10 Days in Alaska: 3 Itineraries for Every Type of Traveler

We have taken two trips to Alaska. The first was a three-week road trip with our whole family, our kids were older teenagers at the time, covering Anchorage, Valdez, Wrangell-St. Elias, Denali, Kenai Fjords, Homer, Seward, and Katmai National Park. It remains one of the best trips we have ever taken as a family. Several years later, Tim and I returned on our own, specifically to revisit Katmai, one of our favorite national parks in the entire country, to watch the bears at Brooks Falls again. We tacked on a few days in Lake Clark National Park while we were there. When a place pulls you back like that, you know it’s something special.

After two trips and a combined total of several weeks in Alaska, we’ve come to one firm conclusion: Alaska requires more planning than almost any other destination in the US, and the choices you make early will define your trip.

The state is enormous. Getting to its most spectacular places often involves small planes, ferries, or rough gravel roads that require a 4WD. Some of the best experiences, like watching brown bears feed on salmon at Brooks Falls, need to be reserved 18 months in advance. And right now, with Denali Park Road closed beyond mile 43, what you actually get out of Denali depends heavily on when you go and how you plan around it.

That’s why this guide offers three different 10-day itineraries rather than one. Each is designed for a different type of Alaska traveler, with different parks, experiences, and logistics. Before you dive in, ask yourself a few questions:

• Is this your first trip to Alaska, or have you been before?
• Is watching brown bears catch salmon something you’re willing to plan 18 months in advance for?
• Are you visiting while Denali Park Road is closed, or planning a future trip once it reopens?
• Are you comfortable driving a 4WD on a remote gravel road to reach one of the most spectacular parks in the country?

Your answers will point you to the right itinerary.

Note: These itineraries don’t include Gates of the Arctic, Kobuk Valley, or Glacier Bay, which are either extremely remote or best experienced on a cruise.

Which Alaska Itinerary Is Right for You?

These three itineraries cover different parks, different logistics, and different types of Alaska travel. Here’s how to find your match.

Choose Itinerary #1 (The Classic: Kenai Fjords, Denali & Anchorage) if:

• This is your first trip to Alaska
• Denali is on your must-do list, even with the current road closure beyond mile 43
• You want to keep logistics simple: no 4WD, no ferry, and no small planes required
• You prefer a trip that flies in and out of Anchorage with a straightforward driving route
• You’d rather save Wrangell-St. Elias and Katmai for a future trip

Choose Itinerary #2 (The Road Less Traveled: Wrangell-St. Elias, Kenai Fjords & Valdez) if:

• You want to skip Denali until the park road reopens (currently estimated 2027) and make the most of your trip in the meantime
• Remote and undervisited destinations appeal to you; Wrangell-St. Elias gets a fraction of Denali’s crowds and is, in our opinion, every bit as spectacular
• You’re comfortable renting a 4WD and driving McCarthy Road to reach the park
• You want variety in your road trip: glaciers, a ferry through Prince William Sound, and a mix of landscapes that most Alaska visitors never see
• More complex logistics and a park most people have never heard of are things that excite rather than deter you

Choose Itinerary #3 (The Bear Watcher: Denali, Katmai & Kenai Fjords) if:

• Watching brown bears catch salmon at Brooks Falls is at the top of your Alaska list and you’re willing to plan around it
• You’re booking this trip well in advance, ideally 18 months or more, and are prepared to enter the Brooks Lodge lottery
• A higher budget is okay: Katmai requires small plane flights and expensive lodging on top of everything else in the itinerary
• You’re visiting in July, which is the best month for bear activity at Brooks Falls
• You want to experience three very different sides of Alaska: the taiga and tundra of Denali, the bear country of Katmai, and the glaciers and fjords of the Kenai coast

A Note on Denali Park Road: Denali Park Road is currently closed beyond mile 43 due to a landslide, with a bridge construction project underway. The road is expected to fully reopen in 2027. In our opinion, it is worth waiting one year, to get the full Denali experience, because the best parts of the park lie beyond mile 43. That said, you can still visit Denali now and have a good trip; we cover what’s accessible in our guide to visiting Denali while the road is closed. If you’d prefer to skip Denali altogether for now, Itinerary #2 is built for exactly that.

Alaska Itinerary #1: The Classic – Kenai Fjords, Denali & Anchorage

This is the itinerary we recommend for first-time visitors to Alaska.

In 10 days, you visit Kenai Fjords and Denali, two of Alaska’s most iconic national parks, with Anchorage as your bookend city. The entire trip flies in and out of Anchorage, requires only a standard rental car, and involves no ferry crossings or small plane flights. It’s the most logistically straightforward of the three itineraries, which makes it the right starting point for most people planning their first Alaska trip.

On this itinerary, you have three days in Denali National Park, which might sound like a lot, but there is a statistic that only 30% of people get to see Denali, because it is frequently hidden behind the clouds. With several days here, you have a good chance to see this mighty mountain.

Stony Hill Overlook (mile 62 on Denali Park Road)

Day 1: Arrive in Anchorage

If your flight arrives in the afternoon or evening, have dinner and get a good night’s sleep. If you arrive in the morning, you have the option to do something in the afternoon.

