Stays in Anchorage
Anchorage is Alaska's largest city, sitting where the Seward Highway meets the Glenn Highway on the shore of Cook Inlet, with Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport minutes from downtown. Its hotels range from budget motels along the Spenard airport strip to a lakefront property on Lake Hood and a ski resort in nearby Girdwood.
Anchorage sits at the junction of Alaska's two main highways, the Seward Highway running south along Turnagain Arm toward Girdwood and the Kenai Peninsula, and the Glenn Highway running north toward Eagle River and the Matanuska Valley, with Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport a short drive from most hotels. Downtown clusters around 4th and 5th Avenues near the Anchorage Museum, Spenard holds a strip of airport-adjacent motels along Lake Hood's floatplane base, and Girdwood sits about forty-five minutes south for anyone basing a stay around Alyeska Resort's ski slopes. Summer brings close to twenty hours of daylight, while winter reverses that and adds studded tires to the packing list, so travelers plan the season around what they came for as much as where they sleep.
Anchorage in numbers
BlueWater BaseCamp
57 reviews
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Carriage House Accommodations
57 reviews
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Alaska House of Jade Bed & Breakfast
77 reviews
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Wilderness Place Lodge | Alaska Fishing | Adventures
42 reviews
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Base Camp Anchorage Hostel
326 reviews
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Brown Bear Saloon & Hotel
265 reviews
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Alyeska Resort
4,764 reviews
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Bird Creek Motel
163 reviews
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Sheraton Anchorage Hotel
1,805 reviews
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The Lakefront Anchorage
3,362 reviews
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Aspen Suites Hotel Anchorage Downtown
44 reviews
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Wyndham Garden Anchorage Airport
1,270 reviews
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Clarion Suites Anchorage Downtown
1,085 reviews
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Merrill Field Inn
497 reviews
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Hilton Anchorage
2,884 reviews
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Puffin Inn of Anchorage
1,290 reviews
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- Downtown clustered near 4th Avenue and the Anchorage Museum
- Spenard's motel strip along Lake Hood's floatplane base
- Girdwood and Alyeska Resort about 45 minutes south via the Seward Highway
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport minutes from most hotels
- Close to 20 hours of summer daylight, reversed by short winter days
- Chugach State Park trailheads on the city's eastern edge
Local tips
- Book a Spenard hotel if you land late at Ted Stevens International, most sit within a 10 to 20 minute taxi ride of the terminal.
- Drive the Seward Highway south to Girdwood in daylight if you can, Turnagain Arm's beluga-watching pullouts are easy to miss after dark.
- Switch to studded tires by October if you're renting a car for a winter stay, Anchorage's side streets ice over fast.
- Stay downtown near 4th Avenue if you want the Anchorage Museum and Ship Creek fishing within walking distance rather than a drive.
- Pack layers even in July, close to 20 hours of daylight does not mean warm nights this far north.
- Check a hotel's parking setup before booking a winter stay, block heater outlets matter more here than in most US cities.
Where to stay
Frequently asked questions
What neighborhoods are best for staying in Anchorage?
Downtown near 4th Avenue suits travelers who want the Anchorage Museum and Ship Creek within walking distance, while Spenard's motel strip along Lake Hood works better for late flights at Ted Stevens International. Girdwood, about 45 minutes south via the Seward Highway, suits a ski-focused stay at Alyeska Resort instead.
What types of accommodation are available in Anchorage?
Anchorage's hotels range from budget motels and a hostel near the airport strip to a lakefront property on Lake Hood, a bed and breakfast downtown, and a full ski resort in nearby Girdwood. Most fall into the mid-range business hotel category clustered downtown and in Midtown.
What is the best time to visit Anchorage?
Summer, roughly May through August, brings close to twenty hours of daylight and the mildest driving conditions on the Seward and Glenn Highways. Winter draws visitors chasing the aurora and Alyeska Resort's ski season, but requires studded tires and shorter daylight for any road trip.
How far is downtown Anchorage from the airport?
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport sits close to downtown, with most hotels in Spenard and along the airport strip a 10 to 20 minute taxi ride away. Downtown hotels near 4th Avenue run closer to 15 to 20 minutes depending on traffic.
Where should I stay in Anchorage for a Girdwood ski trip?
Alyeska Resort in Girdwood sits about 45 minutes south of downtown Anchorage via the Seward Highway, making it the direct choice for a ski-focused stay. Travelers splitting time between the city and the slopes often base downtown instead and drive down for the day.
Do I need a car to get around Anchorage?
A car helps for reaching Girdwood, Eagle River, or Chugach State Park's trailheads, but downtown and Spenard stay walkable enough for museum visits and dinner without one. Winter driving calls for studded tires given how quickly Anchorage's side streets ice over.