Season guide · Anchorage · United States
Anchorage in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Burntorange72, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Long daylight, the full range of tours, trains and cruises, salmon runs and the highest prices. Expect highs up to 19°C (66°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F), with about 33 rainy days across June–August. June–August are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 9°C (48°F) to 19°C (66°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 33
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 17°C (63°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 8 | 19.3 h | 5/5 |
| July | 19°C (66°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 11 | 18.5 h | 5/5 |
| August | 18°C (64°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 14 | 15.8 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 18°C (64°F) against a yearly 7°C (45°F), and 33 of the year's roughly 115 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 5/5 and hotel prices 5/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- June: Summer solstice celebrations (around 21 June)
- July: Fourth of July parade and events downtown (4 July)
- August: Alaska State Fair in Palmer (usually late August to early September)
Good choices for summer
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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
Experience · Airport and Lake Hood
Lake Hood Seaplane Base and Alaska Aviation Museum
Lake Hood and neighbouring Lake Spenard form one of the busiest floatplane bases in the world, with bush planes taking off every few minutes in summer.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Day trips in summer
- Girdwood and Alyeska (About 45 minutes by car) — A mountain valley with Alyeska Resort's aerial tram to a ridge-top viewpoint over hanging glaciers and Turnagain Arm, the Winner Creek Trail's hand tram over a gorge, and skiing in winter.
- 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.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Anchorage?
Yes: June–August are among the best months. Long daylight, the full range of tours, trains and cruises, salmon runs and the highest prices.
+What is the weather like in Anchorage in summer?
Highs of up to 19°C (66°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F), with about 33 rainy days over the season.