Epic Alaska National Parks Road Trip Itinerary: 12 Day Guide

Have you been looking for the best Alaska National Parks Road Trip itinerary? I’ve got you covered!

Recently, I took my husband on an epic Alaska road trip. Our main goal was to see 3 out of the 8 National Parks. Why not all of them? Well with the remaining 5 you need to hop an additional plane (often a seaplane) or a boat to get to. Plus, there’s only so much time!

Alaska’s National Parks are massive. In fact, one of them we visited is the largest in our National Parks System.

This roughly 2 week Alaska National Parks itinerary covers a wide range of Alaska’s stunning landscapes and offers a mix of outdoor adventure and cultural experiences for travelers who love road trips.

Please note that driving distances and times can vary depending on road conditions and traffic, so plan accordingly. Additionally, check for seasonal closures and make any necessary reservations in advance, especially for tours and accommodations in the national parks.

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Depending on what time you arrive in Anchorage will depend on how much time you have to see and do things on your first day in the 49th state.

For us on the Eastern side of the lower 48, we arrived about 4 pm. This gave us enough time to get our vehicle, grab a bite to eat, and settle in for the night.

Also note, arriving from the East Coast, Alaska is a 4-hour time difference from Eastern Standard Time. Keep this in mind as 8 pm will feel like midnight on your first day of traveling.

Be sure to stock up on groceries in Anchorage. You will encounter grocery stores on your road trip, but prices in more remote areas will be higher.

Rent your RV for Your Alaska Road Trip in Anchorage

Optional Additional Day in Anchorage

If you arrive late or wish to spend an extra day in Anchorage, be sure to check out the following attractions:

The Anchorage Museum, the largest in Alaska, will give you an incredible look at the diversity in both people and landscape.

The Alaska Native Heritage Center features indigenous cultures through traditional art, dance, and storytelling.

Finally, The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center allows you to get up close with bears, moose, bison, and more while learning where you might find them on your trip.

Denali National Park is perhaps the best-known of Alaska’s National Parks and one of the easiest to get to.

From Anchorage, it’s about a 5-6 hour drive to the park entrance.

Denalis is also a state park, where you’ll see signs for Denali Viewpoint South and Denali Viewpoint North as you travel north along Route 3, also known as the George Parks Highway or the Parks Highway.

From Anchorage, drive north on Route 1 until Route 3 and continue on Route 3 until the park.

Things to do in Denali National Park

Denali National Park has one main road in and through the park. There are many hiking trails along this road as well.

Note, that you can only drive about 15 miles into the park. The Denali Park Road continues on to mile 89, but you will need to take one of the park buses to travel that far.

There are narrated tour buses and non-narrated transit buses, and they vary in duration. The bus tour stops for bathroom and wildlife viewing and you can get on and off the transit buses to hike and explore at your own pace.

There are additional fees for the tour and transit buses, which go to the National Park Service.

If you’re spending more than one day in the Denali National Park area, I’d recommend using the buses to see more of the park. However, you can still get great views, wildlife (we saw moose), and hikes between the visitor’s center and the Savage River Trail at mile 15.

Other things to do in Denali include meeting the sled dogs. At various times during the day, you can witness sled dog demonstrations at the kennels. You can drive there on your own or take a free bus from the visitor’s center.

If you enjoy hiking, are can do one of the trail hikes or go off-trail hiking. Denali is one of the few national parks that encourage off-trail hiking, but feel free to talk to a ranger before heading out. On our visit, off-trail hiking was prohibited in an area due to moose rutting, so be sure to follow a safe distance for wildlife.

There are easy to moderate trail hikes near the visitors center and Savage River.

Note Denali National Park does have an entrance pass, but does not have a ranger station at the entrance to the park. The $15 fee can be purchased at the Denali Visitor Center or the Murie Science and Learning Center. If you have National Park annual pass, Denali is included.

Things to do Near Denali National Park

There are plenty of things to do outside of Denali National Park as well.

Consider doing trail rides, snowmobile or ATV trail rides, horseback rides, and more.

One of the most popular things to do in the area is flightseeing. Flightseeing is sightseeing by helicopter or small plane. You’ll get an up close few at the Denali Peak, glaciers, and wildlife.

