I've done both several times in recent years. The Tundra Wilderness Tour buses have more comfortable seats and a very cool video camera system that lets the driver bring distant animals up close and lets him "lead" to one that's hard to spot, but at a hefty premium. The extra distance that the shuttles goes can be a big advantage too - getting to the new Eielson center is great if the mountain is visible, and grizzly viewing the last few miles can be among the best in the park. I've noticed no difference in the quality of the commentary.

Murray

I have been their 4 times - I agree with the previous post -- keep in mind - you may or may not see a lot of park life -- it depends on where they are - when they are - also, like the -previous post - the camera system on the bus is great - expensive but worth the price. Enjoy.

Is the same as the Kantishna Experience Denali Bus Tour or the Bus Kantishna Wilderness Tour?
I see these tours as being run by Alaska Tour and Travel.
Cost is $169/pp and lasts for roughly 13 hours.

I did the Kantishna Experience tour once - excellent lunch but that's it. I don't recommend it - Kantishna itself has nothing to offer day-trippers.

We did the shuttle last summer and it was wonderful! Hotel packed a box lunch for us, & we ate at Mirror Lake. One advantage is that if you decide to linger and hike, walk, or just sit & look, you can always get a ride on the next shuttle. We took the 11-hour shuttle & didn't regret a minute of it. Biggest recommendation: go as early in the am as you can.

What type of tour does the shuttle provide?
Can the hotels in the park arrange it for you?
I have not seen anything about it in any of my Denali brochures and would be interested.
Thanks.

There's only one road, so the shuttles do basically the same tour as the more expensive "tours". All the drivers I`ve been with do commentary, and the all stop at wildlife sightings. You book them yourself - all the bus and booking information is at http://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/visiting-denali.htm

The shuttle busses allow you to get off and hike or whatever and catch another bus, the Tundra Tour busses do not.

The shuttle busses go further into the park, I'd recommend at least to Eielson (8 hours). Or Wonder Lake (12 hours) if you have a butt of steel.

Viewing wildlife and scenery is the same on either bus except you get into my favorite areas of the park (the high tundra near Eielson) with the shuttles.

Tundra Tour busses have more comfy seats and provide lunch, you have to bring all your food for the day on the shuttle busses.

TT is much more expensive. I've never been on this, seemed like they are always full of elderly cruise ship passengers doing the land tour part of their package. Have done the shuttle busses at least a dozen times and always seen at least one grizzy, a couple of times as many as 18 in one trip.

For sure if you want to hike or get off much, or want to go further into the park for the best views of Mt. McKinley (on a clear day), take the shuttle busses.

We went with the Natl Park bus. It was inexpensive and they knew where all the animals were and the best places to see Mt McKinley(ya we were 30%ers!!!). The bus driver was nice and very informative too. I liked that you could get off and on at your leisure and do some hiking. Picked up a sack lunch from Subway across from the hotel. You can order them the night before. We were there in early August, but the day started out snowing! I was sure the weather was going to be crummy, but all the sudden it cleared completely and was amazing! Mt McK is very neat looking. The weather report said rain all day. We saw grizzlies, a family of wolves with pups, carabu, moose, foxes...so so cool! I can't wait to go back! Have fun!

bookmarking

I never recommend the TWT for independent visitors. The shuttle buses are the best bargain in all of Alaska.
I just was on the shuttle buses again this past year, and they too now have upgraded their seats. Now they are very similar to the tour bus seating. Another bonus of the shuttle buses, is they sometimes aren't full, and never full upon departure as they always hold back "pick up" seats.

Great thread, answered my remaining questions. I think I'llbe going with the park shuttle.

Thank you all for your input. We have decided to go with the shuttle bus. Can't wait!!

Any revs on lodging? I am thinking of doing the shuttle as well. I have read a lot of negative reviews on TA for hotels near the park entrance.

Oops I meant recs!

A consistantly excellent B&B is Touch of Wilderness. A bargain motel, I've logged a lot of nights in is Denali Park Hotel.

I have read that folks find Touch of Wilderness and other Healy places too far from the park entrance. Is that true?? We will have a car -

Healy is 10 miles from the Denali hotel area, 11 miles from the park gates.

So is that too far?? Or fine??

asking one more time if that is too far or worth it to stay away from glitter glutch.

asking one more time if that is too far or worth it to stay away from glitter glutch.

Depends on how much you are saving and on how many times each day you are driving down to the park entrance area. $50? Maybe yes, maybe no. $200 ... hell yes. Driving down once to catch a shuttle, eating at the entrance and then heading back to Healy, not too bad ... driving down & back twice or more a day and it gets to be a pain ...

No one can give you a definite answer without knowing how much you are saving etc

Bill,
Its less about the savings and more about finding accommodations that dont have bad reviews. On TA everything review is pretty negative in the Denali area. Do you have a rec??

