12 days in Alaska Itinerary

Home to nearly half of Alaska's population, the port city of Anchorage covers a staggering area of over 4,900 sq km (1,900 sq mi) surrounded by mountains.

Start off your visit on the 10th (Tue): look for all kinds of wild species at Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary, identify plant and animal life at Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and then take in nature's colorful creations at Alaska Botanical Garden. On the 11th (Wed), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: steep yourself in history at Alaska Native Heritage Center, then see the interesting displays at Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, then contemplate the long history of Oscar Anderson House Museum, and finally explore the landscape on two wheels at Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.

To see where to stay, reviews, more things to do, and other tourist information, refer to the Anchorage road trip site.

Nashville to Anchorage is an approximately 11-hour flight. You can also drive. The time zone difference moving from Central Standard Time to Alaska Standard Time is minus 3 hours. Traveling from Nashville in August, expect nights in Anchorage to be little chillier, around 53°F, while days are much colder, around 66°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 11th (Wed) to allow enough time to drive to Seward.

For most visitors to this part of the world, the wild part of Alaska starts at Seward, a small port city that takes advantage of the region's natural beauty.

On the 12th (Thu), explore the striking landscape at Holgate Glacier, then hike along Harding Ice Field Trail, then explore the striking landscape at Exit Glacier, and finally get up close to creatures of the deep with a dolphin and whale watching tour. Keep things going the next day: explore the striking landscape of Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center.

For traveler tips, reviews, ratings, and more tourist information, read our Seward trip planner.

Traveling by car from Anchorage to Seward takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In August, daily temperatures in Seward can reach 62°F, while at night they dip to 51°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 13th (Fri) so you can go by car to Homer.

Homer is a city located in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. Start off your visit on the 14th (Sat): explore the world behind art at Norman Lowell Gallery, examine the collection at Pratt Museum, explore the world behind art at Bunnell Street Arts Center, then hit the best photo ops around with an inspiring photography tour, then explore the landscape on two wheels at Homer Spit, and finally get a new perspective on things with Boat Tours & Water Sports. Keep things going the next day: immerse yourself in nature at Kachemak Bay State Park.

Take the guesswork out of planning a Homer vacation by using our trip itinerary maker.

Drive from Seward to Homer in 4 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and ferry. In August, plan for daily highs up to 63°F, and evening lows to 51°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 15th (Sun) so you can travel to Juneau.

Juneau is an unusual state capital in many respects.

Kick off your visit on the 16th (Mon): don't miss a visit to Mendenhall Glacier, then admire the sheer force of Nugget Falls, then take in the dramatic natural features at Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, and finally get a taste of the local shopping with Fairweather Gallery and Gifts. On the 17th (Tue), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: get a dose of the wild on a nature and wildlife tour, then take in the dramatic natural features at Inside Passage, then see majestic marine mammals with a dolphin and whale watching tour, and finally whizz through the canopy at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks.

To see more things to do, ratings, reviews, and more tourist information, use the Juneau trip planner.

Do a combination of car and flight from Homer to Juneau in 8 hours. Expect a daytime high around 64°F in August, and nighttime lows around 51°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Tue) early enough to travel to Sitka.

The City and Borough of Sitka, formerly Novo-Arkhangelsk, or New Archangel under Russian rule, is a unified city-borough located on Baranof Island and the southern half of Chichagof Island in the Alexander Archipelago of the Pacific Ocean (part of the Alaska Panhandle), in the U.S. state of Alaska. Start off your visit on the 18th (Wed): appreciate the extensive heritage of Sitka National Historic Park/Totem Park, admire the landmark architecture of Russian Bishop's House, then get up close to creatures of the deep with a dolphin and whale watching tour, then look for all kinds of wild species at Alaska Raptor Center, and finally steep yourself in history at Sitka Lutheran Church.

To see photos, traveler tips, reviews, and other tourist information, you can read our Sitka trip itinerary planner.

Getting from Juneau to Sitka by flight takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: ride a ferry. In August, plan for daily highs up to 63°F, and evening lows to 54°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 18th (Wed) so you can travel to Wrangell.

The City and Borough of Wrangell is a borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. Start off your visit on the 19th (Thu): hit the best photo ops around with Alaska Vistas, get interesting insight from Tours, then look for all kinds of wild species at Anan Creek Wildlife Viewing Site, and finally stroll through Petroglyph Beach State Historical Site.

To see where to stay, maps, reviews, and tourist information, go to the Wrangell trip itinerary tool.

The Route module can help you plan travel from Sitka to Wrangell. Expect a daytime high around 63°F in August, and nighttime lows around 53°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 19th (Thu) early enough to go by car to Ketchikan.

The narrow city of Ketchikan clings to the bluffs that form Revillagigedo Island's southwestern shore.

On the 20th (Fri), steep yourself in history at Saxman Native Village, immerse yourself in nature at Totem Bight State Historical Park, cast your line with a fishing tour, then kick your exploration up a notch at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks, and finally get to know the fascinating history of Creek Street.

To see traveler tips, maps, and more tourist information, read Ketchikan travel planning site.

Explore your travel options from Wrangell to Ketchikan with the Route module. In August, daytime highs in Ketchikan are 66°F, while nighttime lows are 55°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 21st (Sat) so you can travel back home.