What you need to pack for Alaska depends heavily on the season and the specific trip, but a few basics apply whether you’re on a summer cruise or a winter aurora trip.
Layers Are the Foundation
Alaska weather changes quickly, and temperatures can swing 20 degrees or more between morning and afternoon even in summer. A moisture-wicking base layer (not cotton), a warm mid layer such as fleece or a light puffy jacket, and a waterproof, windproof outer shell cover most situations. This layering approach works whether it’s a cool 55°F on a boat in Kenai Fjords or well below freezing on a winter aurora trip.
Summer Packing (May to September)
Even in summer, expect daytime temperatures typically in the 50s and 60s Fahrenheit, cooler on the water or at higher elevations. A few essentials: a waterproof rain jacket, since rain is common statewide and nearly constant in Southeast Alaska; sturdy, broken-in hiking boots or shoes, since comfort matters more than style on uneven trails; a warm hat and gloves for boat tours and glacier viewpoints, useful even in July; sunglasses and sunscreen, since UV exposure can be strong with long daylight hours and reflection off snow and water; and bug spray, since mosquitoes can be aggressive in the Interior and on trails through June and July.
Winter Packing (October to April)
Winter travel, especially trips built around the Northern Lights, calls for real cold-weather gear: an insulated parka rated for well below freezing, insulated waterproof boots, wool or synthetic base layers, and hand and toe warmers for standing outside at night. Interior temperatures around Fairbanks regularly drop to -20°F or colder in December and January, so gear built for a typical Lower 48 winter usually isn’t warm enough.
Gear for Specific Activities
If wildlife viewing or hiking is on the agenda, bring binoculars and a camera with some zoom range, since animals are usually seen at a distance rather than up close. If the trip includes glacier or fjord boat tours, expect spray and wind on deck, so waterproof layers matter even on a sunny day. Anyone heading into bear country should also read up on bear safety and consider carrying bear spray.
A Few More Practical Items
Cell service is patchy or nonexistent outside cities and along some highways, so download offline maps in advance and consider a paper map as backup. Some smaller communities and remote lodges have limited card readers or are effectively cash-only, so it’s worth carrying some cash for these situations.
What You Can Usually Skip
Formal clothing is rarely needed outside a handful of nicer restaurants in Anchorage or aboard a cruise ship; most of Alaska is casual and outdoor-oriented, even in its cities. Cotton clothing, especially cotton socks and base layers, is worth leaving at home, since it stays wet and cold once damp, unlike wool or synthetic alternatives.
