Largest Cities

Juneau (Capital), Ketchikan, Sitka

Southeast Alaska is the temperate rainforest area of Alaska. It is all coastal cities, most of which are only accessible by boat or plane. The two cities that do have road connection have to go through Canada to get anywhere else.

Being a rainforest Southeast Alaska gets plenty of rain. The average days of precipitation in Juneau is around 240 days (30 days of snow). The average high in the summer is around 66 degrees (in July) and the average low in the winter is around 20 degrees (in January).

Southeast Alaska does not get the extreme temperature difference or extreme daylight differences between winter and summer. The longest day of the year gets about 18 hours of daylight and the shortest day of the year gets about 6.5 hours of daylight.

Since all Southeast Alaska communities live on the water there are plenty of opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and boating.

Largest Cities

Anchorage, Wasilla, Palmer

Southcentral Alaska ranges from temperate rainforest along the coast and subarctic climate as you move inland. The majority of the Alaska population lives in Southcentral and most of the cities are connected to the road system.

Being further North the area tends to get colder temps in the winter and more snow. During the winter the concern can be freezing rain. The average days of precipitation in Anchorage is about 115 days (48 days of snow). The average high in the summer is around 65 degrees (in July) and the average low in the winter is around 11 degrees (in January).

Southcentral Alaska gets more daylight in the summer being further North. The longest day of the year gets about 19.5 hours of daylight and the shortest day of the year gets about 5.5 hours of daylight.

Since Southcentral communities are on the road system they have access to a wide variety of options. Outdoors options include hiking, fishing, hunting, and the zoo. Indoor activities include theatre, SeaLife Center, college sports, and more.

Largest Cities

Fairbanks, North Pole

Interior Alaska experiences a continental subarctic climate. Some of the cities are on the road system, but there are quite a few not on the road system as well. The Greater Fairbanks area has a population of around 100,000 and it is the second largest population area in Alaska.

Being further North and farther from the ocean causes extreme temperatures in Interior Alaska and fairly dry. The average days of precipitation in Fairbanks is about 108 days (62 days of snow). The average high in the summer is around 73 degrees (in July) and the average low in the winter is around 1 degrees (in January).

With the extreme temperatures in Interior Alaska also comes extreme daylight differences between summer and winter. The longest day of the year gets about 22 hours of daylight and the shortest day of the year gets about 4 hours of daylight.

Fairbanks is on the road system and the University provides some options for entertainment with many events being held at the local Carlson Center. There are many outdoor options including hiking, snowmobiling, hunting, and visiting Denali National Park.

Largest Cities

Kodiak, Bethel

Southwest Alaska consists mostly of coastal region, with some cities pushing towards the interior. None of the cities are accessible by road and have to be accessed by either ferry or plane. The largest cities are Kodiak and Bethel both with a population of over 6,000.

With a combination of coastal and interior regions there is a wide range of climates depending on the location. Kodiak is on an island and gets about 191 days of precipitation with average high of 60.5 in July and an average low of 24.7 in January. Bethel is further north and more inland and gets about 142 days of precipitation (54 days of snow with an average high of 63 in July and an average ow of .7 in January.

The longest day of the year gets about 18 hours of daylight and the shortest day of the year gets about 6.5 hours of daylight, a little more or less depending on where in Southwest.

Southwest Alaska consists of mostly islands with an area that is connected to the mainland, but without road access outside of the area. Fishing and hunting are a staple of these communities and there is amazing access to wildlife.

Largest Cities

Utqiagvik, Nome

Northern Alaska consists of a large swath of land that goes all along the northern edge of Alaska and includes the area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. There are no cities with road access to the rest of the State of Alaska and all communities are only accessible via plane. The two largest cities of the area have a population of about 4,000.

Most of the cities are close to or North of the Arctic circle, placing the cities in Tundra climate. The two largest cities get an average precipitation of about 88 days (81 days of snow) (Utqiagvik) and 133 days (73 days of snow) (Nome). The average high is 66 (Utqiagvik) / 58 (Nome) in July and the average low is -20 (Utqiagvik) / -3 (Nome) in January.

Northern Alaska gets the most extreme differences in daylight hours between day and night, especially the cities that are above the Arctic Circle. In Utqiagvik the longest day of the year gets 24 hours of daylight and the shortest day of the year gets 0 hours of daylight. In Nome the longest day of the year gets 21.5 hours of daylight and the shortest day of the year gets 4 hours of daylight.

With no road access the communities feel similar to living on an island in that it is isolated. The larger communities have some programs, but the smaller the population the less offerings are available. Hunting is a staple in this area.