Best Places to Fly a Drone in the Alaska and Hawaii (2026)

Typical price Drone real estate photos: about $150–$400 per homeTip Paid drone work requires an FAA Part 107 certificateGear DJI Mini 4K: about $299Typical price Drone photos + short video: about $300–$650 per listingTip Drones are banned in all national parksBend fall tip Calm mornings make the best Cascade aerialsTypical price Luxury home aerials: about $400–$1,200Tip No drones within 3 miles of big stadiums during gamesGear DJI Mini 5 Pro: about $679Typical price Drone add-on for listing photos: about $95–$150Tip Never fly near a wildfire. “If you fly, we can't.”Missoula fall tip River fog burns off by mid-morning, so fly thenTypical price Wedding drone coverage: about $400–$1,500Tip Flying near airports? Get LAANC approval firstGear DJI Air 3S: about $1,099Typical price Event aerial video: about $500–$1,500Tip No launching or landing in wilderness areasAsheville fall tip Peak color usually runs mid-to-late OctoberTypical price Construction progress flight: about $250–$600 per visitTip Check state park rules: many require a permitGear DJI Mavic 4 Pro: about $2,199Typical price Monthly construction updates: about $1,500–$3,500Tip Oregon opened 20 state parks to drones in Aug 2026Portland, Maine fall tip Lighthouse shoots need LAANC near the JetportTypical price Drone roof inspection: about $150–$600Tip Remote ID is required on drones 250 g and upGear DJI Neo 2: about $259Typical price Land and site mapping: about $10–$30 per acreTip Best light for aerials: the hour after sunriseRapid City fall tip Custer State Park allows drones; Mount Rushmore doesn'tTypical price Hire a drone pilot: about $125–$400 per hourTip Ask about drone add-ons when you book listing photosGear DJI Osmo Pocket 3: about $439Tip Fall foliage peak: book your aerial shoot earlySanta Fe fall tip Fly early, before afternoon windAnchorage fall tip Golden birch season is short, so book earlyCedar Rapids fall tip Harvest fields make great aerial patternsTypical price Drone real estate photos: about $150–$400 per homeTip Paid drone work requires an FAA Part 107 certificateGear DJI Mini 4K: about $299Typical price Drone photos + short video: about $300–$650 per listingTip Drones are banned in all national parksBend fall tip Calm mornings make the best Cascade aerialsTypical price Luxury home aerials: about $400–$1,200Tip No drones within 3 miles of big stadiums during gamesGear DJI Mini 5 Pro: about $679Typical price Drone add-on for listing photos: about $95–$150Tip Never fly near a wildfire. “If you fly, we can't.”Missoula fall tip River fog burns off by mid-morning, so fly thenTypical price Wedding drone coverage: about $400–$1,500Tip Flying near airports? Get LAANC approval firstGear DJI Air 3S: about $1,099Typical price Event aerial video: about $500–$1,500Tip No launching or landing in wilderness areasAsheville fall tip Peak color usually runs mid-to-late OctoberTypical price Construction progress flight: about $250–$600 per visitTip Check state park rules: many require a permitGear DJI Mavic 4 Pro: about $2,199Typical price Monthly construction updates: about $1,500–$3,500Tip Oregon opened 20 state parks to drones in Aug 2026Portland, Maine fall tip Lighthouse shoots need LAANC near the JetportTypical price Drone roof inspection: about $150–$600Tip Remote ID is required on drones 250 g and upGear DJI Neo 2: about $259Typical price Land and site mapping: about $10–$30 per acreTip Best light for aerials: the hour after sunriseRapid City fall tip Custer State Park allows drones; Mount Rushmore doesn'tTypical price Hire a drone pilot: about $125–$400 per hourTip Ask about drone add-ons when you book listing photosGear DJI Osmo Pocket 3: about $439Tip Fall foliage peak: book your aerial shoot earlySanta Fe fall tip Fly early, before afternoon windAnchorage fall tip Golden birch season is short, so book earlyCedar Rapids fall tip Harvest fields make great aerial patterns

56. Portage Valley

Alaska · near Girdwood · National forest (Chugach NF)

Why it's cinematic: Glaciers, icebergs, hanging valleys
Best season and time: Jun–Sep; long evening light
Drone rule: Chugach NF guidance (Chugach NF); USFS rules (USFS FAQ)
Nearest no-fly zone: Chugach State Park along Turnagain Arm bans takeoff and landing (Alaska DNR)

57. Homer Spit Confirm local rules

Alaska · near Homer · City

Why it's cinematic: A 4.5-mile spit into Kachemak Bay with volcano views
Best season and time: May–Sep
Drone rule: No city drone rule found (unclear); FAA rules (City of Homer beach policy)
Nearest no-fly zone: Homer Airport: check LAANC. Kachemak Bay State Park across the bay.

58. Seward waterfront and Resurrection Bay Confirm local rules

Alaska · near Seward · City

Why it's cinematic: Fjord, mountains, harbor
Best season and time: May–Sep
Drone rule: No city drone rule found (unclear); FAA rules
Nearest no-fly zone: Kenai Fjords NP (Exit Glacier): banned. Seward airport.

59. Hanalei Bay

Hawaii · near Hanalei (Kauaʻi) · County beach park

Why it's cinematic: Crescent bay below waterfall-laced mountains
Best season and time: Apr–Oct (calm seas); sunrise
Drone rule: Kauaʻi police say county permission isn't needed; FAA rules apply (County of Kauaʻi)
Nearest no-fly zone: Nā Pali Coast and Hāʻena state parks: banned (Hawaii DLNR). Avoid the PMRF military range on the west side.

60. Waipiʻo Valley Lookout PermitConfirm local rules

Hawaii · near Honokaʻa (Big Island) · County lookout

Why it's cinematic: 2,000 ft valley walls and black-sand beach
Best season and time: Year-round; morning
Drone rule: Permit: Hawaiʻi County film permit reported (unclear; confirm with the county) (How to Live in Hawaii)
Nearest no-fly zone: Respect cultural closures in the valley

Other regions: Pacific Northwest · Northern Rockies · Desert Southwest and Great Basin · New England · Appalachia and the Dakotas · All 60 places

Before you go, read Where You Can Fly for the state-park rules in all 50 states.

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Best Places to Fly a Drone: Alaska and Hawaii

56. Portage Valley

57. Homer Spit Confirm local rules

58. Seward waterfront and Resurrection Bay Confirm local rules

59. Hanalei Bay

60. Waipiʻo Valley Lookout PermitConfirm local rules

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