driving in alaska
Dec 26th, 2012, 11:01 PM
#1
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driving in alaska
hi,
I'm planning to explore Alaska in early or middle June in 2013 with my family for 10 days (excluding 1 day in the flight). I'm interested in visiting Denali naitonal park, Gates of the Arctic National Park, Fairbanks, Valdez, Steward and Homer. What's the temperature during this time? I think it's still be cool right? Really hope some flowers already start to bloom~ Are 9 days enough to visit these attractions? I will rent a car in Anchorage. Where can i find the distance between each attractions?
Really hope i can get some tips and information here. Thank you!
I'm planning to explore Alaska in early or middle June in 2013 with my family for 10 days (excluding 1 day in the flight). I'm interested in visiting Denali naitonal park, Gates of the Arctic National Park, Fairbanks, Valdez, Steward and Homer. What's the temperature during this time? I think it's still be cool right? Really hope some flowers already start to bloom~ Are 9 days enough to visit these attractions? I will rent a car in Anchorage. Where can i find the distance between each attractions?
Really hope i can get some tips and information here. Thank you!
Dec 27th, 2012, 01:47 AM
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9 days is not enough time for all those places unless you rush. Just google "driving distances in AK" for some info. Here's one website example
http://www.alaskabandb.com/drivingdistances.html
Anchorage to Homer totals 238 miles and a good portion of that has lots to see and do. You'll want to stop at places like Alyeska (tram ride) and Portage. Seward should include an all day boat trip to see glaciers and wildlife. Temps can vary. Some years middle of June is cool. In 2004 on Father's Day weekend there was a heat wave (I was too dumb to think I needed suntan lotion and got a bad sunburn). In mid-June that year we saw nice wildflowers around Independence Mine state park. Very pretty around the overlook just before you get to Homer.
http://www.alaskabandb.com/drivingdistances.html
Anchorage to Homer totals 238 miles and a good portion of that has lots to see and do. You'll want to stop at places like Alyeska (tram ride) and Portage. Seward should include an all day boat trip to see glaciers and wildlife. Temps can vary. Some years middle of June is cool. In 2004 on Father's Day weekend there was a heat wave (I was too dumb to think I needed suntan lotion and got a bad sunburn). In mid-June that year we saw nice wildflowers around Independence Mine state park. Very pretty around the overlook just before you get to Homer.
Dec 27th, 2012, 04:37 AM
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Use Google Maps http://maps.google.com/ for point to point driving distances and driving times. This way you'll see what you're up against.
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Dec 27th, 2012, 08:50 AM
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I've only been to Alaska once, so I'm not the expert some others here are. But I found it difficult to make an itinerary until I changed my attitude about planning, Alaska is not about checking off a list of locations. And every minute spent in the car driving is a minute you a missing something. Sure, you can see some scenery from the road, and it's beautiful. But to really experience Alaska you need to get off the road...by foot, helicopter, plane, boat, or any other mode of trans
Orr.
So I suggest instead of thinking about the attractions you want to see, you should think about what you want to do. Some things to consider: kayaking, walking on a glacier, flight seeing, hiking, photographing wildflowers, going on a bear viewing trip, seeing moose, whale watching, seeing a glacier calve, going gold panning, fishing for salmon or halibut, visiting a sled dog camp, dog sledding on a glacier.
Now, there are different places you can do those things. But if prioritize it helps inform the itinerary.
All that said, keep in mind two more things...
You need at least one entire day to take the shuttle into Denali, so a minimum of 2 nights there, and lots of folks go in twice to have a better chance of seeing wildlife and the mountain.
Gates of the arctic is not accessible by car, and it's very remote. I've not researched, but my guess is that will be the first place to drop off your list. I imagine it would take up 3 or 4 days all by itself.
Orr.
So I suggest instead of thinking about the attractions you want to see, you should think about what you want to do. Some things to consider: kayaking, walking on a glacier, flight seeing, hiking, photographing wildflowers, going on a bear viewing trip, seeing moose, whale watching, seeing a glacier calve, going gold panning, fishing for salmon or halibut, visiting a sled dog camp, dog sledding on a glacier.
