The Best Way To See Alaska

What’s the best way to see Alaska? You could come in summer and cruise through dramatic glaciers and fjords, or hop a flight with a local guide and find the best fly-fishing spots.

Better yet, you could go cruising in Alaska to combine the best of land and sea — and it’s all possible on Royal Caribbean Alaska cruises.

This guide explores the best ways to experience Alaska, including by cruise, road trip and rail, and offers travel tips to help you prepare.

Key Takeaways: The Best Ways To See Alaska

● Cruising: A convenient cruise through the Inside Passage combines relaxing sea experiences with exciting land tour opportunities.

● Road trips: You can rent a car to explore specific routes, though the state lacks an extensive highway network.

● Train travel: Enjoy beautifully scenic summer train rides to historical towns or view the dazzling Northern Lights.

● Travel preparation: Carefully plan ahead by packing adaptable, waterproof clothing, bringing essential viewing gear and allowing ample time for travel logistics.

What Is The Best Way To See Alaska?

A tour through Alaska via cruise is the best way to experience the Final Frontier because it combines sea adventures with land tour opportunities. By booking a Cruisetour through Alaska, you’ll get to go on a cruise, which usually lasts around seven days, as well as a land-based adventure, typically ranging between two and six days.

You get the comfort and accessibility of cruising plus all the fun of a road trip in Alaska. On land, you’ll stay in authentic lodges, experience a guided tour of Denali National Park and soak up an itinerary packed with Alaskan thrills, all provided by dedicated adventure guides. You’ll even have the opportunity to explore on your own.

Cruising Through The Alaska Inside Passage

Cruising through the Alaska Inside Passage is another great way to make the travel experience more convenient. Cruise ships are full of onboard and land-based entertainment options, great dining to refuel for your adventures and you’ll have a warm shower and comfortable bed waiting for you when you get back to the ship.

There are plenty of Alaska shore excursions available for specific experiences — for example, spotting wildlife or getting a unique glacier view. Cruises also simplify travel logistics and planning: There’s no need to book multiple hotels, decide between different travel methods or plan every second of your itinerary.

Alaskan cruises primarily focus on the state's long coastline, from the picturesque waterside near Ketchikan in the south to the dramatic inlets and sounds near destinations such as Seward and Anchorage farther north. You may even have the option to spend one morning or afternoon kayaking. That's the great part about a cruise: It's not just a great way to experience Alaska, but also the most customizable.

When Is The Best Month To Go To Alaska?

The best way to experience Alaska is by visiting in the summer, between June and August. There's no better time to admire the state's sprawling glaciers than from miles away, before slowly drawing into the bay until the massive sheets of ice are so close you can see the meltwater carving channels through them. Stand out on the deck to feel the fresh Northern air on your face, or watch it all unfold from the comfort of your stateroom — or, with a glass of champagne in one of the onboard restaurants.

Another reason to love an Alaskan cruise in summer is that it's by far your best chance of seeing whales. These amazing animals are especially active in the Icy Strait near Juneau and in the waters of Kenai Fjords National Park. Try not to worry too much about this aspect of your Alaska vacation — your ship's crew will know just where to go to find whales. You'll also be able to see dozens of other wildlife species, including colonies of seabirds and groups of walruses and sea lions sunbathing on the rocks.

How Many Days Is Ideal For An Alaska Trip?

The standard Alaska cruise typically spans seven nights, give or take, which is the baseline needed to cover the distance between major ports like Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. 

If you intend to see the interior before or after your cruise — specifically Denali National Park or the Fairbanks region — you should plan a 10- to 14-day itinerary.

Alaska is vast, and transit between the coast and the interior takes time when moving by rail or road, so allow plenty of time to get to the cruise terminal on time.

How Can You Book A Cruisetour To Visit Alaska?

If you can’t decide between a cruise, a land vacation or a fly-drive itinerary, an Alaska Cruisetour gives you the best of all three. Pair a seven-night cruise with a two- to six-night guided land tour through Alaska’s rugged landscape, including destinations to the Last Frontier like Denali National Park, Talkeetna and Fairbanks.

When choosing a Cruisetour, consider how much time you want to spend inland. Shorter itineraries focus on Alaska’s highlights, while longer adventures give you more time to enjoy wildlife viewing, wilderness excursions and overnight stays in authentic lodges near major tourist attractions. 

Many Cruisetours also include deluxe transportation on board luxury glass-domed railcars like the Wilderness Express. You can also savor enriching, guided experiences led by local Adventure Guides who share insider knowledge about Alaska’s interior, history and culture.

