Is Anchorage dangerous to visit?
Anchorage is a friendly and relatively safe place to visit, though its growing size means crime rates have also increased. While you're unlikely to find yourself in trouble, you should treat Anchorage as a large city and stay vigilant.
Anchorage has consistently been in the top 10 most dangerous cities nationwide. Even with crime going down, it still has a violent crime rate nearly three times the national average.
Anchorage is in general a safe city but you can avoid walking at night in the Fairview and Mountain View areas.
Rank | City | Safety Index |
---|---|---|
1 | Wasilla | 0.15 |
2 | Fairbanks | -1.09 |
3 | Juneau | -1.43 |
4 | Anchorage | -1.99 |
Anchorage is absolutely worth visiting! There are tons of activities including arts and crafts, dining, fishing, hiking, museums, and scenery – and that's without even leaving the city. Outside the city, there is more opportunity for hiking, skiing, diving, and all sorts of other activities.
Anchorage has one of the highest overall crime rates of any U.S. city. For comparison, the national total crime rate is 2,489 incidents for every 100,000 people. Anchorage's overall crime rate is 46% higher than the overall crime rate in Alaska.
Yes, you can see the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, from Anchorage - but not in the summer. The aurora actually occurs all year long, but the sky needs to be clear and dark to see it. Views are best from September to April.
Anchorage has a big edge with over 300,000 residents and Fairbanks sits around 32,000. Anchorage has a much larger airport with more planes flying to it daily. And overall there's more to do in Anchorage as it's really the only major city in the state.
The wide and difficult terrain in Alaska is a huge challenge for law enforcement. There are many villages and communities located in extremely remote areas, with some only accessible by boat or plane.
How long is the ferry ride from Seattle to Alaska?
Alaska Barges Carry all Cargo from Seafood to Vehicles
This means that transporting vehicles between the Lower 48 and Alaska is never an issue. The average time to transport a vehicle ifrom Seattle to Anchorage is 9-11 days and to barge from Anchorage to Seattle is 12 to 14 days.
Anchorage is best known for trails, wildlife, and glaciers, and it is the state's cultural soul as well. The city is home to more artists and musicians than any other place in Alaska.

Just north of Fairbanks, the day is 24 hours long. In Fairbanks, there are nearly 22 hours of daylight, about 19.5 hours in Anchorage and 18.2 hours in Juneau. Keep in mind that these numbers represent the amount of time the sun is above the horizon.
Downtown Anchorage is easy to walk, with a grid of numbered and lettered streets, wide sidewalks, and plenty of parks and paths. More importantly, there's a lot clustered in the city center. Follow these step-by-step instructions for a great itinerary in Anchorage, without any need for a vehicle.
Summer is the best time to visit Anchorage, as you'll find the nicest weather, clear skies and roughly 460 flower beds in bloom. The views alone are well worth a trip, but don't expect swimsuit weather; the average summer temperature stays in the low 70s.
If you're not sure where to travel to within Alaska but are looking for an option with the most flights, then flying into Anchorage International Airport (ANC) is your best choice. It's the largest airport in the state and a hub for Alaska Airlines.
- #1: Rogers Park. ...
- #2: Downtown Anchorage. ...
- #3: South Addition. ...
- #4: Huffman-O'Malley. ...
- #5: Portage Valley. ...
- #6: Rabbit Creek. ...
- #7: Turnagain. ...
- #8: Eagle River.
Anchorage has one of the highest overall crime rates of any U.S. city. For comparison, the national total crime rate is 2,489 incidents for every 100,000 people. Anchorage's overall crime rate is 46% higher than the overall crime rate in Alaska.
The wide and difficult terrain in Alaska is a huge challenge for law enforcement. There are many villages and communities located in extremely remote areas, with some only accessible by boat or plane.
Rabbit Creek Amenities
Rabbit Creek is a neighborhood located south of downtown Anchorage. It is set on the lower side of Bear Mountain, just east of the Seward Highway on the Turnagain Arm. The community features single-family homes, as well as multi-family homes and commercial properties.
Where does Anchorage rank in crime?
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Anchorage, AK Is Among the Most Dangerous US Metro Areas.
Rank | 3 |
---|---|
Metro area | Anchorage, AK |
Violent crimes per 100,000 people, 2020 | 1,171 |
Total violent crimes, 2020 | 3,576 |
Murders per 100,000 people, 2020 | 5.9 |
Anchorage Demographics
White: 61.19% Two or more races: 10.97% Asian: 9.82% Native American: 7.50%
Alaska is a dangerous place to live.
With the highest rates of rape, drowning and suicide in the U.S., it's no surprise a Harvard study ranks the state as the third most dangerous when it comes to violent and property crimes. Only Nevada and Tennessee were found to have higher per capita violent crime rates.