Alaska in April is a great time to see the Alaska landscape come alive. The days are longer, and the weather is getting warmer, making it the perfect time to get outside and enjoy all that Alaska has to offer. From hiking and camping to fishing and wildlife watching, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy during your stay.

However, Alaska in April is still in the middle of winter weather (unlike most of the US,) and many attractions don’t open until May or June. Here is what you can expect in Alaska in April and what you might miss by going to Alaska in the Spring.

We recently visited Alaska during the 3rd week in April, and we had a few surprises, but our surprises help you make the best decisions for your family trip to Alaska.

 

Anchorage

Anchorage is a great spot to start your visit to Alaska. It is a modern city with plenty of amenities but also surrounded by natural beauty. The Chugach Mountains provide a stunning backdrop and plenty of parks and trails to explore.

 

In April, the weather in Anchorage is getting warmer but is still cool, with an average high of 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). You’ll likely see some snow on the ground, but the days are longer, so you can make the most of your time outside.

 

What to Do in Anchorage

–Visit Alaska Native Heritage Center: This museum is a great way to learn about Alaska’s indigenous cultures.

–Hike Flattop Mountain: This is a popular hike with stunning views of Cook Inlet and the city below. It is somewhat snowy during April, but you can do it.

There are lots of free thing to do in Anchorage as well. Including some great hikes and trails!

What You Might Miss Out On in Anchorage

-Anchorage is much warmer than other locations in Alaska and is very well-situated to do almost everything you would do in the summer.

 

 

Seward in April

Seward is one of the most beautiful spots in Alaska. It is located on the Kenai Peninsula and is surrounded by mountains, glaciers, and wildlife. The road trip from Anchorage to Seward is one of the most beautiful trips in Alaska because of the surroundings.

In April, the weather is warmer, with an average high of 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). Seward is a Rain Forest and has a more temperate climate year-round.

 

What to Do in Seward

–Visit Kenai Fjords National Park: This is one of the most popular attractions in Alaska. You can take a boat tour to see glaciers, wildlife, and stunning scenery.

–Hike Exit Glacier: This is a moderate hike with amazing views of the glacier. (This really depends on each Spring. When we visited this year, the road was still closed.)

–Take a Wildlife Cruise: There are many cruises available that will take you to see Alaska’s wildlife. I can’t recommend the Major Marine Wildlife Cruise enough!!! It was the highlight of our trip. We loved all the porpoises, seals, climbing goats, and more we saw on the cruise.

–Visit the Alaska SeaLife Center: This is a great place to learn about Alaska’s marine life.

 

What You Might Miss Out On in Seward

–Restaurants: Most in-town restaurants were closed for the season.

–Some hiking trails: Many of the trails in the area were still snow-covered and not safe to hike.

–Wildlife: Although you can still take a wildlife cruise in Seward in the Spring, you will miss out on the longer, more in-depth cruises.

–Dogsledding: Every Dogsled outfit we looked into was closed in April.

 

Denali National Park

 

Denali National Park is one of Alaska’s most popular destinations. It is home to Mount McKinley (also known as Denali), the tallest mountain in North America. In April, the average high temperature is only 30 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 degree Celsius). It looks like much of the Rocky Mountains.

The park is also home to stunning scenery, wildlife, and glaciers. The park is mainly closed in April, and tours are not running.

If you want to see Denali, you will want to come in the summer.

 

What to Do in Denali

-Take a Scenic Flight: This is the best way to see the park if it is still mostly closed. (Very few are open in April, but this one is!)

-Visit the Denali Visitor Center: This is a great place to learn about the park and its wildlife. This is only possible if the road is clear, so check before your trip.

 

What You Might Miss Out On

-Most of the park is still closed in April, so you will miss out on many of the attractions.

-The weather is still icy in April, so you may not be able to do much hiking or other outdoor activities.

-National Park bus tours are not operating.

