It seems as though the only choices of flights we have arrive in Anchorage about 1 AM after approximately 12 hours of traveling time.

Don't want to drive too far in an exhausted state, but also don't want to pay a very high price for just a few hours of sleep. Any suggestions? Is airport pickup avaialable at that time?

May be thinking of Girdwood area as our first stop. Would it be impractical to drive there upon arrival? It's about 40 miles, but how is the drive?

Other suggestions?

Last May we, too, arrived in Anchorage very late after flying from the East Coast - after midnight Alaska time but 4 a.m. according to our Eastern Time body clocks! We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express. It's about 2 miles from the airport and they have a 24-hour free airport shuttle. We called from the airport and they arrived within 5 minutes. In the morning we had their free continental breakfast, a dip in their (indoor) pool - the shuttle then took us back to the airport to pick up our rental car. The room was about $75 - that was in May, early in the season, it may be more later. Looking back, we would definitely have been too tired to drive anywhere that night.

We arrived in Anchorage at 11:30 PM and would have been too tired to drive - plus the smaller car rental agency we used were not going to be open that late. So we made reservations at the Regal Alaskan right outside the airport (and right across the street from our rental car company, Affordable), and their shuttle had us picked up and on the way to our room in less than 20 minutes.

Clousie, don't try driving to Girdwood at 1 AM. The road is twisty, but more importantly it's one of the most beautiful 40 miles in the country and it would be a shame to miss it because it's dark (although by the time you're through airport/baggage, etc., it will be 2 or 3 and may be starting to get light.) There are plenty of places (like the Hilton Express) near ANC with shuttles, etc. There are many flights departing ANC in the late night, so it's not all that deserted an area.

Don't try a drive to Girdwood that late at night. There are a number of hotels near the airport and all have 24 hr. shuttles. If you are arriving off season- before about June 1st- rates will be reasonable. Anchorage hotel rates about diuble during the summer season when all the tourists travel. Rooms are hard to come by and they are expensive. Here are the closet hotels: The Regal Alaskan ( they have changed their name but it would be easy to find out what they now are called), Holiday Inn Express, Executive Suites, Courtyard by Marriott, Westcoast International, Puffin Inn ( just added a brand new wing or building, so newer rooms. Ask for new section as other rooms were dated and needed work last time I stayed there.) All of these places are within a 5-10 min ride by shuttle and all are located near each other.

I agree that the drive to Girdwood should be done in daylight hours. When your there, eat at the Seven Glaciers restaurant if you cana - it was pricey, but the best meal I had in Alaska and the view was beautiful.

I used the same reasoning about not wanting to spend alot just to sleep for a few hours, so I stayed at the Days Inn in Anchorage. To be honest, it wasnt the best decision. I found the characters there and in the surrounding neighborhood a little scary. I'm not usually threatened by the grittier sections of a town, but felt like I needed to sleep with one eye open that night. You might want to consider spending a little more than I did for peace of mind's sake.

In June-July at 1am is not going be dark. By the time you get to your hotel in Anchorage you may as well drive to Girdwood. It is a very easy drive and there will be no traffic. We drive there after a long flight via Newark. Get some sleep on the plane and do not drink any alcohol. If you are staying in Bed and Breakfast make sure that they won't luck the doors too early.