It is a paved two lane road. Right now, our darkest hours in Anchorage are between 2-3am. Dont endanger others lives by stopping in shoulders or even worse in the middle of the road because you see something you want to look at. Railroad enthusiasts will appreciate the Alaska Railroad Museum located inside the historic train station from 1923. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. Big ship or small ship? If you can afford it, I would splurge on aDenali flightseeing tourwith one of the air taxi companies based in Talkeetna. It is also home to the Nancy Lake Recreation Area, covering a large area with many small lakes. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Highlights plus less visited destinations. Northwest Travel & Life Magazine represents trust and inspires a passion for Experiencing All Things Northwest., 2022 - Northwest Travel & Life Magazine, iditarod.com/resources/about/headquarters, Bellingham, Washington: Salish Sea Playground, A Craft Brew mecca: Kitsap Peninsula, Washington, Catch the Aurora Borealis in Fairbanks, Alaska. Totally worth it! What is the snowiest city in Alaska? It's okay, you can start planning your If time allows, stop in Wasilla and visit the Iditarod Sled Dog Race Headquarters (iditarod.com/resources/about/headquarters) to learn about one of the worlds most exciting races. Privacy Policy & Disclaimer. Which one is right for you? As you drive onwards you'll pass the entrance of Denali National Park, home to America's highest peak as well as trails, untouched wildlife and open tundra. Hatcher Pass is one of the most popular recreation areas near Anchorage year round! Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. Each of the viewpoints have a different perspective on the mountain, which is also different from the angle you get inside the park or from the air. - See 1,784 traveler reviews, 465 candid photos, and great deals for Denali National Park and Preserve, AK, at Tripadvisor. Length: 414 Miles Denali Park Salmon Bake: Best place to eat in Denali Park!! The only problem is, it can also be rainy and cool. The direct journey time doesn't account for road conditions during adverse weather, which may impact the speed at which you are able to travel. Use our calculator to find out, Stay casual, dress in layers, and get proper footwear, View All Southcentral & Interior Towns on a Map, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. Its advisable to book bus tickets and campsites in advance and can be done atReserve Denali. There are long stretches without towns and services, but there are also plenty of places to stop along the highway. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. About 100 miles north of Anchorage youll see signs for the Talkeetna Spurr Road turn off, take the exit to the right and follow for about 14 miles where youll end up in tiny, walkable Talkeetna. Overcast Clouds. The sun doesnt rise until about 8 a.m. and sets at 7:30pm. In winter, there is plenty of opportunity for cross country skiing. Campgrounds, RV Parks & Public Use Cabins. That said, the Alaska Department of Transportation makes a significant effort to keep the highway passable and safe. You could head toward Chena Hotsprings and have a soak in the hot waters. 11:00 am start in Anchorage drive for about 55 minutes 11:55 am Wasilla stay for about 1 hour and leave at 12:55 pm drive for about 1.5 hours 2:17 pm Talkeetna stay overnight and leave the next day around 10:00 am day 1 driving 2.5 hours find more stops Day 2 10:00 am leave from Talkeetna drive for about 2 hours 12:08 pm Cantwell (Alaska) For a list of incorporated places, see List of incorporated places in . If you go straight to Seward with no stops, plan on a roughly two hour drive(about 125 miles). The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. September in the Anchorage area has another unique draw: The Alaska State Fair, located just 40 minutes north of the city in Palmer. That's why locals say, "September is a gamble.". Get the reverse directions for a Time needed: 7-10 days minimum. Another two hours up the road is iconic Denali National Park; Fairbanks is another couple hours north. In winter expect plenty of snow and ice. Denali seems to be the crown jewel in many travelers Alaska agendas since the park does house the tallest mountain in North America. If youre driving through in late winter or early spring, look for the black and white tripod set up on the river, which topples over and triggers a clock which marks the official time to declare a winner! Driving from Anchorage to Fairbanks will give you a feel for Alaskas vast landscapes and at stops along the way you can enjoy hikes, views, picnics and get to know what Alaska is like! If you decide to take another mode of transport, the bus journey takes 10 hours 15 minutes to make the same journey. Its an 115 mile, about 2-2.5 hour drive north from Anchorage. Ive allotted two days here for exploring the park, but it can easily be done in a day for those only wanting a bus tour, or you could spend weeks or even months here depending on what you want to do. Is there a ferry from Washington to Alaska? The demographics have changed a little by September, too (more families with small kids, since bigger kids have gone back to school). By Car Maximize your flexibility and extend the six or seven hours it would take to drive straight through. Is the road between there and Anchorage pretty much always open or does snow sometimes close it? Enjoy six days traveling from Fairbanks to Anchorage with stops in Denali National Park and Talkeetna for rafting, wildlife viewing, and a once-in-a-lifetime flightseeing trip with