Visit Alaska’s Nationals: An Overview of the State’s Parks

What’s Alaska known for? Breathtaking views. Excellent, fresh seafood and game. Wild adventures in the great outdoors. A culture entirely its own. And, it’s stunning national parks.

There’s simply nothing more beautiful than waking up to the gorgeous landscape in one of our parks. Except, perhaps taking a scenic drive through in your budget Alaska car rentals. The only problem? How to pick just one park to visit!

If you live in Alaska, or if you’ve got your budget Alaska car rentals for an extended period, choosing a park won’t be a problem. You’ll have plenty of time to see them all. But whether you’re trying to choose the one to visit, or deciding on which one will be first on your list, you’ll need to know a bit more. Here’s a very brief overview of just a few of Alaska’s parks.

Denali National Park and Preserve

We’ll start with the big one. Almost everyone knows of Denali National Park and Preserve. It’s 100 years as a national park has been marked by photographic interest and heavy tourism. But don’t be diverted – the crowds never reach an unbearable point. It simply means you’ll want to book early if you want a camping site.

Driving the park road in your budget Alaska car rentals will offer you an exciting way to see a large section of the 6 million acres of land that make up Denali National Park. Wildlife and mountaineering – you’ll get a full Alaskan experience in this national preserve.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Despite being the largest park in the USA, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is one of the less visited. As such, there are fewer services and amenities in the region. However, you can drive across the 13.2 million acres to see various landmarks and wildlife sights, including the ghost town of Kennecott Mine.

The drive along is on the bed of an old railway, signifying the deep historical connections this region had to mining. See McCarthy, which is accessed by footbridge, or head up to Root Glacier for a bit of hiking. However, if you want to really see the extent of the region, buy a package from St. Elias Alpine Guides. It’s definitely worth it!

Kenai Fjords National Park

Simply put: the fjords are stunning. For this one, you’ll want to find a nice, safe place for your budget Alaska car rentals and leave them behind for a few hours – the fjords are best seen by boat. While you can walk in the park around the Exit Glacier in Seward, the boats offer marine-life sightseeing and a more extensive view of the fjords. Furthermore to top it off, it’s not uncommon to see puffins perched along the seaside cliffs.

In the meantime, visit the Alaska Sealife Center for a closer view of the fish, birds, and sea mammals that live in the park. But, you may also want to check out the Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge near Aialik Bay. You’ll find great food, fun activities, and a chance at the glacier-and-wildlife cruise.

A wide selection

The problem simply is that there are just too many great parks in the area. Yet, to go into detail of all of them would be tough.

We could go on and on about the incredible hike through the pumice and rock by the Ukak River in the old volcanic site of Katmai National Park and Preserve. Or about the bear viewing opportunities in this same park.

And what about hiking and kayaking adventures in Lake Clark National Park? Or the Glacier Bay tour in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve that will offer extraordinary glimpses into the glacial habitats of wildlife? Have you hiked or flown into Gates of the Arctic to see the sheep, bears, and other wildlife that rest among the Arctic Tundra and boreal forests? Finally, the caribou, portaging opportunities, and sand dunes of Kobuk Valley National Park and Kobuk River may be enough to draw you in to this great park.

Needless to say, you’ll never run out of parks to visit in your budget Alaska car rentals. So reserve your vehicle from Avis today, and go on an adventure of a lifetime.