12 Best Day Trips from Anchorage, Alaska
If you’re headed to Anchorage, Alaska, I imagine you may not want to only spend time in Anchorage. I’m a big fan of the “home base” when I travel—staying in one place and taking day trips to limit the number of times I have to unpack, re-pack, and move my stuff from destination to destination. You can definitely see a LOT by staying in Anchorage and taking a few day trips to see new places.
In case you didn’t know, my partner, Korri, loves Alaska and the Anchorage area in particular. There’s a reason why he picked Alaska as the destination for his milestone birthday trip last summer! He’s spent every summer with his grandparents in Anchorage from junior high school through high school (and even went to college there), so he knows the area well.
With Korri’s expertise (along with some photos taken by my brother’s girlfriend on their own trip to Alaska just a couple of weeks before ours), I rounded up 12 of the best day trips from Anchorage, Alaska. This list was largely based off of where we visited on our trip to Alaska last summer but also includes a bunch of other spots worth considering (and that I’d definitely like to explore next time!).
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12 Best Day Trips from Anchorage
Anchorage is the perfect city in Alaska to call your home base because there’s a large international airport with plenty of flight options, lots of places to stay in town, and many things to do and see within a relatively short drive. Below, I rounded up 12 day trip ideas from Anchorage: seven that are north of Anchorage and five that are south of Anchorage.
Any one-way trip that takes longer than about 2.5 hours is, in my opinion, too long to comfortably be a day trip, so all of these ideas take that into consideration (most are driving trips, some involve flying). There’s an interactive map at the end of the post so you can visualize where each location is and plan your trip accordingly!
Day Trips North of Anchorage
1. Talkeetna
Travel time: 2 hour, 10 minute drive one way
Activities: Scenic flights around Denali, river float trip, shopping, sightseeing
If you don’t have the time to explore Denali National Park during your trip to Alaska, you can still try to see the mountain on a day trip from Anchorage. Double check the Denali web camera to see the visibility, then head north to Talkeetna to (hopefully!) see a view of Denali, the tallest mountain in North America at 20,156 feet.
The Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge has a great view of Denali (and Talkeetna airport) from behind the lodge and restaurant. Then, head into town and walk along the main street, full of fun local shops, restaurants, and tour companies that operate private and group flights up to and around Denali aboard bush planes. The flight itself ranges from about 1 to 2 hours round trip, so you can definitely fit it into a day trip! The longer flights include landing on a glacier, so dress warm.
At the end of the main road in town is the convergence of the Talkeetna River and the Susitna River. You can also see Denali from that vantage point if it’s not obscured by clouds. Want even more adventure? Book a float trip that takes you for a ride on both rivers!
2. Willow & Dog Sledding
Travel time: 1 hour, 20 minute drive one way (50 minutes south of Talkeetna)
Activities: Dog sledding, sightseeing
No matter the time of year you visit Alaska, you can day trip north from Anchorage to Willow to experience dog sledding (and meet the dogs)! These small group tours range from 1.5 to 2 hours or up to 5 hours if you also want to combine it with snowmobiling (2 hours dog sledding, lunch, then 3 hours snowmobiling).
Willow is less than an hour south of Talkeetna, so it’d be easy to combine both locations into one very long day if you’re up for the adventure.
3. Hatcher Pass
Travel time: 1 hour, 20 minute drive one way
Activities: ATV tours, Independence Mine, hiking, sightseeing, panning for gold
Located in the Talkeetna Mountains north of Anchorage, Hatcher Pass is the perfect place for enjoying the outdoors and taking in the beauty of Alaska! Drive up and over the pass (at over 3,000 feet) to Summit Lake for beautiful views of a glacial lake. There are a number of hikes in the area, and you can also book ATV tours on heated and enclosed ATVs.
Be sure to also check out the Independence Mine State Historical Park. You can’t visit the mine, but local company Salmon Berry offers inexpensive 45-minute tours through some of the historical buildings from mid-June through September, and there is a visitor center and gift shop. Panning for gold is also allowed with a pan and shovel only.
4. Matanuska Glacier
Travel time: 2 hour drive one way
Activities: Guided tour on the glacier, whitewater rafting
The Matanuska Glacier is the most easily-accessible glacier in Alaska located two hours north of Anchorage just off of the Glenn Highway. You can see the glacier from the road at the scenic turnout or cross the Matanuska River to explore the glacier up close on a guided tour.
By up close, I mean it! On your tour, you’ll get the chance to walk through the ice cliffs and on top of the glacier itself. All ages and abilities are welcome. Be sure to dress warm! Of note, the Matanuska Glacier Park is privately owned, and a per-person entry fee applies ($55 per person for those 17 and older) and is not included in the price of the tour.
If you’re a whitewater junkie, book whitewater rafting along the Lions Head portion of the Matanuska River. This portion features Class III and IV rapids—nature’s rollercoaster!
