How to Plan the Best 10 Days in Alaska Itinerary This Year

This 10 days in Alaska itinerary includes options for road trips, cruises and national parks in the Last Frontier.

There’s no one right way to visit Alaska, especially considering the vastness of the Last Frontier and how many incredible parks, mountains and glaciers fill the state. Some parts are so remote they can only be reached by small plane or boat. Others welcome thousands of cruise ship passengers each day. So, when it comes to picking an Alaska itinerary for 10 days, you should first consider whether you want to visit by land, sea or both.

Alaska cruises are a convenient and popular option that offer an easy way to visit coastal sites inaccessible by highway, like the capital city of Juneau and Glacier Bay National Park. Overland routes, on the other hand, can incorporate time in Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage, and a visit to the highest mountain in North America, Denali.  

Combining the two is an ideal way to experience the state for the first time, and an Alaska 10 day itinerary can allow you to do both. Not to mention, having the cruise portion of your vacation planned out already saves a lot of time and hassle. While many Alaska cruisers opt for the ease of sailing round trip from Seattle, choosing an itinerary that either starts or ends in Anchorage lets you see more of the state. 

Several cruise companies sell land tours as an add-on, but it’s pretty simple and generally much cheaper to arrange a handful of pre- or post-cruise days yourself. The 10 days Alaska itinerary below offers two options — three days around Anchorage and nearby parks followed by seven days on an Alaskan cruise OR three days exploring things to do Denali National Park plus a weeklong cruise.

10 Days in Alaska Itinerary

Days 1-3 in Anchorage area OR
Days 1-3 at Denali National Park
Days 4-10 Cruising from Anchorage

Keep reading for things to do in Alaska on the mainland, which cruise ports you shouldn’t miss, what to expect on your Alaska cruise, and tips for your trip at the end (including one item you must remember to bring).

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10 Days in Alaska Itinerary

This map shows the can’t miss destinations on an Alaska 10 day itinerary, including places to go on land and common cruise ship stops. Click on “more options” to open a Google map of Alaska.

Day 1-3 — Anchorage Itinerary and Attractions

Spending a few days based in Alaska’s largest city is a simple and convenient way to start a 10 day Alaska itinerary. There are plenty of museums and cultural attractions, but you’ll want to carve out some time for the mountains, glaciers and parks that lie on the outskirts, too. Renting a car makes it easier to get around if you’re staying downtown, but you can also book bus tours for most of the sightseeing.

Downtown Anchorage

Use arrival day to get a feel for the city and soak up some regional history with a visit to one of Anchorage’s many museums. The Alaska Native Heritage Center introduces the state’s indigenous groups with native art, games, storytelling and dances. Downtown, the Anchorage Museum covers everything from the history and ethnography of native Alaskans to the landscape and geology of the Arctic, with a planetarium on site. At the Alaska Museum of Science and Nature, you can learn about the dinos that once roamed here, and the whales and birds that still do. A trolley tour downtown will highlight some of the historic sights in the city.

Day Trip from Anchorage

A full second day in Anchorage is the perfect opportunity to spend some time outdoors at one of the surrounding green spaces. Waterfront Kincaid Park near the airport encompasses more than 1,500 acres with hiking and biking paths that turn into cross-country ski trails in winter. On a clear day, you can sometimes even spot Denali from here.

If you want to explore a little further, consider a day trip to Chugach State Park, a haven of glaciers, lakes and mountains on the coast. It’s one of the largest state parks in the nation at nearly 500,000 acres, so you’ll find plenty of hiking trails, wildlife viewing and photo ops. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is close by, too, and home to injured and orphaned native species cared for in natural and spacious settings. 

For those who prefer a guided excursion or aren't renting a car, this full-day tour includes a drive through the Chugach Mountains, a visit to the wildlife center, and a boat ride to see Portage Glacier.

Seward or Whittier 

If your cruise departs in the late afternoon or evening, a final day in Anchorage is the perfect time for sightseeing near the coastal town where your boat docks, either Seward or Whittier. Cruisers typically opt to book transit to the port, since a one-way car rental can be pricey. Many bus services offer options ranging from a direct transfer to an all-day tour. The route traces dramatic coastal scenery along the Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet, before striking off towards one of the two towns.

Kenai Fjords National Park surrounds Seward, with lots of opportunities for wildlife watching and scenic pull offs along the way. Day trips will likely include a stop at the active Exit Glacier, where trails lead to up-close views of the ice. A walkable downtown district in Seward fronts the boat harbor and cruise terminal. 

The tiny port town of Whittier serves as a launch for boat tours of the Prince William Sound, in case you want to arrive early for a jump start on those coastal and glacier views. Water sports activities like jet skiing and kayaking are also offered here. The ride to Whittier involves a trip through the longest shared train and vehicle tunnel in the U.S., which runs on a precise schedule for one-way traffic. 

Where to Stay in Anchorage

Anchorage options include everything from big chain hotels to cozy B&Bs. If you want to stay near your cruise port, Seward has a few cabins and guest houses and Whittier a couple of inns and condos for rent.

