This road trip is a MUST and perfect for first-time Alaska visitors who want to visit national parks and experience untouched nature. The guide below covers route, driving times, best hikes and campsites, and costs. This road trip is best done during the summer (June to beginning of September), as most sites in Homer / Seward are closed during off-season.

Overview: Alaska Road Trip at a Glance

Quick Facts Table:

Starting city: Anchorage
Ending city: Anchorage
Other cities visited: Seward, Homer, Hope, Girdwood
Suggested length: 4 days (although you can do it in less!)
National Parks covered: Kenai Fjords
Total distance: ~520 miles
Best time to go: June–August
Rental car needed: Yes
Ideal for: Wildlife, glaciers, hikes, boat tours, small towns, camping

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Before leaving, make sure you stock up on food! My itinerary below outlines budget-friendly camping and cooking from your car, so bring a small cooler and a camp stove for the best experience.

You will need a car to do this trip. Unfortunately there are no accessible public transit options outside of taking an expensive train from Anchorage to Seward (from $133 one-way) or a bus ($80). And taking these modes of transport will make it hard to visit Harding Icefield and camp off the main stretch. I highly recommend renting a car through Turo or your favorite car rental site.

Day 1: Anchorage → Seward

Drive time: 2.5 hours
Drive distance: 130 miles

Your first day, you’ll depart Anchorage in the morning and head straight down to Seward. You’ll follow AK-1 Seward Highway along the Turnagain Arm, home to spectacular views the whole way. Make sure to stop at Beluga Point for a scenic view across the bay.

If you can time it right, another fun thing to see is the Bore tide. This is when the new moon draws extreme tide changes and causes a massive wave that extends the entire Turnagain arm. It’s best to see in the afternoon (so maybe when you are driving back from your adventure). You can find the schedule on Alaska’s tourism website.

Beluga Point (from a trip I did in the winter to Alaska in 2024!)

If you’re eager for a hike on the way to Seward, check out Ptarmigan Lake Trail, a 7 mile round trip hike up to a gorgeous lake.

Before arriving at Seward, turn off on Exit Glacier road towards the Harding Icefield. This will be your first view of Kenai Fjords national park, and is home to one of the most spectacular hikes and views in Alaska. The Harding Icefield can be experienced by walking a short distance on the paved path to a viewing area, or on a more adventurous trail that goes 9 miles round trip and >3,200ft elevation gain up the valley to see the top of the glacier. I highly recommend the Harding Icefield Trail - it does not disappoint! You can even get great views by hiking up half the trail.

For the evening, camp for free on Exit Glacier Road. There were probably 20 people staying here when I camped, and the views are great.

Day 2: Kenai Fjords National Park (Seward)

Today is your only “non-budget” day where you will have to fork over money to get on a boat and see Kenai Fjords National Park. Outside of the Harding Icefield, the only other way to see the spectacular nature of the park is to go with a local operator on a half- or full-day boat tour.

What company to go with?

There are loads of operators that will take you on day tours in Seward. All of the trips are essentially the same and cost about the same. I went with Alaska Connection - Kenai Fjords Tours, but I met other people that had great experiences with Major Marine Tours & Seward Ocean Excursions.

Alaska Connection 2026 Tour Dates run from March 12 – September 27 (for the general boat), while the longer Northwest boat runs from May 30 – August 30, so make sure you visit during the right time for the tour you want!

Map of the different tour options - I did the Northwestern Fjord Tour and highly suggest it!

Half or full day?

The half day tours go a shorter distance and to closer glaciers, while the full-day tours will take you to the Northwest Fjords, which are less visited. I did the 8-hour full-day tour to Northwest Fjords and I loved every second of it. Here are some pros of taking the longer tour:

More opportunities to see wildlife
Less boat traffic
Chance to see gorgeous, untouched nature
Free lunch (we had burritos, and honestly, it was pretty good!)

The cost for the full-day tour was ~$320, while the half day tour is >$200. The extra cost is definitely worth the experience, and after seeing everything I saw, I highly recommend just forking over the money. Especially if you’re like me, and are camping in free spots!

I saw so much amazing wildlife, including pods of orcas, sperm whales, fin whales, puffins, bald eagles, and dolphins. I don’t think I would have seen all of these things on the half-day tour! Plus the boat captain was absolutely amazing with lots of fun facts about the Ididerod (he also raced in it 20 years ago!) and over 30 years of experience doing this same boat tour.

