12 days in Alaska Itinerary

Chena Hot Springs is a hot spring, resort, and unincorporated community in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, United States, 56.5 miles northeast of Fairbanks near the Chena River State Recreation Area. Start off your visit on the 3rd (Sat): witness a stunning natural landmark at Chena Hot Springs Resort.

To find where to stay, more things to do, maps, and more tourist information, you can read our Chena Hot Springs day trip planner.

New York City to Chena Hot Springs is an approximately 72-hour car ride. The time zone changes from Eastern Standard Time to Alaska Standard Time, which is usually a -4 hour difference. Traveling from New York City in December, expect Chena Hot Springs to be much colder, temps between 6°F and -9°F. On the 4th (Sun), you'll travel to Fairbanks.

With its strip malls and fast-food restaurants, Fairbanks appears a bit functional on first glance.

Start off your visit on the 5th (Mon): surround yourself with nature on a nature and wildlife tour.

To see where to stay, more things to do, ratings, and more tourist information, read Fairbanks online holiday planner.

Drive from Chena Hot Springs to Fairbanks in 1.5 hours. In December, plan for daily highs up to 7°F, and evening lows to -8°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 6th (Tue) early enough to fly to Denali National Park and Preserve.

The 2.43 million hectares (6 million acres) of Denali National Park include low taiga forest, high-alpine tundra, and snowcapped mountains, all of which lead up to Mt.

On the 6th (Tue), identify plant and animal life at Husky Homestead and then view the masterpieces at Wild about Denali.

To see other places to visit, more things to do, and tourist information, go to the Denali National Park and Preserve trip maker site.

You can fly from Fairbanks to Denali National Park and Preserve in 3 hours. Other options are to take a train; or do a combination of train and bus. Prepare for a bit warmer weather when traveling from Fairbanks in December: high temperatures in Denali National Park and Preserve hover around 25°F and lows are around 9°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 7th (Wed) early enough to take a train to Talkeetna.

Talkeetna is a census-designated place in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, United States. Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Talkeetna Historical Society Museum and Susitna Salmon Center. Get outdoors at Independence Mine State Historical Park and Talkeetna Air Taxi. Take a break from Talkeetna with a short trip to Iditarod Headquarters in Wasilla, about 1h 30 min away. The adventure continues: get a dose of the wild on a nature and wildlife tour, see what you can catch with a fishing tour, and make a trip to Nagley's Store.

For ratings, photos, more things to do, and other tourist information, go to the Talkeetna planning website.

You can take a train from Denali National Park and Preserve to Talkeetna in 4 hours. In December, daytime highs in Talkeetna are 25°F, while nighttime lows are 9°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 9th (Fri) early enough to drive to Anchorage.

Home to nearly half of Alaska's population, the port city of Anchorage covers a staggering area of over 4,900 sq km (1,900 sq mi) surrounded by mountains.

On the 10th (Sat), examine the collection at Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center and then get engrossed in the history at Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum.

For traveler tips, reviews, and more tourist information, read Anchorage online route planner.

Traveling by car from Talkeetna to Anchorage takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or take a train. In December, daily temperatures in Anchorage can reach 25°F, while at night they dip to 14°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 10th (Sat) early enough to catch the flight back home.