dinner go for a walk to see the Lowell Creek Waterfall, walk along the beach and look for fun rocks, or go for a longer hike at Lowell Point.
Day 6: Explore Seward
Fuel up for your day of adventure at the Resurrect Art Coffee House. This beautiful coffee shop is located in an old church with tons of artwork and stained glass. After enjoying a latte it’s time to go pet some sled dogs!
Book a morning dog sled tour with Seavey’s to learn about the famous Iditarod, meet sled dog puppies (cute!), and mush a team of your own. In the summertime, dog sled practice looks like pups pulling a cart through a picturesque canyon on dirt trails. Experience the power of a sled dog team and learn how to steer the dogs yourself.
Head over to the Salmon Bake for lunch to fuel up for a hike at Exit Glacier! See another glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park and learn about how the glacier has receded over the years as you hike. This trail is great for all ages and offers many viewpoints of the glacier and surrounding area as you go.
Itching to see more wildlife? Head to the Sealife Center for an up close look at the creatures that call Seward home. You and your family will learn so much about the wildlife in the area, conservation efforts in Seward, and local marine research. This spot is perfect for animal lovers or kids with an interest in all things science!
After a full day of exploring, grab tacos at the Lone Chicharron or have dinner at The Highliner for a meal you and your kids will enjoy. Soak in some more time at the beach for your last night in Alaska.
Day 7: Head Back to Anchorage and Fly Home
2.5 hours, 126 miles
Grab some breakfast and head back to Anchorage after a week of adventures. On your drive you can stop by the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center if you did not get a chance before, visit Portage Lake for some more glacier views, or get to Anchorage early so you can explore the city before flying out.
In Anchorage you can visit the Anchorage Museum for some hands-on learning, walk around Potter Marsh for one more chance to see some moose, grab locally made ice cream at Wild Scoops, and walk around downtown for some souvenir shopping.
Anchorage is full of excellent restaurants like 49th State Brewery or Spenard Roadhouse. Be sure to fuel up before flying home. We recommend getting to the airport at least an hour and a half before your flight so you don’t have to rush.
Reflect on your trip through your photos and relax on your flight home. Alaska will be calling you back soon!
We Can’t Wait For You to Visit Alaska!
We’re excited for you and your family to visit Alaska! Start planning your trip today and use this itinerary as your guide. You and your family are going to make lasting memories on your visit to this state.
As you plan, imagine watching your kids be their best selves as they navigate such rugged and beautiful landscapes with awe and curiosity. This trip is bound to be a family favorite with so many new and exciting experiences!
We can’t wait to meet you and share our family business with you. Be sure to book your ATV tour so that you can explore the Alaskan backcountry with us and visit the Knik Glacier!
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