14 ways to see Alaska on a budget

Let’s be honest, Alaska isn’t the US’s most economical destination.

But with some creative planning and an ability to trade luxury for a grittier experience, a trip up north doesn’t have to destroy your credit card. The good news is that an entry ticket to Alaska’s abundant wilderness is refreshingly gratis: hiking and backcountry camping are invariably free of charge, and you don’t need to charter a floatplane to view majestic wild animals. If you’re lucky, bears and moose can be glimpsed through a bus window on the Seward Highway or during an afternoon jog in Anchorage.   

Here’s a guide to daily costs in Alaska along with some tricks and tips to help you save money.

Daily costs

Hostel room: $30–45 (dorm bed)
Basic room for two: $150–200
Self-catering apartment (including Airbnb): from $130
Public transport ticket Anchorage–Seward (127-miles): $69–85 one-way
Coffee: $4–4.50
Sandwich: $8–9
Dinner for two: $60–80
Beer/pint at the bar: $6–7

Flying is generally the cheapest way to reach Alaska 

Book well in advance for the best flight deals. For drivers motoring up through Canada from the Lower 48, costs will vary depending on type of vehicle, gas prices (which are higher in Canada) and travel distance.

Anchorage hotels usually offer free shuttles to and from the airport

Organize these in advance through your accommodations or call on arrival at Ted Stevens International Airport using the complimentary phones in the terminal building.

Choose your location wisely to avoid costly internal flights

Avoid expensive internal flights by staying near the grid of main roads. The compact, easily navigable Kenai Peninsula, one hour south of Anchorage by road or rail, is full of classic Alaskan splendor, including glaciers, mountains, and steep-sided fjords. Seward, 127 miles from Anchorage, is an ideal base. To the north, the Anchorage-Fairbanks corridor is bisected by the scenic, well-maintained George Parks Highway and supports the artsy community of Talkeetna and the fauna-filled expanses of Denali National Park.

Rates of bed tax vary depending on the town or city

There is no state sales tax in Alaska! But before you start dreaming of decadent nights in five-star…