How to visit all 8 of Alaska's National Parks in ONE Epic Trip!

How to visit all 8 of Alaska's National Parks in ONE Epic Trip! Kobuk Valley Gates of the Arctic Denali Anchorage Fly or drive to Anchorage, your starting point for the epic trip, start your day with fresh baked goods from Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop, enjoy dinner and local craft beer at 49th State Brewing, treat yourself to ice cream at Motley Moo Creamery or Wild Scoops, and in between meals walk or bike the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, explore the Anchorage Museum, stop by the Anchorage Alaska Public Lands Information Center, and visit the iconic Anchorage Log Cabin. Katmai Fly to King Salmon and then on to Brooks Lodge, pay attention during bear school, walk the path to the world-famous Brooks Falls, and watch brown bears feast on salmon in one of the most iconic wildlife experiences on Earth; and if you have more than one day, take a guided tour to the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, go fishing in the Brooks River, or head out for a hike Dumpling Mountain (hard). Denali Ride one of the non-narrated transit buses for a budget-friendly way to explore the park, join a ranger-led discovery hike into the backcountry where you'll face river crossings, steep slopes, thick brush, and uneven terrain, visit the Denali Sled Dog Kennels to meet the hardworking dogs that keep the park running in winter, and stop by The Black Bear for coffee or a great bite to eat. Kobuk Valley Board a bush plane from Fairbanks and land in Kobuk Valley National Park, where there are no roads or facilities but nearly two million acres of remote backcountry to explore; walk the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes for a taste of this wild landscape, and if you have more time and resources, take a float trip down one of the park's rivers, or visit during spring or fall when thousands of caribou migrate through alongside moose that frequent the area. Gates of the Arctic Leave Kobuk Valley and continue on to Gates of the Arctic, a park with no roads, no trails, and no facilities – just untouched wilderness that's remained virtually unchanged for thousands of years; unless you're extremely experienced in survival skills or traveling with a guide, your visit will likely be a short stop or just a fly-over to take in the vast landscape before flying back to Fairbanks. Alaska Railroad Ride the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Seward on one of the most beautiful train routes in the world, winding along Turnagain Arm, over Moose Pass, and into the coastal town of Seward; be on the lookout for moose, bears, bald eagles, and more, and spend most of the ride in the observation car for the best views. Seward Head south to the charming coastal town of Seward, where you can grab coffee inside Aurora Charters (the best in town, trust us—we tried them all), enjoy fish and chips at Ray's Waterfront, savor BBQ at Firebrand, cool off with ice cream from Harbor Street Creamery, browse quilt supplies at Sew'n Bee Cozy, and spend time at Miller's Landing or the Alaska SeaLife Center if you've got extra time. Kenai Fjords Head into Kenai Fjords National Park and hike the Harding Icefield Trail, our favorite National Park hike of all time, where even in August you'll be crossing snow; then take a boat tour past glaciers like Aialik, Holgate, and Northwestern, and keep your eyes peeled for bears, moose, sea lions, puffins, and so much more. Lake Clark Fly from Anchorage into Port Alsworth, grab a coffee and muffin at Cranberry Cache, hike out to Tanalian Falls, enjoy a burger at CK's Food Truck, and if you're lucky rent a kayak on Lake Clark—though when we went, nobody was at the rental shop. Wrangell-St. Elias Drive the rugged McCarthy Road across towering bridges and endless views, explore Wrangell-St. Elias, the largest National Park in the U.S., tour the historic Kennecott Mines, hike out onto the Root Glacier, grab a meatball sandwich at the Meatza Wagon, and wander through the handful of small shops and restaurants in McCarthy. Glacier Bay Visit Glacier Bay National Park the way most people do—on a cruise ship, like we did aboard the Norwegian Encore—but you can also fly or take the ferry from Juneau to Gustavus, head to Bartlett Cove, and join a smaller boat tour or even a kayaking trip for a more independent experience. Travel Logistics We drove up from the lower 48 along the Alaska Highway in our van, which gave us both a home base and a way to get around once we arrived; Anchorage served as our main hub during the almost 2-months we spent in Alaska, and it's important to note that most parks require either a plane or a boat to access, with weather playing a massive role in whether you can actually get in. Best Time To Visit We arrived in June and left in July of 2023, and the weather was fantastic; your timing will really depend on what you want out of the trip, but the almost endless daylight in summer gave us the chance to stay out late and explore as much as we could. Photo at 10:35pm What To Pack? Alaska weather changes fast, so bring plenty of layers, a waterproof jacket, and sturdy hiking shoes; don't forget bug spray for the mosquitos, binoculars for spotting wildlife, and a camera to capture it all (have camera questions? Send us a DM – that's our specialty), plus the usual essentials like sunscreen, a reusable water bottle, and a daypack for hikes and excursions. Cost & Planning It's possible to visit all eight Alaska National Parks in a two-week trip if you have perfect weather and stick to day trips for parks like Katmai, Gates of the Arctic, Kobuk Valley, and Lake Clark, but you should realistically expect the trip to cost at least $12,000 once you factor in flights to Anchorage, bush planes, tours, and lodging. 2-Week Itinerary Day 1-2: Anchorage Day 3-4: Katmai National Park Day 5-6: Denali National Park Day 7: Gates of the Arctic + Kobuk Valley (day trip from Fairbanks) Day 8-9: Seward + Kenai Fjords National Park Day 10-11: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Day 12-13: Glacier Bay National Park Day 14: Lake Clark National Park To note: this is an extremely fast-paced itinerary that will require near-perfect weather and a lot of luck; most visitors would want more time or extra buffer days, but if everything lines up, it's technically possible. Save This Guide & Follow @KatieAndJoeOnTheGo For More National Park Content! 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