RatedOtels.Com

Anchorage Travel Guide: Where to Stay and What to Do

Pace: balanced Rugged Scenic Adventurous Wild
Ideal trip length
4–7 days
Busiest
Jun-Aug

Updated September 2026

Anchorage

About Anchorage

Anchorage puts Alaska’s mountain wilderness, coastal wildlife and winter trails within an urban setting. It sits beside the Chugach Mountains in the United States.

The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail follows the shoreline, while Chugach State Park opens onto hiking and Flattop Mountain views. The Anchorage Museum adds Alaska Native art, history and science, and cruises from Whittier or Seward reach glaciers and wildlife.

Downtown Anchorage suits a stay based around galleries, restaurants and access to the outdoors. Rugged scenery also shapes local menus, with salmon, reindeer sausage and King Crab Legs.

Where to stay

Hotels in Anchorage

Book direct on our own Anchorage hotel pages — no booking fee.

Stay like a local in Anchorage

Places to stay in Anchorage

Best for

Ranked by verified guest score, then stars. Based on 69 of 78 hotels with verified data.

Best for families

Family rooms listed · 32 hotels qualify

  1. Crowne Plaza Anchorage-Midtown By IHG8.4/10 · 374 reviews · 4-star
  2. Hyatt House Anchorage8.4/10 · 269 reviews · 3-star
  3. Home2 Suites by Hilton Anchorage/Midtown8.3/10 · 235 reviews · 3-star
  4. The Wildbirch Hotel - JdV by Hyatt8.3/10 · 691 reviews
  5. Embassy Suites By Hilton Anchorage8.2/10 · 245 reviews · 4-star

Best for drivers

Free parking · 35 hotels qualify

  1. Dimond Center Hotel8.6/10 · 278 reviews · 3-star
  2. Hyatt Place Anchorage-Midtown8.2/10 · 478 reviews · 3-star
  3. SpringHill Suites by Marriott Anchorage Midtown8.2/10 · 238 reviews · 3-star
  4. Aspen Suites Hotel Anchorage North8.2/10 · 405 reviews
  5. Comfort Suites Anchorage International Airport8.1/10 · 954 reviews

Best for a pool

Swimming pool listed · 20 hotels qualify

  1. Aloft by Marriott Anchorage8.4/10 · 285 reviews · 3-star
  2. Courtyard by Marriott Anchorage Airport8.1/10 · 381 reviews
  3. Hampton Inn Anchorage8.1/10 · 320 reviews
  4. Residence Inn by Marriott Anchorage Midtown8.1/10 · 182 reviews
  5. Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Anchorage Midtown8.0/10 · 317 reviews

Near the airport

Within 5 miles of MRI · 30 hotels qualify

  1. Maria's Creekside B&B9.5/10 · 190 reviews · 3-star
  2. Snob Hollow Inn Downtown Anchorage9.5/10 · 350 reviews · 2-star
  3. Base Camp Anchorage Hostel8.9/10 · 252 reviews
  4. Staybridge Suites Anchorage By IHG8.8/10 · 247 reviews · 3-star
  5. The Hotel Captain Cook8.6/10 · 408 reviews · 4-star

Anchorage at a glance

Check-in / check-out
3:00 PM / 11:00 AM
Free parking
45 of 57 hotels (79%)
To MRI airport
2.2 miles median closest hotel 0.3 miles
Pool
23 of 69 hotels
Climate
Continental
Languages
English
Local currency
USD (USD)
Local time
(GMT-9)
Ideal trip length
4–7 days
Cost level
4 of 5 · our research
Suggested area to stay
Downtown Anchorage
Tap water
Generally described as safe to drink
Tipping
15-20% customary

History, culture and food in Anchorage

History

95 · Outstanding

Culture

90 · Outstanding

Food

90 · Outstanding

Family 85 · Very good

Our own 0–100 ratings for this one destination. They describe a city; they are not a league table of cities.

Food to try

King Crab Legs Reindeer Sausage Salmon Blueberry Products

Hotel facts in Anchorage

Based on 69 of 78 hotels with verified data.

