10 Days in Alaska: The Expanded Classic

Ten days gives you breathing room. Instead of cramming Denali into a rushed day trip, you get two full nights at the park, plus time to explore the charming town of Talkeetna. This itinerary covers the same Kenai Peninsula loop as the 7-day route, then heads north for the interior.

Total driving distance is around 1,200 miles. The longest single drive is about 4.5 hours, and most days have you on the road for 2-3 hours, leaving plenty of time for hikes, wildlife, and spontaneous stops.

Day 1: Arrive in Anchorage

Pick up your rental car at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. If you arrive before noon, drive to the Anchorage Museum for a couple of hours. The Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center inside the museum has an incredible collection of Alaska Native artifacts and is worth your time.

Walk or bike a section of the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. The stretch from Westchester Lagoon to Earthquake Park (about 4 miles round trip) is flat and gives you views of Cook Inlet and, on clear days, Denali towering 130 miles to the north.

Dinner: Moose's Tooth Pub and Pizzeria for casual, or Crow's Nest at the Hotel Captain Cook for fine dining with a view.

Where to stay: Copper Whale Inn or the Anchorage Marriott Downtown.

Day 2: Anchorage to Seward (127 miles, ~2.5 hours)

Drive the Seward Highway, one of only 46 All-American Roads in the country. Follow Turnagain Arm south, watching for Dall sheep on the cliffs above the road and beluga whales in the water below.

Stops to prioritize:

  • Beluga Point: Best whale-watching pulloff on the Arm. Bring binoculars.
  • Alyeska Resort (Girdwood): Take the aerial tram up Mount Alyeska for panoramic views. The ride is about $35 per person. Have lunch at the mountaintop cafe or down in Girdwood at The Bake Shop.
  • Exit Glacier: On arrival in Seward, drive straight to Exit Glacier Road. The paved trail to the glacier face is an easy 1-mile walk. The Harding Icefield Trail (8.2 miles round trip, strenuous) is one of the best hikes in the state if you have the legs for it.

Where to stay: Seward Windsong Lodge or Hotel Seward.

Dinner: The Cookery for seafood, or Zudy's Cafe for something laid-back.

Day 3: Seward — Kenai Fjords National Park

Full-day Kenai Fjords boat tour. This is non-negotiable. Book the 6-hour National Park Cruise or the 8.5-hour Northwestern Fjord Cruise with Major Marine Tours or Kenai Fjords Tours.

You will see tidewater glaciers calving house-sized chunks of ice into the sea, humpback whales breaching, orcas, puffins, sea otters, and Steller sea lions. The longer tour visits more glaciers but the shorter one covers the highlights.

Cost: $200-$280 per person depending on tour length. Lunch is included on most cruises. Dress warm: even in July, it is 45-50 degrees on the water with wind.

After the tour, walk the Seward waterfront and have dinner at Ray's Waterfront for fish tacos and harbor views.

Day 4: Seward to Homer (170 miles, ~3.5 hours)

Drive north to the Sterling Highway junction, then south through the Kenai Peninsula to Homer. Stop in Cooper Landing for the turquoise Kenai River and a stretch of your legs. The town is small but has good food at Sackett's Kenai Grill.

The final approach to Homer is spectacular. The road crests a hill and suddenly Kachemak Bay opens up below you with glaciers and mountains across the water. Pull over at the overlook and take it in.

Where to stay: Land's End Resort on the Spit or Homer Inn and Spa on the bluff.

Dinner: Fat Olives for wood-fired pizza or Captain Pattie's for fresh catch.

Day 5: Homer Full Day

Homer deserves a full day. Choose your adventure:

  • Halibut fishing: Book a charter with Homer Ocean Charters or Inlet Charters. Full-day trips run $350-$450 per person. You are almost guaranteed to catch fish, and the charter will fillet, vacuum-seal, and freeze your catch for shipping home.
  • Kachemak Bay State Park: Take a water taxi (Mako's or Ashore Water Taxi) across the bay. Hike to Grewingk Glacier Lake (6.6 miles round trip) or explore the tide pools at China Poot Bay.
  • Bear viewing: Fly-out bear viewing trips to Katmai or Lake Clark National Park depart from Homer. Bald Mountain Air and Smokey Bay Air run day trips for $600-$800 per person. You will see brown bears catching salmon from remarkably close range.

In the afternoon, visit the Pratt Museum for local history, walk the galleries on Pioneer Avenue, and end up at the Salty Dawg Saloon on the Spit.

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Day 6: Homer to Anchorage (225 miles, ~4.5 hours)

Retrace your route back to Anchorage. If you missed any stops on the way down, now is your chance. The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna is worth a quick stop for the nature trails and wildlife exhibits.

