The Perfect Alaska National Parks Road Trip

Alaska is home to eight of the country’s most grandeur national parks. Of those eight parks, only three of them are actually accessible by car (the other five require chartering a plane to get you there, which can be a bit pricey). The three Alaska national parks that we visited on our road trip were Kenai Fjords National Park, Denali National Park, and Wrangell St. Elias National Park.

This July, we set out to visit all three of these remarkable parks but only had one week to do so. Was our week a little jam packed? You bet it was! But with the help of the Alaskan night sun, we were able to see so much in only a week and had so many memorable experiences that we’ll never forget.

Follow this itinerary to experience all three of Alaska’s national parks that are accessible by road all in one week! You will see incredible glaciers, diverse wildlife, and immerse yourself in ocean and mountain scenery.

Things to Know Before You Go

Bear Safety in Alaska

Bears are highly active in Alaska. Be prepared in case you may encounter a bear during your visit, it could save your life.

We saw several bears from our car during our visit to Alaska but on our hike in Kenai Fjords National Park, we actually encountered one on the trail! Fortunately, we were prepared and knew exactly what to do when we saw one.

Here are a few bear safety tips before you visit Alaska:

• Carry bear spray! This is a must. Bear spray isn’t permitted on planes. Plan to purchase it once you arrive in Alaska. You can find bear spray at most grocery or sporting goods stores. I bought some at a Safeway in Seward for $44.
• Make lots of human noises on the trails. Talk loud, sing, shout, or the occasional “Hey Bear!” will do. Bears are able to hear you long before you’re aware of them. Be noisy so you don’t accidentally sneak up on one. This is your first line of defense against a bear encounter.
• Bears have the right-of-way. If you spot a bear on the trail, stay back and let it pass. Make lots of human noises.
• “If it’s black, fight back. If it’s brown, lie down.” Bear encounters rarely result in injury, but it’s important to know what to do if one charges you. Black bears can be fought off. So fight back vigorously. If it’s a brown bear or grizzly, your best chance is to lie down on your stomach, cover your neck with your arms, and spread your legs so the bear can’t turn you over.
• Whatever you do, DON’T RUN. Everything bears eat try to run away. If you run, you will also look like prey. Although it may be your first instinct, don’t do it. Bears can run up to 35 mph and you don’t stand a chance against that.

Food is Expensive in Alaska

Although a few things are cheaper in Alaska, like camping and entrance fees to national parks are free. Food is very expensive. In order to save money, consider making a trip to the grocery store and keep eating out to a minimum. We ate many meals of PB sandwiches and tuna to save money on our trip.

RV & Camper Van Culture is Huge in Alaska

Before our trip to Alaska, we dabbled with the idea of renting a camper van for our national park road trip. Sadly, we did not and stayed mostly in Airbnbs. But after seeing Alaska for ourselves, we regret that decision and have decided that we will rent some sort of recreational vehicle on our next visit to Alaska.

I haven’t seen anywhere else that is as accommodating of RVs. In Alaska, it is permitted to simple pull off the highway and make camp for the night. There are parking lots all up and down most of the major highways in Alaska and many of them have some of the most epic views. Not to mention, there are maintained campgrounds everywhere!

By staying in an RV or camper van, you’re increasing your freedom and trip flexibility. You’re not stuck into specific reservations. People who do Alaska this way are doing it right. Outdoorsy is a great spot to rent an RV or camper van for your Alaska adventure. Think Airbnb but for recreational vehicles. Browse Alaska RV and van rentals here!

The Sun Hardly Ever Sets in the Summer

Great for packing in lots of amazing activities during the 20 hour summer day. Not so great for sleeping. Be prepared and bring an eye mask. You can find a link to one below on my packing list.

What to Pack for Alaska National Parks

Alaska’s summer weather is unpredictable and for this Texas-girl, it was cold! Plan to pack plenty of layers for warm and cold days.

Here’s what I found most useful on my trip to Alaska:

• Osprey Pack – I don’t travel anywhere without this pack and I definitely don’t hike without it.
• Merrell Waterproof Hiking Boots – Trails in Alaska can be very wet and muddy. Make sure you bring waterproof hiking boots. I’ve been wearing Merrell hiking boots for years now and love them!
• Columbia Rain Jacket – Been wearing this jacket for years and it’s great! Expect lots of rain in Alaska and come prepared with a reliable rain jacket.
• Plant-Based Bug Spray – Do NOT overlook bringing bug spray. The mosquitoes are INSANE. I prefer this plant-based bug spray that smells more like lemons and less like deet.
• Refillable Water Bottle – A must for day-hiking!
• Eye Sleep Mask – What I wish I had brought! Very few of the places we stayed at actually had black out curtains. At one Airbnb, the sun was literally shining on my face while I tried to fall asleep.
• Nikon d3500 – The views in Alaska are incredible. Don’t forget your camera! I use the Nikon d3500 and love how it’s compact and easy to pack and takes great pictures.

