In Alaska, everything is larger than life: glaciers, moose, trees, and bald eagles.
Trying to see Alaska by motor vehicle definitely has its limitations. When looking at a map of the state, only a relatively small portion is accessible by road. Nevertheless, the panorama of Alaska can still be experienced from the highways, and Route 1 is considered as one of the best. Driving into Alaska, Tok is the first major crossroads and where you pick up Route1, better known as the Tok Cut-Off. As a freeway, Route 1 is as well maintained as can be for one that experiences such extremes of temperature. The pavement is just about glassy but the underlying ground bucks the road into a mild roller coaster effect. If you’ve driven up the Alaska Highway to get here, it’ll be the smoothest road you’ve seen in days. As Route1 rolls through the magnificent forests of Alaska, the first thing you begin to notice is how big everything is.
Wildlife and trees all have to be hearty to survive the winters up here. The next sights you will not see in the lower 48 states are the glaciers. These aren’t just frost caps on the top of mountains either, though there are abundant of those in the background. We’re talking huge expanses of flat ground covered year-round with ice yards-thick. Once you roll through Anchorage, continue following Route 1 down the Kenai Peninsula. You can see here some of the prettiest parts of Alaska and can take a look at area fishing villages. Look out as moose like it, too. After you pass Soldodna on the way to Homer, be sure to find a place on the high bluffs to stop by and look out over the water. While the beachfront recreation areas are an amazing place to camp, this high vantage point is the place to be as bald eagles waft by riding the air currents so close you can almost touch them. At the end of Route 1, Homer offers several dockside restaurants where you can end your drive by getting pleasure from some fresh-off-the-boat Alaskan salmon.
Starting Point:
Tok, AK
Distance of Drive:
541 miles
Must Eat:
O’Brady’s Burgers and Brew
800 E. Dimond Blvd., Anchorage, AK 99515
Phone: 907-344-8033
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Good Stop For: 26 Different Hamburgers
Lands End
4786 Homer Spit Road, Homer, AK 99603
Phone: 907-235-0406
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Good Stop For: Artichoke Dip
Best Time of Year for Drive:
Late spring to fall
Points of Interest on Drive:
Kenai National Refuge
Tagged with: Alaska • bald eagles • best time:spring and fall • summer destinations
Filed under: Best Road Trips