Bell's Travel Guides

What is the best way to plan a trip to Alaska?

The best way to plan a trip to Alaska is to start by deciding between a road trip and a cruise. Road trippers should map their route using Alaska's major highways, including the Alaska Highway, Parks Highway, and Seward Highway. Bell's free Alaska Trip Planner at planner.bellsalaska.com lets you build a custom itinerary by selecting your route, accommodation preferences, and activities. Free travel guides and maps are also available at bellsalaska.com/travel-guides.

What is the best time of year to visit Alaska?

The best time to visit Alaska for most travelers is June through August, when temperatures are warmest, daylight hours are longest, and the majority of attractions and campgrounds are open. July is peak season. June offers fewer crowds and good wildlife viewing. September brings fall colors and the start of aurora season. Winter travel is possible but requires preparation for extreme cold and limited services.

Can you drive to Alaska from the lower 48 states?

Yes, you can drive to Alaska from the lower 48 states via the Alaska Highway, which begins at Dawson Creek, British Columbia and ends at Delta Junction, Alaska — a distance of 2,224 km (1,382 miles). The drive passes through British Columbia and the Yukon. A valid passport is required as the route travels through Canada. The highway is paved year-round.

What free travel guides and maps does Bell's Travel Guides offer?

Bell's Travel Guides publishes five free annual publications: the Alaska Mapbook, the Alaska Highway Mapbook, the Inside Passage Mapbook, the Alaska State Map, and the Yukon Map. These are available at visitor centers, gas stations, and campgrounds throughout Alaska, the Yukon, and Northern BC, and can also be viewed online at bellsalaska.com/travel-guides.

What are the most popular destinations in Alaska?

The most popular destinations in Alaska include Anchorage, Denali National Park, Fairbanks, Juneau, Seward, Homer, Skagway, Valdez, and Ketchikan. In the Yukon, Whitehorse and Dawson City are major stops for road trippers. Bell's Travel Guides has detailed destination guides for all of these locations at bellsalaska.com/destinations.

What are the main highways for driving to Alaska?

The main highways for driving to Alaska are the Alaska Highway (Dawson Creek, BC to Delta Junction, Alaska — the primary overland route), the Klondike Highway (Skagway, Alaska to Dawson City, Yukon — following the historic gold rush route), the Cassiar Highway (a scenic alternate route through Northern BC connecting to the Alaska Highway at Watson Lake), and the Top of the World Highway (a remote, seasonally open route connecting Dawson City, Yukon to Tok, Alaska). Bell's Travel Guides provides mile-by-mile road logs for all of these highways at bellsalaska.com/highways.

What are the main highways in Alaska?

The main highways in Alaska include the Parks Highway (Anchorage to Fairbanks via Denali), the Seward Highway (Anchorage to Seward), the Sterling Highway (connecting the Kenai Peninsula), the Glenn Highway, the Richardson Highway (Valdez to Fairbanks), and the Dalton Highway (Fairbanks to the Arctic). Bell's Travel Guides provides mile-by-mile road logs for all major Alaska highways at bellsalaska.com/highways.