Help With Itinerary: Anchorage to Denali
Sep 7th, 2022, 03:11 PM
#1
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Help With Itinerary: Anchorage to Denali
We are picking up a Windstar Cruise in Seward next July. We looked into adding on Fairbanks to Denali to Seward with lots of nice features prior to the cruise, but the cost is $3,000 pp. Now we're considering a road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks to Denali round trip. We likely won't be going back to Alaska since we have so many trips on our bucket list and we're in our mid-70's. The main feature would of course be Denali. We're wondering if it is worth this extra expense/effort/time if the road in Denali is closed at mile 43. We wanted to do the Tundra Wilderness Tour. Also would like to hear about favorite stops along the way, good hotel/cabins, etc. All advise would is most appreciated.
Last edited by Wm; Sep 7th, 2022 at 03:21 PM.
Sep 7th, 2022, 03:35 PM
#2
We stayed at Denali Perch Resort in 2021. We had a mom and two baby moose in the adjacent creek. Good food at their restaurant.
We came from Anchorage near the airport but also I heard that Fairbanks was easier to get car rentals. I think it would be worth trying for Denali, although we did the full length to Eielson many of the sightings were in the first half of the drive (I think it was primarily reindeer/caribou which were farther along the road). Also we went in the first half of June which I was told is better for wildlife viewing than July.
Denali Perch Resort
In Seward we really liked Northern Lights BnB.
In addition we drove along the gravel Denali Highway and stayed at McLaren lodge. You might consider doing that road out to Richardson Highway if you have time, and your car rental allows it.
Alaska Trip June 2021
Alaska Lodgings and Restaurants June 2021
We came from Anchorage near the airport but also I heard that Fairbanks was easier to get car rentals. I think it would be worth trying for Denali, although we did the full length to Eielson many of the sightings were in the first half of the drive (I think it was primarily reindeer/caribou which were farther along the road). Also we went in the first half of June which I was told is better for wildlife viewing than July.
Denali Perch Resort
In Seward we really liked Northern Lights BnB.
In addition we drove along the gravel Denali Highway and stayed at McLaren lodge. You might consider doing that road out to Richardson Highway if you have time, and your car rental allows it.
Alaska Trip June 2021
Alaska Lodgings and Restaurants June 2021
Last edited by mlgb; Sep 7th, 2022 at 03:42 PM.
Sep 7th, 2022, 04:00 PM
#3
Read my trip report on our Alaska trip in June 2016. You can click on my profile to get to my trip reports. Personally, I would not go on the bus trip in Denali unless it went all the way to the visitor center at MP 67. The road MIGHT be repaired by next July. Check on the status of bus trips next spring and buy the trip before you arrive at the entrance/bus start point.
If you get the chance, take a flight to Anchorage that arrives in the morning rather than one that arrives between 10PM and midnight. Snow City Cafe is the best place for breakfast in Anchorage. If lodging in Seward is expensive, check on what you can find in Homer.
If you get the chance, take a flight to Anchorage that arrives in the morning rather than one that arrives between 10PM and midnight. Snow City Cafe is the best place for breakfast in Anchorage. If lodging in Seward is expensive, check on what you can find in Homer.
Sep 8th, 2022, 01:45 AM
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We only went as far north as Talkeetna nut skies were clear and Denali was very visible even at midnight from a cabin where we stayed. But it's a long drive and kind of boring whereas Anchorage south to Seward is breathtaking and there are more things to see and do. salmon will be running in the Russian River and that is fascinating. We enjoyed Independence Mine north of Anchorage and Iditarod headquarters. You might like the Transportation museum.
South of Anchorage there is also the tram ride up Alyeska. The Forest Faire if you are there around 4th of July. The area around Soldotna and Kenai is flatter and you are probably guaranteed seeing moose. We also found it fascinating to watch net fishermen, maybe Kenai River. Homer is artsy and funky and also popular for fishing. We did not go to the wildlife center but heard it was good. i enjoyed the Pratt Museum in Homer. Even though you are going on a cruise I would go on a small boat glacier viewing out of Seward. I also liked the Begich, Boggs visitors center in Portage. When we visited you could listen to stories about the earthquake. In Homer you should be able to take a short flightseeing trip.
South of Anchorage there is also the tram ride up Alyeska. The Forest Faire if you are there around 4th of July. The area around Soldotna and Kenai is flatter and you are probably guaranteed seeing moose. We also found it fascinating to watch net fishermen, maybe Kenai River. Homer is artsy and funky and also popular for fishing. We did not go to the wildlife center but heard it was good. i enjoyed the Pratt Museum in Homer. Even though you are going on a cruise I would go on a small boat glacier viewing out of Seward. I also liked the Begich, Boggs visitors center in Portage. When we visited you could listen to stories about the earthquake. In Homer you should be able to take a short flightseeing trip.
Sep 8th, 2022, 05:44 AM
#5
You can even see Denail (Mt McKinley) from Downtown Anchorage! We saw if when we were at the airport waiting to fly to Nome. (also from the plane). It wasn't clear enough when we did our tour, unfortunately.
