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Highest-rated free things to do in Alaska by visitors

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r.classen // Shutterstock
r.classen // Shutterstock
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Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Alaska.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Alaska using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

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#30. Lower Dewey Lake Hiking Trail

Tripadvisor

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#30. Lower Dewey Lake Hiking Trail

- Rating: 4.5/5 (182 reviews)
- City: Skagway
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#28. Visit Anchorage Log Cabin Visitor Information Center

Tripadvisor

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#28. Visit Anchorage Log Cabin Visitor Information Center

- Rating: 4.4/5 (854 reviews)
- City: Anchorage
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#20. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Visitor Center

Tripadvisor

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#20. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Visitor Center

- Rating: 4.6/5 (390 reviews)
- City: Skagway
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#19. Harding Ice Field Trail

Tripadvisor

12 / 30

#19. Harding Ice Field Trail

- Rating: 4.9/5 (208 reviews)
- City: Kenai Fjords National Park
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#18. Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge

Tripadvisor

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#18. Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge

- Rating: 4.4/5 (538 reviews)
- City: Fairbanks
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#10. Denali Visitor Center

Tripadvisor

21 / 30

#10. Denali Visitor Center

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,586 reviews)
- City: Denali National Park and Preserve
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#7. Exit Glacier

Tripadvisor

24 / 30

#7. Exit Glacier

- Rating: 4.7/5 (942 reviews)
- City: Kenai Fjords National Park
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#5. Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center

Tripadvisor

26 / 30

#5. Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,865 reviews)
- City: Fairbanks
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Sitka National Historic Park/Totem Park

Tripadvisor

27 / 30

#4. Sitka National Historic Park/Totem Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,006 reviews)
- City: Sitka
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#3. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

Tripadvisor

28 / 30

#3. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,908 reviews)
- City: Anchorage
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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