A summer on the road
Alaska with the family.
Anchorage · Seward · Denali · Fairbanks
Glaciers from the water, trails through Denali, and time with family in Fairbanks. Our summer road trip, with the stops and small details we kept in our notes.
Angela’s take
The trip I’d
tell a friend about.
We packed a lot into this trip, but the notes I keep coming back to are specific: the waterfall stop in Girdwood, how cold it was by the glacier, the breakfast at McKinley Creekside, and evenings with family around the fire. The long drives needed breaks. Talkeetna gave us lunch, spinach bread, and a little shopping before we carried on north.
xo, AngelaThe Girdwood waterfall stop, McKinley Creekside Café, and the sled dog kennels.
Plan ahead for the cold boat deck and motion sickness. Keep the warm layers close at hand.
Being together for the glacier cruise, Denali days, and family evenings around the fire.
The full itinerary
Here’s how
our days unfolded.
The big plans and the small details, straight from our trip notes.
This records our trip. Check current hours, transport schedules, and booking details when planning yours.
01Wednesday, July 13, 2022Arrive in Anchorage
- Fly from Houston to Anchorage and collect the rental car. Our arrival-night base was Embassy Suites by Hilton Anchorage.
- Family picked up Moose’s Tooth pizza, and we ate together at the hotel before an early night after the travel day.
02Thursday, July 14, 2022The road to Seward, with a waterfall and a glacier
- After the hotel breakfast, set out from Anchorage toward Seward. Beluga Point was our first stop, with a train passing by.
- Stop in Girdwood for the Virgin Creek Falls walk. We found doughnuts near the entrance to town and had a very good meal at Chair 5 after the hike.
- We stopped at Moose Pass but did not see salmon. Continue toward Seward, with a Safeway stop for groceries and bug spray.
- Walk the Exit Glacier Overlook Trail on the way into town. It took us a little over an hour out and back.
- Have dinner at Gold Rush Bistro, then do a little souvenir shopping. Stay at Best Western Plus Edgewater Hotel in Seward.
03Friday, July 15, 2022A day on the water from Seward
- Start with the hotel breakfast and some shopping before checking in for the fjord cruise. Our booking was an 11:30 a.m. departure, with check-in an hour beforehand.
- The boarding arrangements for our trip involved parking on Phoenix Road and taking a shuttle to the dock. Use the instructions on your own booking.
- Spend the day on the water, with lunch on board, wildlife watching, and a glacier visit. It was cold on the outside deck, even in July.
- We all felt queasy for part of the cruise. Motion sickness was one of the things we wished we had planned for before boarding.
- Return to Seward and meet everyone for dinner at Ray’s. The macadamia-crusted halibut with red curry sauce was a favorite in our notes. Stay a second night in Seward.
04Saturday, July 16, 2022Seward to Denali, with lunch in Talkeetna
- Pack up after breakfast for the long drive north toward Denali.
- Break the drive in Talkeetna. We ate at Denali Brewing Company, picked up spinach bread while waiting, and shopped along Main Street before getting back on the road.
- Check in at McKinley Creekside Cabins. After so much driving, we stayed close for dinner, spent time by the creek, and made a fire. The meal at the café was a good end to the day.
05Sunday, July 17, 2022Sled dogs, Savage River, and the Tundra tour
- Breakfast at the cabin café was a highlight. Our tour departure had moved to later in the afternoon, so we rearranged the day.
- See the morning sled dog demonstration, then walk Savage River Loop. We also had time to shop and eat just outside the park.
- Join the Denali Tundra tour in the afternoon. Our final departure was around 3:20 p.m.; times in the original plan changed.
- We brought more snacks and water than we needed because the tour supplied a snack box and water. Check what your own booking includes.
- Order pizza on the way back and eat in the room. Stay at McKinley Creekside Cabins.
06Monday, July 18, 2022A walking day in Denali
- Meet up for the Horseshoe Lake Trail, then have lunch at the park restaurant near the visitor center.
- Walk Mountain Vista Trail together. Afterward, part of the group tried some of Savage Alpine Trail while others returned to the sled dog kennels.
- Dinner was back at McKinley Creekside Café. Although we had originally arranged two seatings, everyone ended up eating together. Stay a third night at the cabins.
07Tuesday, July 19, 2022From Denali to the Fairbanks area
- Pack up, have breakfast, and check out. Return to Denali’s visitor center to see the film before heading north.
- Drive toward Fairbanks and North Pole, stop at Safeway for groceries, and check in to the vacation rental.
