ConnWay

I am planning a driving tour starting in Anchorage, to Denali, Fairbanks and back to Anchorage. My questions is which route to take back. I was looking at Fairbanks thru Delta Junction on to Glennallen for an overnight. Then on to Anchorage the next day.
Then I saw a post about the Denali Highway but that would have us backtracking the route from Denali back to Anchorage.
Can anyone recommend a route and any must sees along the way?

Gardyloo

The national rental companies won't let you use the Denali Hwy as it's mostly gravel (and/or mud, ruts, potholes, etc.) so the question is largely moot. Some local companies will allow it. It's quite scenic, however.

If your time allows, the Richardson Hwy to/from Valdez is simply glorious - one of North America's most scenic roads. It's expensive, but doing a big loop from Anchorage using the Valdez-Whittier ferry across Prince William Sound will knock your socks off.

sdpryde

Adding on to Gardyloo's response...

- here's a link to a google map of most of AK' s contiguous roads:
https://goo.gl/maps/PzwTz
- the Denali Hwy (mentioned previously by Gardyloo) id the road that runs east from Cantwell
- the rest of the roads/highways on this map are paved
- I'd use Google Maps to determine how many miles you want to drive (use their durations carefully as they are too short - add 30 minutes for every 2 hrs they list)
- I couldn't give you an educated opinion without knowing how long you are in AK for, what you wan to see/do, etc.

ConnWay

Thank you. Your replies are very helpful. I have been using google maps but it doesn't show all the roads. I guess because they are not paved?
I am planning a week in Alaska then taking the Southbound cruise from Seward to Vancouver.
We will fly into Anchorage (coming from Connecticut)so day one is shot.
We will then spend a day traveling to Denali checking out the sites along the way. Next day take the tour in Denali (I'm thinking the shorter one).
Then on to Fairbanks and eventually back to Anchorage. Haven't figured out the overnights yet.
Any suggestions?

PaulRabe

> Then on to Fairbanks

I hate to be a spoil-sport, but what exactly do you hope to experience in Fairbanks that you couldn't get ten times better in the Kenai Peninsula? Fairbanks is an okay town, and Alaskaland is an okay attraction, but there is a LOT of OMG!! views south of Anchorage. I'd recommend driving to Homer or to Valdez FAR above a drive to Fairbanks.

vincenzo32951

I'd skip Fairbanks, too. We did the Chena River boat tour with another couple, and it was OK. But other than that, I wouldn't bother.

ConnWay

I was thinking there wasn't much that interested me in Fairbanks. I was looking at driving from Fairbanks to Glennallen, then back to Anchorage. Doing a big circle. Is this also a dirt road? Is it worth the 10-12 hours of driving to see that part of the state?

From Anchorage I plan to take a day to go to Kenai.