Having worked in several and stayed in many more, I can say that there are some really cool lodges in Alaska for visitors of all ranges of travel budget. Yes, you’ve seen the fly-in Alaskan lodges for epic fishing trips and you’ve seen the remote island escapes that seem unattainable, but there are lots more options that regular travelers can enjoy. Don’t get me wrong, the super premium remote luxury lodges are an absolute dream, but that’s out of most of our travel budgets.
We’ve picked a nice range of Alaskan lodges and rustic resorts that can suit a variety of travel budgets. Keep in mind that rates fluctuate with the season and some Alaskan lodges are only open May through September. Also, as you’re planning consider how far in advance many lodges book up for the summer, or even winter, season. If you have any questions about our recommendations or need more ideas, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan you’re Alaska trip!
Choosing from the Many Alaskan Lodges
When you’re planning your travel to AK and you’re looking to put together some nights in the different Alaskan lodges, you’ll have to first consider your travel dates. Keep in mind that many of the more remote and exceptional lodge experiences book out more than a year in advance. For example, our stay at the Brooks Lodge in Katmai National Park was secured through a lottery entry 21 months in advance. That’s a unique example though, as there are many that you can book with 6 months to a year notice, and even sometimes you’ll be lucky to book within a month or two.
Once you know your dates and start working on your plans, consider your budget and if it’s more important to have epic Alaskan lodge stays, then see where you can cut costs in other areas. Maybe it means that you do one less guided tour or maybe you compromise on your accommodations for other parts of your trip. Alaskan lodges are special and you can go wild on the cost or get booked for much less than you expect. It’s a mixed bag.
As you look through our recommendations, most of these Alaskan lodges are located in South Central Alaska from Seward to Fairbanks. They are diverse options for a range of budgets and experiences, but this list is NOT a comprehensive one.
Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge
I have to start with the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, as I used to work here and to this day it’s my favorite hotel or resort I’ve ever worked at. Located just above the Kenai River, the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge is THE place to stay for a quiet Alaskan experience with wonderful fishing opportunities on the Kenai, Russian and Kasilof Rivers nearby (okay, the Kasilof is a little bit of a drive).
While the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge is primarily meant for cruise guests doing a land tour, you can book it as an independent traveler too. I always loved getting to help families plan their activities when they’d stay with us because it’s such a great location and there are so many wonderful things to do in both Cooper Landing and the rest of the Kenai Peninsula. Between seeing bears on the Russian River and hiking at Juneau Falls you can stay for a a few days and feel like you’ve really had a great Alaskan lodge experience.
Book the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge here
Seward Windsong Lodge
The Seward Windsong Lodge is one of the few large hotels on the Kenai Peninsula with both shuttle service and a great restaurant. Located just north of downtown Seward, it’s one of the best options for visiting Kenai Fjords National Park and exploring the east side of the Kenai. I like staying at the Seward Windsong Lodge for its location and its dining (and the lodge rooms are nice).
While it’s not a lodge in the style of a remote fishing type, it’s more along the lines of a mountain lodge with several buildings, a central lobby, its own coffee stand and a nice restaurant and bar. This is also a loge that a lot of cruise tour guests stay at, but you can book it yourself for independent travel. This is great place to be based out of for 3 or 4 days in Seward.
Book the Seward Windsong Lodge here
Alyeska Resort
Did you know that there is actually a beautiful ski lodge in the Anchorage area? It’s true! The Alyeska Resort is a large hotel located just off Turnagain Arm between Anchorage and Seward in the town of Girdwood, on the way to Whittier. In the summer time this is a great place to be based for hiking and exploring the area all along the Arm and down to the Kenai Peninsula, or even over through the Whittier Tunnel to Prince William Sound.
During the winter, the Alyeska Resort is the premiere ski destination for Alaska. There are 76 ski trails, ski school, events and more. If you’re a big skier, this Alaskan lodge is probably on your list of places to stay to cross off your “skiing in all 50 states” list.
Redoubt Mountain Lodge
This is an amazing way to experience Lake Clark National Park, Redoubt Mountain Lodge is in the heart of the Alaskan Brown Bear country with all kinds of experiences far from civilization. Here you’ll fly in on a seaplane (we visited via Rust’s Flying Service) and then enjoy the solitude with continual bear viewing, kayaking, fishing, hiking… They have an amazing kitchen making delicious Alaskan cuisine. It’s magical and if it’s not on your Alaska bucket list, you need to add it.
See Redoubt Mountain Lodge reviews here
Alaska Glacier Lodge
Have you ever stayed somewhere that surpassed your expectations across the board? The Alaska Glacier Lodge did this for me. Located above the Knik River outside of Palmer, the Alaska Glacier Lodge is a cabin resort with a focus on exploring the mountains and glaciers of the Alaska Range. Looking out across the Knik River, moose wander the property and the adventure tour opportunities are just outside your cabin door.
Alaska Helicopter Tours is based here, so you have easy access to flightseeing all up into the valley, making glacier landings, looking for wildlife and just enjoying the beauty of this part of Alaska. Really, this is a wonderful Alaskan lodge experience.
