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the USA🇺🇸 | citiesAnchorageCoastal trail moose, Flattop summit, Alaska Native heritage, reindeer sausage | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Anchorage
👌 Worth visitingcity ranked #30
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 20, 2026

Anchorage once felt like a frontier outpost with one decent bar and a lot of mud. Today it is a real city with craft breweries and coffee roasters, in the south of Alaska in the north of United States. I paid US$7 for a reindeer sausage dog from a downtown cart and ate it standing up, mustard on my sleeve. Rent a car for day trips, because the city itself sprawls and the good stuff sits outside it. It suits road-trippers, not nightlife seekers. Spend a first day on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, then a brewery.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #30 city in the USAWhat makes this city worth visiting

Anchorage works for backpackers because almost every Alaska route passes through it. The city has the state’s biggest airport, the main railroad terminus, and the best supply stores for fuel canisters and bear spray. Hostels are few but sociable, and downtown is compact enough to cover on foot. You also get a real Alaska Native cultural center and craft breweries that make a rainy evening easy. Most people stay two nights to restock, then head for glaciers, parks and fjords. As a long stay it is thin, but as a hub it is hard to beat.

💡 HighlightsKey sights and experiences for travelers

  1. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail: an 11-mile paved path along Cook Inlet with moose, bald eagles and views of Denali on clear days. Free. Go early morning or evening, allow 2 to 3 hours for a section.
  2. Anchorage Museum: Alaska art, Native artifacts and the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center. About US$20 to 25, allow 2 to 3 hours, ideal on a rainy day.
  3. Alaska Native Heritage Center: village sites, dance and storytelling with Indigenous hosts. About US$25 to 30, allow 2 to 3 hours, best in summer.
  4. Flattop Mountain: the most climbed peak in Alaska, with city and inlet views from the top. Free, parking about US$5, allow 2 to 3 hours, best on clear evenings.
  5. Anchorage Market and Festival: weekend stalls with salmon, reindeer sausage and crafts. Free entry, weekends in summer, allow 1 to 2 hours.
  6. Earthquake
… read more 👉
  1. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail: an 11-mile paved path along Cook Inlet with moose, bald eagles and views of Denali on clear days. Free. Go early morning or evening, allow 2 to 3 hours for a section.
  2. Anchorage Museum: Alaska art, Native artifacts and the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center. About US$20 to 25, allow 2 to 3 hours, ideal on a rainy day.
  3. Alaska Native Heritage Center: village sites, dance and storytelling with Indigenous hosts. About US$25 to 30, allow 2 to 3 hours, best in summer.
  4. Flattop Mountain: the most climbed peak in Alaska, with city and inlet views from the top. Free, parking about US$5, allow 2 to 3 hours, best on clear evenings.
  5. Anchorage Market and Festival: weekend stalls with salmon, reindeer sausage and crafts. Free entry, weekends in summer, allow 1 to 2 hours.
  6. Earthquake Park: a quiet trail past ground that dropped in the 1964 quake. Free, about 1 hour.
  7. Alaska Railroad Depot: the historic station where the Coastal Classic and Denali trains depart. Free to see, 30 minutes.
Anchorage also gives access to Portage Glacier, Girdwood, Eklutna Lake and Chugach State Park as day trips. The Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Anchorage Museum are better with tickets bought ahead in summer.
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Things to do in Anchorage

Knik Glacier Helicopter Flight-90 Mins-1 Landing-Anchorage Area

Knik Glacier Helicopter Flight-90 Mins-1 Landing-Anchorage Area

5.0(85) 1h 30m
From €471
per personViator
Matanuska Glacier Hiking Adventure from Anchorage

Matanuska Glacier Hiking Adventure from Anchorage

5.0(57)
From €340
per personViator
Winter Snowshoeing Adventure

Winter Snowshoeing Adventure

5.0(47) 3h
From €126
per personViator
Private Scenic Turnagain Arm Glacier Tour from Anchorage

Private Scenic Turnagain Arm Glacier Tour from Anchorage

5.0(41) 6h
From €340
per personViator
Alpine Classic Trek

Alpine Classic Trek

5.0(37) 5h
From €172
per personViator
Ultimate Anchorage Winter Wildlife & Sunset Tour

Ultimate Anchorage Winter Wildlife & Sunset Tour

5.0(26)
From €172
per personViator
Anchorage Ice Fishing Adventure with transportation

Anchorage Ice Fishing Adventure with transportation

5.0(22) 4h
From €203
per personViator
Anchorage Guided Fly-fishing with transportation

Anchorage Guided Fly-fishing with transportation

5.0(20) 8h
From €326
per personViator
Turnagain Arm Highlights Photo Tour

Turnagain Arm Highlights Photo Tour

5.0(19) 5h
From €190
per personViator
Anchorage: Kenai Fjords & Denali National Park 5 Day 4 Night Tour

