Day 1 Anchorage
Spend the day exploring Alaska’s biggest city. There is lots to do: Visit the museums, rent a bike to cruise along the Toni Knowles Coastal Trail, explore the downtown area by foot or enjoy watching people while sitting outside in a restaurant. Anchorage is both, urban and wild at the same time.
Day 2 Anchorage to Denali (231 miles)
Drive on the Glenn Highway and Parks Highway to Denali National Park. Enjoy the spectacular scenery along the way. Weather permitting you can catch a great view of Mt. Denali.
Day 3 Denali National Park
In the morning, you take a 4.5 hour bus tour into Denali National Park. This is one of your best opportunities to spot wildlife, including bears, moose, foxes or caribou. While the ride on the park shuttle bus is not narrated, it gives you the freedom to get off the bus and do some hiking and afterwards taking a different bus back to the park entrance.
Day 4 Denali to Fairbanks (125 miles)
Explore the Denali area a little more before you head on to Fairbanks. The short 3hr drive allows you plenty of time to explore the Golden Heart City and the surroundings. Fairbanks is no pulsing metropolis, but it does offer some interesting diversions and a scenic location at the shores of the Chena River. Overnight in downtown or a lodge near Fairbanks.
Day 5 Fairbanks
Day at your leisure. You may want to drive to the Chena Hot Springs, 60 miles north of Fairbanks. Next to the Chena Hot Springs Road, moose can be spotted in the many rivers and ponds. Take advantage of a variety of activities at the Chena Hot Springs Resort, including hiking, hot spring baths, ice museum viewing, horseback riding, ATV riding, and many more.
Day 6 Fairbanks to Paxson / Denali Hwy
(133-217 miles)
Drive the Richardson Highway south. As you leave Fairbanks, you follow the Tanana and the Delta Rivers up into the Alaska Range mountains. Stop and watch the salmon spawn on the other side of the pass and take in the impressive landscape! overnight will be south of Delta Junction or further south and 40 miles into the Denali Highway. Explore this true Alaskan gravel road, which only a few tourists get to see, on your own pace. Only the first 20 miles are paved and the Highway offers incredible views and some nice hiking opportunities
Day 7 Paxson/Denali Hwy to McCarthy/Kennicott (237 miles)
Drive southward to Chitina. On McCarthy Road, a true Alaska gravel road, you will drive 60 more miles to McCarthy and park just before the village. There are no cars allowed in McCarthy/Kennicott. The old gold-mining town of McCarthy has a current year-round population of 35 and offers a rustic but very charming atmosphere.
Optional: Instead of driving the gravel road to McCarthy, it is also possible to include a round trip flight from Chitina to McCarthy.
Day 8 McCarthy/Kennicott
Spend the day at your own leisure. Wrangell St. Elias National Park is the largest National Park in the US. 9 of the 16 highest peaks in North America are located in this park. Visit the copper-mining ghost town of Kennicott. Hike along the Root Glacier or enjoy some of the best flightseeing in Alaska.
Day 9 McCarthy to Matanuska/Palmer Area (202 – 274 miles)
After your return trip to Chitina drive back to Glennallen and onwards on the Glenn Highway, declared as National Scenice Byway in 2002, to the Sheep Mountain or Palmer area. Scenic views of mountains as well as the Matanuska Glacier will showcase nature’s beauty today.
Overnight in the Matanuska- or Palmer Area.
Day 10 Matanuska/Palmer to Seward (169 – 240 miles)
The Glenn Highway closely parallels the Matanuska River towards Anchorage and after a possible lunch stop in Alaska’s biggest city, you continue southward on the Seward Highway to Seward. The highway offers outstanding sightseeing and wildlife viewing opportunities, including spawning salmon and a number of good hiking trails. Seward is a small fishing village with an excellent aquarium, the Alaska SeaLife Center.
** Want to have a very special experience in the Kenai Fjords area? Add a couple of nights to your trip and stay at : Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge.
Day 11 Seward to Kenai (90 miles)
Today you will join the Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise Tour, another highlight of your trip. This whale-watching/glacier cruise takes you to Holgate Glacier. On route you will discover the diverse marine wildlife. A cold lunch is included. After your cruise, depart Seward for the drive to the Kenai Area.
Day 12 Kenai to Homer (83 miles)
Continue your drive on the Sterling Highway or along the coast to the town of Homer. Homer is a fishing village, but it is also home to a veritable colony of artists and musicians who peddle their wares along the Homer spit.
Day 13 Homer
Day at your leisure in Homer. There are plenty of things to keep you occupied in Homer: Fishing charters, a visit to Halibut Cove, a stroll on the Spit, kayaking adventures or even bear viewing trips to the Katmai Coast.
Day 14 Homer to Anchorage
(233 miles)
Return on the Sterling and Seward Highways to Anchorage. Leave the rivers and lakes behind, and return to the big city.
Day 15 Anchorage
Return your rental car and depart Anchorage.
