Interior Alaska Vacations

Interior Alaska Vacation Packages

Come to the land of the midnight sun, where North America’s tallest peak reaches toward the lights of the aurora borealis.

Interior Alaska stretches between the northern Brooks Range and the southern Alaska Range of mountains. If you’re climbing, or simply viewing, the tallest mountain on every continent, plan to see Denali, North America’s impressive tallest peak.

One regional highlight is Denali National Park and Preserve, with its namesake mountain. At 20,310 feet (6,190 meters) tall, Denali, once called Mount McKinley, is one of the world’s “seven summits.” Attempting to climb the peak is not recommended for casual hikers, but the park offers many activities for any visitor.

Ride a tour bus or shuttle bus into the park on the 92-mile-long (148-kilometer) Denali Park Road to camp in the Alaskan wilderness. View the Alaska Range paralleling the road and look for more than 30 wildlife species, including marmots, moose and grizzly bears. Photograph the peak and its reflection in Wonder Lake near the road’s endpoint. Join a ranger-led group hike or watch sled dog demonstrations and listen to informative ranger talks.

If you will be climbing Denali or Mount Foraker, learn about the requirements and register 2 months in advance with park services. For other challenges, mountaineer on the vertical rock and ice walls of Ruth Gorge.

Enjoy the unusual lighting of the skies of Interior Alaska. In mid-summer, the sun barely sets, leading to the nickname, “the land of the midnight sun.” In winter, the aurora borealis, or northern lights, brighten the night skies with colorful shimmering. Bring your camera to capture impressive photos of this amazing phenomenon.

Fly to Fairbanks to start your exploration of Interior Alaska. Learn about the native Athabascan people and the Alaskan gold rush at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. The Aurora Ice Museum, Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum and Alyeska Pipeline Visitor Center also provide interesting educational visits. Visit the weekly farmers market and enjoy frequent community events during long summer days. Sign up for wildlife and hiking tours or arrange flights to other parts of the interior from Fairbanks.