Driving Itinerary #1, Denali Dreams

North/North East, Anchorage, Denali, Fairbanks

This trip will take you up the Parks Highway #3 to Denali National Park and Preserve. Along the way, you will pass through the communities of Wassilla, Willow, and Talkeetna.

Start your trip in Alaska’s largest city of Anchorage. With wildlife, water and a metropolitan vibe, there is much to discover all in one place. Where else in the world can you take a short stroll from your hotel, cast a line in the water, catch a king salmon, and have it cleaned and shipped back home? Ship Creek runs right through downtown Alaska and 40% of the hotels are located in the area. Don’t worry if you didn’t bring fishing gear, as there are numerous places to rent all the trappings. A fishing license is required with 1, 3, 7 and 14-day licensees available.

Wildlife is abundant in the area with over 1,500 moose wandering through the city. There is also the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center, which is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of the state’s wildlife. They host numerous educational programs and tours throughout the day.

The Alaska Native Heritage Center promotes the heritage of Alaska’s 11 native cultures through storytelling, singing and dance.

The railroad made this Alaskan city as it linked together vast regions of the state and still today it is the starting point for reaching by train the cities of Seward, Prince William Sound, Denali, Talkeetna and Fairbanks.

Starting on Glenn Highway, the only road going north out of Anchorage, will take you just over four hours or 237 miles to reach Denali National Park. Many rural locations in Alaska use a mile marker on a road to denote their physical address, and Denali's entrance is at Mile 237, Highway 3.

Stemming from the language of a native Alaskan tribe meaning “the tall one”, Denali is the highest mountain in North America. Situated in a six million acre national park, Denali is the breath-taking crown jewel is an area of vast tundra, spruce filled forests and rolling glaciers. There is only one road in Denali and is accessible by private vehicle only through Mile 15. The rest of the 77 miles is open only to a private bus company. From late May through early September, private motor vehicles can drive to Savage River. Along the way, drivers can find many pull-outs to stop and take pictures of the incredible scenery. On a clear day, the mountain becomes visible as early as Mile 9. There are three different types of buses that operate within the park. A narrated tour bus, a non-narrated transit bus and a free bus that enables people who don’t have a car or those that leave it behind to travel between the park’s trails, facilities and campgrounds. No reservation is required for the free bus but encouraged for the others. More information about the buses and sightseeing in Denali can be found on the website of the National Park Service. A unique way to view the park is with Denali Air. This “breathtaking, once-in-a-lifetime, bucket list experience” is the perfect way to get up close to the mountain and surrounding landscape. Their private airstrip is located just south of the park and they have several flightseeing tours.

Continue on to Fairbanks, which is just 122 miles from Denali National Park. The George Park Highway will take you through some breathtaking scenery with many opportunities for picture taking. Once in Fairbanks, there are activities for the whole family, including gold panning, wildlife viewing and even dog mushing. From April through August, Fairbanks is home to the midnight sun with over 24 hours of daylight, so there is plenty of time to experience everything this city offers. There are many accommodations in Fairbanks, but I recommend the Rivers Edge Resort located on the Chena River. For real home cooked Alaskan food in Fairbanks, try the Pump House and Chena’s Alaskan Grill. Just out of town is Ivory Jacks, located in the Goldstream Valley.

There are several ways to get to Anchorage from Fairbanks. You can follow the George Parks Highway back to Anchorage or take the Richardson Highway to the North Pole (won’t that be a great Christmas Card and yes it’s a real town) then back track to Fairbanks and take Parks Highway to Anchorage passing through the communities of Wassilla, Willow, and Talkeetna.

From Anchorage, take your return flight back to Seattle.