Season guide · Anchorage · United States
Anchorage in autumn
September–October: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Golden birch and early snow on the peaks in September; by October most seasonal tours have closed. Expect highs up to 13°C (55°F) and lows around -2°C (28°F), with about 25 rainy days across September–October.
Key facts
- Months
- September–October
- Temperatures
- -2°C (28°F) to 13°C (55°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 25
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 13°C (55°F) | 5°C (41°F) | 14 | 12.8 h | 2/5 |
| October | 5°C (41°F) | -2°C (28°F) | 11 | 9.9 h | 1/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 9°C (48°F) against a yearly 7°C (45°F), and 25 of the year's roughly 115 rainy days fall in these 2 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
Good choices for autumn
Experience · Airport and Lake Hood
Lake Hood Seaplane Base and Alaska Aviation Museum
Watch takeoffs from the lakeside road on a summer evening, or book a flightseeing trip to see glaciers from the air.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
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Museum · Downtown
Anchorage Museum
The state's largest museum covers Alaska's art, history and science.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Museum · Northeast Anchorage
Alaska Native Heritage Center
Time your visit for a dance or Native games demonstration, and talk with the hosts at each village site.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Art
- Kids
Day trips in autumn
- Portage Valley and Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (About 1 hour by car) — The wildlife centre cares for orphaned and injured animals — brown and black bears, moose, wood bison, musk oxen — in large enclosures.
- Whittier and Prince William Sound (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car or 2.5 hours by train) — Whittier is reached through a 4 km single-lane tunnel shared by cars and trains.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Anchorage?
It is a trade-off: Golden birch and early snow on the peaks in September; by October most seasonal tours have closed. The best months overall are June–August.
+What is the weather like in Anchorage in autumn?
Highs of up to 13°C (55°F) and lows around -2°C (28°F), with about 25 rainy days over the season.