Here are few things to do:

• Visit Eklutna Lake, where you can go hiking or kayaking
• The Reindeer Farm (feed reindeer, kiss a moose, pet an alpaca, and more)
• Tour the Musk Ox Farm

Eklutna Lake

For dinner, we recommend the Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria. They don’t take reservations and there is always a long line waiting for a table, but this was our favorite dinner spot in Anchorage. We also really like 49th State Brewing.

As far as where to stay, in Anchorage we stayed at the Hotel Captain Cook, Hyatt Place, the Residence Inn by Marriott, the Staybridge Suites Anchorage over our multiple trips to Alaska. These are centrally located in town, and it is either a short drive or a longer walk to shops and restaurants.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: If you plan to go hiking while in Kenai Fjords or Denali, pick up some bear spray at the REI in Anchorage.

Day 2: Scenic Drive to Seward

From Anchorage, it takes just over two hours to drive to Seward. However, you have the option to stop at a lot of different places on the drive, turning this into a full day experience.

Take in the view as you drive along Turnagain Arm, look for whales at Beluga Point, hike to the Virgin Creek waterfalls, ride the Alyeska Aerial Tram for scenic views, and visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. You also have the option to visit Whittier along the drive.

View from the Alyeska Aerial Tram

For full details on how to do this, read our Guide to Seward Highway ↓

Seward Highway

Anchorage to Seward: Best Things to Do on the Seward Highway

Best stops along the Seward Highway and how to plan your time.

In Seward, get checked into your hotel and have dinner. We stayed at the Seward Windsong Lodge. 

Days 3 & 4: Kenai Fjords National Park

Kenai Fjords National Park is where you will find the Harding Icefield, its outflow glaciers, and fjords. It is a beautiful park that can be visited on foot, on a cruise, and even by helicopter.

On the Harding Icefield Trail in Kenai Fjords National Park

With two days here, I recommend spending one day on land and one day on the water.

On land, you can hike the trails at the base of the Exit Glacier, hike the Harding Icefield Trail, or go glacier hiking or ice climbing with a guide. We went ice climbing with Exit Glacier Guides. 

On water, there are a lot of cruises to choose from. With Kenai Fjords Tours, we took the Northwestern Fjord Cruise, which is a full day cruise to one of the most remote fjords in Kenai Fjords National Park.

With Liquid Adventures, we took the Aialik Glacier Wildlife Cruise and Kayaking Tour. Kayaking in front of the Aialik Glacier and watch it calving was awesome!

For a full list of things to do, read our guide 9 Amazing Things to Do in Kenai Fjords National Park.

Kenai Fjords Guides

9 Amazing Things to Do in Kenai Fjords National Park

Pinterest Facebook Flipboard Hike to one of the largest icefields in North America, spot humpback whales and orcas on a wildlife cruise, kayak in front of glaciers, go ice climbing or glacier hiking, and soar over the fjords in a helicopter…these are all things to do in Kenai Fjords National Park. This is one of […]

Northwestern Fjord Cruise in Kenai Fjords: Photos, Map & Is It Worth It?

The Northwestern Fjord Cruise is one of the best ways to experience Kenai Fjords National Park. You will venture further into Kenai Fjords National Park than any other cruise. By doing so you will maximize your chances of seeing a variety of marine and other wildlife, witness the allure and power of glaciers, and observe […]

Harding Icefield Trail: The Ultimate Hiking Guide

Hiking the Harding Icefield Trail in Kenai Fjords National Park is a challenging, rewarding, and unique experience all rolled into one. This memorable hike takes you past the Exit Glacier and ends with sweeping views across the Harding Icefield, the largest icefield that is located entirely in the United States. In this guide, we provide […]

Kayaking in front of Aialik Glacier

PRO TRAVEL TIP: Kenai Fjords Tours is part of the Alaska Collection. This company offers lodging in several national parks as well as tours, such as the fjord cruises in Kenai Fjords National Park. When we did this, we booked our lodging in Denali (Denali Cabins and Denali Backcountry Lodge) and Seward (the Windsong Lodge) with them as well as the Northwestern Fjord Cruise. By bundling together our lodging and the cruise, we were able to get a discount.

Day 5: Drive to Anchorage

From Seward, it takes just over 2 hours to drive to Anchorage. Spend the afternoon in and around Anchorage. Take you pick from the list above (from day #1), either visiting Eklutna Lake, the Reindeer Farm, or the Musk Ox Farm. The Reed Lakes Trail also came highly recommended to us from prior visitors to Alaska.

Day 6: Drive to Denali

Today you will drive north to Denali. Time your drive to be in Talkeetna for lunch. This very small town has several great restaurants. The spinach bread at Talkeetna Spinach Bread is awesome, and one of our favorite meals in Alaska. Plus, it’s super cheap.

This afternoon, you have the option to take a flightseeing tour of Denali. K2 Aviation is in Talkeetna and runs a variety of different flightseeing tours.