glacier landing. My favorite camping locations on the road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks are the Kesugi Ken Campground in Denali State Park as well as the Savage River Campground in Denali National Park. Road conditions from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Plus, our mosquitoes usually die off the first week in August, so they are long gone. For one thing, since this is more of a business hub than a tourist spot, hotels stay open year round, though they can offer better rates in September than you would find during the peak summer months. On this spectacular 360 mile drive, youll see incredible landscapes as you transition between several of Alaskas unique climate zones, see wildlife and pass through Denali State Park and the edge of Denali National Park. While brochures wax poetic about how early fall can be the perfect time to visit Alaska, the days are shorter, and it can also be rainy and cooler. If you're a photographer, you may be interested in a fall foliage photo tour. Walk the local trails, and dine at the local restaurants, like Jack Sprat. The city itself is a hub of entertainment, fresh seafood and local culture, as well as being one of the best places to view the Northern Lights. Farther up the highway, at the braided mouth of the Knik River, you will pass a vast open area called the Palmer Hay Flats. That brings concerts, plenty of local goods, and the world-famous, massive vegetables that have grown all summer long under the midnight sun. Make sure to book lodges and hotels far in advance for this very popular area, especially in the Denali National Park area which has very limited options. Anchorage averages 78.8 inches of snow per year. Road Trip from Vancouver to Anchorage, Alaska. Transit bus service along the Denali Park Road ends the second Thursday after the Labor Day holiday each year. It has a couple of surprisingly excellent museums for such a small town. There are several B&Bs in the town of Healy (10 miles north of the park entrance) that stay open year round. There are many campsites available as well as hotels for those less adventurous. Campgrounds, RV Parks & Public Use Cabins. Between fall colors, bears gathering at salmon streams, and the possibility of seeing the northern lights, there's plenty to fill your lens. In summary, Anchorage to Fairbanks is 360 miles of mostly two-lane paved highway once north of Wasilla. If youre traveling with a canoe or kayak, this is a great place to paddle around. Im happy to have found this article. Both the train and bus are equally liable to being affected by difficult weather conditions, so check the weather in advance of traveling, particularly during the winter months. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); NORTHWEST TRAVEL & LIFE MAGAZINE is the informative resource in the Northwest for travel, food, adventure and living life to its fullest. When youre ready to say farewell to Talkeetna, backtrack to the Parks Highway and head north. The program proved to be an enormous success due to the valleys rich soil, the midnight-sun growing season and the heartiness and determination of the farmers. 359 mi Total Distance 7 hrs 7 mins Drive Time 30 stops Cities / Attractions Search for Seattle flights on KAYAK now to find the best deal. drive for about 2 hours, 12:08 pm Cantwell (Alaska) All land transportation options take you through river valleys and boreal forest, with mountain vistas and Denali (Mt. You can opt for a quick 1 mile round trip walk to the face of the glacier or the much longer and strenuous hike up to Harding Icefield (about 8.4 miles roundtrip to the emergency shelter). I've been a tour guide in both Alaska and Washington and I love to share the places I love with visitors, newcomers and my fellow locals. If going into the backcountry you must obtain a backcountry pass at the visitor center- they are free. Check out myDenali National Park Guide, BudgetCamping (tent & RV) in Denali National Park|Reservedenali.com|, MidrangeAurora Denali Lodge (Healy)|Booking.com|Hotels.com|, SplurgeMcKinley Creekside Cabins|Booking.com|Hotels.com|. Lazy Otter Charters offers small group sightseeing tours into Blackstone Bay through the month of October. September in the Anchorage area has another unique draw: The Alaska State Fair, located just 40 minutes north of the city in Palmer. You might even decide to tarry in Talkeetna for a few days, so you wont miss anything. The highway is easy to follow, although it crosses rugged terrain. To get to Talkeetna, take the Glenn Highway north from Anchorage and make sure to follow the signs as you approach the Mat-Su Valley toward the Parks Highway and Wasilla. Check out the following posts in the One Week In Alaska series: Start shopping plans over atbattleface, my go-to travel insurance choice, or over atWorld Nomads. 7-10 days minimum Alaska agendas since the Park does house the tallest mountain in north America Talkeetna for a days! Roughly two hour drive ( about 125 miles ) will appreciate the Alaska Department Transportation... Can be done atReserve Denali 7-10 days minimum to make the same journey,. Area, covering a large Area with many small lakes and extend the six or seven hours it take. In a fall foliage photo tour also plenty of places to stop along Denali! The bus journey takes 10 hours 15 minutes to make the same journey highway once of. Transportation makes a significant effort to keep the highway is easy to follow, it! To Seward with no stops, plan on a roughly two hour drive ( about 125 miles.! Salmon Bake: best place to eat in Denali Park road ends the Thursday. 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