Affordable Alaska Hotels: Best Getaways Under $250

Immerse yourself in nature at the Wedgewood Resort, a Fairbanks retreat tucked within a wildlife sanctuary and migratory waterfowl refuge. Experience the natural beauty and profound quiet on its robust trail system, stopping to spot Alaskan wildlife along the way. Home to 15 types of mammals, 120 bird species, and countless fish and amphibians, the forests, wetlands, ponds, and fields are ideal for animal observation.

During winter’s Aurora Borealis viewing season, rent a headlamp from Wedgewood and take to these trails to see the Northern Lights on full display. If you need a dose of civilization, the shops and eateries of downtown Fairbanks are minutes away.

Extend your stay in Wedgewood’s spacious suites that come equipped with full kitchens, living rooms, and separate bedrooms for extra comfort and privacy. Or book a bear-y great room at Wedgewood’s Bear Lodge, where the Golden Bear Restaurant and Bear’s Tale Lounge offer meals, cocktails, and craft beer. Perk up in the a.m. with free coffee at Bear Essentials, or check out a board game from this casual café to play with your crew.

Nestled in a valley surrounded by towering peaks, Alyeska Resort is the premier basecamp for chateau-style lodging adjacent to Alyeska’s ski slopes. Whether you come to ski or hike, find year-round adventures aplenty in Alyeska—the native Aleut tribe’s word for “great land.” Though it’s just 40 miles from Anchorage and a few miles from charming Girdwood, Alyeska’s peaks and valleys abound with natural wonders.

After an exhausting ski or adventure day, retreat to the cozy rooms with mountain or valley views visible from your plush pillowtop bed, or spread out in two-story townhouse suites designed to accommodate families.

Since the last thing you want to do after a long day is cook or drive too far, find great eats without leaving the resort at Aurora Bar & Grill, The Pond Café, Sakura Asian Bistro, and Tramway Café. If you’re up for splurging on dinner, ride the tram up 2,300 feet to Seven Glaciers Restaurant, an award-winning mountain retreat with a stellar wine list and hanging glacier vistas.

Set on the shores of Lake Spenard, the Lakefront Anchorage Hotel is Anchorage’s only lakeside lodging—and it’s right next to the world’s busiest seaplane airport. Book a private seaplane for a flightseeing tour or fishing trip departing right from the hotel’s dock.

After flying high, find fresh breakfast fare at Flying Machine Restaurant. If it’s a sunny summer day in the Land of the Midnight Sun, dine outdoors on The Deck at Lake Hood. Enjoy a cold pint of Alaskan amber at Fancy Moose Lounge—a taxidermy-packed bar with local seafood specialties.

When heading outdoors, begin your Last Frontier exploration locally by biking and running along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Follow this trail five miles to reach Kincaid Park—a woodland outdoor recreation mecca on the site of a Cold War missile base. Today this sprawling coastal park is home to moose, bears, and miles of year-round biking, hiking, and skiing trails.

Enjoy the suite life at the Residence Inn Anchorage Midtown, where every posh room has a separate sleeping area, kitchen, dining area, workstation, and living room. Hate grocery shopping? Don’t worry, the hotel staff can shop and stock your fridge for you. Plus, there’s a hot buffet breakfast available every morning so you won’t have to settle for cold cereal.

Beyond the guest rooms, maintain your fitness in the robust workout room or swim and soak at the indoor pool and whirlpool. Outside, the hotel’s patio is the perfect place to chill (and even grill) on sunny summer nights. Find incredible dining and coffee shops a short walk away in hip Midtown—including Anchorage’s most popular pizza pub, Moose’s Tooth.

Break out of the city on one of Alaska’s best scenic drives: a quick cruise south along Seward Highway to inlet and mountain panoramas along Turnigan Arm.

Stay like a celebrity without the A-List price at the historic Hotel Captain Cook. Built overlooking Cook Inlet with waterfront rooms and four-star dining, it exudes glamour and charm—but won’t cost a bundle. Throughout the hotel, find seaworthy décor and art recounting explorer Captain James Cook’s Alaskan voyages, plus woodwork and stained glass harkening back to a bygone era.