Day 1-3 — Denali National Park Itinerary and Attractions 

To add a little adventure to the land part of a 10 days in Alaska itinerary, consider booking a tour or renting a car to drive from Anchorage to Denali National Park. Keep in mind that the national park is a half-day drive from Anchorage, so you’ll need at least two full days on land for this option.

Alaska Road Trip to Denali

Day one for this 10 days Alaska itinerary will be spent traveling from Anchorage to Denali, which you can do by bus, train or rental car. Bus trips take about six hours, trains around eight, and cars five or more, depending on how frequently you stop. 

The perks of choosing a bus or train include being able to sit back and enjoy the scenery along the way and potential cost savings if you’re traveling solo or staying near Denali for longer than a few days. Getting to and around the national park using shuttles is easy as long as you base yourself in McKinley Park, the closest town to Denali National Park. Self-driving, on the other hand, means not being at the mercy of a transit schedule, stopping as often as you wish along the way, and having more options when it comes to lodging, since you can pick a base further away from the park. It’s also typically more economical to rent a car for a short visit if you’re traveling as a small group or family.

The trip up on the Parks Highway from Anchorage to Denali has lots of places to pause for scenic vistas, photos and hikes. If you aren’t in a rush, consider pulling off the road nearly 100 miles past Anchorage to visit the old gold-mining town of Talkeetna. Further up the highway in Denali State Park, the famous mountain is visible on a clear day from the Denali Viewpoint South and North pullouts. At a few points, the peak will be right in front of you as you drive. The state park, about two-and-a-half hours outside Anchorage, packs in plenty of wilderness treks and wildlife sightings, but you might have to skip it if you’re short on time.

A half-day at Denali National Park is enough time to check out the facilities and hiking paths near the entry. Pop by the Denali Visitor Center for a short film, nature exhibits and trail maps before heading over to the Sled Dog Kennels to meet the park’s canines and catch them in one of the mushing demos offered a few times daily. With plenty of daylight in summer, you might be inclined to stretch your legs on an afternoon hike along Horseshoe Lake, Rock Creek, Savage River, or one of the other trails in this guide and map.

Bus Tour in Denali National Park

On day two in Denali, head deeper into the park on an excursion bus. Private vehicles can only drive the first 15 miles of the main Park Road, so booking a bus is essential for sightseeing beyond that point. 

Two types are available — narrated tour buses, where you stick with a group for the day, and transit buses, which allow you to hop off where you want and ride back with a different crew as space allows.

Consider reserving an early morning time slot if you plan to do much hiking, as the ride alone takes four or more hours, depending on which option you pick. Along the way, buses make rest stops and pauses for wildlife ogling whenever someone spots a moose, bear, caribou or the like. 

Denali and Road Trip to Seward/Whittier

If your schedule allows a full third day at the park, use it for leftover activities from day one, a hike on a longer and more challenging trail like Triple Lakes or the Mount Healy Overlook, or a flightseeing trip from Talkeetna for up-close mountain views. Some plane rides over the Alaska Range even include a glacier landing.

But, if this is the day your cruise is departing, you won’t want to stay too long and risk being late to the port, so stick to shorter activities like souvenir shopping in McKinley Park or a nature walk near the park entrance.

Another option is to leave for Anchorage early in the morning and spend some time checking out the sights along the route to your cruise port in Seward or Whittier, like Chugach State Park and Kenai Fjords National Park. More info on getting to these coastal cities is available in the alternate itinerary option above.

Where to Stay at Denali National Park

We've tried and recommend Alaskan Host Bed and Breakfast, a homey and locally owned spot in Willow, about 70 miles outside Anchorage on the way to Denali, and McKinley Chalet Resort, an amenity-filled lodge just a mile from the national park entrance. McKinley Park and Healy are both convenient towns to stay in near Denali.

Day 4-10 Alaska Cruise Stops and Attractions

Most 7 day Alaska cruises to or from Anchorage follow a similar path, docking or sailing by many of the sights we’ll detail below. If you have your heart set on any of them, check the itinerary closely before you book a cruise, since some skip things like Glacier Bay or Icy Strait Point. This break down goes day by day for a typical seven-night cruise, but yours may vary a bit or flip-flop if you’re sailing the opposite direction. We cruised on the Coral Princess with Princess Cruises, one of the few that get to go into Glacier Bay.

Hubbard Glacier

Working down from Anchorage, Hubbard Glacier is one of the first sights on many Alaska cruise itineraries. This is just a sail by, though some ships park with a view for a while for photo ops. The massive chunk of ice is the continent’s biggest calving glacier, so you’ll want to spend some time on deck when you get close to see if you can catch it breaking and crashing into the water.

Glacier Bay National Park or Icy Strait Point

Glacier Bay National Park is, arguably, the most scenic part of an Alaskan cruise. Multiple glaciers stretch down to the sea, and the inlets you wander are so narrow at times that you can spot wildlife on the surrounding mountains. But, not every ship will pass through this way. The remote park actually limits daily traffic to just a couple of cruises and only a handful of big-ship operators are authorized to access the route. National park rangers hop on board the cruises here to narrate the scenery, answer questions and share info about the area’s history and geology.