5. Butte & Reindeer Farm
Travel time: 50 minute drive one way
Activities: Reindeer Farm, horseback trail riding, hiking, sightseeing
How cool would it be to see reindeer on your trip to Anchorage?! Less than an hour north of the city is the small town of Butte, Alaska, home to Reindeer Farm. Enjoy guided experiences all year-round, including extra special fun during the holiday season. During these experiences, you get to feed the reindeer. In the summer, longer tours with more animal interaction are available.
While in Butte, you could also hike the summit just north of the Reindeer Farm for a panoramic view of the Mat-Su Valley. There are two trails, the South Butte (Sandvik Family Trail) and West Butte (the latter has a bigger parking lot). The South Butte trail has better views on the way up and down but a more difficult scramble to the top. Bring cash to pay for parking.
In my research, I also found that year-round scenic horseback trail rides and winter sleigh rides are available via Alaska Horse Adventures on the east end of Butte. Choose from 1.5-hour or 3-hour trail rides through the Knik River Valley.
If you want to visit even more animals on your day trip to Butte, drive north 15 minutes into Palmer to visit the Musk Ox Farm. Tours of the farm are offered year-round, and there is also a gift shop. Check their website for events that may be happening around the time of your trip.
Butte could also be a stop on your way to or from Matanuska Glacier, as it’s located almost halfway in between Anchorage and the glacier (just need to detour east of Palmer).
6. Eklutna Lake
Travel time: 50 minute drive one way
Activities: Hiking, kayaking, biking, sightseeing
If you’re headed to Alaska hoping to enjoy some time in or around a lake, head up to Eklutna Lake (pronounced eh-KLOOT-nuh) for stunning views (naturally) and tons of outdoor adventure options. This is a 7-mile-long glacier-fed lake located within Chugach State Park. (I saw it from the plane window when we were descending into Anchorage!)
Rent kayaks or bikes and get to exploring the lake! There are also a bunch of hiking trails around the lake, and guided tours are also available. Rentals and tours are available daily from early-mid May through late September, and many guided tours also include transportation from Anchorage.
7. Knik Glacier
Travel time: 1 hour drive one way to Alaska Glacier Lodge
Activities: Helicopter tour, paddle boarding, ice climbing, dog sledding, kayaking, sightseeing
Located in the Chugach Mountains north of Anchorage, Knik Glacier is HUGE—over 5 miles across and 28 miles long. You can either stay on land (safari truck then jet boat) to see the glacier up close or catch a helicopter from the Alaska Glacier Lodge, see the glacier from the sky, and land on it (then enjoy more adventure while you’re there, such as paddleboarding or ice climbing).
Browse all of the helicopter tour options available for Knik Glacier or check out the less expensive land-based tour. After seeing the glacier, spend the rest of your day kayaking or paddle boarding the Knik River.
Day Trips South of Anchorage
8. Flattop Mountain
Travel time: 30 minute drive one way from downtown Anchorage
Activities: Hiking, sightseeing
If you’re looking for a fun day trip idea very close to Anchorage and want to be active, head southeast of town to the Glen Alps/Flattop Mountain trail head. According to Korri, this area is likely the most popular hiking spot in the whole state. There are a number of hiking trails and beautiful views for miles. Note that the trail to the Flattop Mountain summit is more on the moderate side and not for beginner hikers.
As you would with any other hike in Alaska, be sure to dress appropriately (wear or bring layers!), wear sunscreen and bug repellant, bring lots of water, and keep an eye out for bears and other wildlife.
9. Turnagain Arm (Alyeska, Girdwood)
Travel time: 1 hour drive one way to the end of Turnagain Arm
Activities: Beluga Point, Alyeska aerial tram, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, hiking, biking, shopping, sightseeing
The Seward Highway south of Anchorage takes you along the Turnagain Arm. You’ll see mountains on the north side, water on the south side, and more rugged mountains on the other side of the water. The Turnagain Arm is known for the bore tide that happens twice daily.
There is lots to explore along the north side of the Turnagain Arm, including a plethora of hikes (note that most are difficult hikes that you need to plan hours to complete). Stop by Beluga Point to look for beluga whales! Then, drive to Alyeska Resort and take the aerial tram up to the top of Mount Alyeska for incredible views of the valley. (You could ski here too!)
Stop in Girdwood to fuel up! We enjoyed pizza at Coast Pizza (tip: it’s less expensive to buy a full pizza if you’re feeding a group versus everyone getting slices), ice cream at The Ice Cream Shop, and coffee drinks from Alpine Bakery. There are also quirky gift shops and a gas station.
Keep going to the end of Turnagain Arm to find the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a home for orphaned and injured animals. Tours are offered, and some of the tours even include animal encounters. You can book tours of Turnagain Arm that include a stop at the conservation center.
