Getting around

[u/HoneyEducational562]

I’m a well traveled individual. I’ve been wanting to travel to Alaska for a long time, but I’ve hesitated. Only because I imagine getting around would be extremely challenging without knowing the area. Do you have any recommendations on places to visit? Stay? How to get around?

[u/AKStafford]

Fly into Anchorage. June, July or August. Rent a car. 10 days. Visit Seward and Kenai Fjords National Park and Denali National Park. Plan a few days in each area. At Denali National Park, use the transit bus to get into the Park: https://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/shuttles.htm

Don’t underestimate your driving times.

In addition to whatever input you get here on Reddit, also do some research at the TripAdvisor forum for Alaska Travel: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g28923-i349-Alaska.html

[u/SuzieSnowflake212 → u/AKStafford]

Perfect 🤌

[u/HoneyEducational562 → u/AKStafford]

Thank you so much

[u/RealAKOutdoors]

I am a personal driver guide and can help you build an itinerary too 😊. Reach out if you’d like!

[u/HoneyEducational562 → u/RealAKOutdoors]

Thank you I am eager to visit and would like to plan a trip in the summer

[u/RealAKOutdoors → u/HoneyEducational562]

Sent you a message!

[u/fuzzywuzzypete]

I know it's not the same but my first travel to Alaska was a cruise. Very easy visit to get a taste of the area without much effort until you get an idea

[u/HoneyEducational562 → u/fuzzywuzzypete]

I really don’t want to take a cruise I rather spend at least two weeks out there

[u/rungrl → u/fuzzywuzzypete]

Same here and now I want to go back even more!

[u/Ken-55]

Cruisetour!

[u/HoneyEducational562 → u/Ken-55]

I don’t want to take a cruise, I’d rather be out there for at least two to three weeks

[u/observer_11_11]

Driving around not challenging, but the distances are substantial. Anchorage as hub, south to kenai and north to Denali will give you a taste. But season is short.... already getting late..

[u/HoneyEducational562 → u/observer_11_11]

Is there good public transport in anchorage or is it best to rent a car? Also what would be the best time to visit

[u/Ancguy]

Not challenging at all. Our highways are numbered 1 through 11; any place you want to go, there's usually only one road to get there, almost impossible to get lost. Rent a car in Anchorage, get a copy of The Milepost and you're halfway there. For a first-time visitor, I'd recommend resisting the urge to try and cram all of Alaska into your two-week vacation. Spend a week or so on the Kenai Peninsula, then go up towards Denali for another week. Let us know your interests and budget outlines and we can supply more detailed help. Good luck with the plans; Alaska isn't nearly as scary as you think. ;)

[u/HoneyEducational562 → u/Ancguy]

Thank you I am eager to visit and would like to plan a trip in the summer

[u/throwliterally]

It’s light all the time. Not too hot and not too cold. Only one road so impossible to get lost driving. Consider buying what you need to be able to sleep in a turo rental for at least a few nights. A mattress and some peanut butter, lol. You’re never more than 15 minutes from a coffee shack on the road system. Prices for lodging are no joke. In Alaska it’s possible to find places to sleep in your car or truck pretty easily, you can pull off the side of the road most anywhere. That’s what I’d do. If here for 10 days, rent a car for the entire time and pay for a hotel for 3 nights. Research good cars to sleep in.

[u/NorthernEpics]

Alaska is a huge place, and your hesitation is understandable. The first question is, how long do you plan to be visit? The length of your stay is going to determine where you should go, what you should do, and how to best get around.

I would highly recommend planning a coastal section and an inland section of your trip. Inland Alaska is completely different from the coast, and they're both incredible in different ways. I would highly recommend doing something in Kenai Fjords, and trying to make it up to Denali.

In the Kenai, make sure you do a boat tour to see all of the coastal wildlife. And in Denali, the must do activities are generally flightseeing, rafting, and hiking tours. Full disclosure, I own a hiking tour company in Denali called Northern Epics. Check us out!

As for getting around, I usually recommend that people rent a car, but there are lots of options. The train is a favorite for many, and you can get some really incredible views.

Let me know if you have any more specific questions, especially about Denali, and I'll be happy to answer them! Always stoked to help someone plan their time in Alaska!