5 Day Anchorage Basecamp

Arrive in Anchorage and check in to your accommodations for the next 4 nights. Explore downtown Anchorage, visiting shops and restaurants, as well as parks like the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, Kincaid Park, and Westchester Lagoon. If you have time, get a great introduction to the state’s local history and culture at the Anchorage Museum or the Alaska Native Heritage Center.

Take a scenic, 45 minute drive from Anchorage to Girdwood, a charming ski town tucked into the mountains. There are great restaurants, hiking trails, and the Alyeska Tramway, which provides great aerial views of both the Cook Inlet and the Chugach Mountains. Take a scenic helicopter sightseeing tour, or heli to a nearby glacier for dog sledding. Visitors also enjoy the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in nearby Portage.

You could also continue the adventure to nearby Whittier where activities include day cruises into Prince William Sound, an adrenaline-pumping Jet Ski ride, or a scenic kayak tour. After your day of adventure, head back to your Anchorage accommodation for the night.

Leave the rental car behind and let everyone sit back and enjoy the Coastal Classic Train from Anchorage to Seward. It’s an early departure (6:45am!), but we promise the views will make up for it. The train arrives around 11 a.m., giving you enough time for a day cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park before the train departs at 6 p.m.

If you don’t want to spend the afternoon on the water, there’s a shuttle to nearby Exit Glacier where you can explore the trails at your own pace. After visiting the glacier, return to town and visit The Alaska SeaLife Center to see sea lions, seals, otters, and other marine wildlife up close. The train departs Seward at 6pm and arrives in Anchorage by 10:15 p.m. If you enjoy the flexibility of driving, skip the train and drive the 2.5 hours each way.

Head north of Anchorage today! Here’s a menu of options to fill your day:

• Rent paddlesports equipment and go kayaking, canoeing, or paddleboarding at lakes near Eagle River, just 20–30 minutes north of Anchorage. For an immersive combo adventure, join a guided hike led by expert guides and unlock the region’s hidden gems.

• Drive two hours north to witness the grandeur of Matanuska Glacier—Alaska’s largest road-accessible glacier. Explore the glacier’s magnificence with guided hikes, thrilling climbs, ziplining, or even rafting. Or, join a guided tour with Salmon Berry Tours or Alaska’s Finest Tours & Adventures and let someone else do the driving.

• Drive about an hour and a half to Willow for a dog mushing experience.

• Join a backcountry ATV adventure and ride to the face of the Knik Glacier.

• Explore the hiking trails. Visit Independence Mine State Historical Park in Hatcher Pass—a beautiful mountain pass in the Talkeetna Mountains—then stop by the nearby Reindeer Farm or Musk Ox Farm (or both).

Return to your Anchorage accommodation.

If you want to stay close to Anchorage for your last day:

• Consider a guided hike with Go Hike Alaska, or explore the area’s trails, such as the iconic Flattop, on your own.

• Rent a bike and explore local trails, or join a guided tour on gentle town trails or mountain biking trails with Alaska Trail Guides.

If you have a late flight and are looking for a full-day experience:

• Embark on a fly-in bear-viewing trip to see bears in their natural habitat. Most tours go to Lake Clark or Katmai national parks.

• Flightsee Mt. Denali from Anchorage. It’s the best way to see not only the mountain but also the national park if you’re short on time.