Alaska: Anchorage, Denali, Kenai, Seward
 

Hi! Mature couple arriving Anchorage Aug 5 at 3 ish (probably quite tired). We are thinking of spending night of 5th in Anchorage, then going to Denali, staying nights of 6th and 7th. On the 8th we would like to get to Seward. On the 9th see Kenai fjord, and on the the 10th we are catching our cruise ship at 8pm out of Seward. So we need advice on: where to stay in Anchorage 5th? (need to be near train/bus station if we do not have a car). Rent a car or train or bus to Denali on 6th? Where to stay in Denali (thinking of cancellable accom and not go if weather is bad). Train or bus or rental car to Seward on the 8th? Where to stay in Seward? Best Kenai option? Whew! Thanks.

IMO you need a car. To shorten the drive to the entrance to Denali NP, you can stay in Eagle River or Wasilla. DW and I liked the Microtel in Eagle River. You have to take a shuttle or tour bus into Denali from the entrance area. Buy your tickets in advance.
Return your car in Anchorage and then take the Alaska Railroad train to Seward. You may find that all affordable rooms in Seward are booked since there is a cruise ship in town.

That's for THIS August? I think your Denali plans are probably already in serious jeopardy as accommodations around the park are almost certainly sold out by now. You might find something in Talkeetna, but that's like staying in Baltimore for a visit to Washington. It would be nearly impossible to spend the night in Talkeetna and have enough time to get to Denali in the morning for a bus departure (at least to the Eielson visitor center or don't bother) and make it back to Talkeetna for the night.

In addition, Denali to Seward in one day is a serious schlep, and would require a car.

Honestly, I'd scrub the Denali option and look for more interesting things to do in the Anchorage/Kenai Peninsula area. You could do a "26 glacier" cruise out of Whittier, or drive down to Homer and explore Kachemak Bay, or do a flightseeing trip out of Anchorage (maybe even to Denali) and in general see more things at a slower pace than trying to cram Denali into too tight a time frame, and one where accommodations are likely to be inferior if available at all.

the White Moose Inn in Healy is a basic clean motel and has rooms available on 7, 8, and 9th. We use it for 2 nights to visit Denali and it worked out just fine.