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Day Zero – Fly into Anchorage

Most travelers to Alaska start their trip at the Anchorage International Airport. From here, it’s best to rent a car – lots of driving on this adventure. But the views from the highway are insanely beautiful so the drive goes quickly!

From Anchorage, we then drove 2 and a half hours south towards Seward, where the national park adventures began!

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Day One – Kenai Fjords

Kenai Fjords is out of this world and a strong start to this Alaska national park road trip. I fell completely in love with this part of Alaska and cannot wait to go back. For more detailed information on this park, check out my Ultimate Guide to Kenai Fjords National Park.

Kenai Fjords National Park is best seen by boat and on foot. Plan to spend a day doing each.

On our first full day, we started on the water and took a sightseeing boat cruise. Wow!

There are a couple of companies that offer cruises, we chose to go with Major Marine Tours and were extremely pleased with our experience. Major Marine Tours offers several different tour types and lengths. We chose the 8 1/2 hour tour but they also have half-day lengths if you’re not up for a full day on the boat.

Not only did we see several humpback whales, sea otters, sea lion, harbor seals, puffins, a bald eagle, and many other types of seabirds – but we also saw three amazing glaciers! While we were there, we were able to witness the glaciers calving and large chunks of ice breaking off and falling into the sea. As our boat stopped hundreds of yards away from the glacier, we could still hear the thunder sounds the ice made as it broke off.

As much of the national park is only reachable by boat, don’t miss out on a boat tour during your visit!

Where to Stay

The best place to stay is in the town of Seward. Seward has a variety of accommodations as well as campgrounds and RV parks. If you’re looking for something on the cheaper side, consider staying a bit further out in Cooper Landing or Moose Pass. Not as convenient but can save you a few dollars.

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Day Two – Kenai Fjords

On our second full day in Kenai Fjords, we decided to explore the park on foot by hiking the Harding Icefield Trail.

The only maintained trails in the park are found in the Exit Glacier Area, where there are only a couple trail options.

The Harding Icefield Trail is the longest and most popular hike in the park. This spectacular day hike is 8.2 miles round trip and is fairly steep (a real calf-burner). Starting on the valley floor, the hike climbs 1,000 feet every mile as it passes through forests, dense meadows, and then climbs above the tree line for amazing views of the glacier and icefield below.

If you’re not up for the entire 8.2 miles, there are two great turn-around spots along the trail – Marmot Meadows and Top of the Cliffs. Both of these areas offer spectacular viewing areas and are about 1.5. and 2.5 miles from the trail head respectively.

We did have an encounter with an adult black bear while in the area of the Top of the Cliffs. He was only about 50 feet away from where we were walking on the trail! Definitely an adrenaline rush. Please be bear aware and be careful while hiking in Alaska’s national parks.

If looking for an even shorter hike, hike the 2-mile Exit Glacier loop trail for an up-close view of Exit Glacier.

No matter how far you hike, make sure you get out and explore the trails.

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Day Three – Denali

After spending a few days near the ocean, we headed inland toward our second Alaska national park – Denali National Park.

The drive from Seward to Denali is a bit long so we broke it up by heading to Anchorage after our glacier hike. From Anchorage, the drive to Denali is about 4 hours but we made plenty of stops along the way.

Some places we stopped at were:

• Eklutna Lake – beautiful lake outside of Anchorage which is a great spot to for a quick hike or picnic
• Talkeetna – Super cute little town that is commonly used as a base for climbers looking to summit Mount Denali. Stop here for a meal at Denali Brewpub and check out the local gift shops.

On our first afternoon in Denali, we stopped first at the visitor center for information on the trails and to stamp our national park passport.

From there, we headed out to drive the first 15 miles of Denali Park Road. Only the first 15 miles of the park road are open to private vehicles, you must purchase a bus ticket or having camping reservations to travel further into the park.

After lots of time in the car, we decided to hike two different (but short) trails. We started with the Mountain Vista Trail which was an easy & level loop trail with mountain views throughout. Next, we hiked the Horseshoe Lake Trail which descended 200 feet to an alpine lake that also features a very impressive beaver dam.

Where to Stay

It can be difficult to find accommodations near Denali National Park. I would highly suggest camping/RVing. But if that’s not an option then there are a few options in Healy or Denali Village. We stayed in an old Airbnb in Cantwell which was about 30 minutes south of the park.