Flightseeing in Denali National Park

We did this and loved it, even though we had to do a modified tour. Originally, we booked a flight with a glacier landing. Conditions in the mountains weren’t clear enough for a landing, so instead, we took a standard flightseeing tour over the Denali range. It was still a great experience, but the glacier landing tour really looks spectacular.

If you plan to do a flightseeing tour, book your tickets in advance, because they do sell out. Learn more here ↓

Denali Flightseeing

Denali Flightseeing Tour: Is It Worth It? (+ Which Tour to Choose)

What to expect on a flightseeing tour of Denali and how to pick the best one.

From Talkeetna, continue the drive north towards Denali. On the drive, there are two great viewpoints where you can get your first view of Denali, as long as the clouds are cooperating. These are at Denali Viewpoint South and Denali Viewpoint North (we all thought the South Viewpoint was better than the North Viewpoint).

Denali Viewpoint South

Once you get to Denali, check into your hotel. We stayed at the Denali Cabins but the Denali Tri-Valley Cabins, the Primrose Bed and Breakfast, and the Denali Park Hotel are other options.

Days 7, 8 & 9: Denali National Park

With three days in Denali, there are several things to choose from. Go hiking in the front country (Horseshoe Lake, Mount Healy, the Triple Lakes Trail, and the Savage Alpine Trail are all great options) and ride the park shuttle on Denali Road to mile 42 of Denali Park Road. There are two shuttle options: the Tundra Wilderness Tour and the Natural History Tour.

For more information about things to do and how to plan your time, read our article 16 Best Things to Do in Denali National Park.

Horseshoe Lake

Hiking in Eielson, Denali

See all of our articles on Denali National Park

Day 10: Fly Home

You can fly home from Anchorage or Fairbanks. If your flight is in the morning, drive to the airport the evening of day 9. Otherwise, you can get up early and drive to the airport today, just give yourself plenty of time, so you do not miss your flight.

Alaska Itinerary #2: The Road Less Traveled —Wrangell-St. Elias, Kenai Fjords & Valdez

This is the itinerary for travelers who want to get off the well-worn Alaska path and who are willing to work a little harder to do it. Wrangell-St. Elias is one of the most underrated national parks in the entire country. It’s enormous (six times the size of Yellowstone), filled with more mountains and glaciers than you can take in, and sees a fraction of the crowds that Denali does. We went on our first Alaska trip and it was one of the most spectacular places we’ve ever visited.

This itinerary also skips Denali entirely, which makes it the best option for anyone who wants to wait until the park road reopens before making that visit. In the meantime, you’re not missing out, you’re trading Denali for something most Alaska visitors never see.

A note on logistics: this itinerary is more complex than The Classic. You’ll need a 4WD vehicle for McCarthy Road, and the trip includes a ferry crossing through Prince William Sound. Neither is difficult, but both require advance planning. Our How to Get Around section covers the details.

This map shows the driving route for this itinerary. You will also take a ferry from Valdez to Whittier.

Day 1: Arrive in Anchorage

Arrive in Anchorage and get settled into your hotel. For ideas on what to do, where to eat, and where to stay, take a look at Day 1 of our classic Alaska itinerary.

Day 2: Drive to Wrangell-St. Elias

What an awesome introduction to Alaska!

This is how we spent our first full day in Alaska, and it was one of the best one-day road trips we have done. Once you get out beyond Anchorage, it looks like you are driving through a national park. But nope, this is just beautiful Alaska (and just wait until you get to Wrangell-St. Elias!).

There is a lot to do along this drive. Visit Eklutna Lake, feed a reindeer at the Reindeer Farm, take a tour of the Matanuska Glacier, and enjoy the views of the Wrangell Mountains.

Kara feeding a reindeer at the Reindeer Farm, located just outside of Anchorage

Matanuska Glacier

Views of the Wrangell Mountains

For a full list of things to do along this drive, read our guide on how to drive from Anchorage to Valdez. You will do most of this drive today, and later in this itinerary, finish the drive to Valdez after visiting Wrangell-St. Elias.

Anchorage to Valdez

Driving from Anchorage to Valdez: Best Things to Do, Map, & Photos

Best things to see and do on the drive from Anchorage to Valdez.

McCarthy and Kennicott are two tiny towns that sit side by side in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

You can get to McCarthy by car or by airplane. We drove to McCarthy. To do this, you need to rent a 4×4 vehicle and get permission from your rental car company to drive McCarthy Road. It’s a beautiful drive and the road conditions have improved a lot in recent years.

If you don’t want to rent a 4×4 or don’t feel comfortable driving McCarthy Road, you can either fly into McCarthy from Chitina or take a shuttle from Chitina.

Stay in either McCarthy or Kennicott for 3 nights. We stayed at the Kennicott Glacier Lodge.

Kennicott Glacier Lodge

McCarthy, Alaska

Days 3 & 4: Wrangell – St. Elias National Park

You have two full days in Wrangell – St. Elias National Park.

If it fits in your budget, consider taking a flightseeing tour. This national park is huge and filled with more mountain peaks than you can count. The best way to see it is from the sky.

