Alaska Self-Drive Tour

When you arrive in Anchorage, you can pick up your rental vehicle from the airport and check into your hotel for your first night in Alaska. You may want to take a walk to inhale in the fresh northern air and get stocked up for your road trip.

This morning, you’ll start your drive through the Matanuska Valley. Keep your eyes open for wildlife as you drive past the mountains, glaciers, and the Nenana River canyon. Get settled in your Denali hotel, and plan how you want to spend your whole day in the park tomorrow.

Start your day at the information center to help plan your day in Denali and take the Denali Bus that drops you off near the park. You can book an optional Tundra Wilderness Tour that shows off views of Mount McKinley and the wildlife that roams this enormous wilderness park.

Today, you’ll drive away from the spectacular mountain ranges and into valleys and tundra as you approach Fairbanks and the Arctic. You’ll notice the days getting longer and longer as you enter the land of the midnight sun.

You have the day to explore Fairbanks. Start with a walk along the Tanana River, which you can cruise if you book a tour on an authentic sternwheeler river cruise. You can also visit the Pioneer theme park or the number 8 dredge, where you’ll learn about the gold extraction process.

Leave Fairbanks and enjoy the panoramic views as you drive Richardson Road. After you’ve crossed the Delta Junction, you’ll find yourself back in the beautiful Alaska Range. Take time to stop by some of the roadhouses along the way to get a taste of the historic gold rush towns.

Start your day with a stroll around Copper Center, and then head to Wrangell Mountains Park for a hike through the wilderness. In the afternoon, you’ll continue your drive through the incredible glaciers and mountains on the way to Valdez. Stop to stretch your legs on a hike at Worthington Glacier, and visit the spectacular Horse Tail and Bridal Veil Waterfalls.

Start the day with a ferry ride to Whittier. The five-and-a-half-hour cruise will navigate the phenomenal scenery of Prince William Sound. You’ll have to tear your eyes away from the glaciers and mountains to scan the water for whales every now and then. From Whittier, you’ll continue driving through the incredible mountains and valleys until you reach Seward.

During your stay in Seward, you’ll want to visit the Kenai Fjords. You can take one of the many stunning hiking trails, go on a glacier tour, or book the optional scenic boat cruise of the Kenai Fjords. The views of the mountains and glaciers flowing into the ocean are breathtaking.

Today, you can visit the Sea Life Center before you leave Seward behind. Then, you’ll drive to Glacier Bay National Park, where a short hike will bring you to the foot of the stunning glacier. Take the route to Anchorage that travels along the Turnagain Arm for majestic views of the mountains rising above the water.

Spend the day wandering the streets of downtown Anchorage to explore the shops and restaurants. Visit the museums to learn about the region’s Indigenous cultures and see the art that they produce. If you’re visiting Alaska during the summer, the midnight sun may have prevented you from seeing the Northern Lights, so you can witness the next best thing at the Alaska Experience Theatre, where you can get a digital glimpse of the Aurora Borealis.

Today is your last day in wild Alaska, so take a final walk in the fresh northern air before you head to the airport. Drop off your car rental at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and begin your journey home.