Where to Stay in Alaska (Best Places, by an Area Local)

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Having grown up in Alaska, I can tell you exactly where to stay for every preferred experience.

First-timers should start their visit in Anchorage because it’s the best place to access transportation to the rest of the state. Plus, there are plenty of attractions within the city itself. I recommend staying at the Hotel Captain Cook, one of the best luxury hotels in the area.

Of course, there are other great destinations for whale watching, northern lights viewing, glacier hikes, and other popular attractions. Keep reading to learn more. I’ll also let you in on local secrets, like where to stay in Alaska for the most authentic experience.

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Best Places to Stay in Alaska  The Hotel Captain Cook is a landmark of downtown Anchorage

Just looking for a quick answer on the best places to stay in Alaska? Here are my top picks: 

Click here to see all top Alaska hotels or here for apartments.

Ok, let’s do a deep dive into the best places and areas in Alaska: 

8 Best Towns, Cities & Areas to Stay in Alaska Get a free custom Google Map of all my recommendations (instructions) Best for Urban Attractions Best for The Northern Lights Best for Incredible Views Best for Wildlife Viewing Best for Small-Town Vibes Best for A Truly Alaskan Experience

I’ve divided the 49th state into 8 sections based on popularity and available attractions. Some are easier to access than others, but all have something unique and unforgettable to experience.

Whether you want to climb Denali, cruise the Inside Passage, or lounge about in the lodge at Alyeska, you’ll find something to suit your taste.

Anchorage Anchorage skyline in winter

👉 Best Place for Urban Attractions | ✨ Best Anchorage Hotels: • •

Anchorage is a fantastic location to begin your Alaskan expedition. It offers easy access to rental cars, railroads, and air connections to the rest of the state. 

By far, it’s one of the best places in Alaska for restaurants, breweries, museums, and the like. The Alaska Native Heritage Center, the Anchorage Museum, and the Moose’s Tooth TheaterPub are among the best urban attractions. 

Nearby hiking trails offer a little relief from the cityscape. The more adventurous can take to the trails in the nearby Chugach Mountains. There are also lots of great opportunities for day trips to other fantastic attractions in the area. 

Many of the hotels in downtown Anchorage have mountain views from upper-floor rooms. Hotel Captain Cook, the city’s premier luxury hotel, is one of the best stays. Along with cozy rooms and great views, it offers a pool, a hot tub, and five different restaurants.

Pros of Staying in Anchorage: Plenty of options for shopping, dining, and places to stay Central location for day trips and further travels throughout the state Easiest place to rent a car for exploring Alaska Great mountain views around town Cons of Staying in Anchorage: Hotels can be expensive in peak months Parts of downtown (mostly the main bus stop) can be a little sketchy

📚 Anchorage Mini-Guide 📚
Best Area to Stay for Urban Attractions
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Fairbanks The aurora reflected in a lake near Fairbanks

👉 Best Area to Stay for the Northern Lights | ✨ Best Fairbanks Hotels: Pike’s Waterfront Lodge • •

Fairbanks is the best place to experience the sub-Arctic side of the state. Surrounded by taiga forests, this small city showcases Alaska’s famous midnight sun in summer, as well as the stunning northern lights from late fall through early spring.

The Museum of the North has an extensive collection of everything from dinosaur bones to contemporary Native Alaskan art. It’s a great place for families to visit while in Fairbanks. There’s also a lot of local history related to the gold rush days, as well as the oil boom in more recent times.

The Fountainhead Auto Museum is a must for fans of antique cars and old-timey vibes. There are plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities in and around Fairbanks, ranging from day hikes to dog-sled tours!

A dip in the waters of the nearby Chena Hot Springs makes a great end to a day of walking the local hiking trails. Pike’s Waterfront Lodge is one of the most popular properties in town, featuring cozy rooms, snug bungalows, and fantastic food at the on-site restaurant.