Mount St. Elias on a flightseeing tour of Wrangell – St. Elias National Park

Flightseeing in Wrangell St. Elias National Park

You can take a short flight over the heart of the park or a longer flight that goes out towards the coast and flies over the Bagley Icefield, one of the largest icefields in the world. Learn more in our Guide to Flightseeing Tours of Wrangell – St. Elias.

Another great thing to do here is to go hiking on the Root Glacier. You can also add on ice climbing or a visit to an ice cave.

Root Glacier

Day 5: Drive to Valdez

Drive, fly, or take the shuttle to Chitina. From Chitina, drive to Valdez. It takes about 2 hours to drive the Richardson Highway to Valdez, a little longer with stops.

See the Worthington Glacier, Bridal Veil and Horsetail Falls, and Old Valdez. We have more information about this drive in our guide to Driving from Anchorage to Valdez.

Once in Valdez, get settled into your hotel. If you have time this afternoon, you can visit the Valdez Museum.

Valdez, Alaska

We stayed at the Best Western Valdez Harbor Inn, which is mediocre (it’s old and dated and in need of a renovation). For dinner, I recommend The Potato, The Fat Mermaid, and Nat Shack (the Nat Shack Crunchwrap is awesome!).

Day 6: Columbia Glacier

The Columbia Glacier is one of the most active glaciers in the world. With roughly 13 million tons of ice breaking off the Columbia Glacier every day, there is a good chance that you will be able to watch a calving event take place.

There are several different ways to see the Columbia Glacier: by boat cruise, kayaking tour, and by helicopter.

We took a cruise + kayaking tour combo. It’s a great experience although we did not have the best weather.

LEARN MORE: Complete Guide to the Columbia Glacier Kayaking Tour

Columbia Glacier

Day 7: Cruise to the Kenai Peninsula

Today, cruise through the Prince William Sound to the Kenai Peninsula.

The Alaska Marine Highway is the only marine route that is designated as a National Scenic Byway and All-American Road. It spans 3,500 miles, running from the Inside Passage of Alaska and British Columbia out to the Aleutian Islands. Today’s short cruise is a tiny part of this “highway.”

PRO TRAVEL TIP: The ferry from Valdez to Whittier runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays only, departing at 7 or 8 am. Plan your Valdez night to fall on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday so you can catch the next morning’s crossing. Verify the current schedule at the Alaska Marine Highway website before booking anything else around this day.

The crossing takes approximately 6 hours and arrives in Whittier early afternoon.

Whittier, Alaska

To exit Whittier, you will drive through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. The tunnel is 2.5 miles long, is only wide enough for one way traffic, and has railroad tracks running down the middle. Since it is a one lane tunnel, motor vehicle traffic and train traffic in each direction is coordinated.

In the summer, the tunnel opens to motor vehicle traffic heading towards Whittier at the bottom of the hour and it opens to motor vehicle traffic departing Whittier at the top of the hour.

Click here for more details on operating hours, tolls for various vehicle types and trailers, size restrictions, etc. 

If the ferry schedule doesn’t work for your dates: Drive from Valdez to Seward. At 425 miles and about 7.5 hours, the travel time is nearly the same as the ferry plus the drive to Seward. We’ve done this drive in both directions and it’s genuinely beautiful.

In Seward, get checked into your hotel and have dinner. We stayed at the Seward Windsong Lodge. 

Days 8 & 9: Kenai Fjords National Park

Kenai Fjords is a spectacular park and a worthy finish to this itinerary, with glaciers, fjords, wildlife, and some of the best cruises in Alaska. With two days here, plan one day on land and one day on the water.

Spend two full days in Kenai Fjords National Park. For information on what to do, read days 3 & 4 of the classic itinerary.

Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park

Ice climbing on the Exit Glacier

Day 10: Fly Home

Today, fly home, or continue to your next destination. If you have an early morning flight, return to Anchorage the night of day 9. Otherwise, you can drive to Anchorage in the morning and take an afternoon or evening flight.

Pin it for later!

Save this post on Pinterest for when you’re ready to go.

Save to Pinterest Save

Alaska Itinerary #3: The Bear Watcher — Denali, Katmai & Kenai Fjords

This is the itinerary built around one experience: watching brown bears catch salmon at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park. Katmai is our favorite national park in Alaska and one of our favorites in the entire country. We’ve been twice: once on our first family trip, and again when Tim and I returned specifically to see the bears at Brooks Falls a second time. When a place pulls you back like that, it earns its own itinerary.

Getting here takes planning. A Brooks Lodge reservation requires entering the lottery 18 months in advance, and the trip is the most expensive of the three itineraries by a meaningful margin. But if wildlife is the reason you’re going to Alaska, nothing else we’ve experienced in the national parks compares to standing at the Brooks Falls platform watching bears pull salmon out of the air.

This itinerary also runs point-to-point, starting in Fairbanks and ending in Anchorage, and includes short flying days to and from Katmai.

This map shows the driving routes in Alaska. In addition to the road trip, you will also fly to and from King Salmon/Brooks Camp when you visit Katmai National Park.

Day 1: Arrive in Fairbanks

If your flight arrives in the afternoon or evening, simply have dinner and get a good night’s sleep. If you arrive in the morning, spend time exploring Fairbanks or drive out to see North Pole, Alaska.