Alaska.org has the following details on viewpoints
https://www.alaska.org/advice/denali...-the-great-one
Going to the park wasn't just about seeing the mountain for us. We had a great wildlife viewing experience and I'm glad I went before the cruise ships, crowds and COVID returned. ( I had already done a few cruises out of Seward but had never been to Denali.)
Expert advice on a variety of searchable topics
https://www.alaska.org/expert-advice
Alaska.org has the following details on viewpoints
https://www.alaska.org/advice/denali...-the-great-one
Going to the park wasn't just about seeing the mountain for us. We had a great wildlife viewing experience and I'm glad I went before the cruise ships, crowds and COVID returned. ( I had already done a few cruises out of Seward but had never been to Denali.)
Expert advice on a variety of searchable topics
https://www.alaska.org/expert-advice
Last edited by mlgb; Sep 8th, 2022 at 05:47 AM.
Sep 8th, 2022, 09:25 AM
#6
If you did this on your own, how many days would you have available in Alaska before departing?
Three grand sounds like an awful lot, but of course it depends on what's included in the package. You certainly could rent a car in Anchorage then drive to Denali and back, with a couple of days near the national park, for considerably less than $6K, lots less.
But given the road access issues into the park's interior, and the fact that it appears that the bulk of the Denali tours offered by all the other cruise lines are still happening, it's not hard to imagine that conditions in and near the park might be pretty packed - hotels all booked, the tour buses full, etc. The "tundra wilderness tour," now reduced to 5 1/2 hours from 8 (due to the road closure) might very well give you good views of Denali and might very well let you see wildlife at close range. Or it might not.
Which raises the question: If you didn't do the Fairbanks-Denali tour (either the package or independently) what else could you do with those same days and dollars that might appeal to you? Looking at your cruise itinerary (it's the July 1 departure, right?) it seems you're going to see a lot of glaciers as well as small towns in Prince William Sound and SE Alaska on the way south, so maybe you'd be interested in something inland? Denali is not the only destination that offers scenery and wildlife, but creature comforts may be a little less luxurious, albeit adequate.
Or maybe you pop for around $350 per person and fly round trip to the midnight sun (actually, 24 hours of sun) above the arctic circle - to Barrow (now Utqiagvik) or Kotzebue, both Inupiat Eskimo communities. There are tours offered in Utqiagvik that will take you to the Arctic Ocean, to cultural heritage sites, let you walk around on the arctic tundra and let you see any wildlife that might be around. Or in Kotzebue you can stay at a comfortable Native-owned hotel across the street from the Arctic Ocean, visit a cultural heritage center, or - if you're adventurous - do a flightseeing tour up the Kobuk River, to Kobuk National Park, or to the Gates of the Arctic National Park, or, in late June, to see hundreds of thousands of migrating caribou.
You have plenty of time to research the various options, so I'd use it to design a land-based adventure that pleases you.
Three grand sounds like an awful lot, but of course it depends on what's included in the package. You certainly could rent a car in Anchorage then drive to Denali and back, with a couple of days near the national park, for considerably less than $6K, lots less.
But given the road access issues into the park's interior, and the fact that it appears that the bulk of the Denali tours offered by all the other cruise lines are still happening, it's not hard to imagine that conditions in and near the park might be pretty packed - hotels all booked, the tour buses full, etc. The "tundra wilderness tour," now reduced to 5 1/2 hours from 8 (due to the road closure) might very well give you good views of Denali and might very well let you see wildlife at close range. Or it might not.
Which raises the question: If you didn't do the Fairbanks-Denali tour (either the package or independently) what else could you do with those same days and dollars that might appeal to you? Looking at your cruise itinerary (it's the July 1 departure, right?) it seems you're going to see a lot of glaciers as well as small towns in Prince William Sound and SE Alaska on the way south, so maybe you'd be interested in something inland? Denali is not the only destination that offers scenery and wildlife, but creature comforts may be a little less luxurious, albeit adequate.
Or maybe you pop for around $350 per person and fly round trip to the midnight sun (actually, 24 hours of sun) above the arctic circle - to Barrow (now Utqiagvik) or Kotzebue, both Inupiat Eskimo communities. There are tours offered in Utqiagvik that will take you to the Arctic Ocean, to cultural heritage sites, let you walk around on the arctic tundra and let you see any wildlife that might be around. Or in Kotzebue you can stay at a comfortable Native-owned hotel across the street from the Arctic Ocean, visit a cultural heritage center, or - if you're adventurous - do a flightseeing tour up the Kobuk River, to Kobuk National Park, or to the Gates of the Arctic National Park, or, in late June, to see hundreds of thousands of migrating caribou.
You have plenty of time to research the various options, so I'd use it to design a land-based adventure that pleases you.
Sep 8th, 2022, 03:08 PM
#7
There certainly are properties still available near Denali, for example I see McKinley Creekside Cabins available in late June. That was right next door to where we stayed (in fact we saw the moose in Carlo Creek). The big cruise lines are going to put people up in a different sort of setting. But don't wait too long to lock something down, if you think you might want to do this.
https://www.mckinleycabins.com/rooms-and-rates
https://www.mckinleycabins.com/rooms-and-rates
Sep 9th, 2022, 06:53 AM
#8
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If you did this on your own, how many days would you have available in Alaska before departing?