Pros of Staying in Fairbanks: Cozy small-city atmosphere with “frontier” vibes Long daylight hours in summer allow lots of time to explore Excellent northern lights viewing in the winter months Cons of Staying in Fairbanks: Far from other Alaska attractions Long daylight hours in summer can make getting to sleep difficult

📚 Fairbanks Mini-Guide 📚
Best Place to Stay for The Northern Lights
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Denali National Park Fall colors along Denali’s Alaska Range

👉 Best Place for Incredible Views | ✨ Best Denali Hotels: • Carlo Creek Cabins •

This is the best place to go if you want to experience the epic scale of Alaska. Denali looms into the sky, standing a majestic 20,310’ tall! On a clear day, you can even see it from certain places in Anchorage. The other peaks here are also quite impressive, even if not as massive as Denali.

Denali National Park is a great place to see Alaskan wildlife such as caribou, grizzly bears, foxes, and more. In autumn, the tundra vegetation turns to a fiery array of reds, yellows, and oranges. In some ways, it even gives New England a run for its money.

Several locations along Denali Park Road offer visitors basic campsites for those who’d rather rough it. More comfortable lodging is available at the prestigious McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. Other accommodations await in towns close to the park, such as the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.

Pros of Staying in Denali National Park: Breathtaking views Lodgings combine remote feeling with great amenities The best place for Alaskan fall colors Cons of Staying in Denali National Park: Some lodging options are seasonal Some dining/drinking and dining options are far from the park itself

📚 Denali National Park Mini-Guide 📚 
Best Place to Stay for Incredible Views
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South-Central Alaska A humpback whale breaching in Kenai Fjords National Park

👉 Best Place for Wildlife Viewing | ✨ Best South-Central Alaska Hotels: (Homer) • (Summit Lake) • (Seward)

South-Central Alaska is the best place to see wildlife on land, sea, and air. Tours of Kenai Fjords National Park allow visitors to see bears, moose, and foxes. Eagles soar through the skies. Gray whales, humpback whales, and orcas glide through the ocean, sometimes even leaping completely out of the water!

Homer lives up to its name as the “halibut fishing capital of the world” with nearly two dozen fishing charter companies. Check out the Land’s End Resort for comfortable accommodations and unmatched panoramas of the epic beauty of Kachemak Bay.

The Kenai River offers some of the best salmon fishing in the state. Even if fishing isn’t your thing, the beauty of the area is well worth a trip. 

Seward is another one of the cozy small towns you’ll find in this region. It’s a great base for exploring Resurrection Bay and Prince William Sound. It also has the Alaska SeaLife Center, an aquarium featuring local marine wildlife. It’s a must for family trips to Alaska. Cordova is a great place to see sea otters in the wild.

Pros of Staying in South-Central Alaska Small-town atmosphere Great fishing Tons of great tours Cons of Staying in South-Central Alaska Possible long drives between destinations

📚 South-Central Alaska Mini-Guide 📚
Best Place to Stay for Wildlife Viewing
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Kodiak Island Take a 1.5-hour hike to the top of Barometer Mountain

👉 Best Place for Day Hikes | ✨ Best Kodiak Hotels: • Goldilocks Bed & Breakfast •

Kodiak Island is just a ferry ride away from the mainland of south-central Alaska. The mountains here are smaller than on the mainland, but that makes them much better for casual day hikes. The local forests (especially at Fort Abercrombie) hide excellent trails under their boughs, too.

Kodiak is a fishing town and a few ships from its fleet gained fame in The Deadliest Catch. Many of these ships are no longer in operation, but it’s still worth a walk on the docks to check out the rest of the fleet. Kodiak’s other harbor, St. Herman’s Bay, is a great place to see sea lions lounging in the sun.

There are several good hotels on Kodiak Island, the best of which is the Best Western. It offers great accommodations, including a hot tub suite and an on-site restaurant, the Chartroom. In fact, Kodiak has several great restaurants and bars where you can wrap up the day and get to know the locals.

Pros of Staying in Kodiak: Major attractions are within walking distance Tons of great day hike options  Great local bear-viewing tour options Cozy small-town feeling Cons of Staying in Kodiak: Bad weather can delay flights Hotels can be pricey in summer

📚 Kodiak Mini-Guide 📚
Best Place to Stay for Day Hikes
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Juneau Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls, north of Juneau

👉 Best Place for Glaciers |  ✨ Best Juneau Hotels: • • Best Western Country Lane Inn

The state capital offers visitors a great mix of southeastern Alaskan beauty and creature comforts. The Mendenhall Glacier, north of town, is one of the main attractions and is easy to access by road. It’s the perfect place for getting a good look at an Alaskan glacier without committing to a cruise. 

