10-12 Day Alaska Road Trip Itinerary
Experience the highlights of Alaska on this 10-12 day road trip itinerary, including the beautiful landscapes of Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park, Whittier, and the Matanuska Glacier.
Alaska is a bucket-list destination for many people and for good reason! Known as the Last Frontier, Alaska is rich with untouched wilderness, wildlife, and natural beauty. Being twice the size of Texas, Alaska is HUGE. With endless places to explore, planning a trip to the Last Frontier can be a bit daunting for first time visitors. But with this 10-12 day road trip itinerary, an epic adventure in Alaska is awaiting!
The easiest way to explore Alaska is by car. For this itinerary, I recommend renting a car and staying in hotels at each location. Another option is to rent a campervan from River Wild Campervans and camp!
To learn more about exploring Alaska with a campervan, read my post Exploring Alaska in a Campervan.
10-12 Day Itinerary
| Day | Activity | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Anchorage | Anchorage |
| Day 2 | Drive to Denali | Denali |
| Day 3 | Explore Denali | Denali |
| Day 4 | Explore Denali | Denali |
| Day 5 | Drive to Glacier View | Glacier View |
| Day 6 | Matanuska Glacier Trek and Drive to Whittier | Whittier |
| Day 7 | Explore Whittier | Whittier |
| Day 8 | Drive to Seward | Seward |
| Day 9 | Explore Seward and Kenai Fjords | Seward |
| Day 10 | Explore Seward and Kenai Fjords | Seward |
| Day 11 (Optional) | Explore Anchorage | Anchorage |
| Day 12 (Optional) | Explore Anchorage and Fly Home | Home |
Day 1: Anchorage
Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city and the gateway to everything that Alaska has to offer. Most flights fly into Anchorage in the evening, so stay overnight in the city and pick up your rental car or campervan the next day after getting a good night’s sleep.
Day 2: Drive to Denali
The following day, after picking up your rental, drive north to Denali National Park and Preserve for 3 nights. The drive to Denali from Anchorage is approximately 5 hours and there are numerous scenic spots along the way. I recommend breaking up the drive by stopping to explore the funky town of Talkeetna (Mile 99). Denali View South (Mile 134) and Denali View North (Mile 162) are also great places to stretch your legs and try to catch a glimpse of Denali.
Denali National Park and Preserve is located in the central area of the Alaska Range and encompasses over 6 million acres of Alaska’s interior wilderness. For reference, that’s larger than the state of New Hampshire or Massachusetts! The crown jewel of the park is Denali itself (aka. Mount McKinley), which is the tallest peak in North America at 20,310 feet high. Unfortunately, only about 30% of visitors are lucky enough to get a full view of the mountain. Due to extreme weather patterns surrounding the Alaska Range, Denali is completely covered in clouds about 70% of the time (even in summer).
Despite the park’s massive size, there is only one 92-mile long road into the park. Private vehicles are restricted to the first 15 miles.
Denali Park Road
⇨ IMPORTANT: Denali Park Road is closed beyond Mile 43 due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide. The closure is expected to remain in place through summer 2024 while a bridge is built. Because of this, transit buses and tour buses will travel no further than the East Ford Bridge at Mile 43 during summer 2023. The Eielson Visitor Center at Mile 66 is closed. Igloo Campground (Mile 35) and Wonder Lake Campground (Mile 88) are also closed. Read about current conditions and closures on the NPS website.
Days 3 & 4: Explore Denali National Park and Preserve
Spend Days 3 and 4 exploring Denali National Park, either by hiking, biking, or taking a bus trip.
↠ Things to do
Hike: Most of the park is devoid of established hiking trails. Take a hike on one of the few maintained hiking trails near the park entrance, Savage River area, or at Eielson Visitor Center (closed 2023). Or, hike along the park road or off-trail into the wilderness. Unlike most other national parks, visitors are permitted to hike off-trail. Two of our favorite trails were the Horseshoe Lake Trail near the park entrance and the Thorofare Ridge Trail at the Eielson Visitor’s Center.
Thorofare Ridge Trail
Bike: Visitors are allowed to bike the Denali Park Road. The road is paved to Mile 15 and is graded gravel beyond Mile 15. There are many businesses outside the park that have bike rentals. We did not do any biking during our time in Denali, however when we visit again, we would absolutely give biking along the park road a try. Plus, the green transit buses have bike racks, so you can utilize the buses to get further into the park before disembarking to bike. Learn more about cycling in Denali on the NPS Website.
⇨ IMPORTANT: In 2023, cyclists will be unable to travel further than Mile 43 of Denali Park Road due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide.
Bus trip: Buses are the only way into the heart of Denali! Private vehicles are restricted to the first 15 miles of the park road, so to drive any further into the park, visitors must take a bus. Options include narrated tour buses and non-narrated transit buses.
Narrated tour buses (tan buses) are more expensive, but the driver will narrate your journey along the Denali Park Road. Bus drivers will stop for wildlife & scenery viewings
Non-narrated transit buses (green buses) are less expensive, but more flexible in that riders can disembark and re-board anywhere along the park road. Bus drivers will still stop for wildlife & scenery viewings.
