United States, North America

Alaska in December

Only for the winter-niche traveler: northern lights, dog sledding, and hot springs, wrapped in serious cold and near-solstice darkness.

Think twiceDark deep winter, Anchorage highs near 24F (-4C), a few hours of light

Snow and ice on Denali, Alaska — AlaskaPhoto: Rickmouser45, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

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: 1 of 5
Prices: 1 of 5

What December is like in Alaska

December is dark, deep winter. Anchorage highs are near 24F (-4C), and there are only a few hours of daylight. Tourist Alaska is closed, and the cold is serious. Winter travelers come for the northern lights, dog sledding, and hot springs, with prices and crowds at their lowest.

This month is only for the winter-niche traveler. Families with kids can do it if they plan for late nights and warm days at kennels and hot springs. For a classic Alaska trip with glaciers and wildlife, go in June through August instead.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Alaska this month.

Long aurora nights

Near-solstice darkness means many hours to watch for the northern lights.

Dog sledding

Fairbanks kennels offer mushing rides through snowy forests.

Hot springs

A soak at Chena Hot Springs is a warm reward after a cold night outside.

What to pack for December

An expedition parka
Insulated boots rated below zero
Thermal layers and a balaclava
Hand and toe warmers
A headlamp for dark days

Our timing tip

Build your days around dog kennels and hot springs, and your nights around the aurora forecast.

Book Alaska for December.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Alaska
Opens a hotel search for Alaska in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Alaska
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Alaska
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Alaska for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in December

Aurora season

Late August through April, best on clear dark nights around the equinoxes

Fairbanks and the Interior offer some of Earth's most dependable aurora odds, given patience and clear skies.

Things to do in Alaska

Full guide

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 ↗Tickets and tours →

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 ↗Tickets and tours →

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 ↗Tickets and tours →

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 ↗Tickets and tours →

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 ↗Tickets and tours →

Matanuska Glacier and the Glenn Highway

A day-trip-scale taste of glacier country from Anchorage, with guided glacier walks available in season.

Tickets and tours →

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.
Drive-it-yourself Alaska beats the package-tour flow: the Kenai Peninsula, the Glenn Highway, and Hatcher Pass are spectacular and largely ignored by the motorcoach circuit.

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.
Winter is not closed everywhere: Anchorage and Fairbanks function fully year-round, and Fairbanks builds a real winter economy around aurora tourism, dog mushing, and the Chena Hot Springs road.

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).