Visit Anchorage has released updated research on Anchorage travelers in fall, winter, and spring. As season-specific product offerings grow, the auroras draw visitors to Anchorage, and Heyi Days gains more prominence, the data is a snapshot of what travelers want and how they experience Anchorage from October through April.
Since 2024, Visit Anchorage has studied traveler habits and behaviors of Anchorage visitors in all seasons. The survey is fielded using the Wi-Fi system at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. More than 220,000 travelers answered the survey between October 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026. The findings provide a valuable window on travel to Anchorage in the non-summer months.
A new question was added this year, exploring trip motivators specifically for leisure travelers. A quarter said northern lights motivated their visit; Anchorage is a prime spot for travel centered on aurora tourism. A slightly smaller portion, 23%, said winter-specific activities motivated their trip. Again, Anchorage is a prime spot for skiing, skating, fat tire biking, and many other winter-specific pursuits. Special events, local culture, and cooler weather also ranked high as trip motivators.
Business travel makes up a significantly larger portion of overall visitation in fall, winter, and spring compared to summer. Nearly a third of travelers say business was the main purpose of the trip, with another 6% saying their trip was a mix of business and pleasure. Meetings and conventions convene year-round in Anchorage, but that select Anchorage are timed for months outside summer, providing a steady stream of business in months that aren't as big for leisure travel.
In general, Anchorage travelers were more likely to be from the U.S. West (42%) or South (25%). The most common states of origin were California, Washington, and Texas. About 15% were international visitors, with Canada, China, and Mexico as the most common international countries of origin.
Detailed findings are available in the full winter 2025-26 report.