Book the Alaska Glacier Lodge here
Alaska Backcountry Cottages
The Alaska Backcountry Cottages are a cool, small collection of very nice lodge-style cabins just outside of Palmer. With the Knik River nearby and the many glaciers just beyond, there’s lots to see and explore from here. We really enjoyed doing Knik River ATV tours from here, and there are also helicopter flightseeing tours if you’re interested.
See Alaska Backcountry Cottages reviews here
Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge
A little more rustic than many lodges off Alaska’s Parks Highway, the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge has cabins with a central community space, fishing gear and walking access to Montana Creek. Wildlife all around and fishing nearby make it a great place to stay with kids. I really like the layout of the cabins for being able to have a nice home base while exploring the Talkeetna area for a few days.
I have to give a shout-out to the hosts of the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge for being some of the most kind people and ready and willing to be helpful. We got stuck in Talkeetna one summer when there was a bad forest fire and we couldn’t head north. They were so great about getting things squared away to make a place for us in a pinch. It’s a beautiful setting, great people and a fun Alaskan lodge to enjoy.
Book the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge here
Holland America Denali Lodge
Formerly the McKinley Chalets, the Holland America Denali Lodge is located on the Nenana River just outside of Denali National Park. It’s in a beautiful setting with easy access into the Park. Choosing where to when you come to Denali National Park can be confusing and costly, especially since it’s a peak season ONLY destination. I stayed here at the Holland America Denali Lodge (aka the McKinley Chalets) at the tail end of summer and had a great visit. This is a very big property and one of my favorite Alaskan lodges to come home to at the end of a long day.
Heads up, like the Seward Windsong or Kenai Princess, this lodge tends to be primarily booked by cruise tour guests, but it’s open for booking by anyone. Early season and end of season dates are usually easier to book and even can be significantly less expensive.
PS: the Denali Natural History Tour or the Tundra Wilderness Tour will both pick up here for easy access into the park.
Book the Holland America Denali Lodge here
Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
I first worked here at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge right out of high school and this is where I officially fell in love with Denali National Park in every season. Set on the bluffs above the Nenana River very close to the Holland America Denali Lodge, the Denali Princess is another very large property with several dining options. Being such a large property, there are plenty of amenities if you need them, and if you’ve been doing an Alaska road trip for a week or more, you’ll be glad to have things like laundry and nice lounging spaces to chill.
Book the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge here
Pike’s Waterfront Lodge
Fairbanks is a unique city to visit and Pike’s Waterfront Lodge is a unique place to stay. I love the kitschy but fun interior and the on property amenities. It’s not fancy, but it’s welcoming, warm and captures the spirit of Alaska. Pike’s Waterfront Lodge might not be our first choice when we’re booking a hotel in Fairbanks, but it’s nice and very enjoyable, and 100% has the Alaskan lodge vibe that adds to the stay.
One of the things that I really love about staying at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge, besides being directly on the Chena River, is how close it is to the airport. If you’re having a long travel day to Fairbanks or maybe an early flight out, Pike’s is basically as close as you can get to the Fairbanks airport without sleeping inside.
Book Pike’s Waterfront Lodge here
Borealis Basecamp
Known for its igloos and Northern Lights viewing in the winter, Borealis Basecamp is a year round destination for getting out into the wilderness and experiencing Alaska nature near Fairbanks. I know that this is a big ticket stay so if you’re considering it, you’ll want as much information as possible. Borealis Basecamp is very unique and really focuses on bringing the guest into the Alaskan winter experience, but then also summer stuff too.
Basecamp Adventures is the activity side of Borealis Basecamp and they have all kinds of things you can add onto your Alaskan lodge stay. From snowshoes and cross country skis to dogsledding with Basecamp Adventures, even meeting reindeer, winter is awesome here. In summer you can enjoy hiking, ATVs, flightseeing and more. I love it here, and if it’s in your budget, you’ll enjoy it too!
Chena Hot Springs Resort
Of all the Alaskan lodges and cabin resorts, Chena Hot Springs Resort is very unique. Having lived in Alaska I have pretty good expectations when it comes to rustic settings, but Chena Hot Springs Resort is more than a fun rustic stay. We enjoyed our winter visit so much and wished we had just one more day, but we’ll just have to be excited to be back in the summer. This is NOT a luxury stay at all, but it’s nice enough that you can have a fun stay full of hiking and enjoying the many activities around the resort.
Whether you want a lodge room or a cabin, you’ve got options. It’s a great place to enjoy as a family. For me, the absolute highlight of staying at Chen Hot Springs in the winter is getting to do the Chena Aurora Borealis Tour. It goes up the mountain in a rough and tumble snow cat late at night and you stay out until almost 4:00 in the morning watching the Northern Lights. Amazing lodge experience that I will happily do every winter.
Book the Chena Hot Springs Resort here
There are so many more lodges all around Alaska, and as we visit more and more we’ll continue to add them here and share articles about each. Whether you’re doing a summer or winter visit you’ll have lots of options across different budgets, so if there’s a place you’re curious about and we don’t have it listed, feel free to leave a comment or send us a note so we can share more with you. Happy traveling and I hope you get to plan an amazing Alaska trip!