Day 2: Drive to Denali, Afternoon in Denali

On this Alaska itinerary, you have very limited time in Denali. Right now, while Denali Park Road is closed beyond mile 43, the Denali to-do list is a lot shorter, so having limited time isn’t a big deal.

To get to Denali, it takes just over 2 hours. If you leave early, you will have most of the day to explore the front section of the park. And since you will be doing this during the summer, the days are very long.

You can do several short hikes around the Visitor Center, visit the sled dog kennels, and visit the Savage River area. If skies are clear and you like hiking, you will get your best view of Denali from the Savage Alpine Trail.

Savage Alpine Trail

In the afternoon or evening, check into your hotel. We stayed at the Denali Cabins but the Denali Tri-Valley Cabins and the Denali Park Hotel get good reviews.

Day 3: Morning in Denali, Drive to Anchorage

You have two options on how to spend your time in Denali today. You can either go hiking in the front of the park, take one of the Denali Park shuttle tours, or check out of your hotel early, drive to Talkeetna and take a midday flightseeing flight of Denali National Park.

In the afternoon, drive to Anchorage, check into your hotel, and have dinner.

Day 4: Fly to Katmai National Park

Today, fly to Katmai National Park. To get to Katmai from Anchorage, you will first fly to King Salmon and then you will take a float plane to Brooks Lodge. Brooks Lodge can set up your flights for you when you make your Brooks Lodge reservation.

Depending on how your flights work out, this takes about 4 to 5 hours of the day. Ideally, schedule a morning flight, so you have all afternoon to watch the bears from the Brooks Falls viewing platforms.

Brooks Falls

Day 5: Katmai National Park

You have two choices today: spend your time at the viewing platforms or take the day tour to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.

The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is the site of one of the world’s largest volcanic eruptions. It is located 23 miles from Brooks Lodge. On a full day trip, you will drive out to the Valley and spend several hours hiking and exploring the area.

Giant wall of ash in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.

Worth it? We thought so, for two reasons.

For one thing, how often do you get to see a landscape that was dramatically altered by one of the world’s largest volcanic eruptions?

Plus, this tour occurs midday, when the Brooks Falls viewing platforms are packed with day trippers. Once we arrived back at Brooks Camp (at 4 pm), the day trippers left, and we still had the afternoon and evening to watch the bears.

Ten Thousand Smokes

The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes Tour in Katmai National Park

What to expect on the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes day trip and is it worth it?

Day 6: Fly to Anchorage

Today, fly back to Anchorage. If you book an afternoon flight, you will have a good chunk of the day to visit the viewing platforms, so you’ll make the most of the money that you spent to visit Katmai National Park.

Alternatively, if you want more time on the Kenai Peninsula, you can schedule an early morning flight to Anchorage and, in the afternoon, drive from Anchorage to Seward. And here’s one more option: you can also fly from Brooks Camp to Homer, which is on the Kenai Peninsula. Spend the afternoon and evening in Homer and tomorrow drive to Seward.

Day 7: Scenic Drive to Seward

From Anchorage, it takes just over two hours to drive to Seward. However, you have the option to stop at a lot of different places on the drive, turning this into a full day experience.

Take in the view as you drive along Turnagain Arm, look for whales at Beluga Point, hike to the Virgin Creek waterfalls, ride the Alyeska Aerial Tram for scenic views, and visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. You also have the option to visit Whittier along the drive.

For full details on how to do this, read our guide to Seward Highway.

In Seward, get checked into your hotel and have dinner. We stayed at the Seward Windsong Lodge. 

Seward, Alaska | 10 Day Alaska Itinerary

Days 8 & 9: Kenai Fjords National Park

After the intensity of Katmai, Kenai Fjords is a beautiful way to finish the trip. With two days here, spend one on land and one on the water.

For the full breakdown of what to do, including our cruise and ice climbing recommendations, see Days 3 & 4 of The Classic itinerary above, where we cover Kenai Fjords in detail.

Cruising Kenai Fjords National Park

In Kenai Fjords, you can see lots of wildlife from the cruises, like these orcas. 

Scenery on the Northwestern Fjord Cruise

PRO TRAVEL TIP: Kenai Fjords Tours is part of the Alaska Collection. This company offers lodging in several national parks as well as tours, such as the fjord cruises in Kenai Fjords National Park. When we did this, we booked our lodging in Denali (Denali Cabins and Denali Backcountry Lodge) and Seward (the Windsong Lodge) with them as well as the Northwestern Fjord Cruise. By bundling together our lodging and the cruise, we were able to get a discount.

Day 10: Fly home

From Seward, it takes just over 2 hours to drive to Anchorage. If you have an early flight today, return to Anchorage the evening of day 9. But if your flight is late in the day, you can drive to Anchorage in the morning and fly home in the evening.

Adding More Time to this Alaska Itinerary

If you have more than 10 days in Alaska, here are some things you can do with the extra time.