Book your ticket as early as possible, especially for summer departures, because Alaska Cruisetours often sell out months in advance. Keep in mind that lodge accommodations, rail seating and popular excursions — including flightseeing, glacier adventures and wildlife tours — have limited availability during peak season.

Fishing And Flying In Alaska

If you’re combining cruise and land travel, a highly recommended excursion opportunity is fly fishing in Alaska — especially if you’re looking for little-known spots.

The Last Frontier has a relatively undeveloped highway network — many parts of the state don't have roads at all! Even when you can drive, booking an excursion makes the transit and finding a good spot much easier. If you plan to go fishing in Alaska, you'll need to book the excursion early.

Besides the practicality, there's nothing like the beauty of Alaska's mountains, lakes and forests from above. Exploring the Last Frontier in a helicopter allows you to look down on some of Alaska's wildlife (like grizzly bears or moose) while keeping a safe distance. It can allow you to access places you'd never find on a map, particularly since the pilot is likely a guide, too.

Air travel is also a great option if you’re hoping to go fly fishing in Alaska. Many of the best rivers for Alaskan salmon are inaccessible by car. Some are also known only by word of mouth — if you aren't traveling with a local guide, you simply aren't going to find them.

Can You Take A Road Trip In Alaska?

If you’re looking to explore Alaska by land before or after your cruise, you can take a road trip, but it could be difficult because the state doesn’t have an extensive highway network. As you plan your trip, you may notice that online maps don't even offer driving directions between certain locations. Seeing Alaska by car can be a rewarding adventure if you only plan to explore a few specific areas, such as the route between Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula or the Chugach National Forest, which is a quick 90-minute journey from Anchorage.

If you start your Alaskan cruise vacation by flying into Anchorage, you could drive south to Seward to take a Kenai Fjords cruise or a kayaking adventure. Likewise, it's just four hours (a short distance, by Alaskan standards) up Interstate Highway A4 to Denali National Park. Another worthwhile stop along the A4, no matter which time of year you come, is the charming small town of Talkeetna, a former mining town whose population just broke 1,000 people.

If you do rent a car to go driving through Alaska, you'll likely need to combine it with other modes of transport. For example, the drive between Juneau and Anchorage takes nearly a day, even under the best circumstances. It's often better to fly and then pick up a car at Anchorage Airport. On the other hand, if time is not an issue and your Alaska trip is about the journey as much as the destination, you can take the so-called Alaska Marine Highway, a network of car ferries that allows you to slowly make your way along the coast from Juneau to Anchorage.

The Best Way To Tour Alaska Via Rail

You can travel by train to some destinations in Alaska. From Juneau, you can ride the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway to Skagway, a historical town that'll make you feel like you've traveled back to Gold Rush times. Since this train only departs during the summer, you'll bask in plentiful sunshine as you hang out the window and see gorgeous purple lupines and other wildflowers as you speed by on your Alaska tour.

If you’re finishing your cruise in Anchorage, you also have two railway options to get to Fairbanks via Denali Park: the summer Denali Star train or the Aurora Winter train, which is another fabulous way to see Alaska's Northern Lights. One smart way to fit this adventure into a shorter trip is to take the train from Anchorage to Fairbanks, then fly back to Anchorage (or directly home) when you've finished exploring Alaska via sea and land.

The Best Way To Visit Alaska: Tips And Recommendations

● When packing, think layers: Your Alaska cruise packing list should include a moisture-wicking base, fleece mid-layer and waterproof shell. Alaska’s weather swings 20 degrees in an hour; modular clothing is more effective than one heavy coat.

● Bring waterproof footwear: Bring broken-in, waterproof hiking boots with ankle support. Coastal trails are notoriously slick and muddy, even in summer. Standard sneakers won't handle the terrain.

● Leave arrival buffers: Fly into your cruise departure location at least one day early. Pacific Northwest flight delays are common, and catching a ship at the next Alaskan port is logistically difficult.

● Midnight sun prep: Pack a high-quality eye mask. With up to 20 hours of daylight in June and July, it’s important to stay rested for early excursions.

● Optical gear: Bring dedicated binoculars. While the crew spots whales, having your own glass is the only way to see the fine details of a glacier calving or distant bears.

● Excursion logistics: Book flightseeing or fishing excursions early. Helicopter trips have strict weight limits and fill up months in advance. Pack a soft-sided day bag for these specific weight-sensitive flights.

● Transit times: Allow double the mapped time for land travel. Rockslides or construction on the Seward Highway can turn a two-hour drive into a four-hour ordeal.

How To See Alaska: Explore Your Way