We really enjoyed our horse-drawn covered wagon ride through the backcountry on one of our days in the park.

Be sure to check out the 49th State Brewing Company in Healy. They have a delicious selection of dining, a stunning interior, and one of the largest independent breweries in Alaska.

🤩 Find the top 10 Denali Adventures here

Where to stay Denali National Park

If you have an RV, you can camp in Denali National Park.

Teklanika River Campground allows RVs but requires a 3-night minimum.

Savage River Campground is 13 miles into the park and allows RVs with no minimum.

Riley Creek is close to the visitors center and also allows RVs up to 40 feet.

Outside of Denali National Park, I’d recommend Talkeetna Campground as it is a full-service RV park, allowing you to hook up to the sewer and use the dump station. This is a great opportunity to be sure your clean water tank is full and your grey and black water tanks are empty before you depart to the next location.

Finally, if you are road-tripping but without an RV, I’d recommend a homestay like this on VRBO.

Things to do in Fairbanks

Depending on the time of year you visit Fairbanks, you’ll have nearly 24 hours of sun or about 4 hours of sun. If you time your trip in the spring or fall, you’ll get a good mix of sun, nice weather, and a chance to see the Northern Lights.

Fairbanks is the second largest city in Alaska, and there is plenty to do there.

I’d recommend the following:

Take a tour down the Chena River aboard the Riverboat Discovery. This was a surprising riverboat cruise where we saw a float plane/bush pilot demonstration, visited a former champion dog sledder’s home along the river for a demonstration, and my favorite, a trip to the China Village Living Museum. See what native Athabascan’s life along the river in Alaska is like.

Another surprising favorite for us was the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum. Even if you’re not into cars, this place was astounding and overflowing with history. This is also considered a living history museum as over 100 autos still work. In fact, all but 3 in the collection are driveable. These pre-war cars are meticulously restored and displayed along with vintage clothing, photographs, music, and videos.

The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor’s Center, Pioneer Park, Museum of the North, and Ice Museum are all terrific additions to getting a taste of culture in Fairbanks.

Finally, similar to Denali, you can take guided snowmobile tours in the winter, dog sledding tours, and even venture into the Arctic Circle and Northern Lights Tour.

Read more of the best things to do in Fairbanks here.

Things to do in Chena Hot Springs

About an hour east of Fairbanks is Chena Hot Springs.

Both a resort and natural geothermal hot springs, you can visit here for the day or opt to spend the night.

Chena Hot Springs has both a lodge and campsites available.

The main feature is the hot springs. If you’re staying in the resort, you get free admittance, and campers pay a small fee to enter. Day passes are also available if you don’t choose to stay overnight.

The area also has trails and wildlife. There are plenty of hiking and state park spots on the scenic drive to and from Fairbanks.

Where to stay in Fairbanks

In Fairbanks, I’d recommend the A Taste of Alaska Lodge.

This Bed and Breakfast style resort has just a handful of rooms, and breakfast served promptly at 8 am each morning. (Don’t be late or you won’t be served!) There is an observation deck with a clear view of the sky. They have “alarms” in the room when the aurora are visible. Plus, they serve a delicious breakfast.

And if you’re visiting outside of Aurora season, you can take advantage of the beautiful meadow and see what wildlife you can spot.

If you’re camping, there are a lot of nearby Alaska State Parks and quite a few along the Chena River on the way to the Hot Springs.

Additionally, you could fly into Fairbanks and start your trip to Alaska’s National Parks here. There are many RVs available to rent through RVshare in Fairbanks as well.

🤩 Find Your Fairbanks RV rental here

Where to go in Wrangell St. Elias

Wrangell St. Elias, on the Eastern side of Alaska, is the largest National Park in the United States. It covers over 13 million acres. It’s so big in fact that it spills into Canada becoming the Kluane National Park.

If you’re not doing any massive hiking in Wrangell St. Elias, you can go to the main park visitor center in Copper Center. Here you’ll find a visitor’s center, some easy hikes, and extraordinary views of the Wrangell Mountains.

Another option is to go to the town of McCarthy and Kennecott Mining Town, but you will not do that in your RV or rented car. More on that below.

Things to do in Wrangell St. Elias National Park

The main visitor center offers exhibits and the Ahtna Cultural Center, a native heritage museum with hand built fish wheels and other tools the native Alaskans used to catch and preserve fish, as well as survive in this cold vast wilderness.

