5 Tips For Planning Your First Trip to Alaska
This guide is best suited for those flying into Anchorage who are interested in going on a road trip! Get some tips for your first trip to Alaska so you can have a memorable and wild visit.
Your First Trip to Alaska
Planning your very first trip to Alaska is so exciting! No matter the length of your stay, you are going to have some incredible experiences and make lasting memories. Alaska is truly a wild place with so much to explore. It can be difficult to narrow down all you want to do while visiting the 49th State since there are so many adventures to choose from.
We’ve got some great tips for you on how to start planning your trip. The first step is choosing your bucket list adventure and then picking which season is best for that experience. Each season offers unique adventures, and your top pick may only be available during a certain time of the year!
When to Visit Alaska
Once you choose which season to visit Alaska in, you can narrow down what other adventures you can have and start planning your trip. Which season to choose really depends on those bucket list adventures on your list. We recommend picking out that top, bucket list adventure and then building your trip based on the best time to have that experience!
Here’s what you can expect from each season when flying into Anchorage and visiting the Southcentral area of Alaska.
Alaska in the Summer
Summer brings endless sunshine and long days perfect for exploring. Grab your sunglasses and bug spray and hit the road to see the incredible landscapes of Alaska! You’ll be able to go on some amazing excursions from flightseeing to boat tours.
Summertime in Alaska lasts from June to mid August. While it tends to be sunny and in the mid 70s during summer, don’t forget to pack some layers and a rain jacket just in case!
Highlights of the summer season:
- Long days with lots of sunshine so you explore
- More restaurants and hotels are open to accommodate tourism season
- Pick some hiking trails to get out into the mountains, along the beach, or to a waterfall to enjoy more of Alaska’s scenery
- Go on a flightseeing tour by small plane or helicopter to see Alaska from above!
- Book a boat tour for a chance to see whales, sea lions, puffins, and tidal glaciers
- Look for wildlife like Moose or Bald Eagles from the road and on your adventures
- Try sea kayaking with a guide or go for a fun float down a river
- Go fishing for salmon, halibut, trout, and more depending on the type of fishing adventure you choose
Alaska in the Fall
Fall in Alaska brings incredible fall colors, cooler days, and unpredictable weather. Fall is a short season that begins in mid August and lasts into October. Don’t be surprised if it snows in the fall – the mountains often get termination dust as the temperatures become cooler!
Be sure to prepare yourself for any weather and pack warm clothes along with gloves and a beanie. It will make exploring that much more comfortable!
Highlights of the fall season:
- Beautiful fall foliage can be found across the state
- Less crowds as the summer season ends
- Hiking is great during this season and you often have popular trails to yourself
- Go blueberry picking in the mountains and the tundra
- Leaf peeping by ATV is a fun way to get among the changing forests and see the glacier contrasted by the fall colors
- Fall is a great time for a boat tour to look for Orcas and tidal glaciers
- Denali National Park is beautiful in the fall time
Alaska in the Winter
Winter in Alaska is incredible and requires a bit more planning due to the weather. You’ll want to be prepared for negative temperatures so that you can enjoy your visit no matter what the weather does! Plan downtime, find indoor adventures, and get ready to grab a warm drink and go look for the Northern Lights!
Winter lasts from October to late March and is Alaska’s longest season. It offers some of Alaska’s most unique adventures. From dog sledding on the snow to off roading to a glacier – there’s an adventure for everyone. Don’t forget to pack your handwarmers!
Highlights of the winter season:
- Best time of the year to see the Northern Lights
- Ability to visit ice caves via helicopter or snowmobile
- Go dog mushing in the snow
- Try ice skating on wild lakes
- Try snowmobiling or take a heated UTV out to a glacier
- Go skiing at a resort or in the backcountry
Alaska in the Spring
Spring in Alaska is another short season that is mainly marked by warmer days and the breakup of ice in the rivers. While most think of spring as flowers blooming and green grass returning, we see it as longer, sunnier days and more fun in the snow!
