Sleeping in Anchorage Airport

If you’re dealing with a long layover or an early morning flight departure at Anchorage Airport, you might be wondering if it is possible to sleep in the airport. Our guide to sleeping in Anchorage airport provides essential information for seasoned airport sleepers and newbies to help travellers arrive prepared for the experience.

We keep this guide up-to-date with the help of airport sleepers who have generously shared their experiences and airport reviews. If you have any tips or photos to contribute, please take a moment to write a review. Your feedback will help us stay informed about the latest advice for future sleepy travellers.

Sleeping in Anchorage Airport

Locations & Seating

Most seats have armrests, so it’s up to you to make a comfortable sleep area – most likely on the ice-cold floors. For armrest-free seating, Concourse C is the place to be.

Here are good sleep spots that travellers have reported:

The observation area near Gate C1 is quiet.
Gate C9, under the hanging airplane.
A hallway near the car rental center leading to the train station is quiet and has an electrical outlet for charging your mobile devices.
Landside, the Ravn Alaska check-in desks are generally quiet and have armrest-free seats.

Do you have a good location, airport tip or photos to add? Click here for our review form.

Rest Zones

At the time of this update, there are no designated rest zones within the airport.

Hotels

Prefer some privacy and comfort? If you want a good, solid sleep between flights, you’ll have to head out of the airport for a hotel. Several hotels are located within several minutes of the airport, including a few offering free airport shuttles. See the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations, or visit Tripadvisor to find hotel deals at Anchorage Airport.

Lounges

Anchorage Airport has a few lounges, but none have designated sleep rooms or rest areas. If you only want to relax in a comfortable seat for a few hours before your flight, check out this list of lounges in our Anchorage Airport Guide.

Airport Conditions

If you plan to spend the night at the airport, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Temperature – Travellers report that the airport is chilly during the day and even colder at night – especially if you are trying to rest on the floors. Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.
Lighting – At the time of this update, we have not received reports from travellers related to terminal brightness. Arrive prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.
Noise – During the day, expect to hear frequent announcements like boarding calls, safety warnings, and passenger pages. At night, when there are no more flights, announcements still run fairly often, and ambient music may plan. Heads up that a cleaning crew may make an appearance after midnight. Come prepared with earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.

Food & Drink

When you get the midnight munchies or give up trying to sleep and need a coffee to stay awake, 24-hour food concessions are available. Check out these vendors: McDonald’s (Airside, Gate C1), Starbucks (Airside, Concourse C, Exit Lane), and Starbucks (Landside, Level 2, across from Alaska Airlines Ticketing).

Showers

Unfortunately, there are no showers available to freshen up.

Security & Safety

At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on security or safety issues at Anchorage Airport. However, sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:

Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.

Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.