Hey friends! Here is a reallyyy rough draft of our Alaska roadtrip itinerary! I can’t believe I’m even publishing this as it’s just our rough notes but here we are haha. We’ll get a pretty one up on the website as soon as we can but since many of you are going this summer we just wanted to get this resource out for those of you who have been asking. XOXO
- Day 1 (Monday May 17):
- Arrive in Anchorage at 9:30 am
- Pick up rental car (we booked our car camping vehicle on Outdoorsy.com)
- Anchorage stop – snow city café and Walmart to load up on food and supplies
- Drive to Girdwood
- Explore/hike Girdwood
- Beluga point – can see belugas some times of year here!
- Girdwood brewing (amazing!) & food truck
- Hike Byron Glacier
- Portage lake (didn’t go b/c the road was closed)
- Blue ice trail (see glaciers)
- Drive 1.5 hours to Seward
- Along the way that looked beautiful but we didn’t stop at b/c it was late: Kenai Lake
- Stay in Seward at resurrection campsite(STUNNING)
- Day 2 (Tuesday May 18):
- Mermaid Grotto breakfast – whoopie pie and the tortilla wrapped breakfast thing
- Explore Seward & harbor
- Exit Glacier Hike(2.2 mi hike but road was closed 2 mile from trailhead… can see it from the road though)
- Hike Tonsina Creek Trail – nice hike. Ends at the beach. Don’t prioritize it but if everything else is closed or snowy this is nice. No snow to be found though so yay
- Other local recs included the Harding Icefield hike, Mount Marathon, Mount Alice and one more…
- Eat dinner in Seward at the Cookery – pricey but very unique and yummy. Get a reservation!!
- Stay in Seward – resurrection campsite again
- Day 3 (Wednesday May 19):
- Kayaking Kenai Fjords NP – tour 7:20 am – 5:30 pm. Phenomenal tour with Sunny Cove. Ashley, Russ, Brent and Hallie were our guides. We saw insane calving of the glacier, had the whole fjord to ourselves, it was magical. Also saw 12+ orcas!! As well as puffins, humpbacks, dolphins, black bear, seals, sea lions, otter, mountain goat and bald eagle 😱
- Stay in Anchorage due to weather. If weather was nicer considered going to Homer, Coopers Landing, Kenai Lake or Kachemak Bay State Park on the peninsula but for weather we made our way north.
- Day 4 (Thursday May 20):
- Plan trip/workout/Scott Rockpaper
- Drive Anchorage to Hatcher Pass (12-1:30)
- Pics at Hatcher Pass lodge (1:30 – 2:30) – hard to get the iconic photo with how deep the snow was
- April bowl hike (3 min from lodge)
- 2.2 mi (1.5 hours, 2:30-4:30)
- Trailhead 61.76805, -149.31654
- Skipped: Road still closed & completely under snow. Apparently isn’t really accessible until mid summer
- Drive Hatcher Pass to Glacier View (1 hour 40 min, arrive around 6:30)
- Note: Palmer last stop for decent food options
- Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site
- Note: no access to the glacier here but great view of it! Take the trail! Easy 1 mile to stretch your legs and informative things along the way. Also a good campground. Nothing fancy. First come first serve.
- Stay in Glacier View
- Campsite
- Matanuska Glacier State Rec Area $20
- 61.80027770996094, -147.8148651123047
- Overnight parking area nearby for $10 (couldn’t find this?)
- Alternative: Grand view café and RV park (laundry, shows, etc) – sold out tonight but tent sight tomorrow 2 avail for $23 p/night
- Matanuska Glacier State Rec Area $20
- Campsite
- Day 5 (Friday May 21):
- Matanuska Glacier Hike at 10 am
- 1.6 mi total – no longer able to do self guided so have to do a tour $65 each. Definitely worth it! Depart daily almost hourly lasts 2.5-3 hours https://glacier-tours.com/schedule-a-guided-glacier-tour/ Call 907-745-2534 to book
- Largest glacier in America accessible by car
- Drive 2 hours to Copper Center Wrangell St. Elias National Park (1-5)
- Enjoyed the visitor center and interpretive center and the video. Talk to a ranger for about an hour, it was great but the only thing they really recommended was going to McCarthy and we weren’t up for a 60 mile dirt road expedition. Could be cool for some people but need to check with the rental car agency to see if you’re allowed to drive that road.
- Note: Gates to copper visitor center lock at 5
- Biggest national park in the US
- Drive to Valdez
- Valdez Brewery – super yummy and great vibes
- Potatohead and aunty yum yum Thai food for dinner
- Camp for free at Valdez harbor on main road
- Matanuska Glacier Hike at 10 am
- Day 6 (Saturday May 22):
- Laundry at the gas station (super nice gas station)
- Brunch at the Fat Mermaid
- Valdez glacier lake (okay.. Not super exciting but it’s peaceful and the ice sheets are cool if they haven’t melted)
- Drive around town
- Walk Valdez Harbor (nice showers there! Can get coins at the gas station)
- Lunch at potatohead (would’ve done Nat Shack if open)
- Bday desert at northern treats (soft serve ice cream parfait is out of this world) cash only.
- Pics at the dock
- Horsetail falls (pull off on hwy is stunning!!)
- Bridal veil falls (just a quick pull off, can’t really go up to it or anything)
- Thompson Pass – might be the most beautiful drive we’ve done. So hard to get in pictures. Very iconic Alaska and grand just in bowl of mountains. Definitely try for a clear day to get the full effect.
