Alaska isn’t just another vacation spot—it’s a unique place that requires a little planning and a lot of curiosity. In this post, we break down Alaska travel tips to help you show up prepared and make the most of your trip.

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Are you traveling to Alaska and wonder what the best time of year to visit Alaska is? We recommend to read this article that breaks down the best time of year to visit Alaska.  Learn about top parks and things to do in Alaska and top tours here.  GuideR Adventure makes it easy to travel more and worry less by searching and booking your next adventure on our simple-to-use marketplace. 

Float plane taking off over water outside of Telkeetna AK
Float planes are a common mode of transportation, especially in remote parts of Alaska.

Alaska is the largest state in the US, and in fact, it’s double the size of the second largest state, Texas. That goes to say that there is quite a bit to explore! 

There’s a lot of awesome Alaska travel tips in this post, so keep scrolling as we saved the best for #1. 

#10: Know Where You're Headed

This isn’t just a fun fact—it’s one of the most important things to know when planning your trip. Alaska is ~17% of the total land mass of the United States and has five distinct regions, each with different weather, wildlife, and access. Drive times can take hours, depending on the what you want to do. Below are just a few travel times and distances between popular destinations. 

  • Anchorage to… 
    • Whitter – 1 hour 11 minutes (60 miles)
    • Homer – 4 hours 3 minutes (223 miles)
    • Seward – 2 hours 16 minutes (126 miles) 
    • Talkeetna – 2 hours 1 minute (113 miles)
    • Denali National Park – 4 hours 1 minute (237 miles)
    • Fairbanks – 6 hours 2 minutes (358 miles) 

This blog post is great to learn more about the five regions and how to prepare to travel to each unique area. 

💡Alaska Destination Travel Tip: To decide where you want to go, narrow down what kind of experience you want. Do you want national parks, wildlife watching, northern lights, or a cruise? 
Two people kayaking around a glacier in Alaska.
Many Alaska activities and park are seasonal.

#9: Timing is Everything

Alaska’s seasons are short and intense. Summer offers long days and access to remote areas, while winter is ideal for northern lights and snow activities. For one thing, each can season can very pretty dramatically depending on the Alaska region you’re in. As an example, Interior Alaska summer tends to be dry, whereas Southeast can see substantially more rainfall. 

💡Alaska Timing Travel Tip: Consider booking tours, hotels, and flights 6-9 months in advance (especially for peak season in June through August) to get your desired dates. Tours in high demand will likely sell out well in advance. Traveling in shoulder months, like May or September, will help you save money and avoid crowds. This post has additional adventure affordability tips. 
Top alaska travel tip is to pack for any Occassion.
Packing with intention and for any occasion is important when traveling to Alaska.

#8: Don't Pack Like You're Going to Miami

The weather can shift from sunny and 65°F to cold and rainy in the same day—even in summer. In this case layers will be your best friend to ensure that you have a comfortable experience. No one likes cold and wet toes! 

💡Alaska Packing Travel Tip: A solid waterproof jacket, quick-drying base layer, and tried and true hiking shoes will go a long way. 

#7: Service is Limited

Cell service can be hit or miss depending on how remote you go. Isn’t that part of the magic though? That’s part of feeling free to disconnect and being present in the moment. On the other hand it’s important to download offline maps, confirm bookings ahead of time, and communicate with tour operators before you go off-grid. Paper maps are also not a bad idea. This Google article explains how to download areas for offline use. 

Below is a coverage map for the biggest service providers to help plan in advance. 

💡Alaska Cell Service Travel Tip: Verizon and AT&T generally offer the most consistent coverage when talking about Alaska in general. 
Always be bear aware when traveling in Alaska.

#6: Be Bear Aware - Always!

Alaska is home to black, brown, and grizzly bears and they have been known to visit towns. Most will ignore humans, but improperly storing food, startling a bear, and approaching a bear with cubs are the leading causes of fetal bear attacks. While attacks are rare, they do happen. Of course respecting their space is important and below are a few additional bear tips. 

  1. Make noise and avoid surprising bears: Bears are more likely to void humans if they hear you coming. 
  2. Store food and scented items properly: It’s important to secure all food and scented items in bear-proof containers and to never leave those items unattended. 
  3. Carry and know how to use bear spray: Carry bear spray on your at all times in a place that is easily accessible, such as your hip. 

