The Best Cheap Hotels to Book in Anchorage, Alaska

On the shores of Lake Spenard, the aptly named Lakefront Anchorage has daily fishing pickups from its dock, where you can also watch float planes land against the backdrop of the Chugach Mountains. The hotel is near Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and just 4mi (7km) from downtown, where restaurants serve bison burgers paired with cold Alaskan Amber craft beer. Other places to explore include Earthquake Park, Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, Kincaid Park, or the Aviation Museum.

This small hotel in the heart of Anchorage’s walkable downtown is near the city’s lively 5th Avenue Mall. Established in 1916 and on the National Register of Historic Places, the Historic Anchorage Hotel has hosted many dignitaries, celebrities, and artists over the years. That said, it’s still affordable to mere mortals, with all stays including free breakfast, coffee, and tea.

Copper Whale Inn’s historic main house is one of the few structures that survived Anchorage’s 1964 earthquake. The 15 guest rooms are cozy, each one with a different look. The living room – a warm gathering place with a great view across Cook Inlet – is where breakfast is served each morning. The hotel also has gardens and an on-site bike rental in the summer months. In the winter, guests can book tours with Salmon Berry to go hiking on a glacier or dog sledding.

Guest rooms at Maria’s Creekside B&B have ceramic-tile showers, queen beds, and work desks. There’s a sunny south-facing porch for guests to enjoy, and Campbell Creek Park, with playgrounds and a gravel beach, is close by. The great room lounge has two 6ft (2m) mirrored waterfalls and a wood stove where you can warm yourself on brisk evenings.

The closest hotel to Ted Stevens International Airport has a free shuttle service to and from the hub, making it a good choice for business travelers. Guest rooms have writing desks and kitchenettes, and the hotel also has a fitness center with an indoor swimming pool and a healthy cafe, but Anchorage’s celebrated restaurants, like the Moose’s Tooth Pub and Pizzeria, are only a few miles away.

The pet-friendly Hampton Inn Anchorage is 3mi (5km) from the Anchorage Museum and Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall. A free shuttle from the airport will also whisk you to the hotel for a fuss-free stay. Every stay at the Hampton Inn Anchorage includes access to the pool, free hot breakfast, and the beauty of Alaska at your doorstep.

At this all-suite hotel, guests can relish the comforts of home, including kitchenettes with microwaves, mini-fridges, and coffee makers, separate living rooms, and large bedrooms. If you’d rather leave the cooking to someone else, there’s also a free buffet breakfast. SpringHill Suites also has a fitness center with cardio equipment. But, this being Alaska, there are also endless al fresco opportunities to exercise in nearby Chugach State Park.

Owned and operated by the Seldovia Native Association, who have lived in the sheltered waters around Seldovia for more than 1,000 years, Dimond Center Hotel displays art from the Kachemak Bay region. Rooms have Ultimate Dream Beds, created specifically for the property, coffee makers, refrigerators, microwaves, and deep soaking tubs. From the centrally located hotel, you can explore museums like the Alaska Native Heritage Center, see a show at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts or explore the galleries and cafes around town. Anchorage also has some excellent street art.