These are the best times to visit Alaska

Table Of Content

• Sign Up for Special Offers
• When Is The Best Time To Cruise Alaska To See Whales?
• The Best Time of Year for an Alaska Cruise: A Complete Guide
• What are nighttime temperatures like in Alaska during the summer?
• North America Travel Guide
• Cruising Alaska Between Late Spring and Mid-Summer (Late April – Mid-July)

That’s plenty of light to explore the vast seaside plains, glacier-dotted bays, lush alpine forests, and misty mountain-flanked fjords you’ll encounter while traveling from one incredible port to another. Temperatures are warmest in the month of July, so if you’re sensitive to the cold but still want to experience the wild beauty of Alaska, mid-summer might be the ideal time for you to visit. The best time to cruise Alaska is in May or June, at the beginning of the cruise season. Alaska’s cruise season has always been short, peaking quickly at the height of the summer months and then done by early fall.

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Planning to take advantage of Alaska’s rugged terrain and untamed hiking paths? With so much to see, you’ll want a lot of daylight to maximize your time spent ashore. Days in Alaska are longest throughout the month of June, sometimes reaching close to 20 hours of sunlight.

When Is The Best Time To Cruise Alaska To See Whales?

Although it is getting darker earlier, solar activity is not at its peak in the summer, so your chances of viewing the Northern Lights in July are slim to none. If you are an angler, there is nothing like hooking and reeling in a King. With an average size of 24 to 36 inches and weighing pounds, you’ll finally have a true fishing story worth telling. They begin migrating from Hawaiian waters in the springtime to feed in the nutrient-rich Alaskan waters. If you are in port, you’ll get to see how Alaskans take advantage of the Midnight Sun with locals out biking, hiking, and fishing at all hours of the night.

The Best Time of Year for an Alaska Cruise: A Complete Guide

Weather is a pretty big consideration when it comes to booking an Alaskan cruise. If you have a low tolerance for cold weather, cruising Alaska during the warmest months of July and August is a better choice. As the month progresses, temperatures rise slightly, and daylight hours increase.

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Other adventurous activities, such as hiking trails, open up in the summer months. Hatcher Pass typically opens up in July, depending on the specific Hatcher Pass weather conditions. Mt. Denali is another option for cruisers, but be sure to check on the Mt. Denali weather with your cruise line. If you are hoping to travel during peak Alaskan cruise season (July and August), you should plan on booking your Alaskan cruise at least one year in advance. The farther in advance you can book your Alaskan cruise, the more options you will have for cruise dates, itineraries, and cabin amenities.

The warming weather even allows cruise ships to penetrate Arctic waters, giving you the opportunity to see polar bears on Wrangel Island. If you’re looking for a great deal on an Alaskan cruise and you have a flexible travel schedule, consider the shoulder seasons in your plans. In May and September, with fewer people traveling, it’s much easier to find discounts on unsold cabins. There’s always a chance of seeing whales from the deck of your cruise ship, but for a closer look and more immersive experience, small boat tours in the ports of call can provide unforgettable encounters.

North America Travel Guide

Some tourist facilities — including those at national parks — may still be shuttered for the winter. Each month has its advantages, not the least of which is discounted pricing in the spring and fall shoulder seasons. Cruise ships arrive in southeast Alaska in spring, stay the summer and linger only into early fall. The 49th state's snowy, cold and dark winters are not conducive to cruising.

Once the leaves begin to change, you can spot wildlife grazing among a sea of vibrant reds, oranges and yellows. Fall is the mating season for moose, goats, caribou and muskoxen, often bringing them to open areas where visitors can easily see them. As the state with by far the most wilderness in the country, it's no surprise that Alaska is a great place for wildlife viewing.

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If fishing in Alaska is on your bucket list, July is a good month to book a fishing trip during one of your shore days. Just like June, expect your cruise prices in July to be higher compared to the shoulder season. After spending the winter in warmer climates, humpback whales migrate north and break the waters of the Inside Passage, marking the dawn of Alaska’s most vivacious season.

Alaska’s charm varies with each passing month, and your choice of when to set sail can greatly impact your experience. Try to book or reserve your onshore activities as far in advance as possible. If you’re trying to squeeze in one last summer vacation before the kids go back to school and life becomes hectic again, opt for a shorter tour portion of the cruisetour. If you want to experience the phenomenon of sunlit nights for yourself, the best time to go to Alaska on a cruise is right around the Summer Solstice in the second half of June. This is the time when days are longest in the entire Northern Hemisphere.

You will find local asparagus on some menus in southeast towns later in the month, and fiddlehead season also begins in Alaska in May. However, most of Alaska's tastiest fruits and vegetables aren't on offer until later in the summer. Precipitation increases to 19 days of the month, so pack a raincoat with a hood (you’ll be grateful to have it!). Not only is it your best shot for warmer weather, but you’re also sure to see a good amount of the wildlife Alaska is famous for. The loss of daylight does mean you could see the Aurora Borealis while cruising to Alaska in late August.

Summer workers (typically college students) begin to arrive for the peak tourist season, and shops and restaurants open for the summer. There are also amazing birds, including bald eagles and land animals like mountain goats, Dall sheep, and brown and black bears. In April, towns along the Inside Passage will have just over 15 and a half hours of sunlight and will be gaining daylight every day. Because of its latitude, Alaska experiences extremes in daylight in the summer and darkness in the winter. Although the rain isn’t convenient, it is the reason for the lush vegetation you enjoy. However, it’s important to remember that this area is part of the world’s largest temperate rainforest.