Best Places to Stay in Alaska

Anchorage and Fairbanks have a range of modern hotels and boutique stays, while mountain and ski resorts such as Alyeska provide easy access to winter sports and outdoor adventures. These kinds of stays are ideal if you want good transport links and comfortable facilities after long days out.

For a more traditional Alaskan experience, log cabins and wilderness lodges offer the chance to stay closer to nature. These are common in areas such as the Kenai Peninsula and Denali National Park, where rustic cabins sit among forests, rivers, and mountains. Many offer activities like hiking, fishing, and wildlife watching right on the doorstep, along with the privacy and character that you won’t find in larger hotels.

Expedition Cruising in Alaska is another way to get around. Many travellers stay on board as they travel along, visiting spectacular destinations such as Glacier Bay and Ketchikan. Cabins range from simple rooms to luxury suites, while excursions allow visitors to explore glaciers, fjords, and coastal wildlife.

Camping is also a favourite option for adventurous visitors. Alaska has hundreds of campgrounds, as well as opportunities for wild camping and campervan travel along scenic highways. Popular areas include Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords, and Kachemak Bay, where camping offers a chance to experience Alaska’s wilderness more closely.

Alaska accommodation: Places to stay at a glance

City hotels and resorts: Stay in Anchorage, Fairbanks, or ski resorts like Alyeska for comfortable facilities, easy transport links, restaurants, and winter sports.

Log cabins and wilderness lodges: Rustic cabins near Mount McKinley (Denali), the Kenai Peninsula, and other rural areas offer privacy, scenic surroundings, and direct access to hiking, fishing, and wildlife watching.

Cruise ship accommodation: Travel along Alaska’s coastline while staying onboard, visiting places like Glacier Bay, Juneau, and Ketchikan.

Camping and campervan travel: Camp in Denali, Kenai Fjords, or Kachemak Bay, or explore Alaska’s highways by campervan for a flexible way to experience the Alaskan landscape.

joshua salter, Alaska expert at Journeyscape, says:

“For me, where you stay in Alaska can shape the kind of trip you have. When you arrive, I usually suggest a city like Anchorage or Fairbanks, where hotels are a good base. It’s also worth spending a few nights somewhere more remote, where you can stay in a log cabin or camp in the wild. I also tell travellers not to overlook tours, to experience staying in different locations every night, whether it be a cruise on the water or a campervan on the roads.” 

For more information about visiting Alaska on holiday, explore our other guides and travel resources:

• Things to do in Alaska
• Places to visit in Alaska