This summer, I was blessed to take a trip to Alaska with my grandma, brother, and two cousins, where we had SO much fun exploring Anchorage, Denali, and Fairbanks. There are endless activities and places to go in Alaska, so planning a trip can be very overwhelming. With this being said, here is my 1-week Alaska summer itinerary with alternate options to accommodate your vacation needs.
Common Questions
Best month to visit Alaska?
- Summer
- The best time to visit is truly dependent on what you’re looking to do while visiting. For warmer and moderate temperatures, June-August is a great time to visit.
- Fall-ish
- Let’s be real, fall in Alaska is more like winter to us living in the lower 48! September- October will provide you with moderately colder temperatures, beautiful fall colors (during a very short window), and a higher probability of seeing the Northern Lights. Just make sure to bundle up and be prepared for cooler temperatures.
- Winter
- The best time to view the Northern lights and to partake in other winter activities, such as mushing, skiing, and glacier tours.
Note: This blog post specifically focuses on Summer activities, but the itinerary can be altered with the same locations, focusing on more winter and fall related adventures.
Is 1 week in Alaska enough?
Even though Alaska is the largest state in the US, a week is enough time to get a taste for the endless adventures that Alaska can provide. I already want to go back and explore the areas I was not able to!
What is the number 1 attraction in Alaska?
Denali is probably the most well-known attraction in Alaska, but I urge you to do your research prior to visiting to know what areas pique your interest! There are 8 national parks, along with so much beautiful scenery. Take the time to decide what parts speak to you and how you want to spend your time.
Getting Started
To start your journey, I suggest flying into Anchorage as this is a great starting place and is more central to several different outdoor activities. Alternatively, you can also do the reverse of our trip and fly into Fairbanks.
How to get around in Alaska
After choosing your airport of choice, you will need to determine how to travel between the various Alaska travel destinations. We utilized the Alaska Railroad for our major mode of transportation, then either utilized shuttle services from our hotel, excursions, or Ubered to various destinations.
Car
For more flexibility, I recommend renting a car. This will save you some money and will allow you to adjust your itinerary if you decide to check a cool site a local told you about, or want to be more independent with transportation. Rental car suggestions include:
Train
The Alaska Railroad is a great way to see the surrounding scenery and is a very straightforward way to get to the main tourist attractions across the state. We took the train from Anchorage to Denali and then Denali to Fairbanks, but you can also take the train as far south as Seward to get southern views.
Plane
Did you know that only 18% of Alaska is accessible by road? This makes smaller bush planes a major mode of transportation, and actually, some high schoolers learn to fly planes before a car! There are several excursions where air adventures are included.
1-week Itinerary in Alaska Summer
Day 1: Anchorage
Anchorage is a beautiful city that also serves as a hub for several different adventure tours and is near so many glaciers, coastal towns, and mountain ranges.
Where to Stay in Anchorge
Anchorage Activities
Depending on when you fly into Anchorage, you may want a chill activity to ease into your Alaska vacation. We flew all the way from North Carolina, so we wanted to get out and stretch our legs, but also make sure we were rested for our early glacier hike the next day. Here are some chill activities in Anchorage I recommend:
- Anchorage Trolley Tour
- The Anchorage Museum
- Shopping along 4th Street
Where to Eat in Anchorage
Day 2: Hike Or Outdoor Adventure near Anchorage
Glacier Hike
A unique addition to your 1-week Alaska summer itinerary is to go on a glacier hike. I highly suggest a guided hike option to learn more about the formation and different elements of the large pieces of ice. This was my first time hiking on a glacier, and it was so cool!
- We opted for the Matanuska Glacier guided hike and had an amazing time! The tour conveniently picked us up from our hotel and then provided us with a guided hike of the glacier. While hiking, I learned so much about the formation and the unique components of the glacier.
Helicopter and Glacier Paddle Boarding
- Another glacier experience I thought would be SO cool, but a little bit pricier and more adventurous, would be to ride a helicopter and paddleboard through the glaciers! Yes, you heard me right – the tour will take you to a more secluded glacier, only accessible by helicopter, and outfit you with a drysuit!