⇨ IMPORTANT: In 2023, tour buses and transit buses will travel no further than East Fork Transit at Mile 43 of Denali Park Road due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide.
Denali Transit Bus
We opted to do the non-narrated transit bus and are so glad we did! We enjoyed being able to get off the bus to spend a few hours hiking. In 2021, we disembarked the bus at Eielson (mile 66) to hike the established trails around the visitor center.
↠ where to camp
There are six developed campgrounds in Denali National Park. We stayed at Riley Creek (Mile 0) our first night and Savage River (Mile 13) for our second and third nights. We thoroughly enjoyed staying at Savage River as it is smaller, quieter, and there was more screening between sites. Plus, we were able to schedule the transit bus to pick us up at the Savage River bus stop, directly outside the campground. Reservations for all campgrounds can be made through Reserve Denali.
⇨ IMPORTANT: In 2023, Igloo Campground (Mile 35) and Wonder Lake Campground (Mile 88) will be closed due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide.
Savage River Campsite
Day 5: Drive to Glacier View
On Day 5, spend the morning in Denali before driving to Glacier View, a small census-designated place near the Matanuska Glacier. The drive from Denali to Glacier View is lengthy (approximately 5 hours), but the scenery along the route is exquisite. If you depart Denali early enough in the day, you can make a detour to Independence Mine State Historical Park in the Hatcher Pass area. We had all intentions of making a stop at Independence Mine to explore, but ultimately left Denali too late in the day (we seriously didn’t want to leave!) Stay overnight in Glacier View in preparation of a guided glacier trek in the morning on Day 5.
↠ where to camp
Located nearby Matanuska Glacier on the Glenn Highway is Grand View RV Park & Cafe (milepost 109.7). It is a small RV park that offers hot showers ($3 for 9 minutes) and laundry facilities! The three tent sites fit a campervan and are cheaper than the full service RV sites. If you’re looking to take a break from camp cooking, there’s also a cafe onsite that serves excellent homestyle meals. We ate here for dinner and really enjoyed the pizza and fish and chips we ordered.
Dinner at Grand View Cafe
Day 6: Matanuska Glacier & Drive to Whittier
Matanuska Glacier is the largest glacier accessible by car in the United States! It is 27 miles long by 4 miles wide and its terminus feeds the Matanuska River. Although the glacier is public land, the land surrounding the glacier is not. The glacier’s access road (milepost 102) is privately owned and managed by Matanuska Glacier Park, therefore there is an access fee for all visitors.
Matanuska Glacier Terminus
↠ Things to do
Nearby, MICA Guides (milepost 102.5) and NOVA Alaska Guides (milepost 96) offer professional, guided glacier tours and adventures. We opted to go with MICA Guides for an Ice Fall Trek, which is a 4-hour tour that departs several times a day. For the 2021 season, the tour cost us $89 plus the $25 glacier access fee. Although a glacier trek may sound intimidating to some, MICA has made the experience accessible for all abilities. It was a unique experience and we were happy we booked with MICA. Our guides were extremely knowledgeable and personable. Plus, they cap their groups at 6 people making for an intimate experience.
Guided glacier trek with MICA Guides
After a morning guided glacier trek, drive south to the quaint seaside town of Whittier. The three hour drive from Matanuska to Whittier passes back through Anchorage and then along the impressive Turnagain Arm. There are several turnouts along the way for scenic views and wildlife sightings, including Beluga Point. Once you reach Whittier, settle in for the night and utilize the next full day to explore Whittier and the Prince William Sound.
↠ where to camp
Williwaw Campground is located directly outside of Whittier and is an excellent place to camp. This was probably my favorite campground throughout our trip. The sites were large, spread out, and very private. However, it is worth noting that only pit toilets are available.
Williwaw Campsite
Day 7: Whittier
Whittier is known for being the gateway to the Prince William Sound. As one of the world’s largest concentrations of tidewater glaciers, the Whittier region offers an impressive collection of glaciers. Whittier is also home of the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, the longest combined vehicle and railroad tunnel in North America. This one-lane tunnel operates on a schedule, alternating between service for private cars and the Alaska Railroad and is the only way to access Whittier by land.
↠ Things to do
Hiking: Whittier boasts excellent hiking trails that reward hikers with dramatic views. We enjoyed walking a section of the Trail of Blue Ice (departing from Williwaw Campground) our first night in Whittier as well as a portion of the Portage Pass Trail (closer to town) the next day.
Portage Pass Trail
Sea Kayaking: We originally planned to go on a morning sea kayaking tour out of Whittier. Unfortunately, our tour was cancelled due to high winds. As a substitute we booked an afternoon glacier cruise (see below). Whittier and the protected waters of the Prince William Sound typically make for an excellent sea kayaking adventure. There are several outfitters in downtown Whittier that offer sea kayaking tours and rentals.
Glacier Cruise: The waters of the Prince William Sound are protected and calm, making Whittier a great place to take a day cruise. Over five and half hours, the 26 Glacier Cruise explores over 160 miles of the Prince William Sound. On the cruise, there’s abundant opportunities to see glaciers and marine wildlife, including sea otters, seals, Dall’s porpoises, and whales. Although we did not originally plan on going on a glacier cruise out of Whittier, it ended up being an enjoyable experience!
