Sleeping in Anchorage Airport

Whether your situation calls for a short nap or an overnight slumber, this sleep guide will give you the essential information needed to prepare you for sleeping in Anchorage Airport.

Our guide is updated with the help of airport sleepers who tell us about their experiences at Anchorage Airport. If you have a tip or photos to share, please take a moment to write a review to help us keep this sleep guide up-to-date!

Read the latest traveller reviews.

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.
Pre-Security, the Ravn Alaska check-in desks are generally quiet and have armrest-free seats.

Rest Zones

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

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.

Pro-tip: If you chose a spot near any eateries, keep in mind that the staff arrive early and they can get pretty loud in the kitchen.

Showers

Unfortunately, there are no showers available to freshen up.

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 (inside Security, Gate C1); Starbucks (inside Security, Concourse C, Exit Lane); Starbucks (Pre-Security, Level 2, across from Alaska Airlines Ticketing).

Hotels

Prefer some privacy and comfort? If you would like 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’ drive of the airport, including those that offer free airport shuttles. See the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations or visit Tripadvisor to find hotels deals at Anchorage Airport.

Lounges

Anchorage Airport has a few lounges, but none have designated sleep rooms or rest areas. If you just want to relax in a comfortable seat, check out this list of lounges in our Anchorage Airport Guide that you can pay to access or visit Tripadvisor to find hotels deals at Anchorage Airport.

Security & Safety

At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on security or safety issues at Anchorage Airport. As a precaution, here are a few tips to ensure you have a safe airport sleeping experience:

Know Where Security is Located. Whether you are sleeping in the airport by yourself or with friends, it is good to know where security is. Know where their office is located and look for video cameras in the spot you decide to stay the night. Ask security where it is safe to spend the night. They’ve probably seen many airport sleepers before you and they will direct you to a safe spot.
Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you are travelling alone we recommend that you sleep near other travellers or close to security.
Hide Your Valuables. Don’t leave all your mobile devices out in plain view. We have received reports from people who woke up with earphones and no ipod and a laptop bag strap and no laptop bag (or laptop). Same goes with important documents and money. Keep these secure on your body, so that no one can get them without waking you up.
Secure Your Bags. If you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something. If your bags have zippers turn the bag upside down (zippers to the floor) or sleep with your bag up against the wall, so that it would be hard for someone to access.
Choose to Stay Alert. If you don’t feel safe, drink coffee and stay awake and be alert. You can always sleep on the plane!

Pro-tip: If you are sleeping 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 begin to arrive for morning flights.