Spring begins in April and lasts through May. You can expect variable weather, snow up in the mountains, and the days growing longer as we head into summer. Spring offers the tail end of snowmobile season, some great skiing, and the last chance to see the Northern Lights before the days become so long that the sun doesn’t set!
Highlights of the spring season:
- Go skiing at the resorts or in the backcountry to chase after spring conditions
- Look for wildlife as Grey Whales return to our waters and birds migrate back North
- Catch the last of our Heated UTV tours before our season wraps up and we wait for the trails to shift from snow to dirt
- Go hiking up in the mountains with proper gear, or find trails that are free of snow in the valley
5 Tips for Your First Trip to Alaska
Start Planning With One Bucket List Item
Choosing what to do in Alaska can quickly become overwhelming since there are so many options. Ask yourself – what do you want to do the most? Have you always dreamed of seeing Denali? Is photographing Brown Bears high on your priority list? Do you just want to see glaciers?
Ask yourself what matters most to you and choose an adventure based on that. Starting with this core, bucket list excursion will help you to create a trip that prioritizes the things that are most important to you. From there, you can find which towns to visit and base your road trip around, plus other fun activities to go on to ensure you get all you want out of your vacation!
Choose Which Month to Visit Based On Your Bucket List
Choosing your bucket list adventure will help you determine when to plan your trip to Alaska. For example, if fishing for salmon is your priority we’ll likely see you in July or August! If you want to hike in Denali to see fall colors you should visit in September. If stepping into an ice cave is top on your list, March would be a great time to visit.
With those months that are best to visit in mind, you can start adding other activities to your itinerary that would be available in the same season.
From here, you can plan out the duration of your trip and start plotting out your route to visit areas that include the excursion you want to go on most!
Give Yourself Time to Explore
With there being so much to do in Alaska, it can be easy to overcommit yourself to too many activities. Give yourself ample time to explore and accomplish all of your goals while visiting!
This means booking a long enough trip to see everything on your list. We recommend at least a 10-14 day trip if you want to drive as far as Denali National Park and get down to Seward or Homer. It’s important to factor in drive time between your excursions since Alaska is so large and there is a lot of ground to cover!
Speaking of drive time, In the summer road construction can increase your drive time, and in the winter road conditions may cause you to have to drive slow. Keep in mind that you can’t rush around when you visit Alaska – and you’ll miss the pretty views out the window if you do!
Give yourself time to get from one destination to another, and don’t overpack your trip with so many activities that you can’t keep your itinerary straight. You’ll want some time to just stop and enjoy the incredible views along the way!
Rent the Car
Unless you plan to take the train for your whole trip, or you are hopping on a cruise, you’ll want to book a rental car. Sure some adventure outfitters, us included, can set up transport for you – but you’ll miss out on a lot when you don’t get to make any stops or go on side adventures in your own vehicle.
Rent a car and plan out a road trip so that you can see more of Alaska during your stay! You’ll enjoy having more flexibility and the views along the highway are spectacular.
Pack For Any Weather
Regardless of the season you visit in, you’ll really want to pack for any weather and be prepared so you can be comfortable and get outside no matter the elements.
In the summertime, it may rain or be chilly some days. Pack your layers and a rain jacket so you aren’t caught by surprise in changing weather. You’ll also want those sunglasses and some sunscreen for the Midnight Sun!
In the wintertime, it can get into the negatives and be really cold out. Get good layers, the right insulated footwear, a beanie and a solid pair of gloves before visiting so you can enjoy time outside no matter the temperature!
Get Ready For the Trip of a Lifetime!
Your first trip to Alaska is going to be incredibly memorable and so beautiful! Planning a successful trip starts with that bucket list adventure. Dream up how you want your trip to look and then use our tips to help you plan a fun road trip!
We hope we get to meet you and share our backyard with you so you can add an off roading adventure to your itinerary. Come along for a Half Day Tour or enjoy a Full Day Tour out to the Knik Glacier!
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