7 Best Things to Do in Kodiak Alaska (Personally Tested)

Kodiak is one of the most unique places in Alaska to visit, and if you're planning a trip there you're going to want to make the most of it. As one of the few areas that has elk instead of moose and even some deer (not found in the majority of Alaska), Kodiak Island is actually the second largest in the entire United States! Before you finalize your first visit, you're probably wondering just what there is to do, well from incredible wildlife encounters to hiking to unique beaches and lookout points, there's actually plenty to do.

My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip to the 49th State.

For flights, I recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates.

To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier.

Getting to Kodiak & Where to Stay

Because Kodiak is located on an island in Alaska, you can either get there by plane or by the ferry. To be honest the price point is pretty similar either way, but the plane ride from Anchorage only takes 1 hour whereas a ride on the ferry would take about 10 hours. I recommend taking a plane.

Once you get there I highly recommend renting a car through Turo to get around the island. One of my favorite things to do in Kodiak is to take a road trip from town and make my way down to Fossil Beach (more on that below) while camping along the way at places like White Sands Beach (tenting only), Fort Abercrombie State Historic Park, Buskin River State Park, and Pasagshak State Recreational Site.

On my most recent visit I stayed at the Best Western Kodiak Inn which was super central and close to lots of local restaurants, had similar price points to other hotels in the area, and had a hot tub and restaurant on site.

My Favorite Tours Near Kodiak :

7 Best Things to Do in Kodiak

1. Fishing
​Fishing around the Island of Kodiak is some of the best in Alaska, and although you can fish right from shore in places like Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park or Buskin River State Park - there are also plenty of charters as well - just make sure to get your State of Alaska Fishing License first! If you don't want to worry about getting the correct gear and following all the fishing regulations, renting a charted tour might be the easiest way to go. I recommend checking out fishing tours offered through Kodiak Island Charters, Fish 'n Chips Charters, Kodiak Marine Charters, or Happy Hooker Charters.

2. Bear Viewing
Kodiak Island is known as one of the most concentrated areas of brown bears in the entire world, there's so many that it evens out to roughly one bear every 0.7 square miles! If this is your first visit to Alaska or Kodiak, I highly encourage you to book an experience that gets you up close to the bears in a safe environment. I would recommend looking into Kodiak Island Expeditions or the Kodiak Bear Center. (And if you plan to go hiking, make sure to bring some bear spray with you.)

3. Flight Seeing
In addition to having some of the best fishing and bear opportunities in the entire state, Kodiak from above is truly incredible. My husband and I had the opportunity to fly from Homer to Katmai National Park and they were the most beautiful views we've ever seen - and we've heard the views from the Kodiak area are just as good! I recommend looking at the flight seeing tours through Kingfisher Aviation.

4. Hiking
No matter where you're visiting in Alaska, I also recommend heading out hiking on some of the local trails! If you're nervous about heading out alone, make sure to rent some bear spray or grab some at Walmart (you won't be allowed to fly with it). Here are some of my favorite hiking trails near Kodiak :

• Termination Point - 4.9 mile moderate hike that brings you to some of the most stunning views in Alaska, similar to views you would expect in Hawaii!
• Pyramid Mountain Trail - 2.6 mile challenging hike with a steep incline, but leading to beautiful views
• Shelly Lake - 8.9 mile challenging hike leading to some beautiful lake views with mountains
• Pillar Mountain Trail - 2.9 mile moderate hike that is one of the most popular in Kodiak, it leads to some stunning views overlooking the windmills and mountains​

5. Visit a Museum
Kodiak has plenty of museums to visit, and if you're in the area I recommend stopping to learn more about the local culture and history. The Kodiak History Museum (previously known as the Baranov Museum) is $10 per person and is the best way to learn more about the local history and stories of the people of Kodiak. The Alutiiq Museum is another option for visitors, and although the gallery is closed for renovations until May 2025, once it reopens you can participate in cultural activities, learn about Alutiiq traditions, and even see ancestral artifacts. If you're looking for even more museums you can also visit the Kodiak Military History Museum, which is typically only open on summer weekends.

6. Take a Road Trip
​My favorite thing to do in Kodiak is to rent a car (easiest through Turo) and take a drive around the island. By car there are really only two options from Kodiak - you can either go Northeast or Southwest. From end to end the road is about 57 miles long, and you can easily drive from White Sands Beach at the North end of the road to Fossil Beach at the South end of the road in one day. I promise you'll see some of the most beautiful views on this road trip, in my personal opinion - some of the best in Alaska!

7. Wildlife & Tide Pooling
From Sitka deer to Elk to cattle - you'll see a few different varieties of animals here in Kodiak that you typically won't see in the rest of Alaska. My personal favorite thing to do in Kodiak is to go tide pooling - if you hit the tides just right you'll be able to see all kinds of small critters and starfish. It's important to remember that these ecosystems are fragile, so I recommend only looking with your eyes and being extra careful where you step when heading out onto the rocks. Of course, you'll also be able to see many of the same Alaskan animals too like otters, whales, and of course bears!

Watch my Kodiak Adventures here!

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Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in : 
-> 15 Easiest Alaska Glaciers to Visit
-> Where to Rent Bear Spray in Alaska
-> 7 Best Tours in Alaska

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