Juneau

Juneau, Alaska’s capital city, is located in the state’s southeastern part. It is a beautiful city with plenty of things to do. In April, the weather is getting warmer but is still cool, with an average high of 45 degrees Fahrenheit (9 degrees Celsius). It is rainy for most of April, so pack a raincoat.

What to Do in April in Juneau

-Spend time at the Folk Festival in Juneau: This is a great way to learn about Alaska’s cultures; it’s only happening in April!

–Hike the Mendenhall Glacier: This is a beautiful hike with stunning views of the glacier. Depending on the Spring, your trek can be short or long.

 

–Visit the Alaska State Museum: This is a great place to learn about Alaska’s history, and it’s a great place to get out of the rain!

What you might miss out on in Juneau

–Whale watching: Most whales have not returned to the area by April. Some stay year-round, but you will have the best chance of whale watching in the middle of the summer.

–Gold panning tours: These tours are only offered in the summer months.

–Beautiful summer scenery: Juneau is gorgeous in the summer months, but most of April is muddy and brown.

 

 

 

Fairbanks

Fairbanks is Alaska’s second-largest city and is located in the interior of Alaska. It is a great spot to see the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). In April, the weather in Fairbanks is still quite cool, with an average high of 40 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius).

You’ll see snow on the ground, but much of it is melting, creating a lot of mud!

 

What to Do in Fairbank

-See the Aurora Borealis: The best time to see the Northern Lights is August to April. The statistics show that if you stay for three nights and go out from midnight to 3 am, you have a 90% chance of seeing the Northern Lights. (We struck out!!)

–Visit the University of Alaska Museum of the North: This museum is a great way to learn about Alaska’s history and culture.

– Visit nearby Chena Hot springs: This is a great spot to relax in the hot springs no matter the weather outside.

–Fairbanks Museum of Ice: The Museum of Ice is part of the hot springs compound and features elaborate ice carvings and a bar made entirely of ice.

What You Might Miss Out On

–Pioneer Park: This is a popular spot for tourists to learn about Alaska during the gold rush. The park is an outdoor museum with authentic wood-built homes, some kiddie rides, and a riverboat. It is only open from May to September.

–River-boat cruise: The Riverboat Discovery is a popular cruise that takes you to see Alaska’s interior. It is only open from May to September.

Reasons it is great to visit Alaska in The Spring.

–Low Prices on hotels: Alaska is a popular summer destination, so prices for hotels and other accommodations are much lower in the Spring.

–Fewer crowds: Since Alaska is not as popular in the Spring, you’ll find fewer crowds at attractions. We were the lone tourists at almost every spot we visited.

-More daylight: In the Spring, Alaska has more sunlight than any other state in the US. With the Midnight Sun starting the season, you have more time to explore and enjoy the outdoors. It is light until 11 pm by the end of April in Fairbanks.

-Warmer weather: Alaska can be pretty cold in the winter, so Spring is a great time to visit when the weather is starting to warm up, but it still looks like winter outside. If you love snow but hate the cold, this is a great time to visit!

–Alaskan Cruises are cheaper: Taking a cruise in the spring is much cheaper than during the summer months>

Reasons not to visit Alaska in April.

 

-Restaurants and shops may be closed: Many restaurants and shops in Alaska close for the winter and don’t reopen until the summer.

-Some trails and roads may be closed: Due to the snow, some trails and roads in Alaska are only open in the summer.

-You may not see the Northern Lights: The best time to see the Northern Lights is from August to early April, but they are not guaranteed. You are much more likely to see them in other months!

-The weather is still chilly: Alaska is known for its cold weather, and in April, the average high is only 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit. Definitely not freezing, but not average Spring Break weather.

-The Scenery isn’t green yet, making for a more monochromatic look: Alaska is a very green state in the summer, but in the Spring, it is still mostly brown and white.

 

Alaska in April is beautiful, but if you want to experience everything there is to do, you will want to wait until June to visit.