Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula, the United States: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Anchorage contains about two fifths of Alaska’s population, between the Chugach Mountains and the waters of Cook Inlet. It began in 1914 as a camp for the Alaska Railroad and was rebuilt after the 1964 earthquake, the strongest ever recorded in North America. Despite being a large city for the state, moose wander the neighborhoods, trails start in the downtown area, and a state mountain park borders the city.

The city is the gateway for most visitors to Alaska, with the international airport and the railroad station. Museums tell the history of the state and the cultures of Alaska Native peoples, and the coastal trail runs along the shoreline to a large forested park.

To the south, the Seward Highway skirts Turnagain Arm, a long fjord at the foot of the Chugach Mountains, where the tide rises in bores and belugas often appear in summer. Girdwood, about 60 km away, is the ski village for Mount Alyeska, and a little farther are Portage Glacier and Whittier, linked to the highway by a tunnel used alternately by cars and trains.

At the end of the road, Seward sits on Resurrection Bay, the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, where the Harding Icefield feeds dozens of glaciers. Boats depart from the ports of Seward and Whittier to the fjords, sea lion colonies and glaciers that calve into the sea.

This destination brings together 4 cities: Anchorage, Girdwood, Seward, Whittier.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula is

Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula

✈ Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) · 8 km to Anchorage

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), about 8 km from downtown Anchorage, has direct connections with Seattle and other major U.S. airports. The Alaska Railroad connects Anchorage to Whittier and Seward during the summer season. By the Seward Highway, Seward is about 200 km away.

Suggested arrival point: Anchorage

Alasca · Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula Suggested arrival point

Anchorage

The largest city in Alaska, between the Chugach Mountains and Cook Inlet, in the south-central part of the state. It has the Anchorage Museum, the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Tony Knowles coastal trail, as well as Lake Hood, a floatplane base, and mountain trails in Chugach State Park on the city limits. It’s the starting point for the Kenai Peninsula, Denali and the rest of the state.

Alasca · Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula

Girdwood

Mountain village in a valley of temperate rainforest beside the Turnagain Arm, part of the Municipality of Anchorage. It began as a gold-mining settlement in the late 19th century and today depends on the Mount Alyeska ski area, with an aerial tramway open year-round. It lies on the route to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage Glacier, Whittier and Seward.

Alasca · Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula

Seward

Port city at the head of Resurrection Bay on the Kenai Peninsula, surrounded by mountains. It was the starting point of the Alaska Railroad and today receives tour boats, fishing vessels and cruise ships. It is the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, with Exit Glacier and boat trips to the fjords, and it has the Alaska SeaLife Center aquarium. Mount Marathon, behind the town, hosts a traditional uphill-and-downhill race.

Alasca · Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula

Whittier

Small port town at the head of a fjord in Prince William Sound, surrounded by mountains and glaciers, reachable by land only via the Anton Anderson Tunnel. It was a military base in World War II, and almost all residents live in a single 14-story building. From the port you can take glacier cruises through Prince William Sound, ferries and cruise ships; the Portage lake and glacier are near the tunnel.

The local experience

Things to do in Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula

Anchorage · Alaska · Museum

Anchorage Museum

The largest museum in Alaska, downtown Anchorage, covering the state’s history, Alaskan and Arctic art, hundreds of Native artifacts on loan from the Smithsonian, and a hands-on science center for kids.

Girdwood · Alaska · Mountain

Mount Alyeska

The mountain of Girdwood’s ski area, above the Turnagain Arm, with an aerial tramway up to a station about 700 meters above sea level. From the top you can see hanging glaciers, the valley and the arm of the sea; in winter there is heavy-snow skiing; in summer, hiking trails.

Seward · Alaska · National park

Kenai Fjords National Park

The park covers the Harding Icefield and the coastal fjords south of Seward, with glaciers that reach the sea, Steller sea lions, sea otters, puffins and whales. Exit Glacier is the only area reached by road; the rest is seen by boat.

Whittier · Alaska · Engineering work

Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel

A 4.1 km tunnel under the mountain that links Whittier to the rest of Alaska, with a single lane shared by cars and trains on alternating schedules. It is the longest road tunnel in North America.

See 5 more places in Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula

Anchorage · Alaska · Museum

Alaska Native Heritage Center

Cultural center in east Anchorage dedicated to Alaska Native peoples, with dance performances and traditional games and six full-size dwellings around a lake, each representing a cultural group.

Seward · Alaska · Aquarium

Alaska SeaLife Center

Aquarium and research center on the shore of Resurrection Bay in Seward, with Steller sea lions, seals, giant octopuses and seabirds, and a marine-animal rescue program.

Girdwood · Alaska · Nature reserve

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

An approximately 80-hectare sanctuary at the end of the Turnagain Arm, near Girdwood, that cares for orphaned or injured Alaskan animals such as brown and black bears, moose, wood bison, muskoxen, caribou and wapiti, seen up close from a car or on foot.

Whittier · Alaska · Glacier

Portage Glacier and Portage Lake

A glacial lake with icebergs in the Portage valley, between Girdwood and Whittier, with a visitor center and boats that cross the water to the front of Portage Glacier, which has retreated out of view from the shoreline.

Anchorage · Alaska · Trail

Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

An 18 km paved coastal trail along Cook Inlet, from downtown Anchorage to Kincaid Park, for walking and cycling, with views of the mountains across the water and, on clear days, Denali. In winter it becomes a cross-country ski trail.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From June to August, with daylight nearly until midnight, temperatures between 13 °C and 20 °C and all boats and trains operating; the sightseeing season usually runs from May to September. From September to March, long dark nights favor the northern lights, but it is cold and many tours stop running.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Four or five days: one for Anchorage, one for the Turnagain Arm road with Girdwood and Portage, and two for Seward and the boat trip through the fjords. Add another day to include a glacier cruise departing from Whittier.

Which city to stay in

In Anchorage, downtown is close to the museums, the coastal trail and the train station. Girdwood has lodging at the base of Mount Alyeska and is a good midpoint between Anchorage and the peninsula. In Seward, options are near the port and the old town. Whittier has few accommodations: most visitors make it a day trip.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula

How many days should you allocate for Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula?

Four or five days for Anchorage, the Turnagain Arm road, Girdwood, Portage and Seward with the fjord boat trip. Adding Whittier requires one more day.

Do you need a car in Anchorage?

To leave the city, it helps a lot. The railroad links Anchorage to Whittier and Seward in summer, but stops like Girdwood, Portage and the Turnagain Arm viewpoints are easier to reach by car. Drive on the right.

When can you see the northern lights near Anchorage?

From September to March, on dark cloudless nights away from city lights. They don’t appear every night; activity forecasts help pick the best dates.

What time zone is Anchorage in?

Anchorage uses Alaska Time: UTC−9 in winter and UTC−8 between March and November, when U.S. daylight saving time is in effect.

What documents are required to travel to Alaska?

Alaska follows United States entry rules, determined by the traveler’s nationality and the type of document. Those arriving by land or by cruise transiting Canada should also check Canadian requirements. Entry rules can change: confirm before you travel.

Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip