Whether you’re a visitor or a local, you should add these unique roadside attractions in Alaska to your bucket list.
Alaska is the ultimate road trip, so it’s no surprise there’s a seemingly endless array of roadside attractions across the state.
Whether you’re stopping to check out massive mosquito sculptures in Delta Junction, exploring the Aurora Ice Museum—where you can drink an Appletini out of a glass made from ice—or experiencing year-round Christmas in North Pole, you’ll find plenty of unique places to stop.
You won’t be able to see every attraction on a single road trip, though. Since Alaska’s road system only reaches part of the state, locations like Nome require a flight before you can explore further by road.
However you get there, these roadside attractions in Alaska should be on your bucket list.
Honor Balto the Wonder Dog in Anchorage
Balto is a heroic Alaskan sled dog who played a crucial role in the race to bring serum for diphtheria to children in Nome in 1925. The serum was shipped by railroad to Nenana, and then a dogsled relay brought the lifesaving medicine to Nome.
Balto served as the lead dog on the final stretch to Nome, and led the team through extreme weather. He also saved the whole team by halting all the dogs just before they broke through thin ice into a river.
A statue honoring Balto now stands in Anchorage, near where the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race ceremonially begins each year. The statue is one of a number of public art pieces to explore in Anchorage.
Nail a visit to the Hammer Museum in Haines
You can’t miss the 20-foot-tall hammer out on Main Street in Haines. Follow the hammer to find your way to the Hammer Museum.
The museum opened in 2002 and displays more than 2,500 hammers across six galleries. The museum is open daily from mid-May through mid-September (and when cruise ships are in port).
However, if you’re in town another time and would like to stop by, the museum’s website encourages prospective visitors to reach out by phone or email to set up an appointment.
Sip an Appletini from an ice glass at the Aurora Ice Museum
Chena Hot Springs is located a little over an hour’s drive from Fairbanks and is home to the Aurora Ice Museum. Between soaks in the springs, be sure to spend some time exploring this unique spot.
The ice museum is open year-round and features a number of sculptures. You can also sip an Appletini cocktail directly from a hand-made ice glass.
Sign up for a 45-minute tour of the museum, which was built from snow and ice and constructed with more than 1,000 tons of frozen material. Be sure to bring something warm to wear since the ice museum has to stay cold for the ice, remaining around 25 degrees Fahrenheit all year.
Take photos of a giant poultry sculpture in Chicken
Not far from the Canadian border, Chicken, Alaska is a town with a rich gold mining history, dating back to the 1880s. More than 700 miners once worked there, but today the tiny town is home to just around 10 year-round residents.
When passing through, be sure to stop and grab some photos with the giant chicken statue in town. The town’s biggest event is the Chickenstock Music Festival, which is held each June.
Pose with massive metal mosquitoes in Delta Junction
Stop by Delta Junction to take a fun photo with the giant mosquito sculptures on the Visitor Center grounds.
There’s also a 90,000-acre range for bison located nearby so be sure to take a peek at some other local wildlife—beyond the mosquito.
Drink a pint at the famous Salty Dawg Saloon in Homer
In Homer, be sure to stop at the Salty Dawg Saloon, a building that has a rich history. Built in 1897 as a cabin, it became the Salty Dawg Saloon in 1957, two years before Alaska became a state.
The building moved to its current site in 1964, and the unique lighthouse tower was later constructed to hide a water storage tank, giving the building its unique appearance. Grab a pint and listen to live local music.
Enter the Nenana Ice Classic or spot the tripod
Each spring, the Nenana Ice Classic takes place on the Tanana River.
People guess when the river ice will break, and enter a lottery predicting when the large black-and-white tripod structure that sits on the ice will break through. When it plunges into the river, the lottery entrant who guesses the closest time will win the jackpot. In 2026, the total jackpot was more than $144,000.
People who are over the age of 18 can enter the lottery during the guessing season, which generally runs from February through early April. A webcam also shows current conditions on the river.
Experience Christmas all year long in North Pole
Christmas lovers will not want to leave North Pole, Alaska, where it’s Christmas all year round. The town is just a quick 20-minute drive from Fairbanks.
Spend some time on Santa Claus Lane, Kris Kringle Drive, and Mistletoe Lane, and enjoy the year-round Christmas theme.
Be sure to stop by the Santa Claus House. There, you can shop for holiday decorations year round, and even coordinate with Santa to write and mail a letter to your loved ones around Christmastime. Even if you can’t make it to the Santa Claus House, you can still arrange with Santa to mail a letter.
Photo opportunities abound, with a giant Santa sculpture, tall tree, sleigh, and more.
Spot a massive gold pan and Gold Rush history in Nome’s Anvil City Square
See an 18-foot-high gold pan in Nome’s Anvil City Square. The park is located right in central Nome, and it also contains a number of other statues, including a monument devoted to “Three Lucky Swedes,” who were three men who didn’t know how to mine but were lucky enough to strike it rich on gold in the area, leading many others to flock to Nome.
Also, take a peek at two umiak frames, which are boats made from walrus skin, and dredge buckets, which are used to sort gold from other material. Today, some of these old dredge buckets are used as flowerpots in the square.
