USA: Roundtrip Alaska

Alaska is an excellent destination for a road trip. You’ll drive through broad river valleys, past glaciers and mountain ranges, with regular opportunities to spot wildlife along the way. This 12-day round trip from Anchorage takes you to Valdez, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Homer, and more.

This example itinerary is based on a trip our colleague Rianne took with her parents and younger sister. They traveled in a Jeep Wrangler with a rooftop tent and covered approximately 1,550 mi (2,500 km). Below, we share her personal experiences and tips from the road.

Day 1: Anchorage
Jet lag gets our first day off to an early start. We visit the visitor center and the Anchorage Museum, then spend the rest of the morning exploring Anchorage. In the afternoon, we pick up our Jeep Wrangler with a rooftop tent and kitchenette. After that, the road trip can really begin.

Rianne’s tip: Stock up on groceries and other essentials in Anchorage before setting off. Distances in Alaska are long, and services become more limited outside the larger towns.

Day 2: Anchorage – Valdez, approx. 300 mi (480 km) – 5.5 hours
We follow the Glenn Highway toward Valdez. Allow more time for this drive than the actual driving time, as you’ll want to stop regularly along the way. We quickly discover why when, after a lunch stop, we spot our first black bear beside the road. Near Thompson Pass, we see another two brown bears in the distance. The descent toward Valdez takes us between mountains and past waterfalls before reaching Prince William Sound.

Rianne’s tip: If possible, take turns driving on longer travel days. And keep your eyes open along the way: we spotted our first bears simply from the car.

Day 3: Valdez
Today, the vehicle stays parked. From Valdez, you can explore Prince William Sound by boat and cruise toward Columbia Glacier. Along the way, you may see sea otters, seabirds, and other wildlife. A boat trip takes up a large part of the day, which makes spending a second night in Valdez a convenient choice.

Rianne’s tip: Bring warm, waterproof clothing. Even when the weather in Valdez is pleasant, temperatures can be considerably cooler out on the water and near the ice.

Day 4: Valdez – Chitina, approx. 118 mi (190 km) – 2 hr 15 min + flight to McCarthy
We leave early and are rewarded with a moose crossing the road in front of our vehicle. We follow the Richardson and Edgerton Highways to Chitina, where we leave our Jeep.

From here, we take a small plane to McCarthy in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Seeing the landscape from the air really puts the scale of this part of Alaska into perspective. After arriving, we visit the historic Kennecott mining area and spend the night in McCarthy.

By road, McCarthy is reached via the approximately 59 mi (95 km) McCarthy Road. This gravel road is remote and has very limited services. The National Park Service also advises against taking large RVs on this road. If you are traveling in a rental vehicle, always check whether driving on McCarthy Road is permitted under your rental agreement.

Rianne’s tip: For us, the flight wasn’t just transportation; it was part of the experience. If you have limited time or cannot or prefer not to drive McCarthy Road, flying is a great way to visit this area.

There are two main ways to travel toward McCarthy:

• By road: If you have more time and a vehicle that is permitted and suitable for this type of road, you can drive the well-known McCarthy Road. It runs from Chitina toward McCarthy and Kennecott. The approximately 59 mi (95 km) gravel road is remote and generally takes around 2–3 hours to drive one way. Check current road conditions and your rental company’s restrictions before setting out.

• By plane: If you have less time or would rather not drive the gravel road, you can fly to McCarthy in a small plane. The flight itself is part of the experience, taking you over the national park while the pilot points out features in the landscape below. The flight takes approximately 30 minutes.

Day 5: McCarthy – Chitina – Gakona, approx. 81 mi (130 km) – 1 hr 15 min driving + flight
The morning is all about Root Glacier. Wearing crampons and accompanied by a guide, we spend several hours walking on the ice. Afterward, we fly back to Chitina and continue by road to Gakona.

Rianne’s tip: Walking on the ice was one of the most memorable experiences of our trip. Going with a guide also means you learn much more about the glacier and surrounding landscape along the way.

Day 6: Gakona – Fairbanks, approx. 236 mi (380 km) – 4 hr 15 min
We follow the Richardson Highway to Fairbanks. Along the way, we stop at Rainbow Ridge and regularly see sections of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. In Fairbanks, the long summer days make it clear just how far north you’ve traveled: around midsummer, it stays light for almost the entire night. Fairbanks is the northernmost stop on this road trip.

Rianne’s tip: Bring a sleep mask. During our trip, it stayed light so late into the night that having a way to block out the light was definitely useful.

