Homer sits at the end of the Sterling Highway on the southern Kenai Peninsula, about 220 miles from Anchorage, on the shore of Kachemak Bay. It’s often called the “End of the Road” and is best known for halibut fishing and its arts community.
Getting There
The drive from Anchorage takes roughly 4.5 to 5 hours via the Seward Highway and then the Sterling Highway, passing through Soldotna and Kenai along the way. Homer also has a small airport with regularly scheduled flights from Anchorage, and it’s a stop on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system’s south-central route, connecting to Kodiak, Seldovia, and beyond.
The Homer Spit
Homer’s defining feature is the Spit, a narrow 4.5-mile gravel bar that juts out into Kachemak Bay and holds the harbor, most of the fishing charters, and a cluster of shops, restaurants, and campgrounds. The Spit is the departure point for halibut and salmon charters, water taxis across the bay to remote cabins and trailheads, and day cruises to see sea otters, puffins, and other wildlife.
What to See and Do
Homer bills itself as the “Halibut Fishing Capital of the World,” and sport fishing charters departing from the Spit are the top draw for many visitors. Across Kachemak Bay, the town of Seldovia and the trails of Kachemak Bay State Park are reachable only by boat or floatplane and offer hiking and wildlife viewing without road access. The Pratt Museum in town covers local natural history and Alaska Native culture, and Homer has a genuine, long-running arts scene, with galleries and studios scattered around downtown and the Spit. Bear viewing flights to Katmai National Park, home to some of the largest concentrations of brown bears in the world, are also commonly booked out of Homer.
When to Go
Summer, roughly May through September, is the main season for fishing charters, wildlife tours, and the ferry schedule, and also when the town’s restaurants and galleries are fully open. Winters are quiet and wet, with far fewer tours running, though the town stays open year-round unlike some smaller Alaska communities.
