Alaska covers more ground than most travelers realize, and no two regions feel the same. Whether you're heading for glaciers, fishing towns or true roadless wilderness, here's what to know about each part of the state.
Notable Destinations: Anchorage, Talkeetna, Seward
Southcentral Alaska is a gateway to adventure, home to more than half of the state's population and known for its endless opportunities to explore by foot, boat, rail or flight.
Anchorage serves as the region's main hub at the base of the Chugach Mountains, with an extensive network of trails beginning right from town. Moose sightings are common, even in residential neighborhoods.
Known as the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward is the launching point for glacier and wildlife cruises with Kenai Fjords Tours. For a peaceful retreat, stay at Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge on remote Fox Island or Seward Windsong Lodge along the Resurrection River.
Further north, Talkeetna offers flightseeing tours for an eagle-eyed perspective of Denali National Park, flying over glaciers, vast sub-arctic tundra and awe-inspiring alpine terrain. Afterwards, Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, with its rustic charm and Denali views, makes an ideal base.
FUN FACT: Seward is the official “Mile 0” of the historic Iditarod Trail, which began as a supply route and is now the course for the world's most famous sled dog race.
Notable Destinations: Denali National Park, Fairbanks
Wild yet accessible — thanks to the Alaska Railroad, Alaska Highway and Fairbanks International Airport — Alaska's Interior is defined by expansive wilderness, extreme temperatures and the towering presence of Denali.
Denali National Park is one of Alaska's most iconic landscapes, home to moose, bears and caribou across forests, tundra and glaciers. Denali Cabins serve as a comfortable base for hiking, rafting and bus tours just minutes from the national park's gates, while Denali Backcountry Lodge offers a fly-in escape with guided excursions beyond the beaten path.
Fairbanks is known for its aurora, midnight sun and mushing culture, but it's the year-round spirit of adventure that defines the community. Even in -40°F winters, locals gather for dog sledding, Chena Hot Springs trips and community races.
FUN FACT: Fairbanks sits directly under the Auroral Oval, making it one of the best places to see the northern lights — visible up to 200 nights a year.
Notable Destinations: Katmai National Park & Preserve, Coastal Communities
Southwest Alaska is more remote than other regions and rewards hardy travelers with wild landscapes, salmon runs and Alaska Native culture.
Katmai National Park, home to the world's highest density of brown bears, is famous for bear viewing at Brooks Falls. Further inland, its volcanic terrain, including the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, was formed by the largest eruption of the 20th century.
Kodiak, Unalaska/Port of Dutch Harbor and the Bristol Bay towns of Dillingham and King Salmon are accessible only by boat or air and are closely tied to commercial fishing.
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge is home to the largest brown bear subspecies — the namesake Kodiak brown bear — that stand upwards of 10 feet tall on their hind legs and can weigh as much as 1,400 pounds. Dutch Harbor is the nation's top commercial fishing port, while Bristol Bay hosts the world's largest sockeye run, sustaining both local economy and Indigenous culture.
FUN FACT: Dutch Harbor is a primary filming location for the TV series Deadliest Catch.
Notable Destinations: Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Glacier Bay National Park
Known locally as the Panhandle, Southeast Alaska is a popular cruise region with its maritime climate, rainforest and fishing culture.
Here, the ocean is the front yard and the mountains are the back, especially in the coastal communities of Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan. Juneau, the state capital, is home to the Mendenhall Glacier and the Juneau Icefield.
Sitka, the site of Alaska's transfer from Russia to the United States, is rich in cultural history and has more miles of trail than road. Ketchikan, the “salmon capital of the world,” is known for its totem poles and Creek Street — a former red-light district turned boardwalk of shops and galleries.
Glacier Bay National Park, a World Heritage Site and biosphere reserve, is known for its tidewater glaciers, marine wildlife and fjord scenery. During peak season, it's not uncommon to spot whales from a kayak, which can be rented from the park's only developed point, Bartlett Cove.
FUN FACT: Southeast Alaska is home to the Tongass National Forest, which makes up nearly one-third of the world's remaining temperate rainforest.
Notable Destinations: Kotzebue, Nome, Gates of the Arctic National Park
Defined by extreme climate, unique wildlife and fragile tundra ecosystems, Alaska’s Arctic remains largely untouched, with only niche travelers venturing this far north.
Kotzebue serves as a jumping-off point for Kobuk Valley National Park, Noatak National Preserve and Cape Krusenstern National Monument. The Western Arctic Caribou Herd, one of the world's largest, migrates through the area twice a year.
Nome acts as the regional hub, with an airport that supplies around 50 Alaska Native villages. Muskoxen are often seen near town, and the area is known for its gold rush history, birding and abundant summer berries. Nome is also home to the finish line of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race (and the festivities that follow each year's race).
FUN FACT: Gates of the Arctic is the least-visited national park in the United States, despite being larger than some entire states.
Ready to explore? Begin your Alaska adventure by choosing a region that matches your travel style.
About the Author
Based in Anchorage, Alaska, Andrea Burtzel is an outdoor advocate who loves inspiring others to get outside through activities like rock climbing, mountain biking and trail running. When she’s not out exploring, she’s working toward a degree in Journalism and Public Communications at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Follow her on Instagram at @andreainalaska or connect with her professionally at andreaburtzel.com.
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