Is June A Good Month To Visit Alaska?

Alaska’s official tourist season begins in mid-May, but many locals will tell you that June is the best month to visit this great state! Planning a family trip to Alaska in June also means that you’ll beat the visitors who book their trips at the peak of the summer season and will have fewer crowds to deal with at popular tourist destinations. June is also one of the driest months in Alaska, and the long days and warm weather mean a family-friendly experience no one will easily forget.

Top 5 Reasons To Book A Family Trip To Alaska In June

If you’re trying to plan the best family trip to Alaska that you can, one of the best things you can do is book everything in advance! Even if your trip’s target date is early June, accommodations at tourist hot spots fill up fast.

It’s a good idea to make your lodging and transportation reservations as early as possible and to check with outfitters about day trips to remote locations before you arrive. Waiting until you are in Alaska to find a hotel room, campground site, or floatplane to get you into a national park is not a good idea – lodging and other tourist attractions book quickly, even in the early summer season.

However, June is still one of the best months to plan a family trip to Alaska. Here are five big reasons why:

• Many of Alaska’s national parks are open year-round but only offer extremely limited services for visitors during the winter months. Once May and June arrive, however, even the parks in the far northern regions of the state open up their visitor centers and prepare to welcome guests at lodges and campsites. The early summer season is a great time to embark on beautiful wild hikes, go grizzly bear-watching, and even see a dog team in action.
• Summer days in Alaska are long! June 21 is the longest day of the year in this Far Northern state, with 19 hours of daylight in Anchorage, 18 hours of daylight in the Southeast region of the state, and 22 hours of daylight in Fairbanks. It’s light outside almost all night long from late May to July, meaning that you can pack in a lot of activities during your trip and experience the magic of Alaska’s midnight sun during your best family trip to Alaska.
• Sightseeing during the early summer month of June in Alaska is amazing. The mild weather makes cruises and other boat trips pleasant, and booking early in the season means you will save money. During this period, visitors will be able to see Alaska’s marine life, which includes seals, sea otters, whales, and walruses. Additionally, hikes into the backcountry during the early summer season offer visitors the opportunity to see a variety of Alaska’s native species as they emerge from hibernation and begin foraging for food.
• If you like to hike, June in Alaska is the perfect month to do it! Near Anchorage, the trails at lower elevations are clear of snow by May, and trails in the mountains are usually passable by early June. Weather conditions are favorable for this popular outdoor activity for most of the month, making it easy to enjoy the spectacular scenery and wildlife. Do not forget to wear bug repellent, though! Mosquitoes like the warm, windless weather that June brings.
• June is one of the best months to go fishing in Alaska. Those who love the sport will find the peak first run of Sockeye Salmon, King Salmon, and Rainbow Trout in Alaska’s many rivers during the early summer season. You can also book a charter boat and go deep-water fishing for halibut during June. The waters off Alaska's coast are known for their abundance of fish, providing anglers with an exciting opportunity to test their fishing skills.

Planning The Best Family Trip To Alaska

June in Alaska is a peak summer month, where the sun refuses to set too early, the landscapes are beautiful and wild, and the rivers teem with swarming salmon. There is real energy throughout the state during this time, with people and animals energized by the long, sunny days. Planning a trip to Alaska in June is a great idea, but how can you make your trip the best family trip to Alaska? The answer is simple – with a little research and a lot of planning!

When you are planning a family trip to Alaska, it can be challenging to decide what activities you want to do. There is so much to see and do in Alaska, that it can feel overwhelming. Here are a handful of family-friendly activities to consider as you plan your itinerary.

• Take a trip on the Alaska Railroad! This railway links the state’s largest cities and offers a lifeline to remote settlements far from any road. With several routes and train cars designed for sightseeing, it’s also a perfect way to see the mountains, lakes, and wildlife with the whole family.
• Visit Denali National Park and immerse yourself in nature and other outdoor activities. Take a bus ride along the famous Denali Park Road, and join a ranger-led program or field seminar at the Denali Visitor Center.
• Book a sightseeing flight on a Talkeetna Air Taxi. This local tour agency offers one of the best sightseeing tours in the state. Explore the Alaskan Range or the mysteries of Denali from the comfort of a state-of-the-art aircraft!
• Tour the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. This cultural institute, founded in 1999, features exhibits on 11 major cultural groups living in the state. Spend the day exploring the exhibits, try a native game, learn an Alaskan Native dance, sing traditional songs, or attend an art workshop to learn more about native Alaskan culture and traditions.
• Visit the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in Juneau. Explore the stunning nearby trails offering breathtaking views of the glacier and surrounding landscapes. The center also features hands-on activities for kids of all ages, extensive visitor programming, and beautiful scenery.
• See the marine life at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward. The SeaLife Center, established in 1998, is a premier aquarium and marine mammal rehabilitation center. This family-friendly activity tops the list of activities for the best family trip to Alaska if you have an animal lover in your family!
• Visit the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary in Ketchikan. The sanctuary, located within the Tongass National Forest, offers a variety of guided activities for families. Enjoy some much-needed time in the great outdoors and make memories you’ll cherish forever.
• Take a trip to the Kroschel Films Wildlife Center in Haines. This center is a refuge for animals and offers an interactive and educational experience for visitors. Families can take guided tours and also will have the opportunity to hug, pet, and feed some of the resident animals, which include moose, wolves, grizzly bears, foxes, reindeer, and more.
• View the sites at Chugach State Park in Anchorage. This park is one of the most popular and well-visited parks in Alaska. Located just outside of Anchorage, the park features gorgeous scenery, colossal mountains, and pristine lakes. Visitors to the Chugach can picnic, camp, kayak, hike, raft, fish, go snowmobiling, horseback riding, ATV riding, and so much more.
• Cruise the Tracy Arm Fjord outside of Juneau. See the Tracy Arm Fjord and all of its wildlife up close! Book your family aboard a United States Coast Guard-inspected vessel and be prepared to see gigantic icebergs, magnificent waterfalls, whales swimming by, harbor seals, lush greenery, and more.

Epic Adventures For All In Alaska

Planning a trip to Alaska in June is challenging – there’s so much to see and do in this vast state that it is difficult to choose the best activities for your family. But the state's stunning glaciers, diverse wildlife, and picturesque national parks make Alaska an unforgettable adventure for everyone. It just takes a little research and a good plan for your family trip to Alaska to be a memorable one. Now, get packing! Alaska is waiting for you.