Itinerary help

Question

Hi! Can someone look over my brief itinerary and tell me if it looks reasonable? My sister and I will be flying in on Wednesday prior to boarding our cruise ship on Saturday. We will be meeting up with our other sister and mom on Friday back in Anchorage.

Wed evening (5/21): flight into Anchorage. Grab our rental car, check into our hotel, and have dinner.

Thur (5/22): drive to Palmer, hike Matanuska Glacier, then drive to Seward, check into hotel.

Fri (5/23): do a 7.5hr Kenai Fjords cruise ending at 5pm and drive back to Anchorage to meet up with our family.

Sat (5/24): return rental car and get on a transfer bus to Whittier.

Is this the best use of our time? Can I assume the drive between Seward and Anchorage will be around 2.5 hours? Will the drive from Palmer to Seward be around 4 hours? Thank you!

Answer

Your itinerary looks ambitious but generally doable. Here’s a detailed breakdown and some considerations for timing and feasibility.

Wednesday, 5/21: Arrival in Anchorage

Evening arrival, picking up a rental car, checking into your hotel, and having dinner is reasonable. Make sure to factor in possible delays on arrival and traffic to your hotel.

Thursday, 5/22: Drive to Palmer, hike Matanuska Glacier, then drive to Seward

The drive from Anchorage to Palmer is roughly 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Matanuska Glacier hiking tours typically last 2–4 hours depending on your choice of guided vs. unguided hikes.
The drive from Palmer to Seward is approximately 3.5 to 4 hours under normal conditions. Allow extra time for stops, scenic views, and fuel.
Arrival in Seward in the evening is feasible, but it will be a long day (about 8–10 hours total including hiking and driving).

Friday, 5/23: Kenai Fjords cruise

7.5-hour cruise is accurate. Cruises often depart in the morning around 9:00–10:00 a.m. and return mid-to-late afternoon.
Driving back to Anchorage afterward is about 2.5–3 hours. Keep in mind fatigue after a long cruise, especially if you plan to meet family upon arrival.

Saturday, 5/24: Transfer to Whittier for cruise departure

Returning your rental car in Anchorage and boarding a cruise transfer bus to Whittier is straightforward. Make sure to check the timing of the transfer relative to your cruise boarding time.

Overall Assessment:

The itinerary maximizes sightseeing but is quite tight. Thursday will be a long day with hiking and driving.
The drive times you mentioned are accurate for planning purposes: Palmer to Seward ~4 hours, Seward to Anchorage ~2.5–3 hours.
Consider factoring in additional time for scenic stops along the Seward Highway, as it is one of Alaska’s most scenic drives.
If you prefer a more relaxed pace, you could consider staying overnight in Palmer or near the glacier, but your current plan is feasible if you are comfortable with long travel days.

Make sure to monitor weather conditions and glacier tour availability, as these can affect timing.