Now, there are different places you can do those things. But if prioritize it helps inform the itinerary.
All that said, keep in mind two more things...
You need at least one entire day to take the shuttle into Denali, so a minimum of 2 nights there, and lots of folks go in twice to have a better chance of seeing wildlife and the mountain.
Gates of the arctic is not accessible by car, and it's very remote. I've not researched, but my guess is that will be the first place to drop off your list. I imagine it would take up 3 or 4 days all by itself.
Dec 27th, 2012, 10:00 AM
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> Gates of the arctic is not accessible by car, and it's very remote.
> I've not researched, but my guess is that
> it will be the first place to drop off your list
I just did some preliminary research, and Gates of the Arctic IS the place to drop off your list.
http://www.nps.gov/gaar/planyourvisit/directions.htm
It is NOT a place you just go to and check off your list; it requires weeks of planning and preparation, followed by an air drop into the Park, followed by several days in a place that pushes the limit of anyone's survival skills.
Anything you can do at Gates of the Arctic, you can do MUCH more easily, safely, and inexpensively at Denali NP. And wilderness time even at THAT (much less remote) place will be a challenge for almost everyone.
Except for Gates of the Arctic, your choices are excellent.
> I've not researched, but my guess is that
> it will be the first place to drop off your list
I just did some preliminary research, and Gates of the Arctic IS the place to drop off your list.
http://www.nps.gov/gaar/planyourvisit/directions.htm
It is NOT a place you just go to and check off your list; it requires weeks of planning and preparation, followed by an air drop into the Park, followed by several days in a place that pushes the limit of anyone's survival skills.
Anything you can do at Gates of the Arctic, you can do MUCH more easily, safely, and inexpensively at Denali NP. And wilderness time even at THAT (much less remote) place will be a challenge for almost everyone.
Except for Gates of the Arctic, your choices are excellent.
Dec 27th, 2012, 10:23 AM
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By now, you probably have the driving distances figured out, so you'll need to get organized as far as where you're going and when. Some of what you want to see is in opposite directions. Here are some possibilities:
First day out of Anchorage: You can drive down to the Whittier/Seward/Homer area. It's not too long a drive, so it won't be a killer on the first day. As others have mentioned, you probably will want to take the one-day glacier cruise, and then see some other sights. That means you'll probably be staying in the area for, maybe, two nights.
Now, if you're going to drive up to Denali and Fairbanks, you'll be doing a bit of backtracking -- back through Anchorage and then northeast. That means you'll have a pretty hefty drive to Denali. The next day, you can do a park wildlife tour. Some people say to do the early a.m. tour to see the most wildlife, but we did the afternoon and saw tons of wildlife. Then stay overnight (meaning a minimum of two nights in Denali). Then a not-too-long drive to Fairbanks. Not sure what you're interested in seeing there -- the city isn't all that great, but there's a fun paddle boat tour on the river and the U of A has an interesting native museum.
At this point, you're into about 5-6 days of your trip, and you haven't explored the Anchorage area, which as some interesting attractions, or maybe Girdwood, where you can take the ski lift the the top of the mountain. As you can see, that doesn't leave you a lot of extra time.
Weather? Hmmm. I've been there in early July, and hit decent weather most of the time -- 70s. However, the day we went to the Seward/Whittier area, there was a cold rain that pierced your bones.
First day out of Anchorage: You can drive down to the Whittier/Seward/Homer area. It's not too long a drive, so it won't be a killer on the first day. As others have mentioned, you probably will want to take the one-day glacier cruise, and then see some other sights. That means you'll probably be staying in the area for, maybe, two nights.
Now, if you're going to drive up to Denali and Fairbanks, you'll be doing a bit of backtracking -- back through Anchorage and then northeast. That means you'll have a pretty hefty drive to Denali. The next day, you can do a park wildlife tour. Some people say to do the early a.m. tour to see the most wildlife, but we did the afternoon and saw tons of wildlife. Then stay overnight (meaning a minimum of two nights in Denali). Then a not-too-long drive to Fairbanks. Not sure what you're interested in seeing there -- the city isn't all that great, but there's a fun paddle boat tour on the river and the U of A has an interesting native museum.