Whale Sighting on 26 Glacier Cruise
Days 8, 9 & 10: Seward & Kenai Fjords National Park
On the morning of Day 8, drive further south to Seward. Situated on the Kenai Peninsula and close to Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward is an excellent home-base for the last 3 days of the road trip. Plus, Seward’s historic downtown area and harbor are home to numerous shops, restaurants, and even a public aquarium, the Alaska Sealife Center. The drive from Whittier to Seward is approximately 2 hours.
Nestled between the mountains and the ocean, Seward is located at the head of Resurrection Bay and is the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Harding Icefield, one of the largest icefields in the United States, is the crown jewel of the park. Nearly 40 glaciers flow from the icefield which overtime have carved the numerous coastal fjords in the area. Seward is also the historic starting point of the original Iditarod Trail to Interior Alaska.
↠ THINGS TO DO
Hiking in Kenai Fjords National Park: Located 12-miles from downtown Seward, The Exit Glacier area of Kenai Fjords National Park is the only part of the park that is accessible by road. There is a network of maintained trails departing from the Exit Glacier Visitor Center, including the strenuous Harding Icefield Trail.
Harding Icefield Trail, Top of the Cliffs
Sea Kayaking: Similarly to Whittier, we originally booked a sea kayaking tour out of Seward. Unfortunately, our Seward tour was also canceled due to high winds. However, beautiful Resurrection Bay offers an impeccable backdrop for a kayaking tour and allows visitors to explore deeper into Kenai Fjords National Park. There are several outfitters in Seward that offer sea kayaking tours and rentals.
Sportfishing: Seward is well-known as one of Alaska’s premier fishing destinations. The waters surrounding Seward are home to a diversity of fish species, including Pacific salmon, halibut, rockfish, and lingcod. The main fishing season typically runs from late June to early September. In Seward, there are numerous charters that offer guided fishing trips. We had great experiences with both ProFish-n-Sea Charters and The Fish House. With The Fish House, Sam and I both hit our rockfish limits and our captain, Nick, was a ton of fun. Be aware that rough waters are common and there’s always a risk of cancellations due to bad weather.
Rockfish caught in Seward
Wildlife & Glacier Cruise: Due to the abundance of marine wildlife and glaciers in the area, taking a wildlife and glacier cruise is one of the most popular activities in Seward. Much of Kenai Fjords is only accessible by water, so boat tours are an excellent way to explore deeper into the park’s many fjords and witness marine wildlife. We elected to skip a cruise in Seward, as we ended up going on a cruise out of Whittier just a few days prior. However, both Major Marine and Kenai Fjords Tours offer a variety of different cruises and both companies have outstanding reputations.
↠ WHERE TO CAMP
The City of Seward campgrounds, including Resurrection Campground, are located directly on the bay with gorgeous views of the water and surrounding mountains. Despite the beautiful location, the campground more-so resembled a crowded parking lot and the bathrooms onsite (flush toilets and pay showers) were unfortunately some of the most poorly maintained facilities we’ve ever encountered while camping. Rather, we found that the pay showers at the Harbormaster’s Office in town were much cleaner and opted to utilize these facilities as much as possible. As an alternative to the City of Seward campgrounds, outside of town there are several free pullouts along Exit Glacier Road where campers are allowed to park and stay overnight.
Resurrection South Campsite Views
Days 11 & 12: Anchorage (OPTIONAL)
With more than ten days, With more than ten days, spend two days in Alaska’s largest and most populous city, Anchorage. There’s plenty to do and just outside of downtown is the expansive Chugach State Park.
↠ Things to Do:
Eat at Moose’s Tooth: Located in Anchorage, Moose’s Tooth is a staple in Alaska! The brewery and pizzeria was ranked as the 3rd best pizzeria in the United States in 2015 and is well worth a visit.
Lunch at Moose’s Tooth
Brewery Hop: There’s no shortage of breweries in Anchorage, many of which also have a restaurant onsite. Some of the more popular spots include: Anchorage Brewing Company, 49th State Brewing Company, and Midnight Sun Brewing. We stopped at 49th State Brewing for lunch and a beer,
Hiking at Chugach State Park: Located east of Anchorage is Chugach State Park, which encompasses 495,000 acres! It is one of the four largest state parks in the United States and has an abundance of hiking trails. The Glen Alps Trailhead is a short drive from downtown Anchorage and is the starting point of Flattop Mountain, the most popular summit in Alaska. Flattop Mountain is a classic Anchorage day hike.
Flattop Mountain Trail
Our 12-day trip in Alaska will forever be one of our most memorable adventures! Exploring Denali National Park, ice trekking at the Matanuska Glacier, cruising through the Prince William Sound, and fishing for rockfish in Seward made for an epic and unforgettable experience. Alaska truly has so much to offer. I hope this 10-12 Day Alaska Road Trip Itinerary inspires you to visit!
To learn more about exploring Alaska with a campervan, read my post Exploring Alaska in a Campervan.
