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

In a small cove 9 nautical miles from Homer Spit (boat transportation is included in the room rates), this resort co-owned by renowned chef Kirsten Dixon offers the incredible luxury, amazing food, and utter relaxation—albeit at a steep price. Deluxe modern cabins adjacent to Kachemak Bay State Park have private baths, comfortable beds, and amenities that include a cozy main lodge, beachfront outdoor hot tub, steam room, yoga classes, complimentary massage, daily wine tasting, and daily adventure activities. Dixon, who also conducts cooking classes for locals and guests, handpicks her award-winning culinary team to ensure that all three daily meals are divine. Guests can hike into the park from the lodge for day trips, kayak in the bay, and watch eagles and otters just offshore. Fly-out bear-viewing and glacier exploration trips, and deep-sea fishing are included in the five-day stays.

This fantastic lodge comprising eight standalone cabins either situated creekside or around a pond feels serene, even when there's live music at the restaurant or a loud concert down the road. Each cabin has a wood stove and an electric heater. Interior walls are chinked logs, beds have colorful quilts, and the lighting fixtures are modeled after gold rush–era styles. The cabins vary in size, but the largest sleeps up to six and has its own bath. A central bathhouse has hot showers and toilets, and all guests have access to the sauna. The excellent Dirty Skillet restaurant offers great food and live music on the weekends.

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.

On a private parcel of land on Resurrection Bay's Fox Island, this beautiful retreat with expansive bay and mountain views is only a 45-minute boat ride from Seward and consists of cabins constructed of local wood and outfitted with two beds and private baths. Some rooms have additional views of the small lake right behind them. Meals are served in the lodge, which has a vaulted ceiling and two-story windows that overlook Halibut Cove. The rate includes meals, use of a wood-fired sauna, transportation, and a tour of Resurrection Bay. Kayaks are available for rent.

This converted cannery at the end of the road offers a peek into what life in the region must have been like in the 1880s. Whitewashed boarding rooms overlook the bay where otters and waterfowl abound. In addition to beautiful lodgings and a café that serves excellent freshly caught seafood, Orca offers a long list of adventures, among them fishing, kayaking, river rafting, hiking, bear viewing, and flightseeing. There's also the opportunity to fly out to one of Orca's remote wilderness camps for fishing or just relaxing. An additional perk to staying at this end-of-the-road getaway is the fantastic dining at their on-site restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week.

This popular inn is set inside the converted old Fairview Dairy barn, and each of the spacious, log-partitioned rooms is decorated according to a theme. The Denali Room has posters of the mountain, snowshoes, crampons, and other climbing gear. A dogsled and other race paraphernalia mark the Iditarod Room. A rooftop common room has a spectacular 360-degree panorama of the mountains and river valleys. You can also sleep in the stand-alone log cabin—it has its own wood stove but no bathroom.

On the bank of the Susitna River and an easy half-mile walk from downtown Talkeetna, this year-round lodge is idyllic. All four of the two-story cabins have gorgeous river views, and three of the cabins face Denali. Gazebos and firepits are set between every other cabin and in front of the lodge, which holds four suites. One of the suites is handicap accessible and has a private entrance onto the deck. The cabins all have kitchenettes and coffee makers; small TVs and DVDs can be checked out at the office.

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.

Three public-use cabins are within Kachemak Bay's Halibut Cove lagoon area, another (called Sea Star) is near Tutka Bay lagoon, and a fifth is at China Poot Lake. All but the lakeside cabin are accessible by boat; China Poot can be reached only on foot from the boat landing on the beach or by floatplane to the lake. The cabin furnishings are sparse, but include wooden bunks and sleeping platforms, a table, and chairs; there's no running water or electricity. Four of the five cabins sleep up to six people (the other, the Overlook cabin at Halibut Cove, sleeps eight), and all can be reserved up to six months in advance. There are also yurts in the parks available through   alaskanyurtrentals.com.

Four public-use cabins are in Denali State Park, along the shores of Byers Lake. One cabin is on a gravel road, a mile from the highway, and the other three are accessible by canoe or by a half- to 1-mile trail. Cabins are equipped with bunks that sleep six, a wood stove, a table, and benches. You can reserve up to seven months in advance online.

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.

The five modern cabins here each offer a million-dollar view from a hilltop on the west side of Homer. Each cabin contains two queen beds, a kitchenette, full bathrooms, and a gas barbecue grill on the deck. Every cabin is also equipped with a 42-inch flat-screen TV with DVD, satellite connections, and surround sound. Guests can soak in a large hot tub with Kachemak Bay, mountains, glaciers, and three volcanoes as the backdrop.

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.

Rooms here have soothing floral decor, and some overlook the harbor. The Chart Room Restaurant has harbor views and serves local seafood and American fare, including steak and pasta.

This well-maintained resort on Lake Lucille provides easy access to several recreational activities, including boating in summer and ice-skating and snowmachining in winter. Half of the inn's bright and cheery rooms have private balconies overlooking the lake.

Near the harbor, this hotel comes complete with views of mountains, sea otters, seals, and waterfowl. The standard-issue decor is nothing to write home about, but the views make up for it. The rooms are a little compact, but everything is within walking distance, and there's little need to spend much time in them.

Across the street from the small-boat harbor, this modern 100-room hotel is very convenient if you're planning an early-morning fishing trip. One wing has four suites with jetted tubs, and an annex building has two suites overlooking the harbor. On the first floor is the popular restaurant. It's open year-round.

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.

Owned and operated by a fifth-generation Kodiak Alaskan, this emerald-isle favorite has sea views and is conveniently located less than 1 mile from downtown Kodiak. Hosts Mary and Ron Doubt are well-known for their hospitality, offering local knowledge and home-cooked breakfasts; there is a self-contained apartment (with kitchen, bath, and deck) as well as a studio, two guest rooms, a shared lounge area, and a lovely dining room with bay windows overlooking the channel.

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.

Cabins here come in three variations—regular, deluxe, and riverfront, all with private bath, heat, and kitchen. One cabin has a gourmet kitchen and a private hot tub. The resort can arrange remote guided or unguided fishing trips, a backpacking drop-off, or air transportation to one of the Forest Service cabins through the local guides in town. Cabins sleep 8, 10, or 12 guests.

This charming resort offers seven rooms and one cabin along with a shared kitchen and beautiful outdoor areas. It's ideal for folks who can stay awhile and enjoy some peace and quiet while still being a five-minute walk to downtown Glennallen.

This lodge is conveniently located along the Sterling Highway, with quick and easy access to trailheads and fishing holes. It's the perfect place to kick off your wrangling boots and relax. All rooms include a bathroom, kitchen, Wi-Fi, television, and complimentary frozen storage for your fresh catch. Most rooms comfortably accommodate four to six people.