Add on More Time to the National Parks

In these national parks, rainy days can impact flightseeing trips, hiking, and cruises. It rains frequently along the coast in Alaska during the summer months, so having an extra day in the parks makes it more likely that you will have clear skies for part of your visit. This also gives you an extra day if you need to reschedule a flightseeing tour.

Day Trip to Katmai National Park or Lake Clark National Park

Both Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks can be visited on a day trip from Anchorage or Homer. These start at $1000 per person and need to be booked in advance.

Lake Clark National Park

Visit Homer, Alaska

Homer is a small town that proudly proclaims to be the halibut fishing capital of the world. It sits on the southern end of the Kenai Peninsula and it is a very pretty spot to visit. To do so, add on one day to the above itineraries, visiting Homer before or after Seward.

While in Homer, go for a walk on the beach, visit the shops and restaurants on the Homer Spit, take the ferry to Seldovia, and explore Kachemak Bay State Park.

The beach in Homer, Alaska

Shops and restaurants on the Homer Spit.

How to Get Around Alaska

All three itineraries in this guide are road trips, so a rental car is essential for each one. What kind of car you need depends on which itinerary you’re doing.

For Itineraries #1 and #3, a standard vehicle is fine. The driving is on paved roads between Anchorage, Seward, Talkeetna, Denali, and Fairbanks, and nothing requires off-road capability.

For Itinerary #2, you need a 4WD vehicle to drive McCarthy Road into Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The road has improved significantly in recent years, but it’s still a gravel road and rental companies require 4WD. Importantly, you’ll also need explicit permission from your rental company to drive McCarthy Road. Not all companies allow it, so ask before you book. If you’d rather not drive it, you can fly into McCarthy from Chitina or take a shuttle from Chitina, though both options add cost.

Book your rental car as early as possible. Summer is peak season in Alaska and rental inventory gets tight, especially for 4WD vehicles. Prices also rise significantly the closer you get to your travel dates.

Which airport to fly into depends on your itinerary. For Itineraries #1 and #2, fly into and out of Anchorage. For Itinerary #3, fly into Fairbanks and out of Anchorage; the itinerary runs point-to-point, so this is the most logical routing.

Itinerary #2 includes a ferry crossing on the Alaska Marine Highway, from Valdez to Whittier. The ferry runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, departing at 7 or 8 am. Check the Alaska Marine Highway website for your specific travel dates, as departure times vary. This matters when you’re planning: your Valdez night needs to fall on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday so you can catch the next morning’s ferry. For two people and one vehicle, budget roughly $300; check current pricing before your trip as rates vary by vehicle type and season. The crossing takes about 6 hours through Prince William Sound, which is designated as a National Scenic Byway, and everyone we’ve spoken to who has done it has raved about the experience.

If the ferry schedule doesn’t align with your dates, driving from Valdez to Seward is a legitimate alternative. This drive is 425 miles and about 7.5 hours, nearly the same travel time as the ferry. We’ve driven this route in both directions and it’s a gorgeous drive. Repeating it is not a waste of a day.

Itinerary #3 involves small plane flights to and from Katmai. To reach Brooks Lodge, you’ll fly from Anchorage to King Salmon and then take a float plane to Brooks Camp. Brooks Lodge can help arrange these flights when you make your lodging reservation. Alternatively, you can fly from Homer directly to Brooks Camp, which is a good option if you want to add Homer to the end of your trip. Budget four to five hours total for travel on the day you fly in.

Denali in July (photo taken in from the Thorofare Ridge Trail, Eielson, Denali)

Best Time to Visit Alaska

Both of our Alaska trips were in July, and we’d go back in July again without hesitation. The midnight sun means you have daylight well into the evening. On our first trip, we were still outside at 11 pm with full light, which takes some getting used to but is genuinely magical. July is also peak season for bear activity at Brooks Falls in Katmai, when the salmon are running and the bears are out in full force. It was the single best wildlife experience we’ve had in any US national park.

That said, Alaska’s coast has a way of humbling you with rain. Seward and the Kenai Peninsula get a lot of precipitation in summer, and we had overcast days that affected our plans more than once. Denali has its own unpredictability. Only about 30% of visitors actually see the mountain, because it spends much of the summer hidden behind clouds. Having multiple days in Denali, as we do in the itineraries here, gives you the best odds of catching a clear moment.

The practical window for all three of these itineraries is May through September. Outside of that, most national park facilities, tours, and lodges are closed, and many of the roads and trails you’d want to access are buried in snow.

Average Trip Costs for Alaska

Alaska is one of the more expensive destinations in the United States, and the gap between a modest trip and an expensive one is wider here than almost anywhere else. Hotels and food are comparable to other US cities, but the activities, such as flightseeing tours, glacier cruises, and remote park access, are where costs climb quickly. Going in with realistic expectations will save you from sticker shock when you start booking.

Rental Car: Budget $75 to $200 per day depending on vehicle type, season, and how far in advance you book. Standard vehicles fall on the lower end; 4WD vehicles for Itinerary #2 run higher.

Hotels: For a mid-range hotel with double occupancy, expect to pay $150 to $300 per night. Lodging near the national parks (Denali, Seward, McCarthy/Kennicott) tends to run higher than Anchorage. If you’re doing Itinerary #3 and staying at Brooks Lodge in Katmai, budget roughly $1,125 per night for the room, which accommodates up to four people. Meals at the Brooks Lodge dining room are an additional cost on top of that.

