Alaska Highway Travel - Classic Day Drives From Anchorage Alaska | ALASKA.ORG Alaska Highway Drives including Turnagain Arm, Portage Valley, Whittier, Arctic Valley, Hatcher Pass, & Matanuska Glacier

Classic Day Drives From Anchorage

Turnagain Arm

Among America's most scenic drives: 3000-foot mountains, sprawling ocean flats, whale watching, bore tides, huge views. Combine with Portage Valley drive below.

48 mi one-way. Allow at least 2 hrs round-trip just to drive it, more to get out and explore.

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Portage Valley & Whittier Spur

48 miles from town along Turnagain Arm, Portage Valley offers Portage Lake with floating icebergs, visitor center, 20-minute hike to Byron Glacier, salmon viewing, tunnel to Whittier

10-mi long valley. Can drive right through it but you'll want to take a couple hours or more to explore it.

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Arctic Valley Road

Closest place to town to climb steeply for sweeping views above Anchorage and across Cook Inlet. Trails at top.

You can be taking in good views just 12 min from downtown but whole drive takes 1 hr

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Hatcher Pass

High-country drive with a wild feel. Tumbling rivers, old mine buildings, open country hiking, berry picking in fall.

Takes just over an hour to get there. Allow a half- or full-day to do it right.

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Matanuska Glacier

Drive through farmlands, along a wide glacial river, then between two mountain ranges to arrive at the biggest roadside glacier near Anchorage. Go hiking or rafting.

You can be taking in good views just 12 min from downtown but whole drive takes 1 hr

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Alaska Highway Drives from Anchorage

Classic Day Drives From Anchorage