Icy Strait Point is a common alternative to Glacier Bay for itineraries that don’t go into the national park. It’s a small-town port, with a converted fish cannery dockside and excursions like wildlife watching, water sports, and land adventure tours (think ATVs and helicopters). 

Skagway or Haines

Just a quick hop from the Canadian border, Skagway is surrounded by mountains and full of gold-rush era heritage, including a picture-perfect downtown district. White Pass Summit excursions are big here, with buses and historic trains taking travelers up a mountain for waterfall and valley views. If you dock for long enough, consider renting a car for a quick road trip to the Yukon territory of Canada. A couple of hours up the Klondike Highway will lead you past rivers and lakes to the charming town of Carcross, where you’ll find the picture-perfect Emerald Lake and some sand dunes called the smallest desert in the world. You can also book a private tour in the Yukon for a small group that includes a train ride, too.

Instead of Skagway, some boats stop in nearby Haines, where scenery ranges from a dramatic, deep fjord to soaring mountains to lush forests. Tourist activities here include the town’s museums and fort, as well as rafting and fishing trips.  

Juneau

Alaska’s capital city, Juneau, makes most cruise itineraries and has tons of things to do. Besides shopping and eating your way around the walkable port district, popular activities include riding the Mount Roberts Tramway for aerial views, whale-watching, and visiting Mendenhall Glacier, an easily accessible mass surrounded by trails and an iceberg-filled lake. Many tours combine whale-watching and Mendenhall into one outing so you don't have to book separate tickets.

Ketchikan

Ketchikan has a bit of a rustic fishing village turned touristy port vibe, notable for its cultural museums and abundance of totem poles. Look for them in places like the Totem Heritage Center near downtown and Totem Bight State Historical Park a short drive away. Salmon fishing charters and boat tours are also big here.

Inside Passage Cruising

The Inside Passage route is a final hoorah of coastal sightseeing along the islands of southern Alaska stretching down to the Pacific Northwest of the lower 48. It’s a cruising destination, not a stop, but you’ll want to spend some time on deck looking out for sea lions, whales and the like. 

Vancouver

Whether you’re arriving at or departing from here, you might want to carve out a little time for this Canadian seaport city. You can book excursions if you want to keep things simple, with options like hop-on, hop-off downtown bus tours or a walk on the 450-foot tall Capilano Suspension Bridge over a forest and river.

Where to Stay in Vancouver

If you're spending the night in Vancouver, check out hotel reviews here. The filters on Booking.com can narrow down choices to 4-star hotels, city-center options, places with a pool or fitness center, accessible rooms, and more.

Tips for an Alaska 10 Day Itinerary

What Time of Year is Best to Visit Alaska

Summer is the most common time to visit Alaska, when the weather is mild and days are long. The Alaska cruising season runs from about May through September, with the busiest and most expensive time in July and August. The bus tours in Denali are also only available during the summer season, mid-May through mid-September.

The weather will vary depending on your destination. In Denali National Park, average summer temperatures peak in the mid-70s and can drop to nearly freezing overnight. Cruise temperatures can range from the 30s to high 80s in the hottest months. June and July get about 18 hours of daylight.

How Many Days to Spend in Alaska

For your first trip, I recommend one to two weeks in Alaska if possible. You will need at least 8 days for a 7-night Alaska cruise. With less time than that, you can do a land trip instead to Denali National Park, Anchorage, Kenai Fjords National Park, Juneau or another location within a couple hours of an airport.

A 10 day Alaska itinerary is the perfect amount of time to do a combination road trip and cruise to Alaska, but you could also easily fill a few more days on land.

What to Pack for Alaska

On a 10 day trip to Alaska, you’ll want to pack layers for the temperature changes, a day pack for hiking and sightseeing excursions, good hiking boots or shoes for the outdoors, and binoculars for wildlife watching on land and sea. You also don’t want to forget your camera for all the incredible scenery!

Tips for Alaska Cruises

Remember to verify your cruise port. Ships don’t depart from or arrive into downtown Anchorage. They dock in either Whittier or Seward, each a two- to three-hour drive from the city. You can rent a car one way, but bus transfers are typically more economical and convenient. 

You may want to consider booking your own excursions instead of purchasing them through the cruise line. Cruise lines sell everything from transit to/from ports to shore excursions to land-tour add-ons at the start and end of your sailing. There are typically much more economical options for each of these if you book them yourself through third parties like GetYourGuide.

Tips for Visiting Denali National Park

Reserve your Denali bus tours online ahead of time. If you’re visiting Denali, you’ll want to take a sightseeing bus into the park, since only the first 15 miles of main road is open to private vehicles. If you’re visiting in the middle of summer, the best time slots may fill up before you arrive, so you’ll want to secure your ride beforehand. You can make a reservation here.

While you’re in the park, stay far away from the animals. Seeing grizzlies, caribou and moose roaming in their natural habitat is part of the fun of an Alaska trip, but remember this isn’t a zoo and wildlife need to stay wild. That means you always need to keep a safe and respectful distance to let them do their thing — stay about 300 yards away from bears and 25 yards from other animals, especially moose!