How to Visit All 8 of the Alaska National Parks (Cost, Tips, Where to Stay & More)

[@prowrestlingisart6742]

Great tip about establishing a home base air bnb to go back to and rest before moving on to the next park. That was something I hadn’t thought about

[@ThroughMyLens]

Yea, we loved spending 30 days in Anchorage, it felt like home when we left

[@prowrestlingisart6742]

@@ThroughMyLens You definitely maximized your time for all 30 days! So many wonderful sites you were able to visit.

[@ThroughMyLens]

@@prowrestlingisart6742 I was so excited when it all actually came together with weather and stuff haha

[@prowrestlingisart6742]

@@ThroughMyLens I kept thinking to myself with each video how you managed to have such good weather. We just have to be thankful for those blessings when they come! You definitely put in the time and effort to reap the rewards :)

[@jymnmeier3527]

Words cannot express my gratitude for you and your wonderful family. I have been modestly looking at Alaska for an upcoming trip (maybe 2027?) Finding good info is tough as I'm sure you know. Getting the info from a trusted source is so valuable. Many of the National Park trips we have done have been planned in part from advice you have shared and all have literally been perfect. We have done 27/63 with the 3 fFlorida parks being the most recent. We used your videos to guide our journey and again it was flawless. While I say THANK YOU, please know it truly means more to me than those two simple words! Much love to you

[@LeaKraf]

I’ve been living vicariously through your travel content while adding new things to my bucket list! Thanks for being so transparent about the costs.

[@ThroughMyLens]

No problem! It was expensive so I wanted to make sure people knew that going in

[@adolfofranquez8349]

Thanks for all the videos you have made,I enjoy watching all the videos.

[@ThroughMyLens]

No problem, thanks for watching them!

[@Jiggy609]

I just did an Alaskan cruise and now I’m obsessed with this stunning state. I’m going back as soon as possible

[@porcine83]

I've only been to two of these: Denali & Katmai and they are AMAZING. I would strongly recommend the bus ride, even though it's shorter than it used to be. We hit the grand slam of wildlife (Grizzly, Moose, Caribou & Dall Sheep) as well as the peak of Mt McKinley. Also agree with you, taking a boat around the bay is necessary if you visit Kenai. We had a pod of Orca's surface right next to us. Again just a fantastic experience all around.

[@MrMaxwell]

Another note I remember from my Summer Alaska trip is the incredibly long daylight hours. Having the sun up until 10:30 pm greatly extended how much my dad and I could do in a single day. Consider this when making your plans

[@amandawoodley6476]

The ghost town you mentioned reminds me of the newest national park, new river gorge in West Virginia. There is an abandoned railroad town called Thurmond, and then you can also see an abandoned coal mine called Nuttleburg, it is so worth the trip! Would love to see your take on it!

[@kim-andresandnes5749]

No discussion! One of the best travel programs on KZbin! 😄👌

[@ThroughMyLens]

Very kind of you to say that!

[@dmpathology]

Thanks!

[@kamv8360]

Wow. Fantastic video. This type of info is so valuable for people interested in Alaska travel. Went last summer and wish I'd had this kind of information. To have it all in one spot is fantastic. Well done and thanks for including prices you paid. Big thumbs up.

[@ThroughMyLens]

So glad it is helpful! I tried to find this information before I went and couldn't which is why I wanted to make it for others!

[@thethingilike]

Flew with Talkeetna Air Taxi into Denali National Park, incredible experience for winter time.

[@tomduley6357]

Thank you for all the tips! I am the planner in the family and a lot of the national parks are challenging for various reasons, but these are especially so. I was a little shocked by the prices for the tours. It's definitely going to take a chunk of change to cross these off! Not sure those last two are worth it, except to say that you did it.

[@miriammitchell9677]

Thank you for these videos (and my weekend "Through My Lens Fix"). Trust. I watch them over and over. You've become my travel agent 👊

[@ThroughMyLens]

Really appreciate you watching the videos so many times!