Make sure you pack water, snacks, jackets and layers (it gets cold out on the deck) including a rain jacket, sunglasses, and sea sickness pills if you are prone to getting queasy.

We left around 8:30am and got back at 4:30pm, perfectly on the 8-hour mark. After the boat tour, I explored the town of Seward which has a lot of cute shops, restaurants, and breweries.

For the evening and camping, you can camp in one of the campsites in town (~$30/night, but very crowded with motor homes so I don’t recommend). I ended up leaving Seward and drove 2 hours towards Homer to camp for free at Lower Skilak Lake Campground. There were 5 other cars there, and it was a peaceful evening.

Day 3: Seward → Homer

Drive time: 3.5 hours
Drive distance: 170 miles

Today you will go up and around the peninsula towards Homer. If you chose to camp in the free campsites I listed above, you’re already half way there!

Depending on timing, you can stop at Copper Landing, home to fishing, fishing, and more fishing, and Cooper Landing Brewing Company. Or, try this 5 mile hike along the Russian river to a waterfall.

The Homer spit is a 4.5 mile jut of land that goes into the Kachemak Bay. Here you will find a unique fishing village with lots of activities to do, including beaches, kayaking, fishing, restaurants, bars, and remote nature. Other reasons to visit Homer are to walk the spit and visit Halibut Cove. If you’re feeling up for it, you can also access Katmai National Park on a day trip (although it will be very expensive!). Read about my experience visiting Katmai National Park from Anchorage.

One fun option near Homer is to eat at The Saltry Restaurant in Halibut Cove. The restaurant is expensive, but they provide a ferry service from Homer’s dock. If you book a dinner, you can head over early or stay late to walk around the cove and explore the shops and nice accommodations in the area. Alternatively, you can pay directly for the Danny J Ferry for just a boat tour and no dinner, which is $55.

Do not miss the Salty Dawg Saloon at the end of the Homer Spit. Locally famous, this dive bar is a staple in the town.

Where to stay: The only free campsite near Homer is Whiskey Gulch Rd beach, which is a 30-minute drive from town. I would recommend staying at Homer Spit Campground (end of the spit, can get very windy) or Mariner Park (for less wind), which are each ~$30/night.

Day 4: Homer → Anchorage (via Hope, Whittier, or Girdwood)

Drive time: 4hr 15min
Drive distance: 225 miles

If you’re in a rush to get back to Anchorage, leave early and take your time driving the 4 hours back to Anchorage. As I mentioned on day 1 in this guide, try to hit the Bore tide if you are traveling near full or new moons! It’s worth a watch, and people surf it for hours. If you have some time, or even an extra day, think about stopping at one or more of these optional detours:

Hope

A really cute town on the south side of the Turnagain Arm, this town has a cute little town and gorgeous hiking. Stop by the Creekbend Cafe for life music on weekends and a nice outdoor set-up. Or, try the historic Hope Cafe near the water; note there is a campsite here, but it’s not very protected and I would recommend camping elsewhere (see below).

Take a 9 mile round trip hike up to Hope Point for the best views of the area. It’s worth the climb, but you don’t need to go all the way to the top to get spectacular views.

I camped at a free campsite just a few miles from Hope. It was along the beach and there were 4 other cars there. Alternatively, camp at Porcupine campground which you can book through recreation.gov.

Whittier & Portage Glacier

Whittier is a small coastal town accessible only by tunnel from AK-1 and ferry from Valdez in eastern Alaska. Whittier is where a lot of cruise ships will land, and is a port for water-based activities. You can book a boat tour to see untouched glaciers or take jet skis surrounded by freezing cold water (seems like an experience). I did my Scuba Diving drysuit certification here, where we dove at Smitty’s Cove, a popular area for scuba divers in Alaska. To get to Whittier, you need to pay ~$13 per car and take the tunnel, which is open every hour. The timing can be a bit tricky, and make sure you don’t miss the last tunnel, otherwise you’re stuck in Whittier for good! There is camping in Whittier, but none of it is free. I stopped by Varley’s Swiftwater Seafood Cafe for some fish and chips, which was awesome.

