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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What time is it up there?

Alaska is so big it has its own time zone: Alaska Standard Time (AST). Alaska Standard Time is one hour behind Pacific Standard Time and four hours behind Eastern Standard Time. So, if it’s 1:00 p.m. in California, and 4:00 p.m. in New York City, it’s Noon in Alaska.

2. Is it really cold and dark all winter long?

No. The least amount of functional daylight we get during the winter is seven hours and 35 minutes, and that occurs on Winter Solstice, usually around December 21. Anchorage gains daylight rapidly until Summer Solstice, which occurs around June 21 and we have nearly 24 hours of functional daylight.

Temperatures range from an average low of 20 F /-7 C in the winter, to an average high of nearly 70 F/18 C during the summer. Read more

3. How do I get to/from Seward? (pronounced Sue*ward - a major port of call in Alaska)

Seward is about 2 1/2 hours south of Anchorage, and is a beautiful drive along the Seward Highway, which has been designated as an All-American Road, an Alaska Scenic Byway, and US Forest Service Byway. There are many transportation options to/from Seward including scheduled or chartered bus service, motorcoach, rental car (seasonal), and the Alaska Railroad. Read more

4. Is Alaska really, really far away?

By air, Anchorage, Alaska is nearly three hours from Seattle, five hours from Los Angeles or Chicago, and eight hours from Washington D.C. Read more

5. Can you rent "regular" cars or do they have to be 4-wheel drive? Do you need chains in the winter?

Rental cars are available year round. You have the same options as in the Continental U.S. Four-wheel drive vehicles are not required in Anchorage, regardless of season and chains are not required in the winter. During the winter, Anchorage-area roads are plowed on a regular basis.
Read more

6. How far away is Denali (Mt. McKinley)?

Mt. McKinley, or Denali as it is called, is 237 road miles away (381 km) from Anchorage - about 4 hours by car to the Park entrance. At the visitor's center inside the Park entrance, visitors can board shuttles to tour the interior and look for a variety of wildlife. Advanced reservations recommended. Read more

Those short on time might take a flightseeing trip around North America’s highest peak and be back in Anchorage in three hours.

7. Will I have to sleep in an igloo?

Believe it or not, there are no igloos in Alaska! Anchorage does have a wonderful range of accommodations including first-class hotels, inns and B&B's. Read more

8. I know Alaska's beautiful, scenic, and has lots of wilderness but what's the nightlife like?

Part of the beauty of Anchorage is its easy access to Alaska’s wilderness and the access to some of the state’s best restaurants, brewpubs and nightclubs. You can spend the day trekking through a glacial valley and be back in time for a first class meal and a night out on the town. And don’t forget Anchorage’s art scene. There’s great public art, Native art, concerts, symphony and galleries.

9. Do I need a passport to get to Alaska?

No. Alaska is in the United States of America. Alaska was the 49th state to enter the union, earning statehood in 1959. We use U.S. currency, and electrical outlets are the same as everywhere else in the U.S. (110 volts, 60 AC)

10. I have heard that the black flies and mosquitoes are just awful up in Alaska!

We’ve heard the myth: the mosquito is Alaska’s official state bird. Well, it’s not true. In Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska, the large tidal changes (second largest in North America) don’t allow for a lot of standing water, and although there are lots of trees, there are also a lot of open areas, urban areas, and above-tree line tundra areas. We just don’t have a big problem. We still recommend you wear a bug repellent, but we promise a mythical, king-sized mosquito will not carry you away.

11. Can you see the northern lights from Anchorage?

Yes. The best time to see the northern lights, or “aurora borealis” is during a cold, clear winter night. Many of the area hotels have a “northern lights wake up call” and if you indicate that you want to be awakened, they will call your room if the lights are dancing in the night sky.