Beer fans will know Juneau as the HQ of Alaskan Brewing Company. The flagship outpost offers tasty brews alongside fresh seafood and more! The top of Mt. Roberts commands excellent views of the area and can be accessed by foot or tram. Local museums house treasure troves of information on local Native culture and the gold rush era that put Juneau on the map.

Additionally, this capital city serves as a great jumping-off point for exploring the rest of southeastern Alaska. Flights from the airport travel daily to outlying towns. The ferries of the Alaska Marine Highway System offer a great alternative to cruise ships for travelers looking for a more authentically Alaskan experience.

The Juneau Hotel is one of the best places to stay when visiting. It has a solid combination of a convenient location, competitive rates, and simple, but comfortable accommodations.

Pros of Staying in Juneau: Easy access to the stunning Mendenhall Glacier Gorgeous scenery A good variety of accommodations and dining options Cons of Staying in Juneau: No roads lead to Juneau; you need to fly or sail here Prices for hotels tend to be high

📚 Juneau Mini-Guide 📚
Best Place to Stay for Glaciers
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Southeast Alaska The Ketchikan waterfront (photo: Eleanor Scriven / Shutterstock)

👉 Best Place for Small-Town Vibes | ✨ Best Southeast Alaska Hotels: (Skagway) • (Ketchikan) • Longliner Lodge & Suites (Sitka)

Southeast Alaska is one of the coziest places in the state and a treasure trove of Alaskan history. The sheltered waters of the Inside Passage harbor a wide variety of marine life. The warm (for Alaska), wet climate allows thick spruce forests to grow. The fjords and mountains funnel massive glaciers down to the sea.

Some of Alaska’s most charming coastal communities lie along the shores of southeast Alaska. Sitka, once known as “the Paris of the Pacific,” boasts a rich fusion of Native Alaska, Russian, and American heritage. Goddard Hot Springs, on an island near Sitka, offers a natural “hot tub” in a secluded setting, perfect for getting away from it all.

The charming town of Skagway and its historic buildings offer visitors a glimpse back in time to Alaska’s gold rush days. The Historic Skagway Inn is a perfect complement to the old-timey atmosphere, featuring cozy rooms with vintage Victorian-era vibes.

Ketchikan has a remarkable collection of totem poles and is one of the best places in Alaska for sport fishing. Meanwhile, the lush Tongass National Forest harbors a wide variety of plant and animal life. The milder climate makes Southeast Alaska great for camping in the summer. 

Pros of Staying in Southeast Alaska: Charming towns Stunning beauty World-class fishing Cons of Staying in Southeast Alaska: Some establishments are only open seasonally Hotels can be pricey during peak seasons Can only be flown or sailed to

📚 Southeast Alaska Mini-Guide 📚
Best Place to Stay for Small-Town Vibes
Google Map

Rural Alaska When -10°F is a “mild winter” (Village of Akiachak near Bethel, Alaska)

👉 Best Place for A Truly Alaskan Experience | ✨ Best Rural Alaska Hotels: Blackburn Cabins (Wrangell-St. Elias Natl Park) • Kings Studio Apartment C (Nome) • Roberts Lodge (Tok)

Alaska itself is already a remote location in many people’s minds. The towns and cities may seem too crowded for the truly adventurous, though. Think you’re willing to forego all the amenities of “civilization” — or at least most of them? Then a world of experiences available only in Alaska awaits you!  

Watch the start of the Iditarod dogsled race in Anchorage, then head to the remote town of Nome to see the first team cross the finish line. Wander through mountains and valleys in the heart of the Alaskan wilderness at the Gates of the Arctic National Park. Learn more about the Yup’ik tribe in Bethel, Alaska. 

You may find yourself faring on authentic Alaskan cuisine if you venture out to the villages, and I don’t mean what’s available at most restaurants! In my travels, I’ve tasted seal, sea lion, and whale! Definitely all acquired tastes, but perfect for foodie bragging rights. 

