Welcome to Alaska

What to Expect at Alaska RV Parks

Alaska’s RV parks are situated in some of the most spectacular places in the world. But because of their locations, many of these parks can only provide some of the amenities that many travelers desire.  At some Alaska parks, the presence of wildlife means that garbage receptacles aren’t placed at each site, or the permafrost in the ground precludes the establishment of sewer systems.

Although these inconveniences can change a park’s Good Sam Rating, the tradeoff is a once-in-a-lifetime trip to some of the most beautiful wilderness areas and fun small towns on the planet. So get in touch with your inner explorer and hit the road for adventure — the payoff is an RV journey that you’ll never forget.

The Final Frontier, Alaska’s wild, epic landscapes inspire and humble in equal measure. A mythical land of epic proportions and mind-boggling diversity, there are few places in North America where the hand of humans is so slight. Adventurous souls can hike through lush evergreen forests, scale jagged mountains, cross stark tundra, cruise around carving glaciers, marvel as humpback whales breach in cobalt seas and watch bears paw at salmon in rushing waters.

A fantastic place to see the scenery is Richardson Highway, which snakes along rugged landscapes from Valdez in the south to Fairbanks in the north near the Arctic Circle. The iconic highway soars from sea level to over 2,600 feet, delivering stunning views at every switchback. Invariably, within such remote and foreboding landscapes, isolation and eccentricity go hand in hand. From the nation’s smallest capital, Juneau, to the offbeat cultural dynamism of Anchorage, Alaska’s quirky frontier towns ripple with an outdoorsy spirit and frontier grit.

The Awesome Outdoors

When it comes to outdoor recreation, it doesn’t get much better than this. With hiking, fishing, rafting, boating and mountain climbing, Alaska is a magnet for thrill-seekers.

At Denali National Park and Preserve, solitude and ramped-up outdoor recreation coalesce amidst a series of surreal landscapes that range from taiga forest to high alpine tundra and snowcapped mountains, including North America’s tallest peak: the intimidating 20,310-foot Denali (formerly Mount McKinley). At Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve (the largest national park in the United States), travelers visit historic mining sites and experience the state’s diverse geology and signature wildlife.

Looking for ocean adventure? Head to Prince William Sound, where the much-storied Columbia Glacier can be visited on a six-hour cruise from Valdez. The glacier has been in retreat since the 1980s.

With its jagged mountains, rocky headlands, ancient ice fields and storm-battered waters, the ethereal Kenai Fjords National Park is emblematic of Alaska. Within the park, the Harding Icefield encompasses some 714 square miles of mile-thick ice and feeds three dozen glaciers. The epicenter of the state’s cruise ship industry, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is a 3.3 million-acre showcase of rugged mountains, dynamic glaciers in every shade of blue, snowcapped mountains, temperate rainforest, rugged coastlines and fjords.

City Life and Wildlife

Hemmed in by soaring mountains and fringed with forest, industrious Ketchikan, in Alaska’s south, transcends its transport hub vocation with an array of cultural attractions, including the Totem Heritage Center and the Totem Bight State Historical Park. Three hundred miles to the north, Alaska’s second-largest city, Juneau, is one of the most alluring cities in Alaska, with a web of labyrinthine streets punctuated with quirky storefronts, atmospheric bars and cafés.

While Valdez is marked by tragedy (an earthquake in 1964 and the notorious Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989), this compelling port city revels in its glorious setting. Sitting on Prince William Sound and graced by a backdrop of glaciers and snowcapped peaks, Valdez is the quintessential Alaskan playground. Visitors may have a hard time choosing whether to hit the trail in the rugged inland mountains or launch a kayak into the waters. Anglers can spend weeks exploring the region’s myriad fishing opportunities while nature lovers will max out their cameras’ memory cards on images of wildlife and surrounding glaciers. The city’s beloved Maxine & Jesse Whitney Museum has a huge collection of Native Alaskan art and artifacts.

At the edge of Resurrection Bay, west of Prince William Sound, Seward is the launching pad for the Kenai Peninsula’s awe-inspiring natural wonders.

North of Seward is cutting-edge Anchorage, Alaska’s biggest city with a mix of architectural styles including Quonset huts, A-frames and log cabins adding character and flavor to a city that feels on the move. In this hip urban center where moose often stroll the streets and bears patrol the fringes of town, you can fish for salmon two minutes from downtown.

Head north along the Richardson Highway to Fairbanks, which forms the nexus for the state’s most iconic journeys, including the trip up to the Arctic Circle, less than 200 miles to the north. Visitors also use Fairbanks as the jumping-off point for jaunts to Denali National Park and Preserve, two hours to the south.