Alaska in December
December is a month to think twice about visiting Alaska. Only for the winter-niche traveler: northern lights, dog sledding, and hot springs, wrapped in serious cold and near-solstice darkness.
Weather
Dark deep winter, Anchorage highs near 24F (-4C), a few hours of light
Crowds
Prices
What's on in December
Late August through April, best on clear dark nights around the equinoxes
Aurora season. Fairbanks and the Interior offer some of Earth's most dependable aurora odds, given patience and clear skies.
Things to do in Alaska
- 1
Denali National Park. Private cars are barred beyond the road's first stretch; park transit and tour buses run roughly late May to mid September, and that is the season. Book buses and nearby lodging early. official site ↗
- 2
Kenai Fjords glacier-and-whale cruise from Seward. Day boats run roughly May through September to calving tidewater glaciers, with whales, otters, and puffins en route. Dress for 20 degrees colder than Anchorage. official site ↗
- 3
Bear viewing at Brooks Falls or Lake Clark. Fly-in day trips put you at close, managed range from wild brown bears. July is the famous salmon-run peak at Brooks Falls; book far ahead. official site ↗
- 4
The Alaska Railroad. The Anchorage-to-Denali and Anchorage-to-Seward runs are two of the world's great train rides, operating on a summer-heavy schedule with limited winter service. official site ↗
- 5
An Inside Passage cruise. Glacier Bay, whales, and roadless towns like Juneau and Ketchikan. The season runs roughly late April to October; May and September sailings cost less. official site ↗
- 6
Matanuska Glacier and the Glenn Highway. A day-trip-scale taste of glacier country from Anchorage, with guided glacier walks available in season.
- 7
Northern lights from Fairbanks. Aurora season runs roughly late August through April. Give it at least three nights, get away from town lights, and let the forecast set your bedtime. official site ↗
- 8
Salmon and halibut fishing. Runs peak in summer with real variation by river and species; charter captains in Homer, Seward, and the Kenai will match the week to the fish.
Beat the crowds
- →Shift to the shoulders: the first half of June or the last week of August into early September delivers most of peak Alaska with noticeably fewer people and better prices.
- →In cruise towns, the crowd is the ship schedule. Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan swell by thousands at midday, so do town sights before 10am or after 4pm and spend midday on a trail or the water.
- →Book the bottlenecks first: Denali buses, Brooks Falls lodging and flights, and Kenai Fjords boats sell out for peak July weeks months in advance, while the rest of the trip can be planned around them.
Know before you go
- !Most of tourist Alaska effectively closes from October to April. Wilderness lodges, glacier day boats, seasonal hotels, and many restaurants in cruise towns shut entirely, and skeleton winter schedules replace summer transport.
- !Denali's park road runs on a hard season: transit and tour buses operate roughly late May to mid September, and private vehicles are barred beyond the first stretch of road year-round. Note also that a landslide has closed part of the road in recent years, so check the park's current road status when planning.
- !Cruise season runs roughly late April to October. Outside it, ships are gone and the most ship-dependent towns, Skagway above all, go into hibernation with many businesses shuttered.
Alaska in December: quick answers
Is December a good time to visit Alaska?
December is a month to think twice about visiting Alaska. Only for the winter-niche traveler: northern lights, dog sledding, and hot springs, wrapped in serious cold and near-solstice darkness.
What is the weather like in Alaska in December?
Dark deep winter, Anchorage highs near 24F (-4C), a few hours of light.
Is Alaska crowded in December?
December is one of the quieter months in Alaska; most sights can be done without long waits.
What is happening in Alaska in December?
Aurora season (late august through april, best on clear dark nights around the equinoxes).