We highly recommend reading this US Forest Service article with more tips on being bear aware. 

💡Alaska Wildlife Travel Tip: If you’re not yet confident with wildlife safety, hiring a local guide is a great way to learn about exploring safety. 
The Alaska Railroad train is one of the best ways to get around top attractions in Alaska.
The Alaska Railroad offers connections to many top destinations in Alaska.

#5: Transportation Can Be Challenging

Traveling around Alaska will often involve renting a car, but can also include water taxies, trains, ferries, and more. Public transportation isn’t as accessible as other states, especially in rural towns or near national parks. In other words planning your route ahead of time will help in narrowing down which transportation to book in advance. 

💡Alaska Transportation Travel Tip: Consider renting a car or booking a tour package where all logistics are planned for you. 
dog sled team in alaska adventure tour
Dog sledding is a highlight to experience in Alaska.

#4: Lodging and Tours Book Up Fast

Alaska is NOT the place you want to book last minute. Alaska’s travel season is fairly short meaning that tour and lodging availability books up pretty quick, if not months to years in advance. It’s smart of book key experiences 6 to 9 months in advance when traveling between June and August. Therefore, Booking last minute for trips mid-summer will likely cause you to miss out on your bucket-list experiences like heli-hiking, glacier kayaking, and bear viewing flyover trips. 

Moreover, should seasons like May or September have better pricing and more flexibility. 

💡Alaska Booking Travel Tip: Alaska can be a pricy place to travel to, consider travel adventure travel insurance no matter what life may throw at your travel plans. We’ve found that Arch RoamRight insurance is the most inclusive and is what we recommend. Learn more and get a free travel insurance quote here. 

#3: Weather Apps Will Fail You

Alaska has microclimates, which means that weather can shift dramatically between the 5 regions. Most weather apps tend to be misleading in remote areas of the state. For that reason it’s best to pack for a wide range of weather conditions. Don’t be afraid to let a little drizzle rain on your parade! 

💡Alaska Weather Travel Tip: Remember to keep your travel days flexible and free when flying on small aircrafts and air taxies. While they’re used to Alaskan weather patterns, you should be ready for delays. 
Adventure camping in alaska backcountry using leave no trace
Consider Leave No Trace principles especially when backcountry camping

#2: Respect The Land, People, and Rich Culture

There are over 229 federally recognized tribes with incredibly rich heritage and traditions in Alaska. Many popular travel spots and parks are on Indigenous land and visitors are encourages to learn about local history.

Respect wildlife, stay on tails, and practice Leave No Trace ethics to ensure these incredible places are here for many years to come. In fact the 7 Leave No Trace principle are: 

  1. Plan ahead and prepare
  2. Travel & camp on durable surfaces
  3. Dispose of ware properly 
  4. Leave what you find 
  5. Minimize campfire impacts 
  6. Respect wildlife 
  7. Be considerate of others 
💡Alaska Culture Travel Tip: Consider visiting one of the many cultural central, tribal centers, heritage museums, and visitor centers to learn about the rich history of the places you’re traveling through. 

#1: Leave Room To Wander

Traveling is a privilege. Finally, the top travel tip that most people don’t consider, you ask? don’t over schedule. Nothing is worse than feeling like you’re always on the go, can’t truly decompress, and potentially not experience all that you want to while you’re there. Alaska is full of spontaneous beauty, unexpected wildlife sightings, scenic pull-offs, and incredible moments you simply can’t plan for. Building in downtime and being open-minded to the unexpected is the key to deeper memories you’ll want to tell your children one day. 

Conclusion on the best Alaska Travel Tips

Alaska is so incredibly unique and unlike any other state in the US. Alaska is rugged, it’s beautiful, and it’s beyond rewarding to travel prepared and with an open mind. These tips can help you stress less and make the most of your time in Alaska. 

More Information:

Popular Alaska guided tours

Best Time To Visit Alaska: When to Go and What to Expect

Top Places to Visit in Alaska

women with blonde hair in pony tail smiling at the camera with Alaskan yellow trees in background

Megan Shurites 

Megan is Chief Adventure Officer and Founder of GuideR Adventure with extensive experience in adventure travel all over the world. Megan has been to almost all US states and 5 of 7 continents and enjoys off the beaten path experiences. She strives to empower others to collect memories with those you love and conserve our natural spaces.Â