Visit Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, set east of Anchorage, for a more accessible excursion into the wild. Accommodations such as the Blackburn Cabins combine rustic charm and modern comforts. Or, for a truly unique experience, take an Alaskan road trip where quirky, cozy towns like Tok punctuate the epic, sprawling landscapes.

Pros of Staying in Rural Alaska: A one-of-a-kind experience Some of the most beautiful sights in Alaska Never crowded Cons of Staying in Rural Alaska: Very limited conveniences Getting there can be involved and expensive

📚 Rural Alaska Mini-Guide 📚
Best Place to Stay for A Truly Alaskan Experience
Google Map

Tips for Staying in Alaska Be Flexible with Frequent Weather Delays Working to remove snow from the runway in Anchorage in November

Alaska’s weather can sometimes delay flights. Getting to and from Anchorage from the Lower 48 is rarely a problem outside the occasional winter blizzard. Smaller towns, especially coastal communities, though, can be trickier. 

I’ve been fogged out of (or in) Kodiak several times myself, so it’s always good to have some flexibility. In general, fall and winter have worse weather in coastal Alaska, but it’s not unheard of for the weather to delay flights in summer, too.

Plan Ahead for Seasonal Sights The starting point for the Iditarod race, downtown Anchorage

Along with knowing what the weather’s doing, it’s a good idea to think about what you want to see in Alaska. The state’s midnight sun makes viewing the aurora borealis all but impossible in summer.

Traveling in midsummer months also tends to be more expensive. Buffer seasons in May and September often offer the same attractions at discounted prices. Winters are harsh, but there are unique attractions like the Fur Rondy and Iditarod in February and March. 

Our guide on the best times to visit Alaska will help figure out what season works best for your plans!

Bring Bug Spray

Mosquitos live all across the state and come out in the spring and summer. It’s always a good idea to bring some insect repellent to keep the pesky creatures at bay, especially if you plan on getting out in nature. They also prefer wetter places, so expect more mosquitoes if there are bodies of water (especially stagnant ones) where you’re going.

Pack Extra Layers

Alaska’s summers are warm but cooler than what many people are used to. This is especially true if you’ll be out on the ocean. Make sure to include an extra layer or two on your Alaska packing list.

Bringing a rain jacket and waterproof shoes is also a good idea. Early spring tends to be a soggy time of year. You can also bring an umbrella, but in places like Kodiak, where wind and rain go hand in hand, a rain jacket is much better.

Book Private Tours

Alaska is home to many unique sights and experiences. It’s worth paying a little more for a private tour instead of going for it on your own. Guides can offer professional tips, local lore, or, in some cases, vital safety information (regarding wildlife, terrain, extreme weather, etc.). Some of the state’s most distinctive experiences include:

Catch a Few Winks in the B Terminal at Anchorage Airport The B Terminal is often empty, making it a great place to rest

The vast majority of flights to and from Alaska go through Anchorage. Flights may, however, often be at odd hours, or overnight layovers can be too short to justify booking a hotel room. The B Terminal sees far fewer flights and often quiets down in the evening. This makes it a great place to rest or catch a little shuteye while waiting for that early morning departure. 

FAQs What is the best town to stay in in Alaska?

In my opinion, the best town to stay in is Homer in South-Central Alaska. Ketchikan, Sitka, and Skagway are great, too, having tons of cultural attractions and natural beauty. Kodiak is another worthwhile destination and is hard to beat for scenic day hikes on a sunny day.

Is it better to stay in Anchorage or Fairbanks?

It is better to stay in Anchorage than Fairbanks if you want more conveniences and a central jumping-off point. Pick Fairpacks for something farther off the beaten path and with more Alaskan atmosphere.

What is the nicest part of Alaska to visit?

The nicest part of Alaska to visit is Southeast Alaska, in my opinion. It has the best combination of natural beauty, attractions, and charming small towns to make it the most pleasant place for an Alaska trip.

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I hope you’ve gotten some good ideas on where to stay in Alaska. Whatever your tastes, you’re sure to find something you’ll love in the Last Frontier. Leave me a comment if you have any questions and check out my Alaska road trip guide for more travel insights! 

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