- Join family for burgers and hot dogs, then settle in for time together around the fire.
08Wednesday, July 20, 2022Reindeer and a family celebration
- Visit Running Reindeer Ranch in the morning.
- Have lunch at Great Harvest Bread Co. on the way to Eielson. Spend the afternoon with family for a promotion celebration and a look at the F-35s.
- Pick up Pagoda Chinese food for dinner together, followed by cornhole, the firepit, and s’mores.
09Thursday, July 21, 2022An easy morning and an afternoon outside
- Sleep in and have breakfast at the vacation rental.
- Spend time at Eielson, see the Alaska pipeline, and stop at The Crepery for a late lunch.
- Walk around Chena Lake Park with family. Finish with a home-cooked dinner together.
10Friday, July 22, 2022The long drive back to Anchorage
- Have breakfast at the rental before the drive south. We allowed most of the day for the journey.
- Stop for lunch at McKinley Creekside Café, a return visit we were happy to make.
- Arrive in Anchorage, check in, and have dinner at Bread & Brew. We also washed the rental car and got it ready to return.
11Saturday, July 23, 2022One last day in Anchorage
- Take the Anchorage City Trolley Tour in the morning. Our notes record the 10 a.m. tour.
- Head to 49th State Brewing for an early lunch, then spend some time shopping.
- Have appetizers at Pipers and watch floatplanes take off and land. Enjoy the final evening in Anchorage before the flight home.
12Sunday, July 24, 2022Fly home
- Fly home from Anchorage after the Alaska road trip.
A few pages from the camera roll
The in-between
is the good part.
Real moments from this trip. The views, the meals, and being there together.
57 photos. Select a photo to take a closer look.
Save yourself a little research
The notes
worth keeping.
Our route started and ended in Anchorage, with two nights in Seward, three near Denali, and time in the Fairbanks / North Pole area visiting family.
The cruise was cold outside near the glacier. Hats, gloves, fleece, and rain jackets all belonged in the day bag.
The Seward-to-Denali and Fairbanks-to-Anchorage drives took much of the day. Talkeetna made a good lunch and shopping stop on the way north.
McKinley Creekside Cabins became a favorite food stop. We loved the café breakfast and stopped there again for lunch on the drive back to Anchorage.
Our Denali tour time changed, so we used the morning for the sled dog demonstration and Savage River Loop. Reconfirm your own tour details before building the day around them.
For our group, splitting up worked: some walked part of Savage Alpine Trail while others went back to the sled dog kennels.
Our 2022 notes mention a Denali Park Road closure. Use current park information when planning access and transport; this itinerary records the trip we took.
We bought groceries in Seward and again near Fairbanks, where the vacation rental gave us an easy breakfast base.
The packing notes say the puffer jacket went unused on this trip, while fleece, rain layers, and warm accessories stayed on the list. Pack for the forecast for your own visit.
Still on our list Ideas saved for another visit
These were research ideas in our notes, not stops on this trip.
Other stops from our research
- Portage Glacier and the Whittier tunnel
- The Alyeska gondola and Crow Creek Mine
- Alaska SeaLife Center
- The ice museum, Arctic Circle, and Murphy Dome
- The Santa shop in North Pole
- Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and Elderberry Park
- Anchorage Market and the Balto statue
Other food ideas saved in the notes
- Chinooks, The Cookery, Woody’s Thai Kitchen, and Smoke Shack in Seward
- Mermaid Grotto and the Far North creperie
- Turnagain Pit BBQ
Pack a little smarter
Less “did we
forget…?”
More ready to go.
From our July Alaska packing lists, combined into one family checklist. Individual quantities and personal details are simplified. Adjust the layers and day bags for your own plans.
All packing listsAlaska with the family: packing list
Your progress stays in this browser. Adapt this list to your family and the weather.
Clothes and layers14 items
Toiletries and personal care16 items
Bags, gear, and useful extras14 items
For the plane6 items
For laundry and the rental5 items
Before leaving for the day8 items
For the rental and the road: our grocery list 3 categories
Breakfast and easy lunches
- Coffee and creamer
- Bread
- Peanut butter, jelly, and honey
- Turkey pepperoni, cheese, and crackers
- Fruit
Snacks and drinks
- Granola or protein bars
- Nuts and peanut butter crackers
- Chips
- Cookies or another dessert
- Drinking water
- Wine, if wanted
For the rental and car
- Paper towels
- Resealable bags
- Trash or shopping bags
- Bug spray
- Hand sanitizer