[@jeffarthur322]

Thanks for the excellent videos , and the pricing you add is nice. Been watching your videos from the start. Great professional job you’re doing. Waiting for the next chapter

[@ThroughMyLens]

Much appreciated! Thanks for the kind words!

[@rhondaz356]

This series has been so amazing, enjoyable, informative, thorough, and interesting. You have done your usual, stellar job. Thank you so very much, Josh. Five ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for your synopses, tips, and coverage... 👏🏻🤠👏🏻 🧊

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thank you very much! I had a lot of fun with this one, a lot of work but so many amazing experiences.

[@MikeMike-K9ZamboTravels]

“He did it”!! ( I said out loud) Awesome, thanks so much for the work and effort involved. I’ve visited 42 of the lower 48 National Parks, A road trip to Alaska is in the works

[@christopherlands2706]

This is super helpful. Since I’m in Florida, I know when I do finally get out to Alaska, I will want to see as many parks as possible. It’s nice to have this perspective on how to start thinking about planning a longer trip 😊 Thank you!!

[@ThroughMyLens]

Yea, I knew it would be best to try and do all of them if I could so I figured others would be interested in the information as well

[@RJacks-is7lc]

luv ur info on ak, as always!!!

[@jenniferdiehl1904]

Wow, truly amazing. Thank you so much for all the beautiful scenery. The information totally putting it on my bucket least. Unfortunately I'm writing this today, which is I believe the? The no 9th of September 2024 and unfortunately, there are wildfires going on. And taking over a lot of these beautifupaparks. It's so sad. I was wanting to go visit this year and could not because of that. So hopefully, maybe next year or the year after they'll be restored and beautiful and I will go visit major major major bucket list for me. I will go. It will happen. Thank you so much again. You guys are awesome.❤😊

[@violetbf3773]

Josh, thank you for doing this kind of videos. You have no idea how much time you’ve saved me when I’m planning an adventure here in California. All I do it’s head over to your California channel, and go from there. I hope one day I can visit Katmai Park, as it’s definitely on my bucket list. 🙌🏽

[@ThroughMyLens]

So glad they have been helpful! My goal is to encourage people to travel themselves so I want to make it as easy as possible with planning

[@tompfeiffer2755]

Great job Josh! All encompassing. Worthwhile info to see this wonderful state. Thank you!

[@ThroughMyLens]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@christywanders]

Loving the Alaska series of videos! It's on my travel bucket list.

[@ThroughMyLens]

So glad, I hope you can visit the state!

[@leewafrogosa2719]

Wow... thank you... It's very informative... You're the best!!! Alaska is in my bucket list.

[@ThroughMyLens]

No problem!

[@realtymatters]

Beautiful photography. Thanks for all the info. Enjoy all the videos.

[@ThroughMyLens]

Thanks for watching!

[@quirkydrivenlife]

Great video! Thank you for sharing. Stunning views and wildlife.

[@candycornett5061]

Thank you. My friend will be visiting this year, and I forward it to her.

[@ThroughMyLens]

Hope it helps with her planning!

[@brindahoward4527]

Thanks for sharing. That was so cool.!

[@idammage]

Holy cow this video was awesome! And you saw a polar bear, so cool! 🤍

[@ThroughMyLens]

Glad you liked it!

[@runningrock124]

fantastic video! thank you for all the information!!

[@lizpontaneous9121]

Thank you for the tips! Will definitely help in future plans to visit Alaska. Can you come up with a video where to best see the Northern Lights in Alaska?

[@ThroughMyLens]

Hoping to visit Fairbanks in the next few weeks and maybe get lucky enough to see the Northern Lights, we will see!