On TA everything review is pretty negative in the Denali area. Do you have a rec??

Liked the Princess, especially 10 years back when I could get it for $99 in early Sept -- not so likeable at $249 or whatever it normally is to non-cruisers these days, unfortunately. Nice cafe, best restaurant in the area (we always tried to eat one dinner there even if staying elsewhere), handy pizza place. Great lodge building.

Liked the Grande, the rooms weren't much but the views from the dining room were great.

Hated the McKinley Chalets, the room was shabby and both the non-smoking rooms we tried reeked of smoke.

I see on TA that McKinley Chalets is rated highly and the other two are rated low, so what the heck do I know though

Also stayed at two places near the entrance with 'cabins' in their name, one was pretty cheap and OK (more like a small lodge than cabins), the other was actually cabins and not that good. Can't remember the exact names of these.

Stayed in Healy once (emergency trip, long story), these were like trailers or pre-fab buildings set together, OK for the price but a bit of a drive. I don't think you'll find better lodging in Healy, just cheaper. For sure nothing like the Princess, the few places I saw.

Stayed about 10-12 miles south of the entrance area a couple of times, the best was a lodge owned by the same people who own Denali Backcountry Lodge (can't find the name right off), this would be better than Healy for me.

Usually we stayed at either Camp Denali or Northface Lodge inside the park near Kantishna for a week at a time, stopping near the entrance for a night or two just on the way in and out to these remote lodges. I would highly recommend either of these, but they are expensive. The last couple of trips we just drove up from Anchorage in the AM and caught the bus into Camp Denali, not staying at the entrance at all, because it's such a rip-off at the entrance.

I would personally stay at the Princess if the rates look OK (usually they fill it with their cruise peeps doing land tour add-ons but when there are no cruises they have a lot of rooms free and *rarely* you can get great rates), or bite the bullet and just stay at one of the budget ones at the entrance if just for one night, or maybe the one south of Denali I mentioned that's owned by the same guys who have Denali Backcountry Lodge.

Overall everything is pretty pricey for what you get up there since it's in high demand for 3 months and largely shut down for 9 months or so. This probably explains all the bad reviews. Other than the McKinley Chalets I've never had a really bad room experience, it's just that you are really aware that you are paying too much because of the location.

OK, after digging a bit I did find the name of the place south of Denali that I mentioned, the one owned by the same guys that own Denali Backcountry Lodge ... it's called Denali Cabins (there must be 20 places up there with similar names!), http://www.denali-cabins.com/

Anyway, these were nice and not TOO expensive but you'll have a similar driving distance as you would from Healy, just from the south, but 8 open miles instead of winding thru the river canyon like to Healy, so an easier drive. Nice little restaurant on-site, couple of other places to eat nearby.

Looks like their rates start at $139 high season, which is practically giving it away up there ...

I wonder if one of the cabin places was McKinley Creekside Cabins?? Wondering if its the OK one or the not good one
http://www.mckinleycabins.com/index.html
Princess looks like its booked, but I need to call to double check.
Grande has availability for 3 nights - so that's definitely a possibility.
Thanks for all your help!!!

Ugh,
I just realized thats not it - its too far at MM 224.

I wonder if one of the cabin places was McKinley Creekside Cabins??

Their site says it's 13 miles south of the entrance (not too far from the 'Denali Cabins', there are several others in that one area of limited private land). The two I mentioned staying at were at the entrance area, so not the same. The better one at the entrance had 'cabins' in the name but it was actually a small 2 story motel.

Grande has availability for 3 nights - so that's definitely a possibility.

This place is high on the hill looking down into the town. We stayed there the first year it opened and the room constuction seemed a bit cheap even that first year, not sure how it has aged. But the view from the dining room is by far the best in the area.

Our posts crossed 4 seconds apart

I called Princess they have 2 nights available at 287 a night, probably night worth the $$$$.
I think its between Denali River Cabins and Denali Cabins. They also have 3 nights available and for around the $200 a night mark.

I am wondering if 3 nights is my best bet.
Thinking Day 1 - drive up from Anchorage - probably getting a late start and taking our time up.
Day 2 - Shuttle bus to Eielson so my the kids can enjoy Ranger programs and get their Jr. Ranger badges (and multiple stamps in the Parks Passports.)
Day 3 - Drive our car as far as we can. Visit other visitor centers - hike around these areas, see sled dogs, etc. Or do some type of excursion.
Day 4 - drive south...back towards Anchorage.

I always stay in Healy and NO, how can it be too "far"??? It is 10 easy, noncongested miles direct to Denali Park. Reasonable lodging choices, that thousands of people stay in.

Meant to add a couple-

If staying at Princess Lodge, where does one catch the tour shuttle bus for the 11 hour tour through park. How far is it from Princess lodge to park entrance-wilderness access Center?
Thanks!