9 Amazing Alaska Day Trips That Are Worth The Drive
Alaska is built for day trips that feel like full-blown expeditions, with glaciers, alpine ridgelines, berry-filled trails, and quirky roadside stops all within a few hours of a major hub. From Anchorage, you can reach the country’s largest glacier accessible by car at Matanuska, hike into high country on the Crow Pass Trail with views of Milk Glacier and old Monarch Mine ruins, or wander Chugach State Park’s vast trail network above turquoise Eklutna Lake while picking wild blueberries in late summer. Around Fairbanks, the menu shifts to gold rush history at Gold Dredge 8, a soak at Chena Hot Springs Resort, and a festive detour to North Pole for the Santa Claus House and real reindeer. No matter your style, these day trips are worth the drive.
Alaska Zoo (Anchorage)
When you land in Anchorage, one of your first stops should be the Alaska Zoo located right in the city, especially if you are traveling with children. As a tundra state, Alaska is home to several arctic creatures, including polar bears. The zoo keeps a round-the-clock livestream of its polar bears, but if you visit in person, you can get up close and personal with trained bears, Cranbeary and Kova. The zoo is also home to an Amur tiger (also known as a Siberian tiger). These creatures weigh between 220 to 675 pounds and are only found on the far eastern edge of Siberia. In addition to the polar bears, you can schedule an encounter with the Amur tiger, Tasha, at the zoo. Other animals you can see here include mountain goats, porcupines, wolverines, bald eagles, and Bactrian camels.
Chugach State Park (Anchorage: 25 minutes)
Just to the east of Anchorage is the hilly glacial region of Chugach State Park. At more than 495,000 acres, it's one of the largest state parks in the entire US. It's worth flying into Anchorage just for this park itself, with its endless array of outdoor activities. For example, the park has more than 280 miles of hiking and biking trails, with 110 miles accessible for winter skiing or fat-tire biking. The park also runs along 28 miles of the Eagle River, which is excellent for paddling. One of the most stunning places in the park is Eklutna Lake, a crystal blue body of water with the backdrop of the mountains behind you. If you visit during August or September, you'll find wild blueberries growing all throughout the park. It's safe and legal to pick and eat these fruits, so make sure you bring something to carry them in!
Crow Pass Trail (Anchorage: 1 hour)
As you cross over the border of Chugach State Park, you'll find yourself at the entry point to the Chugach National Forest, a 1-hour drive south of Anchorage. Here, the Crow Pass Trail winds for miles and miles through the wilderness, offering one of the best hikes in the Chugach Mountains. Along the trail, you'll have to stop to take in views such as the Milk Glacier, and as you wind through the willow trees and descend into the Crow Creek Valley, you might also spot the ruins of the early 1900s Monarch Mines as you continue your journey through waterfalls and wildflowers. The best time to go on this trail is from spring to early fall, as winter brings the risk of avalanches.
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site (Anchorage: 1 hour, 45 minutes)
If you're visiting Alaska, odds are you'll want to see a glacier, just for the sheer novelty of it. You'll quickly realize it was worth the journey when you reach the Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site. At 27 miles long by 4 miles wide, it's the largest glacier in the US accessible by vehicle. The glacier flows from the Chugach Mountains to the edge of the Glenn Highway, making it visible as you drive up the park. At the recreation site, you can take in majestic views of the glacier and the Matanuska River, and the Edge Nature Trail will take you out to the glacier viewing platforms. If you want to actually step out onto the glacier, you can hire a tour company to take you through the private Glacier Park. They'll get you equipped with the right helmets and poles so you can traverse safely.
Denali State Park (Anchorage: 2.5 hours)
If time allows, you'll definitely want to drive north from Anchorage to see some of the best mountain summits in the state at Denali State Park. The park is more than 325,000 acres, which sits between the Talkeetna Mountains and the Alaska Range. On its trails, you'll find streams in the lowland, alpine tundra forests, summit views, and ridgeline journeys. Throughout the park, there are scenic spots to view the 20,310-foot summit of Mount Denali, along with beautiful tundra hikes along the K'esugi Ridge Trail. This 37-mile trail has rolling tundras on the top of the ridges, with multiple trailheads in beautiful locations like the Byers Lake Trailhead and Upper Troublesome Creek Trailhead. Wildlife viewers should keep their eyes peeled for moose, marmots, brown bears, and black bears. Meanwhile, in Byers Lake, anglers can fish for rainbow trout and grayling.
