Alaska’s road network is small compared to the size of the state, but nearly every mile is scenic. You’ll pass glaciers beside the highway, moose in the ditches, and the Alaska Range on the horizon. A rental car or RV gives you freedom that tours can’t.
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Classic routes
- Anchorage to Seward (Seward Highway): about 125 miles. The highway is a National Scenic Byway along Turnagain Arm, with beluga and Dall sheep viewing spots and stops at Girdwood, Portage, and Exit Glacier.
- Kenai Peninsula loop: Seward, Cooper Landing, Soldotna, and Homer, at the end of the Sterling Highway on Kachemak Bay.
- Anchorage to Denali and Fairbanks (Parks Highway): about 360 miles to Fairbanks, with Talkeetna and Denali along the way.
- Glenn and Richardson Highways: pass the Matanuska Glacier and Glennallen, then head south to Valdez via Thompson Pass and Worthington Glacier, or north to Delta Junction and Fairbanks.
- Wrangell–St. Elias National Park: the gravel McCarthy Road (about 60 miles) leads to McCarthy and the historic Kennecott mill town.
- Denali Highway: a mostly gravel 135-mile route between Paxson and Cantwell, with huge tundra views and few services.
Driving to Alaska
The Alaska Highway runs from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to Delta Junction, Alaska. It’s paved, but it’s long and has frost heaves and construction. You’ll cross into Canada, so you need a passport and must follow Canadian rules on firearms and food. Allow at least a week each way from the Lower 48. Get The Milepost. The Alaska Marine Highway ferry from Bellingham, Washington is the scenic alternative. See where to stay for ferry basics.
Renting a car or RV
- Book early. Summer demand in Anchorage and Fairbanks is high, and fleets are limited. Compare Anchorage car rentals on Discover Cars.
- Read the gravel-road clause. Many standard contracts ban the Dalton, Denali Highway, and McCarthy Road. Some local companies allow them in suitable vehicles.
- RVs are available from dedicated rental companies and peer-to-peer platforms like RVshare and Outdoorsy. Ask about mileage charges, generator hours, and one-way fees.
- Fuel can be 100+ miles apart in rural areas. Fill up when you can.
Campgrounds and boondocking
Options include Alaska State Parks campgrounds, Forest Service sites on the Kenai Peninsula, BLM campgrounds on the Dalton and Denali Highways, Denali National Park campgrounds (reserve starting December 1), and private RV parks with hookups in most towns. Popular summer weekends fill up, especially on the Kenai during salmon runs.
RV repairs on the road
Gravel, frost heaves, and long distances are hard on rigs: tires, windshields, slide-outs, and generators all take a beating. If something breaks in the Interior, Arctic Mobile RV Service is a mobile RV repair service based in the Fairbanks area. Carry basic spares (fuses, hose fittings, a tire repair kit) and know where your rig’s water shutoff and breakers are.
Road safety
- Moose collisions are a real risk, especially at dawn, dusk, and in winter. Slow down.
- Pull over for faster traffic. Alaska law requires slow vehicles to use turnouts when five or more vehicles are stacked up behind them.
- Drive with headlights on (it’s required on signed highway sections). Several highways have signed Traffic Safety Corridors where fines are doubled.
- Check 511.alaska.gov for road conditions and construction.