Tips for Planning a Self-Guided Trip to Alaska

Larger than the combination of California, Texas and Montana, Alaska can be either intimidating or exhilarating to independent travelers visiting the USA's northernmost state. With some pre-trip research, self-guided tours can be one of the best ways to discover Alaska's natural beauty without being pinned down to a schedule.

Regions and Weather

Alaska consists of five distinct regions: the Inside Passage, Southcentral, Southwest, Interior and Far North. Southern Alaska and the Inside Passage have mild weather, with average highs in the 60s during summer and average lows rarely going below 0 degrees Fahrenheit in winter; these are the two regions you'll visit if you want your tour to focus on coastal Alaska.

Home to Denali National Park and the towering Mt. McKinley, Alaska's Interior has more extreme weather, with summer highs in the low 70s and average lows in winter dipping to 18 below zero. Tourist destinations in the Far North, much of which is only accessible by plane, include the Arctic communities of Barrow, Nome and Kotzebue.

Getting Around by Land Transport

Self-guided land tour itineraries usually focus on Southcentral and Interior Alaska, although there are connecting roads from the Inside Passage communities of Skagway and Haines to the rest of Alaska via Canadian Yukon territory. Adventurous travelers can also drive past the Arctic Circle to Prudhoe Bay on Dalton Highway.

If you prefer to drive, transport options include rental cars, SUVs, RVs and motor homes. Not all rental companies allow vehicles to travel on gravel roads, so be sure to check your route and the company regulations before booking. Public transportation options include bus and the Alaska Railway.

Getting Around by Boat or Plane

The Alaska Marine Highway System, a system of ferry routes, serves coastal communities in the Inside Passage, Southcentral and Southwest Alaska. By ferry, you can visit Kodiak Island, cross Prince William Sound, and explore the Aleutian island chain. Routes are limited during winter off-season.

Many areas in the Far North and coastal Alaska can only be reached by plane, and others are much more quickly reached by plane than other modes. Small bush planes operate from Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Ketchikan to serve these more remote communities.

Money Saving Tips

For the unprepared traveler, a trip to Alaska can become expensive quite quickly. Whether you drive, fly or arrive by boat, you will have spent a significant amount simply getting there. In order to travel to and around Alaska for less, consider visiting in winter or during the spring and fall shoulder seasons.

May, early June and September are all pleasant times to visit when weather is mild, ferries are running, roads are accessible and accommodation prices tend to be much lower. Although daylight hours are limited in winter, the off-season can be a less crowded and less expensive time to visit the southern regions, especially if you want your self-guided tour to include winter sports like heli-skiing and ice climbing.

References & Further Information

Travel Alaska
Alaska's Scenic Byways
How Big is Alaska?