Anchorage: Kenai Fjords & Denali National Park 5 Day 4 Night Tour

5.0(15) 120h
From €2,359
per personViator

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🏘️ NeighborhoodsNeighborhood guide to Anchorage

Anchorage sprawls like a city designed by someone who assumed everyone owns a truck, so pick one or two areas and ignore the rest.
  • Downtown is a compact grid of about 20 blocks, which is why it works on foot. Experienced travelers base their day here for the Anchorage Museum, the Saturday market in summer and reindeer dogs from street carts. Bars stay open late; the streets empty early.
  • Midtown is where chain stores and big grocers cluster, so you go for supplies and cheap eats, not charm. It is spread out, so use a bus rather than walking its wide arterials.
  • Spenard is the quirky one, with indie cafés, Korean and Thai kitchens, breweries and lakeside floatplane views. It is walkable in patches, and locals treat it as the nightlife alternative to Downtown.
  • Government Hill is quiet residential, with ocean views and little to do. Skip it.

⌛️ 1 daySeeing the highlights in 24 hours

A walking and trail day, easy on the legs and heavy on views. 8:00 AM: Snow City Cafe Breakfast downtown, then walk west to the water.
9:30 AM: Tony Knowles Coastal Trail Follow the trail south toward Earthquake Park, watching for moose in the trees and planes overhead.
12:00 PM: Earthquake Park Read the signs and see the collapsed ground, a quiet place most tour buses skip.
1:30 PM: Anchorage Museum Take a bus or ride back, then spend the afternoon on the Alaska and Native galleries.
5:30 PM: Glacier Brewhouse Finish with a local beer and salmon, a short walk from the museum.

🌤️ When to go?Seasonal considerations and timing

June through August is the easiest window, with highs of 15 to 21°C (59 to 70°F) and daylight stretching past 18 hours.
  • Summer: Peak crowds and the highest prices for beds and rental cars; salmon runs and hiking trails are fully open.
  • Shoulder months (May, September): 7 to 15°C (45 to 59°F), fewer people, cheaper rooms, and fall color in the hills.
  • Winter: Highs of -9 to -2°C (16 to 28°F), short days, northern lights chances and skiing, with the lowest rates.
Book summer beds early, since hostels fill by spring.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: below average for travelingFEBFebruary: below average for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: good for travelingAUGAugust: good for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: below average for traveling
when-to-go

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutthe USA Travel Guide

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to stay in the USA

Downtown is the best area for a budget bed, with the most hostels and cheap rooms, and a short walk to the bus hub and the Alaska Railroad station. Dorm beds are scarce compared with other US cities, so book summer weeks well ahead. Streets are fine in the evening, though a few blocks near the transit center and east side get rowdy late at night. Spenard is the second choice, quieter and more local, with bus links to Downtown and the airport and a few budget rooms. Midtown motels are cheaper but car-oriented and dull.
Best hostels in the USA


Best quality hotels in the USA

🚌 Getting aroundGetting around like a local

Anchorage punishes anyone who assumes it works like a walkable European city, because renting a car for a stay spent entirely Downtown means paying US$60 to 100 a day to park it. The city is a long, spread-out grid, and the sensible approach is to match the tool to the zone.
  • Walking: Free and perfect Downtown and along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, which runs about 11 miles (18 km). Beyond that, distances turn silly.
  • People Mover buses: A single ride is US$2, a day pass US$5. Routes run roughly 6 am to 10 pm, with thinner service on Sundays and holidays. Slow, but they reach the airport and Midtown.
  • Rideshare and taxis: Uber and Lyft are common. Airport to Downtown costs about US$15 to 25. Cheaper than a rental for a night out.
  • Rental car or camper: US$50 to 120 a day in summer. Only worth it
… read more 👉
Anchorage punishes anyone who assumes it works like a walkable European city, because renting a car for a stay spent entirely Downtown means paying US$60 to 100 a day to park it. The city is a long, spread-out grid, and the sensible approach is to match the tool to the zone.
  • Walking: Free and perfect Downtown and along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, which runs about 11 miles (18 km). Beyond that, distances turn silly.
  • People Mover buses: A single ride is US$2, a day pass US$5. Routes run roughly 6 am to 10 pm, with thinner service on Sundays and holidays. Slow, but they reach the airport and Midtown.
  • Rideshare and taxis: Uber and Lyft are common. Airport to Downtown costs about US$15 to 25. Cheaper than a rental for a night out.
  • Rental car or camper: US$50 to 120 a day in summer. Only worth it for trips to Seward, Girdwood or Hatcher Pass, so rent for those days only.
  • Bike: Trails are excellent and rentals cost about US$30 to 50 a day. Sensible for summer only.

