Anybody have any advice about the best car rental deals. Picking up at the airport in Anchorage can cost much more because of the fees they must pay. So local company or big national one? We'll shuttle from airport to hotel (we get on at 10:30pm) and rent car next day to say a day's cost.

Do any allow driving on Denali Highway?

VERY few allow driving on the Denali Highway and you are best with a SUV for the extra clearance. Also strongly suggested is the rental company's additional waivers, since just a stone's chipped windshield will set you back big money. Take photos of the car and note all scuff's, damage etc. The cars can be in "rough" shape. There are listings at www.anchorage.net Spend some time and go through them for the Denali Highway option.

We just returned last night and we used the local Denali Car Rental on Gambel and 12th in Anchorage. (Check Yahoo yellow pages). It is a locally owned company that has been in business many years. It was very inexpensive. They have USED cars, but ours got us everywhere we wanted to go even though it had 113,000 miles on it. As they said, they have to keep them in good shape because it is expensive to pay a tow truck to go get a car in Alaska! It was around $320 for the week (taxes fees included). We walked from the Hawthorne Suites to pick it up and return it... a nice 20 minute walk along a park with baseball diamonds, tennis courts, etc. You are NOT to take it on unpaved roads. Going into Denali you have to take a bus anyway I believe.

For clairfication, they are talking about the DENALI HIGHWAY, the Park Road is what you take the buses on in Denali Park.

2 TOTALLY different roads.

Just returned from two weeks in Seward and Homer. Picked up full size car from Alamo at airport. Reserved on website for $550 for the two weeks including all taxes. Register for their email specials to get good rates.

We went in June and got a full-size car from U-Save for $376 for 10 days. They are off airport but come and pick you up promptly from baggage claim. Don't know whether they'd do the same to your hotel.