7-Day Alaska Summer Itinerary
This sample 7-day itinerary is a great introduction to Southcentral Alaska and is ideal for first-time visitors. It combines scenic drives, wildlife, glaciers, and some of Alaska's most iconic destinations, while maintaining a comfortable pace.
Like all of our sample itineraries, this is simply an example designed to inspire your own trip. Every itinerary we create is completely personalized, so we'll tailor your route, accommodations, activities, and pace to match your interests, travel style, budget, and the amount of time you have available.
At a Glance
Duration: 7 Days
Best for: Travelers who want to experience Alaska’s highlights in one week
Starts/Ends: Anchorage
Driving: Approximately 500 Miles
Overnight Stops:
Anchorage (1)
Talkeetna (1)
Girdwood (1)
Seward (2)
Anchorage (1)
Route Map
Itinerary Highlights
Denali flightseeing
Talkeetna
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Exit Glacier
Kenai Fjords wildlife cruise
Seward
Scenic drives along the Seward Highway
Popular Additions:
Glacier Dogsledding
Guided salmon or halibut fishing
Day 1: Arrive in Anchorage
Approximate driving time: 40 Minutes (plus time for stops)
Welcome to Alaska! After arriving at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, pick up your rental car and head to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may have a chance to begin exploring Alaska's largest city before setting off on tomorrow's drive north.
If the weather is clear, consider visiting Glen Alps Overlook for views across Anchorage, Cook Inlet, and the surrounding mountains. You could also spend some time exploring downtown Anchorage or one of the city's parks before enjoying dinner at a local restaurant.
After a good night's rest, you'll be ready to begin your Alaska adventure.
Day 2: Anchorage to Talkeetna
Approximate driving time: 2.5–3 hours (plus time for stops)
Today you'll leave Anchorage behind and head north to the town of Talkeetna. Along the way, consider taking the scenic detour to Hatcher Pass, where you can explore the historic Independence Mine and enjoy one of Alaska's most picturesque mountain landscapes.
Continue to Talkeetna, a small town known for its local shops, galleries, and relaxed atmosphere. If the weather is clear, you may catch your first views of Denali along the drive or from town itself.
Spend the afternoon exploring Talkeetna before enjoying dinner at one of the town's locally owned restaurants and settling in for the night.
If you're interested in seeing Denali from above, Talkeetna is one of the best places in Alaska for a scenic flightseeing tour. Read our guide to Denali flightseeing tours.
Day 3: Talkeetna to Girdwood
Approximate driving time: 3.5–4 hours (plus time for stops)
Start the morning exploring more of Talkeetna or, if you've chosen to include it, take a scenic flightseeing tour around Denali. Departing from Talkeetna, these flights offer an incredible perspective of North America's tallest mountain and often include a glacier landing.
After your time in Talkeetna, retrace your route south through the Mat-Su Valley before continuing along the scenic Seward Highway to Girdwood. Keep an eye out for Dall sheep on the mountainsides and, if you're lucky, you may even spot beluga whales in Turnagain Arm.
Spend the evening exploring Girdwood, a small mountain community known for its hiking trails, local restaurants, and year-round outdoor recreation. It's the perfect place to relax before continuing your journey to Seward tomorrow.
Looking for more ideas? Read our guide to the best things to do in Girdwood.
Day 4: Girdwood to Seward
Approximate driving time: 2.5–3 hours (plus time for stops)
After leaving Girdwood, make the short drive to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center near Portage. This is one of our favorite places to introduce visitors to Alaska's wildlife, with the opportunity to see animals such as bears, moose, musk oxen, wood bison, and more in a spacious natural setting.
Continue south along the Seward Highway, crossing Turnagain Pass on your way to Seward. Before arriving in town, stop at Exit Glacier, one of Alaska's most accessible glaciers. A short walk brings you close to the ice and offers a chance to see how the glacier has changed over time.
You'll spend the next two nights in Seward, giving you plenty of time to explore Kenai Fjords National Park and the surrounding area. After checking into your hotel, enjoy a walk along the waterfront before dinner at one of Seward's locally owned restaurants.
Day 5: Exploring Seward
Approximate driving time: 30 Minutes
Today you'll explore Kenai Fjords National Park, one of our favorite places to experience Alaska's coastal scenery and wildlife. A wildlife cruise is one of the experiences we try to include in almost every summer itinerary, offering the chance to see glaciers, whales, sea otters, sea lions, puffins, and more.
After returning to Seward, spend the rest of the afternoon exploring at your own pace. You might enjoy a walk along the waterfront, relaxing on the beach at Lowell Point, or simply taking in the scenery before another evening in Seward.
Day 6: Seward to Anchorage
Approximate driving time: 2.5–3 hours (plus time for stops)
If you have time before leaving Seward, the Alaska SeaLife Center is well worth a visit. It's a great way to learn more about Alaska's marine wildlife before heading north.
The drive back follows the Seward Highway through Turnagain Pass and along Turnagain Arm. If you didn't stop on the way south, Byron Glacier Trail is a worthwhile place to stretch your legs before continuing to Anchorage.
Spend your final afternoon exploring a few locally owned shops or visiting Flattop for one last view over the city and surrounding mountains before enjoying your last dinner in Alaska.
Day 7: Departure
Approximate driving time: 15 Minutes
Enjoy one last breakfast in Anchorage before heading to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport for your flight home.
We hope this sample itinerary has given you a glimpse of what a week in Alaska can look like. Every trip we create is personalized, so we'll tailor your itinerary to your interests, travel style, budget, and the amount of time you have available.
Ready to start planning your Alaska adventure?
If this itinerary feels like the kind of trip you're looking for, we'd love to help you create one that's uniquely yours. Visit our Design Your Trip page to answer a few questions, and we'll begin creating a personalized itinerary built around your interests, travel style, budget, and the amount of time you have available.