Fish and chips at Switfwater Seafood Cafe in Whittier

Dry suit diving in Whittier. Cold but beautiful!

I wouldn’t recommend a “quick stop” in Whittier. It’s worth going to if you do another activitiy (like a boat tour, or scuba diving). Instead, check out Portage Lake / Glacier, which is on the west side of the tunnel, for an easy 2-mile hike to Byron glacier. This is an easy 1-hour detour from your drive up to Anchorage.

Byron Glacier - a quick 2 mile round trip hike

Girdwood

Girdwood, the home of Alyeska ski resort in the winter and the more expensive Nordic Spa (year round), is a cute town that’s worth a stop. For hiking - try the short 0.5 mile stretch to Virgin Creek Falls, or 4 miles down Winner Creek Trail, or the harder 4.5 uphill hike to the top of Mount Alyeska, where you can take the ski tram down.

While in town, try Girdwood Brewing Company which typically has a food truck outside. Alternatively, for coffee, stop by Alpineglow, Raw Market, or The Grind for local feels and vibes.

Where to Stay (By Location)

Since this is a budget guide, all of my recommendations are free campsites. That being said, there are some incredible cabin experiences worth the money (especially in Homer & Seward).

Seward

Free campsite: Exit Glacier Road

Free campsite: Lower Skilak Lake Campground (1 hour north of Seward)

Homer

Free campsite: Whiskey Gulch Rd beach (30 min north of Homer)

Paid campsites: Homer Spit Campground or Mariner Park

Hope

Hope free campsite (10-mins from town)

Paid campsite: Porcupine campground

Whittier

Free campsite: Portage Lake Road (on the west side of the tunnel)

Paid campsite: Whittier Bay Campground

Budget & Costs Breakdown

Alaska is an expensive place to visit. With my guide and free campsite / cooking suggestions, this is what your costs will end up being:

Rental car: ~$300 (depends on your booking method, whether through Turo or a car rental company!)
Gas: $60 (assuming 30mph car)
Campsites: $0 (if you follow my free campsite suggestions!)
Kenai Fjords boat tour: $320
Food: $200 (could be less depending on how budget you are in your camp meals)

Total estimated cost: $880

Best Time to Do This Road Trip

Alaska is essentially shut down during the winter outside of Anchorage. Additionally, boat tours in Kenai Fjords typically run from June to late August (with some runnign from beginning of May to late September, but those are more rare).

Because of the tourist season and the weather, I would recommend doing this trip any time between June and beginning of September. I personally did this road trip at the very end of August - I think I was the last 8-hour boat tour to the Kenai Fjords, so I cut it pretty short! I had good weather yet a little cold. Winter comes early here, typically mid-September.

What to Pack for an Alaska Road Trip

A part of my budget Alaska itinerary is you will need a wide array of gear to keep budget. If you don’t already own this gear, it’s best to book a hotel and not camp as you won’t be saving a lot of money.

Clothing
- Rain gear (can come at any time!)
- Hiking pants
- Hat
- Gloves / warm hat
- Puffy
- Sweatpants
- Hiking socks (preferably one for every day)
Camping gear
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Camp stove
- Camp fuel (remember that you cannot fly with this! Purchase it upon arrival)
- Spork / bowl for eating
- Cleaning sponge / soap
- Mug for tea or coffee
Hiking gear
- Hiking poles - I highly recommend these as the trails in Alaska can typically be pretty steep or unkempt.
- Water bottle / camelback
- Hiking backpack
- Hiking boots
- Snacks!
Other
- Tooth brush
- Baby wipes for personal hygiene and mini shower
- Motion sickness meds (for boat tour)

Is This 4-Day Itinerary Right for You?

If you are the type of person who loves:

Glaciers
Natural wildlife
Roughing it in the wilderness with no one around
Camping (although you can totally glamp)
Cute, little towns with one restaurant and bar

This trip is totally for you! You can always extend this road trip to include the places listed in this guide (i.e. Hope, Girdwood, Whittier) or Katmai National Park. Additionally, turn this into a 7+ day road trip and drive north to Denali National Park.

Final Tips & Summary

I hope you get off the beaten path and enjoy all that southern Alaska has to offer! Of my time in Alaska, my top 3 experiences were: Katmai National Park, Seward boat tour, and dry suit scuba diving in Whittier.

Check out my other Alaska guides:

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