Anchorage to Denali

The drive north is long, quiet and wide open. The trick is deciding how you want to spend it.

Driving: rental car or RV

Head north out of Anchorage on the Parks Highway (AK-3). It’s about 237 miles to the park entrance — roughly 4 to 5 hours of driving without stops, though most people take longer. The road is paved and generally allowed by standard car and RV rental agreements.

Driving gives you the freedom to stop in Talkeetna, take in the Alaska Range from Broad Pass and reach trailheads outside the park entrance. Fuel up in Wasilla or Talkeetna — prices tend to climb closer to the park.

The train: Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star

If you’d rather not drive, the Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star runs daily in summer from Anchorage to the Denali depot near the park entrance, continuing on to Fairbanks. It leaves Anchorage in the morning and arrives in the afternoon. Check the current schedule for times and season dates.

Getting into the park

Once you arrive, private vehicle access is limited. Under the park’s vehicle management plan, private cars can generally drive only the first 15 miles of the Park Road, to Savage River. Beyond that, access is mainly by park transit and tour buses — book seats and park campgrounds well ahead through the park’s official reservation channels.

Where to stay

The commercial strip near the park entrance — known locally as “Glitter Gulch” — has large hotels, cabins and RV parks. Overnight backcountry trips need a permit from the park. If you’re catching an early train north, a night in Downtown Anchorage makes the morning easy.