Arrive in Anchorage by late afternoon. Pick up any supplies you need for the Denali leg of the trip. Gas is cheapest in Anchorage, so fill up before heading north tomorrow.

Dinner: Glacier Brewhouse or 49th State Brewing.

Day 7: Anchorage to Denali (240 miles, ~4.5 hours)

Take the Parks Highway north to Denali. The drive is straightforward and scenic, passing through the Matanuska-Susitna Valley and along the Susitna River.

Recommended stops:

  • Talkeetna (mile 98.7): Turn off the Parks Highway and spend an hour in this quirky mountain town. Talkeetna is the staging point for Denali climbing expeditions. Walk Main Street, grab coffee at Flying Squirrel Bakery, and look north at the mountain on clear days. Consider a Denali flightseeing tour with K2 Aviation or Talkeetna Air Taxi ($250-$350 per person). A glacier landing is worth the extra cost.
  • Denali Viewpoint South (mile 162): On clear days, this pulloff gives you a full-frame view of the 20,310-foot mountain.

Arrive at the Denali National Park area by early evening. The park entrance is at mile 237 of the Parks Highway.

Where to stay: Denali Bluffs Hotel, Grande Denali Lodge, or McKinley Chalet Resort. For something closer to nature, Denali Backcountry Lodge requires a bus ride deep into the park (book well in advance — see our live Alaska lodging availability tracker for current July booking levels).

Dinner: Prospectors Pizzeria and Ale House near the park entrance, or 49th State Brewing Denali location.

Day 8: Denali National Park Full Day

Today you go deep into the park. Private vehicles can only drive the first 15 miles of the 92-mile Park Road. Beyond that, you take a park bus.

Bus options:

  • Transit bus to Eielson Visitor Center (mile 66): About 8 hours round trip. This gets you into prime wildlife territory and the best Denali views. Costs $60-$75 per person.
  • Transit bus to Wonder Lake (mile 85): About 11 hours round trip. The reflection of Denali in Wonder Lake on a calm day is iconic. Long day, but worth it if the weather cooperates.
  • Narrated Tundra Wilderness Tour: Guided version with a naturalist. Runs about 6-8 hours to Toklat River (mile 53). Good if you want interpretation.

Keep your eyes on the tundra. Grizzly bears, caribou, Dall sheep, moose, and wolves all live in the park. Sightings are common from the bus, especially bears and caribou.

Pack lunch and snacks. There are no services past mile 15. Bring layers, rain gear, and binoculars.

Day 9: Denali — Morning Hike, Afternoon Drive South

Spend the morning hiking near the park entrance. Good options:

  • Horseshoe Lake Trail (3.2 miles, easy): Wanders through spruce forest to a beaver-dammed lake. Good chance of seeing moose.
  • Savage River Loop (2 miles, easy): Drive to the Savage River trailhead (mile 15, no bus needed) and walk along the river with mountain views in every direction.
  • Mount Healy Overlook (5.5 miles round trip, moderate): Climbs above treeline with views into the park. The best short hike near the entrance.

After your hike, drive back south on the Parks Highway. Stop in Talkeetna if you skipped it on the way up. Continue to Anchorage (240 miles, ~4.5 hours) or break the drive at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, which has extraordinary Denali views from its Great Room.

Where to stay: Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge (if splitting the drive) or back in Anchorage.

Day 10: Anchorage and Departure

Use your last morning to pick up any souvenirs or squeeze in one more activity. Options:

  • Hike Flattop Mountain (3.4 miles round trip) for panoramic views of the city and inlet.
  • Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center on the Seward Highway (30 minutes south of town) to see bears, moose, bison, and eagles up close.
  • Browse the Saturday/Sunday Market if your timing works out.

Return your rental car and fly home.

10-Day Budget Estimate

  • Rental car (10 days): $1,000-$1,600
  • Gas (~1,200 miles): $200-$300
  • Lodging (9 nights): $1,800-$3,600
  • Food: $700-$1,100
  • Activities: $600-$1,200
  • Total for two people: $4,300-$7,800

See our full cost breakdown for tips on saving money without sacrificing the experience.

Why 10 Days Works Better Than 7

The 7-day itinerary is great, but it forces you to either skip Denali or do it as a rushed day trip. With 10 days, you get two nights at Denali, which means a full day on the park bus and a morning hike. That bus ride deep into the park is transformative. You also get time in Talkeetna, which is one of the most charming small towns in Alaska.

If you have even more time, the 14-day itinerary adds Fairbanks and Valdez to the mix.