There are short hiking paths with beautiful scenic overlooks. If you want just a taste of the park and the option to check this one off your list, this may be enough.

Just south of the main visitor’s center lies Chitina Ranger Station and the McCarthy Road. While this is a scenic drive, it is a rugged dirt road that traverses into the heart of the park to McCarthy, roughly 60 miles.

Do not take your rental car or RV down the McCarthy Road. It’s rough, narrow, and full of sharp rocks and railroad spikes. This is often excluded in rental agreements and I would not recommend taking a chance.

Instead, hire an outfitter to drive you into the town of McCarthy and visit the ghost town of Kennecott Mining Town. St. Elias Alpine Guides lead tours into the area. You can also use them to explore Root Glacier. Note for both of these you must be able to hike and walk up to 6 miles.

Rafting is another option on the Kennicott River with McCarthy River Tours and Outfitters.

Where to Stay

I’d recommend 2 nights in the area. One to arrive, and then one to have a full day of exploring especially if you visit Kennecott or go on a rafting or flightseeing tour.

For RVers, Tolsona Wilderness Campground is a lovely family owned campground with plenty of peace and quiet along a bubbling stream. It has full hookups and a dump station

The Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge is perhaps the loveliest hotel in the area. It’s owned and operated by Princess Cruises and offers stunning views of the Wrangell Mountain Range.

Things to do on the Drive to Kenai Fjords National Park

Assuming you opt to drive and not take the ferry, there are some wonderful things to do on your way to Kenai Fjords National Park.

On your drive from Wrangell St. Elias National Park to Seward and Kenai Fjords National Park, stop at various overlooks to view Matanuska Glacier.

Pro-tip: do not stop at the first place you see mentioning Matanuska Glacier. We ended up on a steep downhill road and ultimately into a private drive. Make sure you’re stopping at the official Matanuska Glacier State Recreational Site. This is run by the Alaska DNR and has ample parking and a nice hike.

There are other places to stop and look a the glacier along the highway. Alaska does a great job with wide pull-off lanes to look at the stunning scenery.

Eklutna Lake and the Eklutna Lake Campground is another possible stop on the drive, and you could turn it into an all-day adventure or overnight. You can hike trails or get out and kayak the lake. Rentals are available.

Eklutna Lake and continuing the drive south to Seward on Highway 1 is in and around the Chugach State Park area.

Chugach State Park and the scenic drive from Anchorage to Seward offer breathtaking views, with sapphire blue waters against a stunning mountain backdrop. This was truly my favorite of the scenic drives of the trip. If you’re fortunate enough, take a moment to stop and capture a breathtaking shot of the Alaska Railroad as it glides through the awe-inspiring backdrop of majestic mountains.

Things to do in Seward

Kenai Fjords National Park, located in Seward, Alaska, is mostly surrounded by water. There are a few entrance points by land, however, which makes it one of the National Parks in Alaska accessible by road.

Seward is a charming seaside town with things to do including Kenai Fjords National Park on the Kenai Peninsula.

Your main entrance to the National Park by road is Exit Glacier, off of the Seward Highway.

Exit Glacier is an important stop, where you’ll learn just how much this glacier has shrunk in the last 100 years. Signposts along the trail tell you the story of where this glacier reached in that year. Even since the 1980s, you can see an overlook that used to be much closer to this glacier.

The Exit Glacier Nature Center offers ranger talks and guided walks to Exit Glacier, that will give you more information.

Hiking to the Harding Icefield Trail is another option for things to do in Kenai Fjords National Park, but keep in mind it’s a steep trail of about 8 miles. This path does offer stunning views of the ice and snow above the Exit Glacier.

Kayaking in Seward is one of the best ways to see Kenai Fjords National Park, through Resurrection Bay.

If navigating the waters yourself is not an option, take a Kenai Fjords National Park Glacier & Wildlife Cruise from Seward. It’s a six-hour tour with wildlife sightings and views of the Fjords and Harding Icefields.

We did this tour and saw a humpback whale, mountain goats, sea otters, seals, and bald eagles. Unfortunately, the seas were too rough to see the glacier.