University of Alaska Museum of the North (Fairbanks)
The central Alaskan city of Fairbanks has an international airport that serves as a central hub for your wider journey into the largest state in the US. There are several museums and shops you can visit in town, but the one you absolutely should not miss is the University of Alaska Museum of the North. This museum catalogues all aspects of what makes Alaska unique, from its Native American history to prehistoric creatures and its vast tundra wilderness.
The museum has exhibits both outside and indoors. Outside, you can find a mighty 20-foot-tall Wolf Totem Pole with the figures of an eagle, wolf, and bear on a red cedar background. Also outdoors is the 1841 Kolmakovsky Blockhouse, which was used by the Russians when they controlled Alaska prior to transferring ownership to America in 1867. Inside, you'll find exhibits on art inspired by Alaskan landscapes and information on earthquakes that rocked the earth in central Alaska.
North Pole (Fairbanks: 20 minutes)
If there's one place in the US that feels like Christmas all year round, it's the North Pole, Alaska. It's similar to Santa Claus, Indiana, in that it keeps a festive spirit, even during the hotter summer months. For families coming through Fairbanks, you'll want to stop at the North Pole for its delightful Santa Claus House. Painted like a candy cane in red and white, the house features Christmas ornaments, treats, Alaska gifts, a 50-foot-tall Santa statue, and St. Nick himself on site to meet the children who come for a visit. Right next to the house is the Antler Academy of Flying & Reindeer Games, which is home to several reindeer that you can pet and feed. While Alaska tends to get very frigid in the winter, the North Pole keeps the party hopping with Winterfest in December, a beloved community event that features local vendors, decorations, and fireworks.
Chena Hot Springs Resort (Fairbanks: 1 hour and 15 minutes)
The average temperature in Alaska varies, but regardless of whether you're warm or a bit chilly, a drive to the Chena Hot Springs Resort is always a treat. This natural hot spring has mineral waters that maintain a steady temperature of around 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This region was first discovered during a major Gold Rush in the early 1900s and has been a popular resort ever since. The outdoor hot springs lake is only open to adults, but kids can go into a heated pool and hot tub indoors. However, if you prefer the cold, then you'll want to visit the Aurora Ice Museum on the grounds of the resort. This museum was created through 1,000 tons of ice and snow and stays a constant 25 degrees year-round. You'll see many incredible ice sculptures in this museum, such as a medieval knight galloping on a steed.
Gold Dredge 8 (Fairbanks: 15 minutes)
As mentioned above, Alaska has seen a few gold rushes over the years, especially in the Fairbanks region. Fairbanks itself was largely founded in the early 1900s by prospectors looking to strike it rich. By driving 17 miles north, you can learn how these prospectors lived at a preserved mining facility called Gold Dredge 8. When you arrive, take a tour to learn how this region was transformed yet again in the 1970s by the Alyeska Pipeline, then go for a ride on an old-timey steam engine on a replica of the historic Tanana Valley Railroad before stopping at the dredge itself, where you will be inspired to do a little gold panning of your own. At the end of the tour is the Living Mining Museum, filled with mining equipment and artifacts from the early 1900s.
Feel Like a True Explorer in Alaska
Everyone who visits Alaska will feel like a real explorer by taking a day trip out from Fairbanks or Anchorage. After all, how many states have glaciers, hot springs, Christmas villages, and vast mountain trails all within a few hours' drive from a major city? For those who visit in the warmer months, the state park destinations close to Anchorage will make for fantastic day trips. If you come closer to winter, you may want to make Fairbanks your home base, as you check out winter activities like Winterfest at the North Pole or a trip to the Chena Hot Springs. No matter the season or the weather, Alaska has a day trip to suit every itinerary.