Expect luxurious lounges and 546 modern rooms at this downtown dame, plus 12 boutique stores, a barber shop, and a salon. Other shopping and Anchorage attractions are within walkable reach.

When it comes to dining well in the city, you’ll find even Anchorage locals love The Cook’s four restaurants. So why dine anywhere else? Ranging from the city’s only four-diamond fare to casual pubs, don’t miss wine and casual bites at Whale’s Tail or cocktails and Italian cuisine at Fletcher’s.

In the morning, grab a quick coffee at The Cubby and venture outdoors, or linger over sidewalk café-style a.m. eats at The Cafe. Get outdoor exercise nearby on Anchorage’s Coastal Trail, a walking and bike path along the inlet, or swim laps indoors at the on-site athletic club.

Known for being the smallest hotel in the largest hotel chain, Best Western Grandma’s Featherbed Inn in Juneau is a historic Victorian farmhouse with homespun amenities only a grandma could deliver. While technically a chain, expect a bed and breakfast-type experience in any of the 14 romantic rooms, all with lofty featherbeds and deep soaking tubs built right into the bedrooms.

Wake up refreshed with a free breakfast featuring hot coffee, juice, made-to-order omelets, and Grandma’s famous sourdough pancakes. Return by night for homestyle dinners in the country dining room with eclectic eats ranging from Mexican to American to seafood.

Despite the inn’s rural setting in the Mendenhall Valley, it’s just a three-minute drive to the Juneau International Airport, and there’s a free daily shuttle into the city center. For a more adventurous itinerary, drive eight minutes from the hotel to Tongass National Forest’s dazzling blue icebergs and the 13-mile Mendenhall Glacier. A part of the vast Juneau Ice Field, it’s one of the most accessible glaciers in North America. For more recreation tips, ask the well-versed front desk staff where to hike, run, or bike nearby.

Experience Alaska’s island life in the bustling fishing and arts community of Ketchikan. A spawning site of salmon and home to seagulls and seas, life is abundant in this evergreen paradise, and it’s best experienced with a stay in Ketchikan’s thriving epicenter at Inn at Creek Street.

The inn is not a single hotel, but instead a family-run collection of eight revitalized properties along and around historic Creek Street. This hotelier is breathing new life into the historic structures, transforming them into hip accommodations while retaining their historic charm. Once known as a Red Light District, Creek Street’s vibrant, pilon-perched buildings are town’s most photographed attraction.

Whether you travel with a group, partner, or solo, there’s a room for you at this inn. Sleep overhanging Ketchikan Creek in the Creekside Lofted Suites, watching swimming fish and paddling kayakers in the water below, or choose premium rooms with heated floors and wrap-around decks at the newly restored Bayside Hotel. A favorite for families or groups is June’s Place – a two-bedroom unit with unparalleled views of the harbor, historic district, or creek from every window.

Learn, grow, and rest at Arctic Paradise Bed and Breakfast in the port town of Seward. With just a single room, this tiny inn is small on size, but big on character due to its host: a professional wildlife biologist, artist, musician, and dance instructor.

Tap into the wealth of her knowledge and ask for advice on outdoor adventures—or keep it simple and let her book them all for you. Go artsy with dance classes and jewelry-making workshops, or venture into the wilds of this southern Alaska city. Choose from sea kayaking, glacier hiking, dog sledding, salmon fishing, or journeying by boat from town to the stunning wonder of Kenai Fjords National Park. Once you’ve booked your tours, walk practically anywhere thanks to the downtown location. Stroll down to Resurrection Bay and follow the bayside path to spot sea lions and otters at play.

Back at the inn, retreat to your suite to watch provided Alaskan movies paired with free hot chocolate and popcorn. Mornings bring hearty breakfast delivered to your door for eating at your room’s private dining table.