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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rooms here at this hotel just a couple of blocks from the Alaska SeaLife Center and close to the hiking at Mount Marathon overlook Resurrection Bay, and on clear days you can take in the panorama of mountains and glaciers. Continental breakfast is served in the lobby, with a three-story atrium complete with a small waterfall, many plants, a baby grand piano, and plush seating. A side room has a fireplace, and works by local artists hang on the walls. Rooms are decorated with warm colors, artwork, and wooden crown moldings that complement the cabinetry. 

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.

"Elegantly rustic" might best describe this sprawling complex approximately 45 miles from Seward. Paths lead from the main lodge to bungalows, each containing four spacious units. Buildings higher on the bluff house eight units. Each unit has the look and feel of a mountain cabin and has a king or two double beds, a wood-burning fireplace, a comfortable sitting area, and a porch. Staffers can arrange for fishing, flightseeing, horseback riding, and river rafting. There's also a nature trail. The Rod & Reel Restaurant serves Alaskan fare, including seafood, and the Rafter's Lounge offers a menu of bar food and Alaska beers that can be enjoyed on the spacious deck.

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.

This hotel is within easy walking distance of shops, restaurants, and the small boat harbor, the center of summertime activity in Valdez. Nothing about it screams personality, but the service is consistent, and the on-site restaurant is convenient.

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.

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).

At this waterfront fisherman's hotel you can watch the commercial-fishing fleet and other maritime traffic sail by. Be sure to ask for a harbor-view room to watch for otters and waterfowl at play. Many of the nautical-theme rooms overlook the harbor, as does the large, south-facing deck of the Reluctant Fisherman Restaurant. Microwaves and refrigerators are available for a small charge, and two of the suites offer a kitchenette.

Immerse yourself in the world of angling at this upscale lodge that delivers both tranquil beauty and a flurry of fishing activity. Amid 4 acres of forest, the handcrafted spruce lodge's compound includes cabins that can sleep from 4 to 12 people. Some accommodations have Jacuzzis and fireplaces, and all have private bathrooms and full kitchens. There’s a full-service restaurant serving all three meals, as well as a 20-person sauna, gym, and massage chairs. "Build your own adventure" packages range from five to seven nights of lodging with four to six full days of fishing.

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.

In a thickly forested setting near the bank of the Resurrection River, this lodging 2 miles north of Seward has the feel of a mountain upscale cabin. The rooms and balcony suites are decorated in warm plaids, pine furniture, and Alaskan prints. The lodge has hiking trails and offers hourly shuttle rides to the train and walking tours of Exit Glacier.

This expansive modern hotel sits on a choice spot with great hiking trails, and it affords splendid views of Denali from the enormous outdoor dining deck, the café, and the fine-dining restaurant as well as the large lobby, mountainside rooms in the main lodge, and third-story suites. Other rooms in the main building and neighboring units are modern and simple, if a bit cookie-cutter. The lobby has comfortable seating, a huge river-rock fireplace, and an espresso bar. The tour desk can arrange flightseeing, river trips, or any other Alaskan adventure you can imagine.

This hotel is one of the newer lodgings in Valdez and looks the part, with its sleek corrugated metal siding and slick rectangular lines. The lodge boasts a heated pool and exercise room while rooms are spacious, comfortable, and include microwaves and mini-fridges. There are also 10 small cabins on the property that include full kitchens, bathrooms, and both a queen and sofa bed. The location offers views of the mountains and the harbor, has a small market on-site, and is within easy walking distance to the town's main drag where you'll find a number of eateries and shops.

Built in 1916 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Van Gilder is steeped in local history. Early 20th-century photos of Seward adorn the walls, beds are brass or carved wood, and the common rooms foster a cozy B&B feel. This is definitely not a mass-market chain hotel, and the extremely friendly staff gives tours of the property, pointing out interesting historical information. Spend time in the sitting room with books of local interest or by the piano player in the lobby.