We will be in Alaska this July; renting a car in Anchorage. After exploring the Kenai peninsula, we plan to drive to Denali. After Denali I am wondering if we should drive to Skagway? Is this a good scenic drive? Good stops along the way? After Skagway, we would return to Anchorage; Is McCArthy a worthwhile stop on the trip back to Anchorage?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Why Skagway?? Skagway is a loooong way from Denali. The road trip from Denali to Skagway and then back to Anchorage would take 30 hours without stops. There aren't many flights to Skagway, but maybe you could ferry to Skagway from closer to Anchorage or fly to Juneau and then take the ferry to Skagway. Or plan the trip in a different order.

You would need to find a rental car company that would allow you to take the car through Canada to Whitehorse than down to Skagway. It would add several days of driving and probably bump the cost of the car significantly. I believe Avis (only major rental company in Skagway) allows one-way rentals to/from Skagway, but there will be a very high one-way fee (probably several hundred dollars.) You could take the state ferry from Skagway to Juneau and fly from there, but either way you're talking about a major undertaking, and an expensive one.

McCarthy is fascinating but because it's accessed by gravel road, major rental car companies don't allow it.

Here is a scenic option: Hatcher Pass (near Anchorage), Valdez, and ferry to Whittier (or vice versa). This requires careful planning because the ferry does not leave every day.

There is a day cruise out of Valdez, but I've never taken it.

The 26-Glacier day-cruise out of Whitter is quite spectacular.

The wildlife cruise out of Seward is excellent.

HTtY

Back to the drawing board As the others say -- that is not a 'drive', it is a days long trek.