25 Best Hotels in The Kenai Peninsula and Southcentral Alaska, Alaska

Twenty miles outside of Palmer, this lodge has spectacular views and can serve as a base camp for hiking, berry picking, and—in fall and winter—skiing. The cabins, some with lofts, are carpeted and have large picture windows with views of Hatcher Pass Valley; most have a queen bed. The cabins' half baths have chemical toilets and water coolers; showers are in the lodge. The restaurant provides good eats, and the bar serves cappuccinos and makes hot buttered rum on chilly nights. In summer there's often live music.

In a valley of spruce trees between the jagged peaks of the Kenai Mountains, this B&B inn offers a stunning backdrop—and bounty of experiences—in every season. Walk (or, in winter, cross-country ski) through the woods to the shore of Tern Lake, soak in the hot tub, practice your tennis or putting (on the landing strip), or just scan the mountainsides for Dall sheep, moose, mountain goats, or bears. The rooms and common areas have antiques and Alaskan artifacts, and the owners will help you book any other adventures.

A sole, beautifully decorated cabin nestled in the woods across from Kenai Lake, Teddy's is surrounded by mountains and hiking trails. The cabin sleeps up to four comfortably. The grounds are superbly manicured and convey a sense of a magical forest. The inn is 6 miles from Moose Pass and 23 miles from Seward.

Two miles outside Palmer on 15 acres of wooded land, the Hand family's peaceful inn has tremendous views of snowcapped mountains from across a sheep pasture. There are walking trails on the property, and moose are often seen grazing along them. All rooms have a kitchenette that is fully stocked with breakfast foods.

This Soldotna hotel sits on a bluff overlooking the Kenai River, and if you get a river-view room you'll have a front-row seat for the fishing action during salmon runs. In addition to regular rooms, the Aspen also offers two family suites with bunk beds and several executive suites as well as a swimming pool and a gym.

The warmly furnished rooms in this contemporary house on a slight bluff overlooking and directly accessing the trails along Kachemak Bay all have private baths, and most have water views. Guests can mingle and relax at their leisure over continental breakfast in the morning, and common spaces include two living rooms, and a large deck with a grill that faces the bay. The hosts have experience in the commercial fishing industry and are a great source for recommendations about what to see and do in the area. 

Large rooms, including some with kitchenettes, make this well-kept motel a great option for families. If you're traveling by RV, you can take advantage of the on-site park, which has full hookups.

This super-convenient, easy-to-find, and modern hotel offers rooms and a few suites with Alaska decor and amenities like Wi-Fi, big-screen TVs, and queen beds in every room. Options include rooms with kitchenettes as well as pet-friendly rooms complete with small enclosures. The restaurant, The Caribou Grill, is one of the better options in the region.

Perched on Kodiak's rocky coastline, this house contains a suite of three rooms with a common sitting area, private entrance, shared bath, and kitchen facilities, complete with a bottomless jar of homemade granola. The main house has a deluxe room overlooking the water with a private bath and access to the upstairs reading library. Relax on the cliffside deck and enjoy the artwork and organic gardens of hosts Marty and Marion Owen, who also offer wildlife viewing aboard their 42-foot yacht, the Sea Breeze.

Consisting of two cabins and four guest rooms right above the town's market and liquor store, plus a few yurts, this is a charming and affordable place to spend your time in Hope. Both cabins sleep three to four people and have full kitchens and bathrooms. The location is convenient for enjoying coffee in the morning (at Turnagain Kayak Coffee) and dinner at night (at Dirty Skillet).

All guest rooms in this lovingly restored historic building are tastefully decorated with antiques and quilts. The building was used as a women's dormitory during the farm colonization of the 1930s, and it still has a bit of a dorm vibe to it. Inn reservations and check-in are handled at the Valley Hotel, at 606 South Alaska Street.

A wall of windows two stories high provides dramatic views of the Wrangell–St Elias Range and the Copper and Klutina rivers at this lodge near the national park's main visitor center. Dark-wood accents and Alaskan wildlife and scenery prints adorn each well-appointed room.

With an RV park, four deluxe lodges, two cottages, and a historic inn, the Driftwood accommodates a range of travelers. The inn has "ship's quarters" with cedar walls and a pull-down bed, and "European rooms" with queen-size beds, dining-room tables, microwaves, refrigerators, full private baths, and private outside entrances. Downstairs is a comfortable sitting room with a fireplace, TV, books, and videos. A small eating area has self-service coffee, tea, pastries, and cereal. The lodges all sleep 12 to 14 people total or rent as individual rooms with large luxurious living areas, private bathrooms, king-size beds, and stunning views of the bluffs, the ocean, or the mountains.

