TOP 5 Areas Where to Stay in Anchorage + HOTEL GUIDE

Welcome to Anchorage, Alaska, one of the most mysterious faraway places with epic scenic landscapes. Get ready for outdoor adventures, Alaska native culture, great museums, and nice restaurants! If you are into outdoor adventures you will have so much fun here. You can go on hiking tours, take a tour to see glaciers, and enjoy walks in the beautiful parks.

Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska and is sandwiched between nature with the Chugach Mountains Range to the east, Cook Inlet to the west, and the Turnagain Arm to the south. This city offers so many amazing hiking trails and as well as historical and cultural places to explore such as the Anchorage Museum and the University of Alaska. So get ready for the trip of a lifetime!

In this blog post on where to stay in Anchorage, Alaska I will talk about the 5 best areas to stay in the city and give you the top hotels for all budgets. Before we start, I just want to remind you that in order to get better deals on hotels and secure your place, do not forget to make a reservation in advance. Many of the hotels in Anchorage have a free cancelation, so don’t worry if you change your mind! 

Are you ready to find a place to stay in Anchorage, Alaska? Let’s go!

If you are in a hurry

Here are the best places to stay in Anchorage, Alaska with hotels from luxury to budget. They all have good reviews and great locations! 

Here is a map about where to stay in Anchorage with the 5 best areas I will be talking about in this travel guide so you can easily visualize them:

1. Downtown Anchorage – where to stay in Anchorage for the first time

Downtown Anchorage is the heart of the city and is where you will find the main attractions. From museums to art galleries, nice parks, shops, restaurants, and nightlife, you sure won’t get bored here! If you want to be close to the action and find a bit of everything there is no better place than Downtown Anchorage!

Start your day discovering the culture and history of the area at the Anchorage Museum and Alaska Veterans Museum. Then check out the amazing food scene by picking one of many nice restaurants. If you are into nightlife you will find so many lively bars in Downtown Anchorage so make sure to allow some time for bar-hopping after dinner! 

For those who want to explore the beautiful outdoors of Anchorage, you should definitely take advantage of the Flattop Mountain Shuttle to go hiking and see the scenic views nearby the city. If that’s not far enough for you, thanks to the Alaska Railroad Depot you can also easily take a train and take day trips to other parts of Alaska. 

In Downtown Anchorage, you will be able to find nice accommodation options for all budgets. I have already found the best 4 ones for you but in order not to miss them, make sure to make your booking in advance. 

Here are the best places to stay in Anchorage for first-timers:

Other accommodation in Downtown Anchorage

Things to do in Downtown Anchorage

• Visit the Anchorage Museum
• Go for a walk at Delaney Park
• Visit the Alaska Veterans Museum
• Go hiking in the Chugach Mountains Range
• Catch a show at Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
• Head to the National Parks Office to find out about the incredible nature of this Alaska
• Take a pint at Darwin’s Theory Pub
• See an exhibition at Anchorage William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center
• Head to the Alaska Native Heritage Center to explore the region’s culture 

2. Spenard – the best area to stay on a budget & near the airport

Spenard is located 4 miles (6 km) southwest of Anchorage downtown and just 2 miles (3 km) from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. This area is a great place to stay in Anchorage on a budget and also for those who want to stay close to the airport.

Spenard offers many scenic parks and hiking trails perfect for those who want to save a little money on museum entrance fees. You can go on a walk to Lake Hood, enjoy beautiful nature at Earthquake Park, and challenge yourself on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.

Don’t worry, you’re not completely in the woods, you will also find nice local restaurants and shops in this area. It is actually known to have a large number of Korean and American restaurants as well as trendy breakfast spots and indi theatre!

Compared to the other areas of Anchorage, in Spenard, you will be able to find more affordable accommodation options. But in order to get better deals on hotels and secure your place, do not forget to make a reservation in advance.

Now, let’s check out the best places to stay in Anchorage on a budget.

Other accommodation options in Spenard

Things to do in Spenard

• Visit the Alaska Aviation Museum
• Go for a walk to ​​Lake Hood and check out scenic views
• Hike the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
• Eat authentic Korean food at one of the many restaurants
• Go for a stroll at Earthquake Park 
• Drive one of the most incredible highways in the state down the Turnagain Arm

3. Bootleggers Cove – where to stay in Anchorage for sightseeing

Bootleggers Cove is located just west of Anchorage Downtown and sandwiched in by the sea. This neighborhood offers museums, nice restaurants as well as spectacular landscapes by the Knik River. There is something here for all tastes!

