Alaska offers some of the best road trips in the U.S. But to enjoy them, you need to prepare up front. A good place to start your road trip across Alaska is to pack these ten essentials.
Last updated: October 19, 2024
10 Essentials to Pack for Alaska Road Trip
Alaska is one of the most beautiful states in the USA. And after more than 100 years since joining the territory of the country, the Last Frontier is still one of the most uncharted places. On top of that, Alaska, the biggest state with the most epic road trips, has one of the lowest population density in the U.S.
The reason behind such unpopularity is Alaska’s cold weather. Many travelers admit that they would like to add a road trip across Alaska to their bucket lists, but the uncertainty and rough nature of the state keep them away.
According to locals, though, there’s no such thing as bad weather in Alaska. The problem lies in bad road trip itineraries and gears. You can’t enjoy the beauty of Alaska without planning in advance and packing a few things that are essential for a successful road trip.
Pack Light and for the Weather
It rains a lot in Alaska. On top of that, the Last Frontier tests you with its strong winds and annoying bugs. So layers and sprays are required when packing for a road trip in Alaska. But how many layers are enough? The simplest answer is pack light, but never underpack.
The number of things you need to pack for an Alaska road trip can be larger or smaller than for somebody else. What matters most is the weight of your items. Try to stick to lightweight clothes and gear that don’t slow you down even when you take a break from driving and go for a hike.
THE 10 ESSENTIALS TO PACK FOR YOUR NEXT ALASKA ROAD TRIP
1. Reusable Water Bottle
Hydration is essential for any trip. Alaska road trip, however, asks for extra preparation as you won’t always have access to fresh water. While Alaska looks pristine and unspoiled, you can’t pull over anywhere you want and refill your water bottle from a stream.
If the latter case is your only option, you need purification tablets to guard yourself from Giardia, a small parasite that causes diarrhea. The tablets usually alter the taste of the water, but it’s a small price to pay to stay healthy when road-tripping and hiking in Alaska.
You can also add LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle to your Alaska road trip essentials. This reusable water bottle works similar to the purification tablets and filters bacteria and viruses from the water.
2. Food
You can’t always hope to grab a bite at your next destination while road-tripping in Alaska. Due to sporadic locations of Alaska’s cities and towns, you can drive for hours before reaching the nearest restaurant or store.
So, make food a part of your packing essentials when hitting the road in Alaska. Nut butter sandwiches, some snacks, such as dry or raw fruits, celery sticks, nuts, seeds, and energy bars, should suffice.
3. Rain Gear
Rain jacket or trench is non-negotiable when planning a road trip in Alaska in late spring, summer, and fall. It rains a lot. We were lucky to have a rain-free adventure in the Last Frontier at the end of summer – normally the time when it rains every day – a few years ago. That dry weather surprised even locals. Yet don’t expect it to happen every year. Pack for the rain even if the weather forecast promises a few dry days.
READ MORE: How to Travel during the Rainy Season
4. Change of Clothes
Apart from the frequent rains, Alaska is prone to strong winds and unexpected drops in temperature. I remember wearing two sweaters and a jew hours later putting on another jacket during the last days of August. It was so cold. On the other hand, while I was covering myself with layers upon layers of clothes, some locals looked like they were on a beach in Hawaii, wearing shorts and slippers.
So, when it comes to packing clothes for your Alaska road trip, there is no right or wrong answer. I’d still recommend that you throw in an extra pair of socks, long pants, layered tops, hoodies, and warm jackets in your backpack or carry-on before flying to Alaska.
TIP: Thermal layers come in handy, as thermal fabrics are lightweight and easy to pack.
5. First Aid Kit
I can’t leave my house without a couple of bandages. For a longer trip, a full pack of bandages secures itself in my backpack. And it surely was one of a few essentials I packed for our Alaska road trip. But since it’s Alaska, you may also want to add antibiotics, disinfectant ointments, and antihistamines.
6. Navigation
One thing you can almost always count on during your road trip across Alaska is a weak or no cell phone signal. So make sure to download an offline map of your phone. Better yet bring along a hardcopy map. Consider also getting a compass, but teach yourself how to use it beforehand.
7. Sun Protection
Don’t let gloomy days and overcast weather trick you. The right amount of Vitamin-D is necessary, anything over it doesn’t do any good to your skin. A prolonged exposure to the sun ages your skin and increases risk of skin cancer. Prevention over cure. Therefore, make sure to pack such essentials as sunglasses and sunscreens for your Alaska road trip regardless of the season you plan to travel.
8. Trail Shoes
For short hikes, an extra pair of shoes is recommended. They are usually lighter than regular hiking boots. Moreover, you can put them on and off every time you go on or return from a hike, so your car stays clean.
9. Small Backpack
Keep a small backpack handy for those short hikes. You don’t need to pack a lot in it. A few snacks, a change of clothes, the first aid kit, a map or compass, and a bottle of water.
10. Camera and Tripod
With ever-improving phone cameras, your DSLR camera can be a luxury in some parts of the world. Yet it’s one of the essentials to pack for a road trip in Alaska. The state is a paradise for nature photographers. With its towering mountains, pristine lakes, wide glaciers, the only thing you will regret is not packing a camera, but not packing an extra battery and memory card.
And if you’re planning to shoot Alaska’s sunsets and sunrises and aurora borealis, a tripod is a must. Aim for a sturdy, lightweight, compact tripod that does a good job without taking too much space in your bag.
Final Thought on Packing for Alaska Road Trip
Two things are essential for a successful Alaska road trip: light packing and having all necessary gears when you need them. You want to enjoy your trip, not being dragged down by the weight of your backpack. So spend some time planning and packing in advance.
Read More
- CAMPGROUND IN ALASKA: A Guide to Visiting Williwaw Campground
- WILDLIFE CENTER: Visiting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
- WHITTIER TRAVEL GUIDE: Whittier Itinerary that Doesn’t Include Cruise: Alaska by Road
- SEWARD TRAVEL GUIDE: How to Spend One Day in Seward, Alaska