Food: For breakfast and lunch, we typically ate at the hotel or put together meals from a grocery store, which kept costs reasonable. For dinner, expect to pay $10 to $20 per plate at a mid-range restaurant. Anchorage has the most options; towns like Seward, Talkeetna, and McCarthy have fewer choices but some excellent spots.

Activities: This is where Alaska trips get expensive, and it’s worth budgeting for the experiences that matter most to you rather than trying to do everything.

• Flightseeing tours (Denali or Wrangell-St. Elias): $300 to $500+ per person, depending on tour length and whether a glacier landing is included. Highly recommended for the extraordinary aerial views of these parks.
• Kenai Fjords cruises: $150 to $250 per person for a half-day cruise; more for a full-day or extended fjord cruise like the Northwestern Fjord tour.
• Glacier hiking or ice climbing (Exit Glacier, Kenai Fjords): $150 to $300 per person with a guide.
• Columbia Glacier tour (Valdez, Itinerary #2): $100 to $200 per person depending on tour type.
• Day trip to Katmai: $1,000+ per person from Anchorage or Homer. This includes flights and a full day at Brooks Camp, but not lodging.
• Alaska Marine Highway ferry (Valdez to Whittier, Itinerary #2): Approximately $300 for two people and one vehicle. Check current pricing on the Alaska Marine Highway website before your trip.

National Park Entrance Fees: Modest compared to everything else. Budget around $15 per person for parks that charge an entrance fee. The America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) is worth considering if you’re visiting multiple national parks.

Frequently Asked Questions About Planning a 10-Day Alaska Trip

Is 10 days enough time for Alaska?

Ten days is enough for a genuinely excellent Alaska trip focused on two or three national parks. The challenge is that Alaska is enormous, and getting between its most spectacular destinations takes real time. The itineraries in this guide are designed to make the most of 10 days, but if you can add two or three more, put them toward extra time in the parks rather than adding new destinations. More days also give you a buffer for weather, which can disrupt flightseeing tours and coastal cruises. Most people who visit Alaska on a 10-day trip leave already planning their return.

What is the best Alaska itinerary for first-time visitors?

For most first-time visitors, Itinerary #1, The Classic, is the right starting point. It covers Kenai Fjords and Denali, two of Alaska’s most iconic national parks, requires only a standard rental car, and keeps logistics manageable with a straightforward driving route from Anchorage. If you’re comfortable with more complex planning and a higher budget, Itinerary #3 (The Bear Watcher) is the most spectacular option, but it requires securing a Brooks Lodge reservation at Katmai up to 18 months in advance, so it needs to be planned well ahead.

Is Denali worth visiting while the park road is closed?

Honestly, it depends on your expectations going in. With Denali Park Road closed beyond mile 43, you’re missing what we consider the best of the park: the remote wilderness, Eielson Visitor Center, and sweeping views from places like Stony Hill Overlook at mile 62. What remains accessible, hiking the front country trails, the Savage Alpine Trail, shuttle tours to mile 42, and flightseeing over the range, is genuinely worthwhile, but it’s a scaled-back experience compared to what Denali offers with the road open. If you have flexibility, we’d recommend waiting until 2027 or later when the road is expected to reopen. If you’re going regardless, go in with clear expectations and plan to return when the full road opens.

How do I get a reservation at Brooks Lodge in Katmai National Park?

Brooks Lodge reservations are awarded by lottery, held each December for the summer season 18 months later, so the December 2026 lottery awards spots for summer 2028. Lottery winners are notified by early February. If you don’t win a spot, keep checking for cancellations; that’s how we secured our first reservation, calling in the spring and finding an opening for July. Once you have a Brooks Lodge date confirmed, build the rest of your Alaska itinerary around it. If a Brooks Lodge reservation isn’t possible, day trips to Katmai from Anchorage or Homer are available starting at around $1,000 per person, though you’ll have limited time on the bear viewing platforms compared to an overnight stay.

Ready to Start Planning Your Alaska Trip?

If one of these three itineraries feels like the right fit, the next step is diving into the details for each destination and our Alaska Travel Guide is the best place to start. It’s our central hub for everything Alaska, with links to all of our national park guides, destination guides, and planning resources in one place.

Here’s where to go based on which itinerary you chose:

For Itinerary #1 (The Classic: Kenai Fjords, Denali & Anchorage): Start with our guides to things to do in Kenai Fjords National Park and things to do in Denali National Park. If you’re considering a flightseeing tour, and we recommend you do, read our guide to Denali flightseeing before you book.

For Itinerary #2 (The Road Less Traveled: Wrangell-St. Elias, Kenai Fjords & Valdez): Our guide to the best things to do in Wrangell-St. Elias covers everything from glacier hiking to flightseeing to the Bonanza Mine trail. For the driving portion, our guide to driving from Anchorage to Valdez will help you plan what to stop for along the way.