FUN FACT: Bootleggers Cove got its name due to the fact that it was a favored location among alcohol smugglers during the prohibition era. The location had access to both the port and the train station while simultaneously being hidden from the view of the authorities at Ship Creek.

Doesn’t it sound like a cool area to stay in Anchorage? Nowadays, it’s a great place for sightseeing as you not only have the historic Anchorage Trolley and the Alaska Public Lands Information Center to learn more about the culture and history of the area, but you are within walking distance of the Downtown attraction and the waterfront of Cook Inlet too!

Other accommodation options in Bootleggers Cove

Things to do in Bootleggers Cove

• Join the historic Anchorage Trolley Tours
• Go for a stroll at Elderberry Park
• Have a nice meal at Snow City Cafe
• Visit the Alaska Public Lands Information Center
• Join a tour to discover wilderness life and glaciers 
• Have a walk by Knik River
• Check out the planet walk

4. North Star – the coolest area to stay in Anchorage

North Star is a cool residential neighborhood that is located 2 miles (3 km) south of Anchorage downtown. Here you will find so many trendy cafes, shops, and restaurants but the other nice thing about this area is that you can also enjoy many nice parks and scenic hiking trails. How does that sound?

Start your day by grabbing a nice coffee and having a morning stroll through the Valley of the Moon Park or Charles W. Smith Memorial Park. Have a nice lunch break then go to Westchester Lagoon Nature Trail to enjoy some of the most beautiful nature in the city. At night you should check out the cool pubs and try different kinds of beers to really get into the local spirit. 

By staying in North Star you will be very close to the city center while at the same time, have a chance to experience life like a local. 

Here are the best places to stay in this cool area that I handpicked for you:

Other accommodation options in North Star

Things to do in North Star

• Go for a walk in the Valley of the Moon Park
• Have a good coffee at Coffee Queen
• Check out an indie film at the Bear Tooth Theatrepub
• Walk the Westchester Lagoon Nature Trail
• Go for a stroll at Charles W. Smith Memorial Park
• Place Disc Golf at Westchester Lagoon

5. Midtown – best area for families

Just below  North Star, Anchorage Midtown is located 3 miles (5 km) south of Downtown and is the best place to stay in Anchorage for families thanks to its family-friendly hotels and attractions. 

It is a very laid-back area with beautiful parks, kids’ playgrounds, nice restaurants, and shops. I highly recommend you go to Cuddy Family Midtown Park to enjoy nature while your kids, there’s a pond, a playground, and even an ice skating track in winter!

Midtown is also the best location to take day trips to all the best family-oriented attractions like the Roadrunner Amusement Park, Castle On O’Malley mini golf, and Alaska Zoo! Once the kids are tired out, it’s your turn to indulge with all the great shopping malls in the area. Here you will also find some great outlets with discounted outdoor gear and a great indoor farmers market.

In Midtown you will have a great selection of restaurants and cafes where you can feast on local and international dishes and easily make day trips to other areas. 

Now, let’s see the best places to stay in Anchorage for families. 

Other accommodation options in Midtown

Things to do in Midtown

• Enjoy family time at Cuddy Family Midtown Park
• Take the kids to Roadrunner Amusement Park
• Play mini golf at Castle On O’Malley 
• Have a coffee at Common Grounds Espresso
• Check out the Anchorage farmers market
• Take a day trip to Alaska Zoo
• Have a nice meal and drink at Bear Paw Bar & Grill
• Go for dinner at Silk Restaurant & Sushi Bar

Frequently asked questions about Anchorage

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed reading this city tour. In this blog post on where to stay in Anchorage, I talked about the best places to stay from luxury to budget as well as Airbnbs in each area. I also gave you some information about the things you can do there so you could pick the perfect one for you! 

As I’ve already said, being close to all attractions, Downtown Anchorage is the best area to stay for first-timers. However, if you would like to stay in a more affordable area you can pick hotels from Spenard. That being said, if you like a hotel in another area I say go for it as distances between attractions are not too far in Anchorage. 

I would like to remind you again that in order not to miss your favorite place to stay in Anchorage and get better deals on hotels, do not forget to make a reservation in advance!

For those who are having difficulty picking among the many hotel options, let me sum up. Here are the best 2 hotels in Alaska, Anchorage that have convenient locations as well as good reviews. I definitely recommend you to stay in one of these if you can’t decide between the awesome options in this list!

If you have any other suggestions or questions about Anchorage Alaska, please do not hesitate to leave a comment below. I’ll be glad to leave a reply to them!

Enjoy your stay in Anchorage Alaska,

Eylul