If you have time in your day, keep driving towards Whittier to see the Portage Valley and Portage Lake. It is gorgeous! If you don’t have a car, consider this tour of Turnagain Arm that includes round-trip transportation AND a visit to Portage Valley.
You’ll drive through Turnagain Arm and Girdwood on your way to Whittier or Seward, so you can add some of these stops to the same trip if you have time in your day.
10. Whittier
Travel time: 1 hour, 20 minute drive one way (includes a tunnel)
Activities: Glacier day tours, hiking, sightseeing
Drive a little over an hour south of Anchorage to see the town of Whittier. To get there, you have to drive through a 2.5-mile-long one-lane tunnel through the mountains. As you drive up to the tunnel, you pay the toll fee (it’s a round-trip fare based on the type of vehicle you’re driving), and then you have to wait for the light to turn green before entering the tunnel.
We luckily showed up to the tunnel when the light was green, so we didn’t have to wait, but you may have to wait for a while, so be prepared for that. Because it’s a one-lane tunnel and the train stops in Whittier, you drive over the train tracks in the ground.
Whittier sits at the end of Passage Canal, and it’s known for being the town in Alaska where all of the residents live in the same building. There are only a couple hundred residents, and there are shops and places to eat inside the building, too. It basically looks like a large apartment building.
Drive past the creepy-looking Buckner Building and then up Shotgun Cove Road to the Lu Young Park and Public Beach to see the landscape and take photos. There are some hikes in the area, or you can book a glacier day tour that departs from Whittier!
On your way back to Anchorage, stop to take photos at Portage Lake (just outside the toll entrance on the west side of the mountain) and then stop again in Girdwood if needed for sustenance.
11. Seward & Kenai Fjords National Park
Travel time: 2 hour (2 hour, 30 minute in winter) drive one-way
Activities: Kenai Fjords National Park day cruise, fishing, kayaking
Seward is a beautiful town located on Resurrection Bay. It’s a popular spot because there is a cruise port, and it’s the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. You can drive to the Exit Glacier viewpoint (20 minutes from Seward), but otherwise, to see the park, you’ll need to book a boat tour and see it from the water.
We booked a Kenai Fjords day cruise with Kenai Fjords Tours because they’re the OG Kenai Fjords National Park cruise operator. There are a few other competitors, including Major Marine and private cruise options.
We chose the 7-hour Captain’s Choice tour with Kenai Fjords Tours. During our tour, the captain had the freedom to take us to the best spots to see a variety of wildlife plus an active glacier. They kind of make the tour up as they go, which makes it fun and exciting (and different every time)!
It was such a great cruise! We saw so much wildlife, including orcas and humpback whales bubble net feeding. They served us a quick lunch on board (included with our ticket). Our captain, Emma from Kansas, really loved her job. She was fantastic at pointing out the wildlife and sharing cool facts and history! She also took us to Aialik Glacier, which calved a bit while we were there. Calving is the craziest sound.
Don’t forget to stamp your national parks passport book at the Kenai Fjords visitor center before leaving Seward.
Other things to do in Seward include checking out the Alaska SeaLife Center (fun for kids!), fishing, and kayaking!
12. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve or Katmai National Park
Travel time: 10-11 hours round trip to Lake Clark or Katmai by plane
Activities: Wildlife viewing (including bears), hiking, sightseeing
I kind of cheated with this last day trip by including TWO national parks, but I couldn’t decide between the two and figured I’d just include both and you can decide which park works best for you! (Maybe you’ll be able to spend time in both parks?!) I’d love to visit both some day.
Day trips (or overnight trips) to Lake Clark National Park or Katmai National Park are considered once-in-a-lifetime experiences by many because they are very rugged and expensive to travel to and explore. Both require flights on small planes, and most operators fly from Anchorage (but you can also day trip to Katmai from Homer). In both parks, you have the opportunity to see breathtaking natural beauty and tons of wildlife, including bears!
Lake Clark: This day trip offered by Lake Clark Resort starts at Merrill Field in downtown Anchorage. After a scenic flight through Lake Clark Pass, you’ll stop by Lake Clark Resort for a box lunch and finish the day with hikes before flying back to Anchorage Merrill Field. This option is less expensive than flying to Katmai National Park. Rust’s Flying Service also operates a day trip.
Katmai: There are multiple operators offering day trips from Anchorage to Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park. These full-day adventures include 1 hour, 45 minute float plane flights from and to Lake Hood and a few hours spent watching bears in Katmai. On your way, you’ll get to see volcanos and glaciers! Check out these options: Katmai Air / Fly Katmai / Rust’s Flying Service
📌 Pin the image below to your Pinterest for easy reference later!
More PNW and Canadian west coast destinations:
Thank you so much to my brother’s girlfriend, Maya, for allowing me to use her photos of their Denali flight and glacier landing, Matanuska Glacier, and Knik Glacier from their epic family Alaska trip in June 2025!