All Alaska Route
select a community to start planning your trip
Alaska is a vast state and has many natural wonders, historical sites and outdoor activities to enjoy. You will be entranced with the friendliness of the people, the panorama of sky, glaciers and mountains, and the wildlife at every turn. As you begin your journey through Alaska, you will both start and end your trip with the town of Tok. Tok is your first Alaska encounter, and offers plenty of opportunity to fuel up, eat and rest.
Tok, Alaska
After driving through Canada, take a day or two to enjoy being in Alaska. The Tok Public Lands Information Center and Tok Chamber of Commerce “Main Street Alaska” Visitors Center are great places to collect trip-planning information, view museum exhibits and enjoy a wildlife film. If you drive north on the Taylor Highway, stop in Eagle and visit the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. Visitors can enjoy fishing, canoeing, backpacking and wildlife viewing.
Fairbanks, Alaska
Your departure from Tok along the Alaska Highway will take you to the northern city of Fairbanks. Fairbanks is the second-biggest city in Alaska, with an overall population of more than 80,000. It is a busy place, full of life and holding all the modern conveniences, yet managing to keep that small-town feel. With a replica Gold Rush street at Pioneer Park, and a real operating gold mine, Fairbanks shows obvious pride in its mining history. Take a step into the past at the Pioneer Museum or visit the new addition at the university’s Museum of the North. Or take a half-day cruise on the Discovery III riverboat, which runs twice a day in the summer on the Chena and Tanana Rivers (reservations are a must for this, as it’s a very popular tour). Denali National Park is also just a short drive, where you can witness the splendor of Mt. McKinley and enjoy bus tours into the park or backpacking adventures.
Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Alaska
Driving from Fairbanks to the towns of Wasilla and nearby Palmer will take four to six hours (possibly a bit longer if traveling via RV). Enjoy the sights, and watch for moose or even the occasional meandering bear. Stopping in Wasilla, you may consider a visit to the Nancy Lake Recreation Area, located off Mile 67.3 of the Parks Highway. This is a wonderful place for a day of canoeing through the interconnecting lake system, and you can rent cabins for overnight stays or longer. Another recreational area is Big Lake, just a bit farther south and a busy weekend hangout for local Alaskans. Big Lake offers swimming, camping, jet skis and fishing fun. The Mat-Su Valley is also home to the Iditarod Trail Headquarters on Knik Road. Heading a bit farther down Knik Road, you can learn some of the history behind the race at the Knik Museum and the Sled Dog Musher’s Hall of Fame. The township of Palmer is right next door to Wasilla, a 15-minute drive or so. In Palmer, you will find some great campgrounds and recreational areas. Take a drive through Hatcher Pass, which takes you through a mountainous area with breathtaking views all around. From July to September, you can drive from Hatcher Pass to Willow, and then back through Big Lake and Wasilla. Keep in mind, however, that this road is not readily accessible to larger motorhomes or vehicles towing trailers. If you happen to make your drive through Palmer in late August, you should stop in at the Alaska State Fair, with rides, food and the biggest vegetables under the midnight sun!
Anchorage, Alaska
You will get on the Glenn Highway, a designated National Scenic Byway, outside of Wasilla and drive south towards the city of Anchorage. This vibrant city boasts the biggest population in the state, with more than 250,000 people, yet it offers a perfect blend of urban adventures and cosmopolitan experiences. Visitors can choose from hundreds of hiking trails within the city limits including the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail accessible from downtown. Then return for dinner at a five-star restaurant or enjoy one of Anchorage’s many shows, art exhibits, or cultural events. The magnificent Chugach Mountains serve as a backdrop to the city and are easily accessed. Hike Flattop Mountain or explore areas of Chugach State Park where you’ll be rewarded with great views of the Alaska Range, Cook Inlet and downtown Anchorage. For additional wildlife viewing, stop by the Alaska Zoo or visit Potter Marsh, a bird and wildlife refuge. A large boardwalk allows visitors to walk out into the marsh area, viewing birds and fish in their natural habitat. Before continuing down the road, be sure to spend a few days in Anchorage and get to know the city.
SIDE TRIPS
With so many places to visit in this massive state, it makes sense to take a few side trips and enjoy as much of it as possible. We’ve highlighted a few options for you to consider:
Cordova
From Valdez, you can hop aboard the Alaska Marine Highway ferry or fly across Prince William Sound to the beautiful little fishing town of Cordova. This town is nestled in the heart of a spectacular wilderness located between Orca Inlet and Lake Eyak on the east coast of Prince William Sound.
With rich cultural heritage and colorful residents, Cordova is well worth exploring. The town is a jumping-off point to 14 U.S. Forest Service cabins, great alpine hiking and the Copper River Delta, a staging and nesting area for millions of birds each year and the home of the world-famous Copper River Wild Salmon.
Be sure to visit the Cordova Museum with displays on marine life, relics from the town’s early history and the Kennecott copper mine and Russian artifacts. Another must-see is the Ilanka Cultural Center with displays of native artifacts, a full-sized totem pole and one of only five known fully articulated Orca (killer whale) skeletons in the world.