Day 3: Take the Scenic Train to Denali
We opted to travel around Alaska by train. The train ride was 10 hours and took you through various mountain ranges such as the Chugach Mountains and the Alaska Range. Most people travel around Alaska by cruise, but while researching Alaska destinations, we decided to explore the interior sites within the state.
The train travels from Seward to Fairbanks with stops in various towns along the way. Listed below is the range of train route options:
- Coastal Classic Train
- Denali Star Train
- Glacier Discovery Train
Day 4: Denali National Park
Denali National Park is the number one tourist attraction in Alaska and is definitely worth adding to your 1-week Alaska summer itinerary!
Where to Stay Near Denali National Park
- Grande Denali Lodge
- Denali Princess
- Denali Campgrounds
- There are several different campgrounds within Denali Nat’l Park. Check their website for more information about amenities and location.
Denali National Park Activities
Denali Wildlife Tour
We started our first full day in Denali by taking the Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour. We were shocked to learn that our time slot was auto-generated at 4:30 am. Despite the early wake-up call, I was glad we were able to get an early start and get a BEAUTIFUL sunrise.
This was a great option for us since we were traveling with my grandma and did not require a lot of strenuous activity. While on the tour, we saw a few moose, a fox, birds, dall sheep, and even two grizzly bears! Our tour guide was great at spotting wildlife and very informative about the nature of Denali.
Visit the Denali Sled Dogs
One way that Denali preserves the traditions of the past is by continuing to use sled dogs to patrol the park’s boundaries. During the summer months, you can visit the sled dog kennel and say hello to the dogs. You may also get lucky like we did and meet one of the newest sled puppies!
If you want to learn more about the sled dogs, there are live demonstrations daily. Visit Denali’s park site to get the times and bus schedule to watch the demonstration and meet the sweet dogs.
Denali Dining
We went to Prospectors Pizza, and it was absolutely delicious! Other dining options in Denali include:
Day 5: Denali to Fairbanks
Denali to Fairbanks Train
The train ride to Fairbanks from Denali is only 4 hours, but it is still packed with beautiful mountain views!
Because our train left at 4:00 pm, we still had some time to spend in Denali and decided to visit the small downtown to get some souvenirs.
More Denali Activities
Hiking
Hiking in Denali is a great way to immerse yourself in nature, get a great workout, and see some amazing views of the mountain ranges. Denali National Park is unique because it has so many different mountain ranges and ecosystems. Listed below are a few hikes at various distances I recommend checking out:
- Mount Healy Overlook Trail (4.9 miles)
- Horseshoe Lake Trail (2.1 miles)
- Savage River Loop (2.1 miles)
- Savage Alpine Trail (4.9 miles)
Rafting
Another popular summer activity in Denali National Park is to raft down the Nenana River. This is somewhat of a unique rafting experience since you will need to wear a drysuit due to the water being so cold!
Biking
Bike highway multi-use trail (1.7 miles paved along main road)
- Also able to bike along the Denali park road up to mile 42
Day 6: Fairbanks
Where to Stay in Fairbanks
- Pikes Waterfront Lodge
- This is where we stayed, and we thought it was a great hotel! Pikes Waterfront offers a convenient shuttle and is very close to the Fairbanks Airport.
- Princess Riverside Lodge
- Wilding Fairbanks
- This is a super cool option if you want to view the Northern Lights from the comfort of your accommodation with panoramic views.
Fairbanks Activities
With only one day in Fairbanks, we were a little crunched for time on activities. While in the area, we opted to take a small plane to the Arctic Circle, where we landed in Coldfoot and learned about the Arctic lifestyle and how people learn to adapt and survive during the brutal winters.
Another great activity would be to watch the Aurora Borealis, which is visible starting at the end of August and into the winter months.
Day 7: Fairbanks and fly out
Because we were taking a redeye back to North Carolina, we were able to spend some time walking around downtown Fairbanks. Listed below are a few places I recommend visiting.
Other Fairbanks Activities
- Souvenir shopping along 2nd Street
- Fairbanks Ice Museum
- University of Alaska Museum of the North
- Beer and Puppies at Trail Breaker Kennel
Thank You
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