One of Alaska's oldest roadhouses, Gwin's is the epicenter of much activity on the peninsula and a one-stop shop providing food, lodging, and fishing tackle. The lodge becomes an anglers' headquarters during the annual salmon runs on the nearby Russian and Kenai rivers. Accommodations vary from dry fisherman's cabins to chalets with lofts, vaulted ceilings, and full kitchens. The restaurant serves fresh fish when available, sandwiches, steaks, and hearty breakfasts. Book directly with the lodge and they'll give you a $20 credit toward the restaurant.

Originally built in the 1940s and billed then as the "best and most beautiful hotel in town," Hotel Seward is conveniently located downtown near a number of eateries, shopping, and the Alaska SeaLife Center. All of the historic wing rooms are on the second floor—11 of those rooms have four shared bathrooms, and they cost less than those in the newer wing. There's also a high-end restaurant, Fifth Ave. Bistro & Bar.

With its lighthouse-tower design and weathered-looking gray slats, this freshly renovated hotel set among shanties and harbor boats blends in well with its surroundings. The 26,000-square-foot, three-story building sits right on the water, overlooking the harbor. About half the rooms have stunning views of the water and the mountains across the bay. The junior suites and the bi-level town houses also look out onto the bay; the latter have fireplaces on both floors. The restaurant and bar also has great water views.

A former military housing tower that is now home to most of the town's residents, June's also offers bed-and-breakfast condos, half with million-dollar bay views and half with gorgeous mountain and glacier views. All the condos have full kitchens and one, two, or three bedrooms. The outside and the entryway of this monolithic unit are hardly outstanding, but June, the owner, keeps the quirky condos clean and comfortable. They provide an excellent place to roost after spending your days hiking around and fishing in the sound, and are a great bargain if you've got a family or a group of friends.

Spread across the best real estate on the Spit, Land's End offers splendid bay views from variously styled rooms and suites. The resort also has three-bedroom condos—a good deal groups of up to 10 people—that come with full kitchens, balconies, and access to a private beach. The Chart Room Restaurant specializes in seafood but also serves burgers and steaks. Call in advance to reserve a table with a window view of Kachemak Bay—or on a sunny day, dine on an enormous deck that perches over the water. In winter, when the deck is closed, guests can partake of the chef's monthly wine-paired, themed dinner.

When the sky is clear and Denali is visible, this lodge has excellent views of North America's highest peak, especially from the lobby, which has two-story windows. On private land inside Denali State Park, this hillside lodge overlooks the Chulitna River. The bungalow-style accommodations have bedrooms and separate sitting rooms. The tour desk can arrange a variety of tours.

In the oldest commercial building in Homer, this bright and cozy B&B offers peace, convenience, and sweeping views of the bay and mountains. It's in an excellent location, and not just because it's in Old Town—it's also above the Bunnell Street Art Gallery and Wild Honey Bistro—a fine cheese shop and deli. The stairs up have shifted with time and now have a slight lean, giving visitors the sense that they've had far too much to drink. In contrast though, the rooms are beautifully decorated with art and elegantly appointed with period furnishings and fixtures. The art gallery hosts occasional evening music, poetry, or arts programs.

This chain property is a five-minute walk from the main terminal at the airport, about 4½ miles from downtown (free airport transportation is provided).

In view of the harbor and just a short walk away, the Sea Parrot Inn is hard to miss. The proprietors, Tim and Mary, have painted the rooms in comforting colors such as blueberry, pine, cranberry, and cappuccino. All rooms have private bathrooms, and one room was designed specifically for guests with limited mobility while the Sea Otter Room is for travelers with dogs. The daily rate includes a selection of complimentary breakfast items from Perry's Cafe, which serves food all day.

With fabulous views of the harbor and tastefully decorated rooms, the Boardwalk has many of the simple amenities found in an urban hotel, but with a cozy B&B feel. The hotel houses the Pub & Grill, a great eatery with a terrific outdoor deck on the water. The grill serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and there's a full-service pub serving craft beer and fine wine. On the weekend, they feature live music, too.

Six miles out of Seward, sandwiched between two streams—one glacial, the other salmon-spawning—this tranquil inn offers respite from the summer buzz. Detox in the sauna or soak in the wooded streamside hot tub and watch the salmon migrate. An indoor common area has games and books, and there's an outdoor picnic pavilion with a fireplace. Groups can rent the three-bedroom, two-bathroom guest house next door that comes with a fully equipped kitchen, living room, and deck with a gas grill.

Family-run since 1976, this rustic-style property is well-known among those who come to fish in the Talkeetna, Susitna, and Chulitna rivers. All rooms have private baths (tub-shower combo) and TVs, and the property has Wi-Fi. Two rooms have whirlpool tubs. The café offers breakfast, which includes the owner's secret-recipe Swiss-style French toast.