Want to spend more time exploring Alaska and Canada? Our example itinerary combining Canada and Alaska shows how you can visit both destinations on one trip.

Day 7: Fairbanks – Denali, approx. 124 mi (200 km) – 2 hr 15 min
After a relaxed breakfast, we visit a few more places in Fairbanks. We then head south along the Parks Highway to Denali, where we stay for two nights. Spending two nights in the same place gives you a full day to explore Denali National Park tomorrow without having to cover a long distance before or after your visit.

Rianne’s tip: Have an extra day? You could go rafting on the Nenana River in the Denali area.

Day 8: Denali National Park
Today, we visit Denali National Park. Large sections of Denali Park Road are not accessible by private vehicle, so for many visitors, a park bus is the best way to travel farther into the park.

Access along the Park Road is currently limited because of the Pretty Rocks Landslide. During the 2026 summer season, transit and tour buses travel as far as the East Fork area at Mile 43. Always check the current bus routes and schedules for your travel dates, as access can change.

During our excursion, we see Dall sheep, a grizzly bear, and caribou. Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, of course, but that unpredictability is part of what makes a day in Denali so interesting.

Rianne’s tip: Bring binoculars. Many animals are a considerable distance from the road and can be difficult to see clearly with the naked eye.

Day 9: Denali – Palmer, approx. 199 mi (320 km) – 3.5 hours
We follow the Parks Highway toward Palmer. On clear days, there are several places along the route where you can look toward Denali. At 20,310 ft (6,190 m), it is the highest mountain in North America. Around Palmer, you can visit a reindeer farm or take an excursion toward Knik Glacier.

Rianne’s tip: Keep your camera and binoculars within easy reach even on regular driving days. In Alaska, an ordinary roadside stop can unexpectedly turn into a wildlife sighting.

Day 10: Palmer – Homer, approx. 267 mi (430 km) – 5 hours
We travel via Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula and continue to Homer. Along parts of the route, you can look across Cook Inlet, and on clear days, several volcanoes are visible on the opposite side. Homer sits on Kachemak Bay and is particularly known for Homer Spit, the long strip of land extending into the bay. We stay by the water and spot seals, bald eagles, and otters from our accommodation.

Rianne’s tip: Try to find a place to stay on or close to the water in Homer. We sometimes didn’t even have to leave our spot to see wildlife.

Day 11: Homer
Today, the Jeep stays parked. Various fishing, wildlife, and flightseeing excursions depart from Homer. We choose a bear-viewing excursion by small plane. After a flight of around an hour, we land in a remote coastal area. Together with an experienced guide, we set out on foot to look for brown bears. For us, it is one of the highlights of the trip.

You can also encounter bears unexpectedly while hiking or at campgrounds in Alaska. Before your trip, read the official bear safety information from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Rianne’s tip: If you want to take a bear-viewing excursion during your trip, book well in advance. Also leave some flexibility in your itinerary, as flights and wildlife excursions are always dependent on weather and local conditions.

Day 12: Homer – Anchorage, approx. 224 mi (360 km) – 4 hr 15 min
The final driving day takes us back to Anchorage. Along the way, you can include stops you didn’t have time for earlier in the trip. In Anchorage, we return our vehicle according to the rental company’s instructions. Afterward, there is still time to pick up a souvenir before ending the trip with pizza at Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria. After approximately 1,550 mi (2,500 km), several glaciers, long summer days, and plenty of wildlife sightings, our Alaska road trip comes to an end.

Rianne’s tip: When returning your vehicle, take photos of both the interior and exterior and always follow your rental company’s return instructions. Procedures can vary by rental company and location.

Good to know before your Alaska road trip

• Summer is the most popular season for an RV trip through Alaska. The long days are ideal for a road trip, but this is also the busiest travel season. It is therefore a good idea to reserve your rental RV, popular campgrounds, and excursions well in advance.

• After your international flight, you can use your first night in Anchorage to recover from the journey, stock up on groceries, and explore the city before starting your road trip. It is also worth researching campgrounds and RV sites ahead of time, especially if you are traveling during peak season.

• Alaska is bear country. Before your trip, read the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s official information about traveling and camping safely in bear country.

• Traveling through Alaska requires a little more preparation than many other RV destinations. Distances are long, cell service can be limited outside populated areas, and gas stations can be far apart on remote routes. Fill up your tank in time and download maps for offline use.

• Pay close attention to the conditions of your rental RV as well. Our RV rental in Anchorage page explains that restrictions may apply to driving on unpaved and non-public roads. Always check the conditions of the specific rental company and vehicle you choose.