Alaska trip itineraries: 3 unforgettable journeys
The rules of the Lower 48 have never applied to Alaska. Mountains are taller. Waters are bluer. National parks are grander, summer days are longer, and wildlife is wilder. When you’re here, even time works differently: Within an expansive summer afternoon, you’ll fit in what feels like months’ worth of memories and experiences, while later in the season the northern lights will make you wish the nights would never end.
But no matter how much time you have on your hands — and no matter how many times you’ve been — any trip will be the “trip of a lifetime” in Alaska. Whether you’ve got little more than a long weekend or a lot more than a week, here’s how you can make it happen now.
Note: Please contact all locations prior to visiting to confirm hours of operation and safety guidelines.
4–5 days:
Inside Passage Alaska Itinerary
The Southeast region of the 49th State, dominated by the Inside Passage, strings together more than 1,000 islands as well as countless fjords, coves, and bays along the Pacific. With no roads connecting its hub city, Juneau, to the rest of the state — yes, that’s how rugged the region is — this glacially marked natural masterpiece comes purpose-built for unforgettable adventure.
You may be thinking it’s impossible to squeeze a trip to Alaska into what basically amounts to a long weekend. But by focusing on a single region and taking advantage of shorter-than-you’d-expect flights to Juneau from many locations in the Western US and beyond, you absolutely can fit your much-anticipated Alaska trip into 4-5 days. Here’s how!
With Anchorage as its hub, Southcentral Alaska marries two very different worlds: the accessible and the backcountry. The region comes with a network of roads and amenities — never a given in a state like Alaska — that can set you up for journeys into some of the most dramatic landscapes imaginable.
The Ted Stevens Anchorage Airport makes this a convenient place to start your Alaska trip. There are direct flights from many major cities, including San Francisco (4.5 hours), Denver (5 hours), Los Angeles (5.5 hours), Chicago (6.5 hours), and New York City (7.5 hours). Once you arrive, you’ll be ready to leap immediately into the Alaska itinerary of your dreams. Here’s what that could look like.
The Arctic is one of Alaska’s most fascinatingly diverse regions: The topography varies from coastal plains to mountain ranges; Alaska Native people maintain a traditional subsistence lifestyle that stretches back millennia; gold-rush days still feel tangible; and the northern lights paint the Arctic nights.
A journey into the Arctic begins in Fairbanks, whose international airport offers many nonstop flights from the Lower 48. If you’re coming to Fairbanks as part of a longer stint in the state, the city is a six-hour drive (or one-hour flight) due north of Anchorage; the Alaska Railroad also connects the two. Once you arrive, prepare for adventure unlike anywhere else.