In 2017 we rented an RV and drove around Alaska for 10 days. Driving was great, though if I were to do it again, i'd just get a car and stay in hotel rooms. We started in Anchorage where we picked up the RV, then went to Denali for a few days, stopped in Talkeetna on the way back to Anchorage where we took the scenic alaska railroad to Whittier, where we took a 3-hour glacier boat tour. Then we drove to Seward where we stayed for several days. We did a glacier kayaking excursion, went to the wildlife center, and just hung out in Seward, which is beautiful. We stopped at Exit glacier on the way there and spent a day hiking. We ended the trip by hiking the glacier at Aleyeska resort, and then going to the wild animal preserve between Alyeska and anchorage. I highly recommend driving and then going out on the water on day trips, versus taking a big cruise ship. I am dying to go back, it was incredible.

We rented a car in Anchorage, drove through Denali and up to Fairbanks, then back to Anchorage and too a train to Seward. Fairly easy. But much of Alaska requires bush planes.

I would check out Danika (Girl In Alaska) on Instagram. She lives in Anchorage and organizes trips. (Did not do ours, I learned of her later)

Do the small plane site seeing flight that goes to the summit of Denali and then lands the mountain side glacier on the way back down.
I got for my wife and our teen son.
You literally have to wear an oxygen mask during the flight.

We did 2 weeks with a rental car last summer and it was incredible! TripAdvisor’s Alaska forum has a really dedicated group that will advise on ideas and itineraries. I basically planned our whole trip using that and we had a blast.

Yes definitely, especially in summer. I went late May. Rented a car in Anchorage and did some car day trips and a train day trip. Then train to Fairbanks. Rented a car and did some day trips. Flew home from Fairbanks.

Do it gurl.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we flew into Anchorage and rented a car. Getting around was pretty easy. We drove to Seward and did a wildlife viewing day cruise, hiking, and a short guided kayaking trip. Drove up to Denali, rode the park bus and saw a lot of wildlife and did a little hiking. Also did a lot of short hikes around Anchorage. We are not hard core hikers but had a great time. Basically, if you can drive and hike in the DC area you can totally handle Alaska. 😉

We did a similar trip, stopping for a few nights in Talkeetna before heading to Denali (the TV show Northern Exposure was based on Talkeetna). We did at ATV/homestead trip and white water rafting (in dry suits) while there. We also visited a musk ox farm near Anchorage that was pretty cool.

You could also do Anchorage, up to Denali and then back down and do the road to Valdez and then put your car on a ferry to get back to Anchorage. I did one trip to Alaska and went to Anchorage, Seward, Matanuska Glacier and Denali. Matanuska Glacier was on the road to Valdez but we did not get to do the entire drive, which is supposed to be beautiful. This is the company we used for our glacier hike/ice climbing. They were amazing. Highly recommend (it is not that far from Anchorage). https://micaguides.com/glacier_adventures/

Rough Itinerary depending on your interests could be something like:

Fly into anchorage
Rent car, spend 3-5 days down there exploring the Kenai peninsula. Kenai, Homer, Seward, Soldotna. Depends what you want to do there. Halibut fishing charter, kayaking or boat tours to glaciers, salmon fishing on Kenai river, sea life center, and whale watching tours are options.

Then you’d head north. If you wanted to, you could take the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Fairbanks and stop in Denali for 2-3 nights on the way. Wildlife bus/ATV/off-roading tours, hiking, zipline tours, whitewater rafting wearing dry suits.

Back on the train and up to Fairbanks for a few days. Hiking, soak in the outdoor pool at Chena Hot Springs, check out the excellent university museum of the North, Riverboat tour, get lunch and old timey photos at the kitschy but kind of iconic Pioneer Park and take either a bus or flight tour north across the Arctic circle with Northern Alaska Tour Company.

Fly home out of fairbanks. Alternatively, you could take the rental car north up to fairbanks so you can explore more freely on the way and then spend the last day (or do your stop in Denali then) taking the Alaska railroad back from fairbanks so you fly in and out of anchorage on both ends.

Alaska without a cruise is probably better. You will get to really soak it on and take your time.
I don’t know much about Anchorage, but do recommend Girdwood. It’s ablout an hour outside of Anchorage. If you can swing it, stay at Aleyeska Resort. Great hotel in a beautiful location.

The only downfall of going to Anchorage is you miss Juneau. It’s a big state, so tough to see and do it all.

Yes, we flew into Anchorage and rented a car. Getting around was pretty easy. We drove to Seward and did a wildlife viewing day cruise, hiking, and a short guided kayaking trip. Drove up to Denali, rode the park bus and saw a lot of wildlife and did a little hiking. Also did a lot of short hikes around Anchorage. We are not hard core hikers but had a great time. Basically, if you can drive and hike in the DC area you can totally handle Alaska. 😉

We went with this company (or you can just look at their itineraries to get a general sense). it was amazing. You may need a combination of rental cars, ferries, trains and flights depending on where you want to go.

https://getupandgotours.com/

Anonymous wrote:Can you do Alaska overland or with trains, without a cruise? What would the itinerary for say 10-13 days be?

Of course. When would you want to go?

Rental cars work - though I'd suggest going in summer

Can you do Alaska overland or with trains, without a cruise? What would the itinerary for say 10-13 days be?