Denali - easier from Anchorage or from Seaward

[Jasjas]

We will be in Anchorage and Seaward pre-cruise during the first week in September. Arriving by air in Anchorage on the Tuesday and embarking in Seaward on the next Monday.... We have not finalised any accommodation.

 

What do you suggest ? Any ideas are more than welcome.

 

Are there day-trips from either of these cities to Denali -and from which city would it be easier...We are mostly interested in using a shuttle service. We will not consider doing any driving by ourselves.

 

How does it work ?

 

Thanx in anticipation...

[theloo]

Anchorage is between Seward & Denali. Denali is 240+ miles from Anchorage, so not a day trip at all; there is a train. If you will not consider a car, you should select accomodations that include a shuttle to/from the train station. Seward is also 120+ miles from Anchorage, but a day trip is possible by train. If you are not considering any driving, have you considered an escorted landtour?

Edited January 22, 2014 by theloo

[Jasjas]

Thanx theloo... what would be nicer from Anchorage to Seward - motor coach or train...we have to travel from Anchorage to Seward to get to our cruise ship which will depart from Seward a week after our arrival by air in Anchorage...

 

Much appreciated.

 

Jasjas.

[Glaciers]

As mentioned Denali is north of Anchorage and Seward is south. Denali is not a good day trip destination. Denali is about a 5 hour drive from Anchorage. It normally takes an overnight there to be able to get into the park which can only be accessed by bus with reservations at this site.

http://www.reservedenali.com/

 

Between Anchorage/Denali/Seward, there are transportation options here:

http://www.anchorage.net/transportation

 

The Alaska Railroad is a nice option that goes to Denali and also Seward. Certainly the most comfortable since you can get up and move around. The train follows the highway for most of the journey. There is a section south of Anchorage where the train travels into the mountains between the end of Turnagain Arm on the way to Seward that is very scenic and can’t be seen from the highway.

http://alaskarailroad.com/

[mapleleaves]

Seward is a 3 hr drive SOUTH of Anchorage and Denali is a 5 hr drive NORTH of Anchorage. This map might help you get your bearings:

http://www.alaskarailroad.com/travel/OurTrains/RailbeltMap/tabid/319/Default.aspx

 

 

You can take the Alaska Railroad or Park Connection Bus to/from Denali. Maybe do one of each! The train only 1 departure a day whereas the bus has 2.

There are a few hotels near the park entrance which provide transfers to the Wilderness Access Center where you catch the bus that takes you thru Denali. There is a list of those hotels on the Denali forum of tripadvisor.com under Top Questions. Or you can walk it in about 35-45 minutes. The fall colors will be beautiful during your time period and it's an easier time to see moose during rutting season.

The train ride between Seward and Anch is the most scenic route of the Alaska Railroad. Perhaps spend an extra day or 2 in Seward ... interesting and busy harbor, Exit Glacier is nearby, Sealife Center, Kenai Fjords cruise.

 

A helpful site is http://www.alaska.org/

Edited January 22, 2014 by mapleleaves

[donaldsc]

Check the distances on Google Maps. When you do, you will find that it is not doable as a day trip. If you had also checked the distance time time from Seward to Denali, you would have found that it takes 6 hours 30 minutes not including stops to drive from Seward to Denali. Even less doable.

 

You could fly -

 

"McKinley Flight Tours, also known as Talkeetna Aero Services (tel. 888/733-2899 or 907/683-2899; http://www.talkeetna-aero.com), offers the only scheduled air service to Denali from its base in Talkeetna, or from Anchorage (summer only). Flights are 1-day packages that include flightseeing on the way, a bus tour at the park, a box lunch, and ground transfers. It's the only way to "do" Denali in a day. The package from Anchorage is $595, from Talkeetna $495; they need at least four passengers.

 

Read more: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/denali-national-park-region/720718#ixzz2rC8vELi1"

 

WEB site -

 

http://www.talkeetnaaero.com/denali-day-trips.htm

 

DON

Edited January 23, 2014 by donaldsc