Five Reasons Alaska is a great Spring Break Destination
It’s a pretty safe bet that Alaska is not on your top three Spring Break destinations list. But maybe it should be. While you won’t be sunning on a beach, there are plenty of reasons to head north during Spring Break.
- Lower costs
- Decent weather
- Plenty of daylight
- Fewer crowds
- Unique activities
Because most Alaskan cruises don’t start running their Alaska schedules until May, I am not including information about towns in Southeast Alaska since they are primarily reached by cruise ships. Your Alaskan Spring Break adventure will likely begin with a flight to Anchorage. From there you can rent a car to explore Southcentral Alaska.
Lower Costs
It would cost about $5800 for a 7 day trip with 2 people renting a car May through September. That same trip would cost about $4700 October through April. By far the biggest expense will be your rental car. But even with the increased expense, a car is your best bet for exploring Alaska. Your biggest savings will be in lodging and transportation.
Decent Weather
Alaska is a big place with a wide variation in temperatures. We’ll take a look at Anchorage since that is where most people begin their Alaska Spring Break adventure.
Highs in the early days of March are usually in the 20s with some 30s. By the end of March, high temperatures are in the upper 30s and into the 40s. At first glance, those temps may seem downright chilly for those of you from the lower 48, but with a warm jacket and hat and gloves, these temps are great for exploring the outdoors. Even better, March is one of the least rainy months with less than an inch of rain falling during the month. By contrast the summer months usually get 2 to 3 inches of rain.
Plenty of daylight
By March, Alaska is seeing 12 hours of daylight every day. In Anchorage, you’ll see sunrise around 7:00 am and sunset around 7:30 pm – giving you plenty of time to explore the wonders of Alaska.
Fewer crowds
Unlike Spring Break destinations in the lower 48, Spring Break in Alaska will give you the opportunity to spread out and explore without the hassle of crowds. You’ll have an easier time booking tours, hiking in relative solitude and getting a seat at restaurants without a reservation.
About 330,000 people visit Alaska during October and April. The summer months see more than 2 million visitors.
So if you are willing to spend Spring Break in a parka instead of a bathing suit, Alaska may be the place for you!.
Unique Alaskan activities
And of course, the biggest question – what will you do in Alaska during Spring Break? From dog-sledding on a glacier to soaking in natural hot springs, Alaska offers activities that you can’t do anywhere else.
Here are a few ideas that will make your Spring Break in Alaska one to remember.
Soak in Natural Hot Springs
Soak in hot springs at Alyeska Nordic Spa in Girdwood or Chena Hot Springs near Fairbanks.
Whale Watching
Gray whales begin to return to Alaskan waters in March. Whale watching excursions can be booked out of Seward or Whittier.
Wildlife Viewing
If staying on dry land is more your style and you want to be assured of seeing wildlife, head out to one of Alaska’s wildlife conservation centers.
The Alaska Sea Life Center in Seward houses a public aquarium and provides marine research, education, and marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation. The Center is a great way to see and learn about Alaska’s marine ecosystem without heading out to sea.
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is located just south of Anchorage and is home to orphaned and injured animals found throughout Alaska. Visitors will encounter bears, porcupines, moose, elk, wolves, caribou, bald eagles and more throughout the 200 acres of enclosures representing the animals’ natural environments.
The Alaska Zoo is located in Anchorage. Learn about Alaskan animals and their habitats as you wander through natural boreal forest woods and along the south fork of Little Campbell Creek.
Glacier hike
Several glaciers in Southcentral Alaska are accessible by car and hiking in the springtime. However, conditions can vary widely based on weather and avalanche activity. Visitors are encouraged to join an experienced guide for glacier hikes.
Matanuska Glacier provides guided tours year round. Don’t miss this opportunity to get up close and personal to this massive glacier just two hours north of Anchorage.
Skiing
Southcentral Alaska has six downhill ski areas. Slopes are usually open through April depending on the weather.
- Alyeska Resort in Girdwood
- Skeetawk in Hatcher Pass.
- Hilltop Ski Area in Anchorage
- Arctic Valley in Anchorage
- Ski Land in Fairbanks
- Moose Mountain Ski Resort in Fairbanks. Moose Mountain is unique in that the mountain has no ski lifts. Skiers board buses at the bottom of the hill for a ride back to the top of the slopes.
There are endless cross-country ski trails throughout Alaska. The Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage is a great resource for trails within and around Anchorage.
Here are a few other favorite places to cross-country ski around Southcentral Alaska.
- Hatcher Pass East Management Area, Willow, AK
- Eagle River Nature Center, Eagle River, AK
- Chugach State Park, Anchorage, AK
- Alyeska Ski Area, Girdwood, AK
- Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area, Palmer, AK
- Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Soldotna, AK
- Birch Hill Recreation Area, Fairbanks, AK
See Alaska by Train or Plane
Board the Aurora Winter Train for an unforgettable journey through snow-covered Alaska from Anchorage to Fairbanks.
Or fly over Alaska from above. Alaska.org lists a variety of flightseeing tours that operate year-round
Ride along with a Dog Sled team
For an iconic Alaskan activity, hop on a sled behind a team of sled dogs and be whisked across the snow through forests, along frozen rivers and even on glaciers. Find a list of sled-dog operators here.
Visit Denali National Park
Although the buses don’t drive into the interior of the park in the winter, spring offers a great time to explore Denali National Park by snowshoeing, skiing and winter biking.
Visit the Winter Visitors Center to learn about the park and talk to a Park Ranger. You can even have a picnic at the Indoor Picnic Area.
See the Northern Lights
The Aurora Borealis (commonly known as Northern Lights) occur when energy and particles from the sun collide with the Earth’s atmosphere. The lights are actually about 60 miles above the earth’s surface and can reach hundreds of miles into space. Summer visitors to Alaska will not see the Northern Lights because the skies never get dark enough. Spring Break is an ideal time to see them because the temperatures are warming up but the nights are still dark.
You can head out on your own – just find an area away from city lights, or book a tour to get expert guidance to increase your chances of seeing the spectacular event.
View of the Northern Lights from Wasilla, Alaska
Learn about Alaska
I always find that learning something about the history and culture of the place I am visiting enhances my experiences there. If you want to dig a little deeper into Alaska’s past visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Anchorage Museum, both in Anchorage.
Don’t spend another Spring Break on the beach, fighting for space in the sand with thousands of college students. Come to Alaska for Spring Break to experience lower costs, good weather, fewer crowds and plenty of daylight to experience an amazing array of unique activities.