Hotels that listHotelsShare
Free parkingof hotels with verified parking45 of 5779%
Swimming pool23 of 6933%
24-hour front desk50 of 6972%
Facilities for disabled guests48 of 6970%
Family rooms37 of 6954%
Breakfast availablefree or paid depends on the rate22 of 6932%
Kitchen or kitchenette11 of 6916%
Airport shuttle21 free27 of 6939%

Pools and room sizes by star rating

StarsPoolStandard room
2-star2 of 11280 sq ftusually 173 sq ft–356 sq ft · 9 hotels
3-star8 of 27324 sq ftusually 300 sq ft–425 sq ft · 13 hotels
4-star3 of 6323 sq ftusually 272 sq ft–358 sq ft · 4 hotels

When to visit Anchorage

How good each month is here, on this destination's own scale. It compares months within this city, never one city against another.

Best months: June and July Busiest: Jun-Aug
  1. Jan
    32

    Cold, snowy, short days

  2. Feb
    34

    Cold, snowy, winter sports

  3. Mar
    39

    Iditarod Ceremonial Start

  4. Apr
    29

    Thawing, cool, some rain

  5. May
    19

    Mild, greening, long days

  6. Jun
    67

    Summer Solstice Festival

  7. Jul
    67

    Anchorage Market

  8. Aug
    61

    Anchorage Market

  9. Sep
    26

    Cool, crisp, aurora possible

  10. Oct
    21

    Chilly, first snows

  11. Nov
    13

    Freezing (avg high -1°C)

  12. Dec
    33

    Very cold, short days

Things to do in Anchorage

7 places worth your time, grouped by when they are at their best.

Best in the morning

2 places

Best in the afternoon

1 place

Anchorage Museum

Downtown Anchorage 3 hours

Indoors Good for children

Any time of day

4 places

Glacier & Wildlife Cruise

Whittier/Seward (day trip) 6 hours

Outdoors Good for children

Anchorage itineraries, day by day

View all itineraries
3 Days in Anchorage — First-Timer Highlights
First-timer highlights

3 Days in Anchorage — First-Timer Highlights

3 days13 stops

Discover the wild heart of Alaska, from city culture to breathtaking wilderness.

Things to book

Tours and activities in Anchorage

Guided tours, day trips and tickets to book alongside your stay.

Before you go to Anchorage

Our own ratings and notes on eating out, signature experiences, who the city suits and planning ahead.

Eating out

King Crab Legs 95 · Outstanding
Reindeer Sausage 87 · Outstanding
Salmon 78 · Very good
Blueberry Products 70 · Good

Signature experiences

Chugach State Park Exploration 95 · Outstanding
Tony Knowles Coastal Trail 91 · Outstanding
Anchorage Museum 87 · Outstanding
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center 83 · Very good
Flattop Mountain Hike 78 · Very good
Glacier & Wildlife Cruise 74 · Good
Dog Sledding Tour 70 · Good

Who it suits

Families 95 · Outstanding
Adventure 87 · Outstanding
Nature 78 · Very good
Couples 70 · Good

Planning tips

Rent a car for flexibility to explore beyond downtown. 95 · Outstanding
Dress in layers; Alaskan weather can change quickly. 83 · Very good
Book popular tours and accommodations in advance, especially for summer. 70 · Good

Ratings and recommendations are curated from local travel data.

Near Anchorage

Straight-line distance from the centre of Anchorage.

Getaways from Anchorage

Places people from Anchorage travel to, from our own travel research.

Frequently asked questions about Anchorage

How many places to stay are there in Anchorage?

There are 79 hotels, apartments and other places to stay in Anchorage. They include 47 hotels and 7 apartments.

When is the peak season in Anchorage?

The peak season in Anchorage is Jun-Aug.

Which area is a good base in Anchorage?

The travel guide suggests staying in Downtown Anchorage when visiting Anchorage.

Are there tours and activities in Anchorage?

Yes, 170+ tours and activities are listed in Anchorage.

How many hotels in Anchorage have free parking?

45 of the 57 hotels in Anchorage with verified parking details list free parking (79%). 10 charge for parking.

What is the usual check-in time at hotels in Anchorage?

3:00 PM at 44 of the 67 hotels with a verified check-in time. The next most common time is 4:00 PM (22 hotels).

What time is check-out at hotels in Anchorage?

11:00 AM at 47 of 67 hotels with a verified check-out time; 12:00 PM at 16.

How far are Anchorage hotels from Merrill Field?

The median distance is 2.2 miles across 57 hotels whose nearest airport is MRI. 55 of them are within 5 miles. The closest is Merrill Field Inn at 0.3 miles.

How many hotels in Anchorage have a pool?

23 of 69 hotels with verified data list a swimming pool.