For Itinerary #3 (The Bear Watcher: Denali, Katmai & Kenai Fjords): Our Katmai National Park travel guide covers everything you need to know about Brooks Lodge, the lottery, and how to make the most of your time at Brooks Falls. If you’re adding Lake Clark, read our guide to things to do in Lake Clark National Park to see whether a day trip or overnight stay makes more sense for your trip.

See all of our articles about Alaska

If you have any questions about planning your Alaska itinerary, or making modifications to these itineraries, let us know in the comment section below. We read and answer every one.

Explore More of Alaska

If you are on a mission to explore all of the US National Parks, check out our US National Parks guide.

US National Park Itineraries & Road Trip Ideas

National Park Itineraries The national parks are best experienced as a road trip and with 56 parks visited between us, we’ve done a lot of them. Whether you’re dreaming of a two-week American Southwest loop, a classic Yellowstone and Grand Teton combo, or a deep dive into Utah’s Mighty 5, we’ve put together detailed itineraries […]

Denali Park Road: Things to Do from Mile 0 to 92 & Is It Worth It?

Denali Park Road is the only road into Denali National Park, 92 miles of gravel stretching from the park entrance west through Polychrome Pass, past Eielson Visitor Center, and all the way to Kantishna. Along the way, you’ll find some of the best wildlife viewing, hiking, and mountain views in any national park in the […]

5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Eielson Visitor Center on Denali Park Road

Eielson, which is located at mile 66 on Denali Park Road, is one of the most spectacular places to visit in Denali National Park & Preserve and our single favorite experience in the park. On a clear day, the views of Denali are unbeatable. The drive to get here is gorgeous, there are several short […]

Katmai National Park Travel Guide

Katmai National Park Katmai National Park is one of the best national parks in the United States for wildlife viewing. Every summer, brown bears head to the rivers to feed on salmon. Brooks Falls is one of the best spots to watch as brown bear catch and feed on these salmon. What you might not […]

Driving from Anchorage to Valdez: Best Things to Do, Map, & Photos

The drive from Anchorage to Valdez is gorgeous and it is packed with lots of great things to do. Along the drive, you can visit historical sites, hike on a glacier, feed a reindeer, learn about Musk Ox, see Dall sheep, photograph waterfalls, and stop at numerous viewpoints. This was our introduction to Alaska. And […]

Anchorage to Seward: Best Things to Do on the Seward Highway

The drive from Anchorage to Seward on Seward Highway is beautiful, an attraction in itself. Along the way you can gaze across the Turnagain Arm, ride a cable car up into the Chugach Mountains, admire beautiful turquoise lakes with mountain reflections in them, hike to a waterfall in a picturesque setting, and so much more. […]

Top 10 Hikes in Denali National Park & Preserve

Looking for a great hike to do in Denali National Park? You have a lot to choose from. The National Park Service website lists 20 hikes in Denali National Park. These trails are scattered throughout the park and range in distance and difficulty. We hiked a majority of these trails and we have a lot […]

9 Amazing Things to Do in Kenai Fjords National Park

Hike to one of the largest icefields in North America, spot humpback whales and orcas on a wildlife cruise, kayak in front of glaciers, go ice climbing or glacier hiking, and soar over the fjords in a helicopter…these are all things to do in Kenai Fjords National Park. This is one of the few national […]

Bagley Icefield and Mount St. Elias Flightseeing Tour of Wrangell – St. Elias National Park

Wrangell – St. Elias National Park & Preserve is home to some of the most rugged, mountainous, ice-covered scenery in the United States. If you want to see mountain peaks, glaciers, and an immense ice field that stretches as far as the eye can see, consider taking a flightseeing tour from McCarthy, Alaska. Wrangell Mountain […]

Northwestern Fjord Cruise in Kenai Fjords: Photos, Map & Is It Worth It?

The Northwestern Fjord Cruise is one of the best ways to experience Kenai Fjords National Park. You will venture further into Kenai Fjords National Park than any other cruise. By doing so you will maximize your chances of seeing a variety of marine and other wildlife, witness the allure and power of glaciers, and observe […]

Lake Clark National Park Travel Guide

Lake Clark National Park Lake Clark National Park is a wild, breathtaking expanse of land, containing two active volcanoes, majestic glaciers, and rocky, jagged mountains. This pristine wilderness is home to several of Alaska’s largest lakes and teems with a diverse array of wildlife. Lake Clark National Park is one of the least visited in […]

US National Parks List: All 63 Parks, Map & Free Printable Checklist

There are 63 national parks in the United States, and we’ve visited 56 of them, from the remote wilderness of Denali to the coral reefs of the Virgin Islands. We’re a family of avid hikers who have spent over a decade exploring these parks, from multi-day backcountry trips to scenic drives with kids in tow. […]

United States Travel Guide: Places to Visit in the USA

Plan your visit to the United States. Learn about the best things to do, how to plan your time, road trip ideas, and sample itineraries.

Denali National Park & Preserve Travel Guide

Plan your visit to Denali National Park & Preserve. Learn about the best things to do, how to plan your time, where to stay, and more.

Pin it for later!

Save this post on Pinterest for when you’re ready to go.

Save to Pinterest Save