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Day Four – Denali

We spent most of our second day in Denali on a bus tour. Despite the fact that a bus tour is the only way most travelers can experience the interior of Denali National Park, the bus tours take you on a slow journey through the park with stops at all of the best view points. Plus a few restroom breaks.

You will find that it’s a nice break from self-driving and navigating your own vehicle and can merely sit back and take in the scenery while gazing out the window.

From the Denali bus, you will see abundant wildlife from your window on the bus. Not only are the bus drivers excellent at spotting wildlife, but with dozens of eyes on the bus, hardly any creature will go amiss. Tour lengths allow for these frequent wildlife stops. We saw moose, caribou, dall sheep, and a few grizzly bears!

Even though we did a Denali bus tour on a cloudy and rainy day, it was still such a great experience. Unfortunately, we were not able to see Mount Denali during our tour but the grizzly bear sightings made up for it.

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Day Five – Drive to Wrangell St. Elias

We started our drive to Wrangell St. Elias on the Glenallen Highway, one of the most beautiful drives in Alaska, second to the Seward Highway. From the highway you will see Matatuska Glacier and spectacular mountain views for the entirety of the trip.

Wragell St. Elias is something special and the largest national park in the United States with 9 of the 16 highest peaks in the country. And it’s home to the Malaspina Glacier which is bigger than the entire state of Rhode Island. Say what?

Now, Wrangell St. Elias is where this trip starts to get a little complicated and more of a logistical challenge.

The McCarthy Road Need-to-Know

Most (almost all) of Wrangell St. Elias is only accessible by the McCarthy Road (or by plane). The McCarthy Road is a 60-mile dirt road that is notorious for being rough and a real tire-popper. Being built on an old railroad, it is not uncommon for drivers to pop tires on old railway spikes.

Due to it’s rough nature, most rental car companies do not allow you to take their vehicles down the McCarthy Road. But there are a few shuttle services that provide bus or plane transport to McCarthy and/or Kennecott. You can find more information about transportation to/from McCarthy from the national park services here.

Unfortunately, we were unable to schedule shuttle services during our visit due to price and availability. But if you have the opportunity to drive the McCarthy Road or take a plane to McCarthy, then do it! I’m sure it’s worth it.

Even if you can’t make it to McCarthy, your trip to Wrangell St. Elias can still be wonderful! Read our sixth day below for the best things to do at Wrangell St. Elias without driving to McCarthy.

Where to Stay

If you’re traveling to McCarthy or Kennicott via the McCarthy Road, obviously stay there. If you’re staying on the outskirts of the park, consider staying near Glenallen or Copper Center. There are a few Airbnbs and bed & breakfasts in the area.

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Day Six – Wrangell St. Elias

Even staying on the very outskirts of this park, there’s so much to do and beauty everywhere you look! That’s Alaska for you!

Starting our time off at Wrangell St. Elias, we stopped at the national park visitor center to view the exhibits and short educational film.

From here, we drove South towards Chitina to hike the Liberty Falls Trail which is located in the Liberty Falls State Recreational Area but offers great views of the towering peaks of Wrangell St. Elias National Park. From here, you can see Mount Wrangell, Mount Blackburn, Mount Sanford, and Mount Drum. The trail ends at an overview of a hidden lake – what’s more perfect than that?

Make sure you stop at the campgrounds below for a view of the Liberty Falls.

Next, we decided to brave the first 2 miles of the McCarthy Road to the Copper River Bridge. From here, we were able to watch the fisherman cast their nets and catch Copper River Salmon (which is some of the most sought after salmon in the world, as per the park ranger). We spent some time taking in the views from the Copper River area, again with a backdrop of some of the highest peaks in North America.

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Day Seven – Drive Back to Anchorage

Our final day in Alaska was spent driving back to Anchorage to catch our evening flight home.

If you’re looking for a fun stop on the way back to Anchorage for some hiking, consider stopping at Hatcher Pass State Park. This area is known for having great alpine lake hikes. However, the day we visited was extremely foggy so we stuck to taking a photo with these dreamy cabins and didn’t venture too far out of the car.

Spending a week in Alaska was a dream and it was so hard to return to the Texas heat. These three Alaska national parks were incredible and our trip only convinces me that we need to visit the other five Alaska national parks.

More Alaska Adventures

More National Park Adventures

• Virgin Islands National Park – The Best of Saint John in Two Days
• The Ultimate Guide to Glacier National Park
• Guadalupe Mountains – The Top of Texas

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