How to Plan Your Trip to Alaska

Alaska is one of the most popular Bucket List destinations, but you need to plan a year in advance. Here are our tips on how to plan your trip to Alaska.

Some vacations are as easy to plan as buying a plane ticket and booking a room. If your destination is Alaska however, it will require a bit more planning and preparation. As one of the most popular Bucket List destinations, Alaska has a lot to offer to its more than two million tourists each year.



Located at the top of the world, Alaska is totally different from any traditional vacation destination. When you are getting ready for your trip, there will be many aspects to consider. Weather, local travel, and accommodations are all things that you need to arrange before you arrive.

Once you book your stay, like at the rustic cabins at baycrestlodge.com, it’s time to start planning the rest of your trip. We are going to take a quick look at some of the things that you will need to know when you plan your trip to Alaska.

Timing for a Visit to Alaska

The tourist season in Alaska is very short. Because of the remote northern location, very few people visit the state in the winter. This means that your window of opportunity to discover the sights and wonder of the area is limited.


As is common in the travel industry, Wander With Wonder sometimes receives complimentary products and services. However, you can always count on Wander With Wonder to report with honesty and integrity on those places we believe offer wonderful opportunities for our readers. Wander earns income from ads and affiliate links on our site. Some of those links are for Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, Wander earns from qualifying purchases. None of these practices influence our reporting, but we believe in full disclosure. For further information please visit our legal page.

The main tourism season lasts only between the beginning of June until the end of August. You can visit during the shoulder seasons of May and September, but you may run into issues of wintery weather that can be unpredictable.



plan your trip to Alaska

A visit to Alaska can offer so many once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Photo by 272447 via Pixabay

With so many travelers making the trek to Alaska every year, it can be tough to find accommodations unless you book early. It’s advisable to start looking for a place to stay up to a year in advance to ensure that you get the booking you want.

Activity Planning

You may want to see a variety of things on your trip to Alaska, including some of the incredible glaciers or National Parks. It’s important to remember that Alaska covers over 660,000 square miles and the cities are very far apart.

plan your trip to Alaska

People love to see glaciers in Alaska. Photo by Jacqueline Schmid via Pixabay



The activities or destinations on your Alaska wish list may actually be hundreds of miles away from each other. Take your time and try to make arrangements to see or do things that are fairly local to your accommodations.

Budget for a Trip to Alaska

One of the largest expenses, when you travel to Alaska, is often the cost of flights. In some cases, you may have to take several different flights before you reach your destination. When you plan your trip to Alaska, you should be prepared to pay premium prices for your airfare.

Because of the remote location, much of Alaska’s goods are imported to the area. This can result in an increase in the prices of many things including food, souvenirs, and entertainment.

Additionally, if you are driving to Alaska, you should be prepared for higher than normal gas prices. Available stations are few and far between along the northern highways.

plan your trip to Alaska

Driving through Alaska is a unique experience. Photo by David Mark via Pixabay

What To Pack for Your Trip to Alaska

Alaska can be unpredictable in many ways, especially when it comes to the weather. In the summer months, the temperature can reach a warm 80 degrees during the day and then drop down to below 40 in the evening. It’s a good idea to pack to dress in layers so that you can stay comfortable during the changing temperatures.

Visiting Alaska is a once in a lifetime adventure that shouldn’t be missed. With careful planning and realistic expectations, you and your family can enjoy one of the most beautiful and wild places in the world.


This is a sponsored article. We received compensation for this article, but only include sponsors we believe can offer great service to our readers.

Some vacations are as easy to plan as buying a plane ticket and booking a room. If your destination is Alaska however, it will require a bit more planning and preparation - usually up to a year in advance. As one of the most popular Bucket List destinations, Alaska has a lot to offer to its more than two million tourists each year. Here are our suggestions for what you can do to plan your trip to Alaska.



Written by EJ Ray

EJ Ray is a traveler at heart. It is part of her soul and she loves to share her travels through her words. She has traveled the world, seeking great food, wine, and experiences. EJ was born in the Eastern US but has lived across the country and in Europe and Mexico. She also took to the road for a while, exploring from her RV. EJ always seeks the next great sip, bite, and adventure.

You May Also Like…

0 Comments



Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest food, wine & travel updates! We look forward to having you Wander with us.

You have Successfully Subscribed!