👛 Costs (as of 20 October 2026)Money, prices, and spending tips

Anchorage costs about US$175 a day for a backpacker in high season, with beds and food the biggest bills.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm (high season)US$45 to 65Scarce, book early
Dorm (off-season)US$30 to 45Easier to find
MealsUS$35 to 55Groceries and food trucks
Local transportUS$10 to 25Buses or occasional rideshare
City transport passUS$5Day pass on People Mover
Activities and entryUS$15 to 30Museum about US$20 to 25
MiscellaneousUS$10 to 20Laundry, snacks, gear
Total Daily BudgetUS$120 to 200About US$175 with a high-season bed
Cook in hostel kitchens and buy groceries to cut food costs by half.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🚌 Day tripsExploring the surroundings

Anchorage works well for day trips if you can borrow wheels or join a shuttle, since the best scenery lies one to two hours out.Girdwood and Alyeska: Roughly 40 minutes south on the Seward Highway, with the tram, rainforest trails and the wildlife center nearby. Budget US$30 to 70 with gas or shuttle. Summer or ski season both work. First-timers often stop every few miles for photos and run out of daylight, so start early.
Portage Glacier: About an hour away, with a boat cruise to the ice, around US$45 to 50. Go in summer, when the cruise runs.
Hatcher Pass: Around 1.5 hours north. Alpine tundra, old gold mine ruins and hiking, open fully in July and August. The road is gravel in places and snowed shut in winter. Costs are mostly gas and parking.
Seward: Around 2.5 hours south, for Kenai Fjords … read more 👉
Anchorage works well for day trips if you can borrow wheels or join a shuttle, since the best scenery lies one to two hours out.Girdwood and Alyeska: Roughly 40 minutes south on the Seward Highway, with the tram, rainforest trails and the wildlife center nearby. Budget US$30 to 70 with gas or shuttle. Summer or ski season both work. First-timers often stop every few miles for photos and run out of daylight, so start early.
Portage Glacier: About an hour away, with a boat cruise to the ice, around US$45 to 50. Go in summer, when the cruise runs.
Hatcher Pass: Around 1.5 hours north. Alpine tundra, old gold mine ruins and hiking, open fully in July and August. The road is gravel in places and snowed shut in winter. Costs are mostly gas and parking.
Seward: Around 2.5 hours south, for Kenai Fjords tours and Exit Glacier. Tours run US$100 and up, so a bus or car share plus a free glacier walk keeps costs down. Late summer is best.

🍲 FoodLocal Cuisine & Drinks

Anchorage food leans on Alaskan seafood, so try fresh wild salmon, halibut fish and chips, and smoky king crab legs, which are pricey. The street reindeer dog, a smoked sausage in a bun with grilled onions, is the cheap local snack, around US$7 to 10. Craft breweries and coffee roasters cluster in Spenard and Downtown, and many serve a flight of local beers. For budget eating, grocery delis in Midtown, food trucks, and the Saturday summer market all work. Spenard also has good Korean, Thai and Hmong food at modest prices.

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

Anchorage is broadly safe for travelers, and the main issues are wildlife and weather. Moose appear in neighborhoods and on trails, and a calm cow with a calf is more dangerous than a bear, so give them 25 yards or more. Carry bear spray on trails and make noise. Car break-ins happen at trailheads, so leave nothing visible. Downtown near the transit center can feel rough late at night, and solo walkers should take a rideshare after dark.
Check Country Safety

FAQFrequently asked questions about Anchorage

Three days is enough for Anchorage itself, with one for Downtown and the Anchorage Museum, one for the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and Chugach State Park, and one for a trip to Girdwood or Portage Glacier. Add two more days if you want Seward and Kenai Fjords, about 2.5 hours south.
Yes, Anchorage is quite manageable for solo backpackers, and wildlife matters more than crime. Late at night, take a rideshare (about US$10 to 20) rather than walking near the Downtown transit center. Lock your car and keep valuables out of sight at trailheads, and carry bear spray in Chugach State Park.
Anchorage is known as Alaska’s biggest city, home to about 290,000 people, and as the gateway to wild country. Moose wander its neighborhoods, the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail covers about 11 miles, and summer days run past 18 hours of light. It is also famous for the Iditarod ceremonial start each March and for salmon fishing.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other American cities near Anchorage

Explore more nearby:

  • Fairbanks—Aurora nights, hot springs, ice museum, gold rush cabins| 417 km away
  • Seattle—Pike Place fish, Space Needle, glass garden, Sound ferries| 2309 km away
  • Portland—Powell’s bookstore, food cart pods, rose garden, light rail| 2478 km away

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We 💚 feedbackIs it worth it?

Anchorage trips go wrong when travelers treat it as the destination and skip the reservations for parks, trains and cabins. I would book the outdoor pieces first, then give the city one or two easy days around them.

✈️ When did I visit the USA?
In January 2023 I visited New York. Many years before, before digital cameras existed, I discovered most of the national parks in the West.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in the USA, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

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