At this point, you're into about 5-6 days of your trip, and you haven't explored the Anchorage area, which as some interesting attractions, or maybe Girdwood, where you can take the ski lift the the top of the mountain. As you can see, that doesn't leave you a lot of extra time.
Weather? Hmmm. I've been there in early July, and hit decent weather most of the time -- 70s. However, the day we went to the Seward/Whittier area, there was a cold rain that pierced your bones.
Dec 27th, 2012, 11:26 PM
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hi,
Dfrostnh's link is really great and clear! Thanks a lot and thanks for so many useful replies!
I won't spend days in anchorage, perhaps only my last night~ I'm thinking to spend two days in Denali and one day kenai fjords. Does kenai fjords have bald eagles? And I'm also thinking about taking a closer look at glacier, perhaps in Exit Glacier.
Dfrostnh's link is really great and clear! Thanks a lot and thanks for so many useful replies!
I won't spend days in anchorage, perhaps only my last night~ I'm thinking to spend two days in Denali and one day kenai fjords. Does kenai fjords have bald eagles? And I'm also thinking about taking a closer look at glacier, perhaps in Exit Glacier.
Jan 18th, 2013, 09:42 AM
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My recommendation (with the amount of time you have) would be fly into Fairbanks. Check out the Riverboat Discovery and El Dorado Goldmine.
Drive to Denali and do a day trip in the park (the shuttle buses are a much better deal than the tour buses and they allow you to get on and off in the park).
Drive south to Seward (maybe staying overnight in Anchorage if you don't feel like driving the whole distance in one day). En route you can stop in Girdwood for the Alyeska Tram or at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Other options en route include river rafting at Six-Mile Creek, or if you like fishing, Cooper Landing could be a good place to try that time of year.
A couple nights in Seward. Good attractions are a Kenai Fjords cruise by Major Marine, the Sealife Center, Ididaride kennel, Exit Glacier, fishing, kayaking.
Then you can return to Anchorage to fly home. If you don't drive yourself, some companies that provide transportation along these routes are the Alaska Railroad, alaskacoach.com, alaskashuttle.com, and akcruiseshuttle.com.
Drive to Denali and do a day trip in the park (the shuttle buses are a much better deal than the tour buses and they allow you to get on and off in the park).
Drive south to Seward (maybe staying overnight in Anchorage if you don't feel like driving the whole distance in one day). En route you can stop in Girdwood for the Alyeska Tram or at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Other options en route include river rafting at Six-Mile Creek, or if you like fishing, Cooper Landing could be a good place to try that time of year.
A couple nights in Seward. Good attractions are a Kenai Fjords cruise by Major Marine, the Sealife Center, Ididaride kennel, Exit Glacier, fishing, kayaking.
Then you can return to Anchorage to fly home. If you don't drive yourself, some companies that provide transportation along these routes are the Alaska Railroad, alaskacoach.com, alaskashuttle.com, and akcruiseshuttle.com.
Jan 18th, 2013, 10:23 AM
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I would fly into Anchorage and cross Fairbanks off your list. Driving from Anchorage to Seward on Turn AgainArm is just a beautiful drive. Once in Seward you can take a boat tour of the Glaciers and watch them cave, you can take a dog sled ride with Mitch Seavey http://www.ididaride.com/ Somewhere along that road you can mine for gold You see many Bald Eagles. You can then continue to Homer.....so many choices....Coming back (or before you go) you can visit Denali and if the budget allows, fly by float plane around Mt McKinley, land on a lake and experience the stillness of it all.
You see many Bald Eagles. You can then continue to Homer.....so many choices....Coming back (or before you go) you can visit Denali and if the budget allows, fly by float plane around Mt McKinley, land on a lake and experience the stillness of it all.
Jan 18th, 2013, 11:02 AM
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Missed your question in late December. There's a lot of eagles around Homer. I don't recall seeing eagles around Seward and on the Kenai Fjords trip but the closeness we got to other things was amazing. Watching the orcas diving in unison was incredible and we got close enough to a humpback whale to smell whale breath.
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