[@PhilipODette]

Denali National Park: Mile 237 AK-3, Denali Park, AK 99755 Kenai Fjords National Park: 1212 4th Ave, Seward, AK 99603 Lake Clark National Park: 240 W 5th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501 Katmai National Park: 1000 Silver St Building 603, King Salmon, AK 99613

[@MyLifeWithDogs89]

Ohh these videos would be helpful on all the national parks ❤❤ or even state parks.

[@daisy123416]

Thank you for this video! I am just starting to gather information for a future Alaska trip and this is such a great overview & starting point. What month were you in Alaska? And do you have recommendations for when to visit? Or maybe pros & cons for June, July Aug & Sept.? At this point, my top priority is seeing the bears. But I was also wondering if prices & crowds vary a great deal. Thank you! 🐻

[@ThroughMyLens]

We visited basically the whole month of July. In terms of times, if you want to see the bears in Katmai then it is basically only July and maybe a little bit of August. Hope that helps

[@daisy123416]

@@ThroughMyLens Thank you! That helps a lot.

[@elsajohnson6663]

Awesome video!! Thankyou!

[@ThroughMyLens]

Glad you liked it!

[@Summer_Rain]

Great info! Thanks

[@ThroughMyLens]

Glad it was helpful!

[@slighwentwalking2025]

Great views! That looked like so much fun. I watch a lot of wildlife videos....grizzly bears are ... frightening...seeing them from a distance is just fine. Some people likely feel the same about alligators we have them here and I hike and kayak without much concern. We have black bears here....they are not scary. They will not run you down and eat you 🤔🙂🤣

[@ThroughMyLens]

I agree that being so close to the brown bears was both amazing and unnerving!

[@mixeddrinks8100]

Looks amazing, glad you did it so we won't have to get on those small planes haha. I don't mind big planes but just feels a bit unsafe with small planes and helicopters. Aside from that, looks too cold, hahaha. But those on the ground and in the boat will be on the list to try for sure.

[@ThroughMyLens]

haha I know what you mean, I felt really safe on the small planes but the helicopter was a little more unnerving haha

[@marissakroese7621]

Loved this whole video! Been wanting to make it up to those parks for a while now! Were there any of the park signs when you entered? Ya know, you get the picture to say you made it then go on your way into the park. I'm a sucker for those pictures because every sign is different for the parks and also what did you say about the visitor center to lake Clark? It was a different plane ride? Sorry was confused on that part

[@cedricmuller3547]

Thank you for that amazing video. I am from Switzerland and I am going to visit all those parks this coming summer expect the last 2 on your list. Did you feel that glacier bay and kenai were similar or not?

[@afrozasultanakakon]

Thanks for this informative video. How many times did you visit Alaska for all these?

[@gabrielr7710]

Fantastic video.

[@penelopebartell840]

Thank you for these. Did you bring your own bear spray? Curious how that works with all the flights.

[@ThroughMyLens]

I picked up some bear spray in Anchorage but you can’t fly with it so I didn’t have it with me for the parks I had to fly to

[@LeslieMcBride]

@@ThroughMyLens Is the restriction on flying with bear spray due to it being a liquid or just in general?

[@linanguyen1476]

Omg get Dramamine. I sail for living but yoooop Alaska sea was different. I never threw up that much In my life. I'm autistically obsessed with Orca but I was so sick that I was throwing overboard straight yellow bilis. The crew was constantly checking because they also I was about to die. Make sure take your Dramamine. North sea IS NO JOKE

[@robertazubke9802]

If you could only do 1 scenic boat tour between either Glacier Bay or the Kenai Fjords, which one was the best and why? It seems from the videos that the views and wildlife were similar. (I also get seasick and was thinking one might be better that way too but wouldn't miss/sick a tour just for that reason alone).

[@2011woodlands]

If you were on a budget it might be smart to visit the National Parks you can drive to and then switch to visiting State Parks where camping is $15-25 a night and in some places cabins can be had for free, just need to make reservations. Watch Simple Living Alaska youtube channel and their ice fishing adventures.

