Anchorage to Homer Driving takes just over 4 hours for 222 miles if you drive straight through, but why would you want to? There are so many things to see on the drive from Anchorage to Homer, on the so called Sterling Highway. These are my favorite things to do on the drive from Anchorage to Homer, Alaska.
Beluga Point
Drive straight south from Anchorage and it doesn’t take long before you find yourself driving along the ocean front, on the Turnagain Arm. There are some great places to pull off the side of the road for spectacular views, and Beluga Point is one of the best. One of the best times of day to stop at Beluga Point is when the bore tide comes in, a big wave that comes in over the mud flats. This is a phenomenon that only happens in a few dozen places in the world. And yes, it is also possible to see Beluga Whales from Beluga Point if you’re lucky.
Girdwood Glaciers
As you continue your drive to Homer, take a look on your left and see lots of hanging glaciers near Girdwood. One of the best attractions in Girdwood is taking a cable car to have a walk in the mountains.
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Please skip the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage and instead visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. This animal park consists of animals that were once held as pets, or injured, or animals they plan to release into the wild to repopulate endangered species. The wildlife center has most of the major wild animals of Alaska, most everything except the Arctic animals like Polar Bears and Walrus. But they have moose, bear, bison, caribou, foxes, porcupines, lynx, and more.
Anchorage to Homer Driving Detour: Take the Toll Tunnel to Whittier
There are no other toll highways in Alaska, except the Alaska Marine Highway, but it’s worth the $13 to take the toll tunnel to Whittier. You go thru a tunnel to a very unique town build on limited buildable land. There are many glaciers to see on this highway and you can even hike up to the Byron Glacier or take a boat over to the Portage Glacier.
Turnagain Pass
Before you turn west towards Homer, you’ll drive up over the Turnagain Pass, which has some nice hikes. Make sure you stop at the lake at the junction of Highway 1 and Highway 9, the views are to die for.
Cooper Landing
Cooper Landing is a mecca for fishing. Cooper Landing is also the home to some great little roadhouses along the Sterling Highway.
Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area
If you’re willing to do a little driving on gravel road, you can take the 18-mile scenic detour through Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area. Hidden Lake is a good place to see bears. There are some great campgrounds on this road, a few of them are free!
Kenai River
The Kenai River is one of the world’s best rivers for
Anchorage to Homer Driving Detour: Kenai Town, Kenai Flats, and K-Beach Road
Once you get to Soldotna, it’s worth taking a detour to Kenai Town via the flats and then heading down K-Beach Road before rejoining the Sterling Highway. The Kenai Flats and K-Beach road are some of the best places on Kenai Peninsula for spotting wildlife. I saw a couple Caribou with HUGE antlers feeding along the road. I continued watching them and following them as they were making their way up the road. Then I turned and spotted a great big moose just chilling in a nearby pond. I didn’t know where to look!
Views of Mount Redoubt and Mount Iliamna Volcanoes
The western coast of Kenai has amazing views of several volcanoes, of which Mount Redoubt and Mount Iliamna dominate the skyline. You can’t miss the great big grassy field with lots of parking, a short walk, and unobstructed views of these two volcanoes. A must stop on any drive from Anchorage to Homer or vice versa.
Ninilchik
Ninilchik is a coastal town with one of the nicest Russian Orthodox churches on the peninsula, with a photogenic cemetery and views of the mountains. This small town is also home of the annual Salmonfest music festival.
Whisky Gulch
For the best free campground on the Kenai Peninsula, look no further than Whisky Gulch. Park yourself right on the ocean for views of the volcanoes and awesome sunsets!
Anchorage to Homer Driving Detour: Nikolaevsk Russian Village
On of the locals in Anchor Point told me about the Russian Village, otherwise I never would have known about this place. Take North Fork Road until you reach Nikolaevsk where you can see the two Orthodox Churches and have some Russian Tea and food at Samovar Cafe.
Insider tip: if you want to see lots of Fireweed and it’s July, there’s no better place than Nikolaevsk. The hills around this village are awash with Fireweed in the middle of summer – so gorgeous!
Things to do in Homer – Homer Spit
The top thing to do in Homer, Alaska is to drive out to the Spit, a long, sand peninsula on the tip of the Kenai peninsula. The spit is home to halibut and salmon fishing charters, seafood restaurants, Grizzly Bear float plane tours, and the Alaska Marine Highway ferry terminal. Drive all the way to the end to visit a small park and have views of the glaciers on Halibut Cove.
Things to do in Homer – Skyline Drive and All Saints Orthodox Church
If you have your own transportation, make sure you head up to the viewpoint on Skyline Drive. It’s the best place to see the sound, the Homer Spit, town, Beluga Lake, glaciers, and more. You will be amazed at how busy the Homer Spit looks from above.
Where to Stay when Driving Anchorage to Homer
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Places that you might want to stay include:
Girdwood – small town at the base of the mountains. Check Rates and Availability in Girdwood.
Soldotna – largest town on Kenai with all the major conveniences, great for day tripping to Kenai town or K-beach Check Rates and Availability in Soldotna.
Homer – the end of the road with fantastic views. Check Rates and Availability in Homer.
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