Adak IslandAbout Adak Island
Adak Island is one of the westernmost islands of the Aleutian chain in Alaska, notable for its strategic location and its former U.S. naval and airbase. The island is remote, with a very small resident population and a landscape shaped by volcanic peaks, tundra and a maritime climate.
The former military facilities concentrated near the main harbour were downsized after the Cold War but left substantial infrastructure including an airfield that continues to serve as the principal access point. The island’s highest points and coastal terrain are used for limited outdoor activities such as hiking and birdwatching by visitors and residents.
Adak lies in the central Aleutians roughly midway between the Alaska mainland and the western Aleutians; it is approximately 1,200 miles (about 1,900 kilometres) southwest of Anchorage and is reached by scheduled or charter flights and occasional ships.
- Former military base and air access: The island hosts a former U.S. naval and air facility converted to civilian use; an airfield remains the main access point for the island from Alaska.
What to See#
- Adak town and former naval base: The settlement and former military town that occupies former U.S. naval and airbase facilities, with housing, docks and service buildings clustered near the island’s main harbour.
- Mount Moffett: A prominent volcanic peak on the island rising above the settlement and visible across large parts of the island.
Best Time to Visit Adak Island
Visit Adak Island in summer (June-August) for the mildest, most dependable weather and better travel reliability; other seasons are much colder and stormier.
Weather & Climate near Adak Island
Adak Island's climate is classified as Tundra - Tundra climate with cool summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -2°C to 12°C. Abundant rainfall (1205 mm/year), wettest in October.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -2° - 1° | -7° | 100 mm | - | - | 9.9 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -2° - 1° | -7° | 100 mm | - | - | 9.6 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | -2° - 2° | -7° | 98 mm | - | - | 9.0 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 0° - 3° | -4° | 91 mm | - | - | 8.4 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 2° - 5° | -2° | 80 mm | - | - | 7.7 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 5° - 8° | 2° | 58 mm | - | - | 7.1 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 7° - 11° | 6° | 60 mm | - | - | 6.6 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 8° - 12° | 7° | 87 mm | - | - | 6.8 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 6° - 10° | 4° | 110 mm | - | - | 7.8 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 3° - 7° | 0° | 157 mm | - | - | 8.7 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 1° - 4° | -4° | 145 mm | - | - | 9.2 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -1° - 2° | -7° | 119 mm | - | - | 9.4 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Adak Island
Adak Island (Aleutians) is a remote US location served by Adak Airport (ADK). Access is primarily by air - limited commercial or charter flights operate between Anchorage and Adak - and by sea via charter vessels; services are infrequent so schedules must be checked in advance. Once on Adak, the island is reached by local roads from the airfield/harbor.
Tips for Visiting Adak Island
- Visit in the Alaskan summer (June-August) when daylight and weather are most reliable; outside that window weather and transport are often difficult or unavailable.
- Fly into Adak Airport (ADK) and book flights and any ground transport well in advance - commercial service is infrequent and the island's facilities are very limited.
- Most visitors miss the WWII relics and seabird colonies around the old naval facilities - plan guided walks or a local host to safely reach historic sites and coastal viewpoints.