- Worthington glacier – didn’t do the hike bc it was too snowy but looked like a nice hike
- Blueberry campground – heard great things but didn’t stay.
- Drove to Palmer for the night. Stopped at Tom Thai food truck on the way in glenallen. Note many restaurants close at 8 even though the sun will trick you into thinking it’s 3 pm still.
- Stayed at king mountain state recreation site. Nice big campground, nothing fancy but very popular. Technically $25 but no where to pay our night so free.
- Day 7 (Sunday May 23):
- Drive to Talkeetna
- Brunch at the Spinach bread food truck
- Quick walk to riverfront park and through the town
- Beers at the Denali Brewpub (denali brewery about 12 miles out of town)
- Visit the Talkeetna ranger station. Went to the historical society to watch the mountaineering video of climbing Denali which is usually at the ranger station but moved due to Covid. 17 min worth watching.
- Walked the trails around the Talkeetna Alaskan lodge. They’re fine, nothing exciting but saw bear and moose tracks.
- Chase trail or X trail loop? Neither sounded super interesting but locals recommended
- Stay at the Talkeetna Alaskan lodge in Talkeetna – insanely Nice view from the viewing deck if it’s a clear day. Rooms are okay, a bit dated but the views of Denali can’t be beat. Even if you aren’t a hotel guest, head to the bar & restaurant for dinner to see the views.
- Sunset at 11 pm!!
- Day 8 (Monday May 24):
- Check out of hotel
- Flight tour of Denali from Talkeetna at 10:30-12:30 am with k2 tours. Grand tour with glacier landing
- Highlight of the trip. Do the glacier landing!! Many guides take tips in Venmo if you don’t have cash.
- Lunch at spinach bread again
- Denali State Park hiking and viewpoints
- Curry ridge hike – 6.5 miles (stopped about a mile in bc we were so tired lol.. But definitely a great hiking option!! Prob top trail I would recommend in Alaska even though we were quitters haha)
- Byers lake loop 5 miles – not maintained so couldn’t go
- Check out denali view south pull off and Byers Lake for Denali views if clear (denali view north was closed when we went the first time but saw on the way back and the south view is WAY better. Denali view south is STUNNING)
- Drive to Denali National Park (not super impressed..)
- Drive into Healy for 49th state brewery (our fav brewery in Alaska! This is OG but also one in anchorage)
- Drive park road 15 miles into the park to look for wildlife (we had no luck). This is as far as you can drive without a bus or permit.
- Stay at Riley creek campground in denali. Reserve online and then check in at Riley creek mercantile. $27. Nice bathroom with running water.
- Day 9 (Tuesday May 25):
- Bus depot for coffee. This is also where all the tour and transit buses depart from. Those require advance reservations.
- Visitor center for info (9 am, only open to talk to a ranger outside like most national parks right now)
- Kennel dogs (10 am open) – open 10-4. Super cool to see and learn about! They are official park rangers.
- Drive between mile 10-12 to see a glimpse of Denali from the park. However, National park is def NOT the best place for views of Denali.
- Hike
- Savage river trail (2.1 mi loop easy) – parking lot was very small and full so didn’t do it
- Mt Healy (6.1 mi) – didn’t do it
- *Horseshoe trail 2.1 mi – Easy apparently see moose and beaver sometimes.. Did it and it was nice. Downhill most of the way there and up on the way back.
- Triple lake? 18 or 19 miles so we didn’t have time but apparently it’s nice
- Savage alpine trail if flowers are out
- *Mount vista hike – .6 mile loop super easy
- Drive to Eklutna lake – 4 hours.
- Drive from national park back to state park has some really pretty views! We’d rate the national park just okay.
- Stay at Eklutna lake campsite $20 – get there early and put the reservation on the post. Fills up even on a Tuesday in may! Day pass $5 for Chugach State Park
- Can kayak or walk along the lake next door to campsite – super peaceful
- Day 10 (Wednesday May 26):
- Hike Twin Peaks over Eklutna Lake 7 am – some nice views come before top – we couldn’t finish due to time. 2.6 each way. Can also make it longer by going to pepper peak. Go early AM for gorgeous reflections and cooler temps. Great may hike bc no snow. Such a different Alaska landscape! Bring bug spray
- Alternative easy hike is thunderbird falls
- Eklutna town apparently known for iconic cemetery? Idk didn’t go there
- Drive back to anchorage 1 hour (shower at vitus along the route)
- Moose tooth pizza – get there before they open at 11 and get order in ASAP. Apparently wait times of 2+ hours aren’t uncommon.
- Return rental in long term parking
- Flight at 2:50
- Hike Twin Peaks over Eklutna Lake 7 am – some nice views come before top – we couldn’t finish due to time. 2.6 each way. Can also make it longer by going to pepper peak. Go early AM for gorgeous reflections and cooler temps. Great may hike bc no snow. Such a different Alaska landscape! Bring bug spray
- Notes:
- Showers at most vitus gas stations. Ours was $2.50 but they range. Nothing fancy but gets the job done
- Drive like Palmer to Valdez our fav. Drive down to Seward also gorg and same with Denali national park towards state park
- Only places still on our list homer, Cooper landing, Kenai lake & Hope so visit those if you have time
- 49th state brewery in Healy our fav
- Leave buffer for weather
- 5% chance for 100% clear denali day, 30% chance for a partially clear day. Optimize for Denali weather if possible. Plan around actually getting to see the mountain.
- Breweries are dope everywhere
- Price of flights does not reflect cost per day to stay here
- Private cars can go further in DNP before buses avail. Buses avail starting may 20 this year.