[@AdrianK7402]

HI Josh, many thanks for your wonderful videos! We are planning to rent RV but when watching I started to have some doubts if its doable to get to the first three parks you have been with RV, especially Wrangler. Can you advise? Say hello to your dad from Poland!

[@ThroughMyLens]

Denali and Kenai Fjords should be fine but I don't think you would want to do the drive to Wrangell with an RV. Probably best to park near the start of the road and then drive in and stay for a night or two in a normal car.

[@AdrianK7402]

Thank you for this prompt respond!@@ThroughMyLens just to understand the last sentence: should we just rent a regular car, drive in and look for any lodges?

[@ThroughMyLens]

You can book a quick flight over if you don’t want to rent a car. Once you get to the end of the road it’s all shuttles or walking to where you want to go as you can’t drive a car past the bridge at the end of the road. So you can rent a car and drive in or fly in. You could ask park service about RV. Maybe people do it. But I am not sure. Let me know if you have additional questions!

[@mrb065]

Afaik the gates of the arctic are closer to Fairbanks than Anchorage. Right? If so, why'd it be longer and costlier to fly from Fairbanks?

[@AdrianK7402]

Hello Josh, have you ever tried 7-mile scenic river float down the pristine Placer River? I have found this offer to do icebergs at Spencer Glacier Lake. Its a train ride from Anchorage to Portage. Regards, Adrian

[@AdrianK7402]

Josh can you help?

[@PhilipODette]

Glacier Bay National Park: Lodge Rd, Gustavus, AK 99827 Wrangle-St. Elias National Park: Richardson Hwy, Copper Center, AK 99573 Kobuk Valley National Park: 171 3rd Ave, Kotzebue, AK 99752 Gates of the Arctic National Park: 101 Dunkel Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99701

[@robertazubke9802]

What hotel did you stay at in Seward?

[@Thatsotaguy]

Have you been to Voyagers national park??

[@JP-dz7zu]

Yeah, how do I get 30 days off and enough money to visit all of these? That’s the problem!

[@reptar5.048]

Work hard

[@BucksMom218]

You dont have to do all of them at once. Any of them will be a great vacation and cost enough. 😎🥾🥾

[@ThroughMyLens]

That is one of the hardest parts about a trip like this for sure.

[@goldenrule3261]

Crazy expensive 😱

[@BobSmith-ci9mv]

The rare sighting of a bald eagle in Alaska.

[@namewitheld]

The national park service in Alaska acts like it's their job to keep people from visiting the parks here. In the last 50 years, the only progress towards improving access has been made by private companies. There is almost ZERO access except through the outrageously expensive channels you've outlines. It's beyond frustrating for residents here in Alaska. One of the most overt and insulting restrictions is the prohibition on private aircraft landing in the parks. The park service monopolizes vast portions of our state without offering much in return. Parks in the L48 continuously work toward improving access. Parks in Alaska do the opposite. I really enjoy your content and have taken many of the same trips, both by coincidence and at your suggestion. I hope you branch out and start making trips overseas!

[@AK907CRAIG]

The reason there's no infrastructure in Alaska is because of the colonizers pioneers and socialists forced the natives to look primitive for entertainment and business purposes also to take advantage of the so called national parks, where our Indigenous ancestor's have always lived before they were known as national parks, when the gold mining boomed and so did their guns eliminating most of all our indigenous people from claiming their territories and mountains of our sacred ancestors buried in the mountains and deep in the lakes.

[@AK907CRAIG]

Why is everyone paid not to be homesteading and making landclaims anywhere? The government doesn't want you to findout the truth about our indigenous ancestors, that's why it's turned into federal reserve only lands, so we aren't allowed to findout about our total ancestral history, took them away and forced them to behave and learn how to become passive submissive gullible alcoholic drug dependent addicted western owned slaves

[@stanypopolsku]

Great job ! Iam 4/8 NP in AK for now. Hopefully to improve!

[@ThroughMyLens]

So awesome you have already been to 4!