Three grand sounds like an awful lot, but of course it depends on what's included in the package. You certainly could rent a car in Anchorage then drive to Denali and back, with a couple of days near the national park, for considerably less than $6K, lots less.
But given the road access issues into the park's interior, and the fact that it appears that the bulk of the Denali tours offered by all the other cruise lines are still happening, it's not hard to imagine that conditions in and near the park might be pretty packed - hotels all booked, the tour buses full, etc. The "tundra wilderness tour," now reduced to 5 1/2 hours from 8 (due to the road closure) might very well give you good views of Denali and might very well let you see wildlife at close range. Or it might not.
Which raises the question: If you didn't do the Fairbanks-Denali tour (either the package or independently) what else could you do with those same days and dollars that might appeal to you? Looking at your cruise itinerary (it's the July 1 departure, right?) it seems you're going to see a lot of glaciers as well as small towns in Prince William Sound and SE Alaska on the way south, so maybe you'd be interested in something inland? Denali is not the only destination that offers scenery and wildlife, but creature comforts may be a little less luxurious, albeit adequate.
Or maybe you pop for around $350 per person and fly round trip to the midnight sun (actually, 24 hours of sun) above the arctic circle - to Barrow (now Utqiagvik) or Kotzebue, both Inupiat Eskimo communities. There are tours offered in Utqiagvik that will take you to the Arctic Ocean, to cultural heritage sites, let you walk around on the arctic tundra and let you see any wildlife that might be around. Or in Kotzebue you can stay at a comfortable Native-owned hotel across the street from the Arctic Ocean, visit a cultural heritage center, or - if you're adventurous - do a flightseeing tour up the Kobuk River, to Kobuk National Park, or to the Gates of the Arctic National Park, or, in late June, to see hundreds of thousands of migrating caribou.
You have plenty of time to research the various options, so I'd use it to design a land-based adventure that pleases you.
Three grand sounds like an awful lot, but of course it depends on what's included in the package. You certainly could rent a car in Anchorage then drive to Denali and back, with a couple of days near the national park, for considerably less than $6K, lots less.
But given the road access issues into the park's interior, and the fact that it appears that the bulk of the Denali tours offered by all the other cruise lines are still happening, it's not hard to imagine that conditions in and near the park might be pretty packed - hotels all booked, the tour buses full, etc. The "tundra wilderness tour," now reduced to 5 1/2 hours from 8 (due to the road closure) might very well give you good views of Denali and might very well let you see wildlife at close range. Or it might not.
Which raises the question: If you didn't do the Fairbanks-Denali tour (either the package or independently) what else could you do with those same days and dollars that might appeal to you? Looking at your cruise itinerary (it's the July 1 departure, right?) it seems you're going to see a lot of glaciers as well as small towns in Prince William Sound and SE Alaska on the way south, so maybe you'd be interested in something inland? Denali is not the only destination that offers scenery and wildlife, but creature comforts may be a little less luxurious, albeit adequate.
Or maybe you pop for around $350 per person and fly round trip to the midnight sun (actually, 24 hours of sun) above the arctic circle - to Barrow (now Utqiagvik) or Kotzebue, both Inupiat Eskimo communities. There are tours offered in Utqiagvik that will take you to the Arctic Ocean, to cultural heritage sites, let you walk around on the arctic tundra and let you see any wildlife that might be around. Or in Kotzebue you can stay at a comfortable Native-owned hotel across the street from the Arctic Ocean, visit a cultural heritage center, or - if you're adventurous - do a flightseeing tour up the Kobuk River, to Kobuk National Park, or to the Gates of the Arctic National Park, or, in late June, to see hundreds of thousands of migrating caribou.
You have plenty of time to research the various options, so I'd use it to design a land-based adventure that pleases you.
Sep 9th, 2022, 01:43 PM
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Granted this was three years ago, but when I got off a cruise, we took a shared bus tour up to Anchorage Airport from Seward (and as mentioned, the Seward area is beautiful). At the airport, I rented a car and drove with my mom up to the Denali area. I rented a cabin in Healy, just north of the area where all of the cruise lines put up their people. For a two-bedroom cabin, I paid roughly 1/5 of what the cruise line wanted to charge me and my mom for a single room. The prime attraction for us was the Kantishna Wilderness Trails bus tour, which obviously is no longer an option. While the park is beautiful, I would have been sorely disappointed to pay $3000 and not be able to get the tour that you want. Also, you can see Denali from two lookout areas off the road on the way up there - if the weather and the mountain play nice. We were fortunate to get a glimpse of the very top. All of this is to say that if you're looking for fantastic mountain scenery, Seward was far more accessible. I did go to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center as it was a stop on our bus up to the airport. It was nice and pretty scenery to go along with the animal sightings. I think Gardyloo had some amazing ideas that would give you much more of an Alaskan experience!
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