Ultimate Day Trip from Anchorage, Alaska

There is so much to do in Alaska, and Anchorage is the perfect home base for non-stop adventures! It’s the largest city in the state and sits right smack-dab in the middle of the Chugach Mountains. Here is an ultimate guide to a day trip from Anchorage, Alaska!

Sunrise at Earthquake Park

Start your day just outside of downtown Anchorage at Earthquake Park to watch a spectacular sunrise. In 1964, a magnitude 9.0+ earthquake struck Anchorage, and this park sits right on one of the most catastrophic landslides that occurred from it. Plenty of informational signs line the paths and you can see changes in the hill first-hand.

Park at the main lot and take a short walk down the path to this viewpoint for sweeping 180 degree views of the Knik Arm, downtown Anchorage, and the surrounding mountain ranges. The sun will slowly creep above the horizon to your right (behind the city) and illuminate the mountains. On a clear day, you can even see Mt. Denali in the distance!

Bonus Tip: Moose frequent this area, and are especially active at dawn and dusk. Keep calm and from a safe distance and they will not bother you.

Beluga Point

After sunrise, time to hit the road down Highway 1. This drive will take you out of Anchorage and hugs the coast for about 40 scenic miles. While there are many pull offs for viewpoints, my absolute favorite was Beluga Point. This site is a favorite among locals and tourists alike, and for a good reason- the views are spectacular. Plus, you will beat the crowds getting there shortly after sunrise!

There is a large parking lot with easy access across railroad tracks and down to the coast. Large rocks jet out of the water and create hidden beaches and coves to walk on and explore. Whale watchers flock to this point during the summer months (July/August) as beluga whales make their way through the Turnagain Arm for salmon feeding. Belugas are hard to spot though, so keep a sharp eye. Unlike orcas, belugas do not have top fins so they often can blend in with the waves.

Girdwood/Alyeska Resort

After some views on the coast, hit the road back down Highway 1 into the town of Girdwood. This picture-perfect ski town is a great stop for some fuel (both for the body and car)! In the summer and fall, the Alyeska Resort offers aerial tram rides to a 2,300′ elevation. Views for days!

No need to book your tickets ahead of time. The tram runs every fifteen minutes, and is about a 4.5 minute ride to the top. We visited in the fall (late September) and were lucky enough to have about 13″ of fresh powder waiting for us at the top! Kids were running having snowball fights, and even making snowmen. It’s awesome to see how different the climate is than at the base. Venture over to the Roundhouse for 360 degree views of the mountain and resort. There are even a couple of restaurants at the top, one being fine dining!

Byron Glacier

Back on the road, and about a 25 minute drive from Alyeska, is Byron Glacier. This very easy 1 mile hike is a spectacular addition to your day (my personal highlight)! Park at the main lot here and start your walk down the gravel path. While it’s only a mile, you’ll want to budget for about an hour each way. We found ourselves moving pretty slowly as we navigated around puddles on the path and stopped to take in the views of the mountains that surround you on each side. You’re literally right in between them!

Once you get to the end, there is a small area with benches to rest and enjoy the scenery. You can walk out onto the rocks to the glacier pictured above and watch the river run underneath it. More adventurous travelers continue on – literally up the mountain – to the ice caves. From the pictures I’ve seen, it looks incredible, but you will definitely need to be an advanced hiker with special equipment. We were totally fine enjoying the views from the base. They were worth it!

Read More: A Chubby Girl’s Guide to Hiking Byron Glacier

Whittier/Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel

After your hike, just a few minutes down the road is the famous Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. This tunnel connects Portage to the small fishing town of Whittier, and is a really cool thing to experience. This tunnel is one lane only, and is shared between traffic and a train! Meaning, you drive through literally on top of train tracks. How often can you say you’ve done that?!

Because it’s only one lane, the tunnel is on a very tight schedule. They have to account for traffic going each way, plus the train in each direction. Click here for the schedule for both winter and summer. This is something you’ll absolutely want to plan ahead for, as if you miss your time by just a couple minutes you will be stuck waiting for up to an hour!

Once you get to Whittier, there isn’t a ton to do. In fact, we just spent a few minutes driving around before we drove back through the tunnel to take advantage of the open time. There are some great cruises and hikes you can take in the summer, so plan ahead if that’s what you’d like to do!

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

After a once-in-a-lifetime drive through the tunnel, it’s time to make your way back to Highway 1 back up to Anchorage. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is located right at the intersection back onto Hwy 1- you can’t miss it! Unfortunately, we did not plan our time well this day and we didn’t have an opportunity to visit. We were bummed, as just about everyone we talked to told us this was a must-do! Their hours are limited, so plan ahead if this is something you’d like to add to your day.

The conservation center is home to tons of animals that are native to Alaska, all that are being rehabilitated in hopes of releasing them back into the wild. We’re talking bears, moose, reindeer, bison, caribou, and so much more! This is a great chance to learn about these animals and see them up close.

Sunset at Kincaid Park

What better way to end the perfect day than by watching the sunset? Make your way back up to Anchorage to Kincaid Park.

Kincaid Park is an old military base that was transformed into a park, and offers sweeping views of the water and surrounding mountains. Slowly watch the sunset over the mountains and – if you’re like me – enjoy some plane spotting. Just like at Earthquake Park, Kincaid is frequented by many moose! Keep a sharp eye out, as they are most active at dusk and dawn.

Frustratingly enough, I didn’t take a single picture here (but that’s just because we were too busy enjoying it!). The perfect end to the perfect day trip from Anchorage!

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