🤩 Book a Glacier and Wildlife Cruise here

Where to Stay in Seward

Seward Waterfront Park is right in the heart of town with the best views of Resurrection Bay. You can get a premium RV site with a prime location view of the water and the wildlife. RV Dry sites are available if you don’t get a reservation in time and there are free showers and a free dump station.

Since you’re right in town, you’re not getting as rustic as other locations. However, you are within walking distance to restaurants, cute shops, and the charming and small village of Seward.

As for Kenai Fjords National Park rv camping, you’ll not find campgrounds inside of the park itself. Your best bet is Seward Waterfront Park mentioned above, or Nash Bayfront Campground.

This is likely the last place you’ll camp before you return your RV rental, so make sure you read the owner’s instructions on returning the RV.

Harbor 360 Hotel in Seward is the same location where you’ll pick up the boat tour. This hotel is conveniently located at the marina and has excellent views of the mountains and marina. We opted for a balcony view and could watch the boats come and go, as well as the cruise ship in port for the day.

Other places to stay in Seward include:

Best Time to Visit Alaska’s National Parks

Visiting Alaska’s National Parks is something that’s best done during the summer months when parks are open and days are long.

During this time of year, visitors can take advantage of longer daylight hours for more activities such as exploring trails and taking in wildlife sightings.

Temperatures during this season get into the 50s during the day – perfect for a hike or kayaking trip.

The summer months also allow travelers to camp out in the parks for an extended stay. What’s more, these months bring with them an array of colorful wildflowers in bloom and a spectacular show of stars at night.

Fall is also a great time to visit for many reasons. The temperatures are mild during fall, so you don’t have to worry about high humidity or sweltering heat. You can take advantage of the cooler weather and enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and camping. Plus, since Fall is a less popular season for tourists, you may be able to find cheaper accommodation options and flights than during peak seasons.

We road-tripped through Alaska in September and the crowd level was minimal, and the colors were perfect Aspen yellow.

Keep in mind, that access to the parks and many activities start to close around mid-September.

How to Road Trip Through Alaska

Exploring Alaska by RV, campervan, or SUV is the best way to get around and see the vast landscape.

Camping on the side of the road is totally acceptable in Alaska, with plenty of pull-off spots along major highways. I list several places to camp in the Alaska road trip itinerary above too.

Not only is camping in Alaska a great way to save money on your vacation, but it also lets you experience more of the majestic environment that makes up this beautiful state.

The benefit of renting an RV in Alaska for a road trip is that even though you’re traveling to many beautiful National Parks, you’re only unpacking once.

I’d recommend renting with a service such as RVshare. They have the largest RV rental marketplace and 24/7 roadside assistance. Whether you’re an experienced RVer or just starting out, a road trip through Alaska with an RV is an unforgettable experience.

🤩 How to Rent an RV- A step by step guide

Optional Additional National Parks in Alaska add Ons

If you have more time in Alaska, here’s how and where you can pick up additional Alaskan National Parks.

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is prime viewing for brown bears in Alaska. It is just across Cook Inlet Bay west of Anchorage. Lake Clark has no roads or campgrounds, only a few privately owned lodges.

That said, you can do a day trip here by catching an air taxi from Anchorage or Homer. Stop at the Port Alsworth Visitors Center to ask a ranger about the best hiking trails for the day.

Katmai National Park is south of Lake Clark at the beginning of the Aleutian Islands. Also a prime spot for bears, it’s home to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, where the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century occurred in 1912. Planes depart from Anchorage to King Salmon, where you’ll take an air taxi with Katmai Air.

Glacier Bay National Park, outside of Jueneau, is over 3 million acres of land and water. You can take a ferry or flight from Juneau, but plan ahead as the Alaska Marine Highway system doesn’t dock often, even in summer. As the name suggests, Glacier Bay is known for glacier viewing, whale watching, and fishing.

Fairbanks is your base for getting to Gates of the Arctic and Kobuk Valley National Parks. These are incredibly remote parks above the Arctic Circle. The remoteness is part of their appeal and if you have a goal to visit all the National Parks and step foot in every one, a guide service flying you in a float plane may be the way to do it.

Moon Guide Books is an invaluable resource for visiting all National Parks. And if you want more on just Alaksa, check out their Alaska guidebook as well

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