7 days in Alaska Itinerary

For most visitors to this part of the world, the wild part of Alaska starts at Seward, a small port city that takes advantage of the region's natural beauty.

Kick off your visit on the 26th (Sat): explore the activities along Resurrection Bay and then get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Alaska SeaLife Center.

To find maps, traveler tips, photos, and more tourist information, read our Seward trip itinerary maker app.

New York City to Seward is an approximately 11.5-hour combination of flight and bus. You can also drive. The time zone difference moving from Eastern Standard Time to Alaska Standard Time is minus 4 hours. Plan for slightly colder temperatures traveling from New York City in December, with highs in Seward at 34°F and lows at 25°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 26th (Sat) early enough to go by car 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.

Anchorage is known for wildlife, historic sites, and museums. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: get to know the resident critters at Alaska Zoo, deepen your understanding at Alaska Native Heritage Center, identify plant and animal life at Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary, and take an in-depth tour of Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum.

For where to stay, reviews, more things to do, and tourist information, you can read our Anchorage road trip app.

Getting from Seward to Anchorage by car takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: take a bus. Prepare for slightly colder weather when traveling from Seward in December: high temperatures in Anchorage hover around 25°F and lows are around 14°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 29th (Tue) early enough to travel to Fairbanks.

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

On the 30th (Wed), get a dose of the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 31st (Thu): see the interesting displays at Fairbanks Ice Museum, then look for gifts at Santa Claus House, then deepen your understanding at University of Alaska Fairbanks, and finally get a new perspective on nature at University of Alaska Museum of the North.

For more things to do, traveler tips, ratings, and other tourist information, you can read our Fairbanks trip planner.

Traveling by flight from Anchorage to Fairbanks takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. While traveling from Anchorage, expect little chillier days and cooler nights in Fairbanks, ranging from highs of 7°F to lows of -8°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 1st (Fri) to allow time to travel back home.