Anchorage/Fairbanks/Denali trip advice for newbie

Seems like a good list

 

Might be nice to do the train to Talkeetna. It’s a nice drive but definitely more scenic on the train

 

Excellent, I will look into that. Is that the same train that goes from Anchorage to Denali with stop in Talkeetna?

 

That correct, yeah

 

Thank you sir.

 

Wildlife conservation center is right next to Girdwood. Portage has a cool little boat/glacier tour that is super quick and fun. Lots of tours run out of Whittier too, the 26 Glacier cruise is a nice one.

I'd recommend

Drive to Girdwood, take the Alyeska Resort tram. Decent lunch is available at the top. 15 min outside of Girdwood is the Wildlife Conservation Center, plan on 3 hours give or take there to see everything. If you have time stop in Portage for the Glacier tour at the Visitor's center there, maybe 2 hours tops there? From there drive all the way to Seward and stay the night.

In Seward,
Hike to Exit Glacier. Easy 1.25 miles each way or something. Kenai Fjords or Major Marine tour, both are good companies. Sea Life Center. Dog mushing tour either in Seward or at Denali. Probably plan 1 night and a busy day for all this? Drive back to Anchorage Remember it will be daylight until pretty late, so you won't be driving dark roads.

Denali...
On the way to Denali stop in Wasilla and grab a meal. Not much past Wasilla until Talkeetna, then not again until Denali. The train takes you into the middle of the Denali Park, right near the Visitor's Center. Definitely a cool way to go and much prettier. Do all the Denali things you want to, the bus tour or even the jeep tours come recommended from people I know that have gone on the jeep tour, I've done the bus tour before. (The jeep tour is pretty mild, but it puts you down in the bush and trails I'd drive). Definitely, plan on a night here. There is also a lot of rafting tours near Denali if that is something that interests you.

 

Excellent

Thank you

I need to find a place in Denali to stay this week

If we go by car do you park in visitor center and take mandatory bus tour?


Thanks for your detailed post
Much appreciated

 

You can only drive into Denali like 12 miles or something I believe. Any further is by bus or lottery.

 

Chena Hot Springs was definitely a nice stop (was up there in September a couple years ago). If you have a small group and 2 vehicles, you could do a hike from one of the parks up to the springs and have the other car take you back down.

 

Is it okay 7-day trip through Alaska?

 

Looking into the bus stuff now

 

Avoid the tour buses. The transit buses are way cheaper, drive the same road, stop for animal viewing and offer way more flexibility.

 

Thank you

Do you book transit bus early or we can get tickets there ?

 

If you're coming for a vacation, I'd say no. Even with two full weeks you'd barely scratch the surface of things to see and do. People tend to underestimate just how far apart things are up here, and end up spending half their trip just driving.

 

Depending on what you want to see it could be. I'd recommend 2 weeks if you can swing it.

 

Going to book the hotels today

 

• Booked AirnBnB in Seward
• Booked cabins in Denali
• Got hotels in Anchorage

Need to do:

• Fjord Tour
• Sea Plane

 

For denali:

Any recommendations on which is better? Same price

One says healy -14 miles away
Other is 10 miles away


1) south of denAli

https://www.alaskacollection.com/lodging/denali-cabins/


2) north in healy

https://www.arcticdragonflyinn.com/
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