A: The best, and most reliable way to see Denali, is undoubtedly from the air! Experiencing the grandeur of the largest mountain in the western hemisphere from the personal distance that an aircraft can offer, is an experience you will not forget! Flightseeing in Denali National Park is a unique experience; there isn’t an area comparable to the nearly 6 million acres of enormous glaciers, towering granite walls and snow-covered peaks, on earth.
There are quite a few flightseeing options available, that begin from either deep within the park, or from the park entrance. Guests at the Denali Backcountry Lodge in Kantishna can enjoy the convenience of departing from the private Kantishna airstrip on the round trip Grand Ascent tour; an exciting hour long flightseeing adventure.
Near the park entrance, you take a fixed-wing aircraft, traveling along the spine of the Alaska Range, right up to Denali; on this Mt. McKinley Flightseeing Adventure. You can also embark on a helicopter excursion from the park entrance. A helicopter is a wonderful way to experience Denali National Park. You can land on a pristine glacier, for a glacier walk, or in a remote valley for a 3 hour guided hike.
There are also some Denali Flightseeing options available from Anchorage, you can see them all on our Anchorage Flightseeing Page.
Flightseeing is a great way to get away from the crowds at the park entrance, and see Denali close up!
Q: How long does it take to travel from Anchorage to Fairbanks?
A: Well, travel time of course depends on your chosen mode of transportation. If you are traveling on the Alaska Railroad it will take some time; it’s a scenic route, and accordingly – the train travels at a leisurely pace. The travel time from Anchorage to Fairbanks aboard the Alaska Railroad is about 12 hours. The train departs at 8:15 am, and arrives at 8:00 pm (2011 season).
If you are looking to get there a little faster, you should rent a car in Anchorage. You can usually get there in about 8 hours, if the roads aren’t too busy, and you don’t make too many stops.
Q: What is Alaska Railroad’s departure time from Anchorage and when will it arrive in Denali?
A: During summer months from May 18 through September 18, Alaska Railroad departs daily from Anchorage to Denali National Park. The train departs from Anchorage at 8:15 AM and arrives in Denali National Park at 3:45 PM. After Denali, the train continues to go on to Fairbanks. Anchorage-Fairbanks segment of Alaska Railroad journey is operated as Denali Star, and along the way, the train also makes stops in Wasilla and Talkeetna. To better plan your trip; please find Alaska Railroad Schedule for Denali Star with all the stops’ arrival and departure times below:
ALASKA RAILROADDENALI STAR TRAIN SCHEDULE
Depart
Arrive
Northbound
Anchorage
8:15 AM
Wasilla
9:35 AM
Wasilla
9:35 AM
Talkeetna
11:05 AM
Talkeetna
11:20 AM
Denali
3:45 PM
Denali
3:55 PM
Fairbanks
8:00 PM
Southbound
Fairbanks
8:15 AM
Denali
12:15 PM
Denali
12:25 PM
Talkeetna
4:40 PM
Talkeetna
4:55 PM
Wasilla
6:15 PM
Wasilla
6:15 PM
Anchorage
8:00 PM
Runs May 18-Sep 18, 2011. Northbound only May 18, Southbound only Sep 18. Onboard service – Food & beverage, tour guides, baggage service, no-smoking cars, wheelchair access.
Q: Is there any way to travel round trip from Anchorage to Denali in one day aboard a train?
A: No. You cannot travel round trip from Anchorage to Denali in one day aboard a train. Unlike trains in the big cities in lower 48 states, Alaska Railroad does not operate high speed trains. Traveling aboard Alaska Railroad is a scenic experience unlike any other. The train leaves from Anchorage at 8:15 AM and it arrives Denali at 3:45 PM. If you are interested in experiencing Alaska Railroad, you have to stay overnight in Denali. We would recommend staying at Denali Cabins. Denali Cabins also provides complimentary shuttle service to and from Denali Train Depot. Alaska Railroad leaves from Denali to Anchorage at 12:20 PM. Instead of experiencing train travel, if you want to travel round trip from Anchorage to Denali in one day, you have the option of traveling Anchorage Denali Express, or simply renting a car. It is approximately 4 to 5 hours drive from Anchorage to Denali. Anchorage Denali Express leaves from Anchorage at 7:30 AM and arrives Denali by noon, and leaves from Denali at 2:30 PM and arrives Anchorage by 7:00 PM.
Q: How to travel to Denali National Park from Anchorage?
A: There are multiple ways of traveling to Denali National Park from Anchorage. Alaska Railroad operates daily during peak summer months from Anchorage to Denali National Park. It leaves Anchorage at 8:15 AM and arrives at Denali National Park by 3:45 PM. You can also travel to Denali National Park from Anchorage aboard Anchorage Denali Express, a comfortable daily express motorcoach service between Anchorage and Denali National Park. The motor coach leaves Anchorage downtown at 7:30 AM and arrives at the park entrance by 12:30 PM. For those guests who want to connect with the bus going to Denali Backcountry Lodge, deep inside Denali National Park in Kantishna, the motorcoach is an excellent option. If neither motorcoach nor train is your choice, then you can rent a car in Anchorage. Depending on a road condition, it takes in average 4.5 to 5 hours to travel by car from Anchorage to Denali National Park.
