Anyone drive on their own from Anchorage to Denali before their cruise in Alaska?

[JAN1]

We are flying into Anchorage on May 29th and want to rent a car and drive to Denali National Park for 3 nights before our cruise. How long does it take to drive to Denali from Anchorage? Is 3 nights too long to stay there? We are going on a cruise leaving from Whittier on June 2nd - 9th. Also should we rent a SUV or would an economy car be just as good for the drive at that time?

Janice

Teach4Jan@aol.com

[Clarea]

You may also want to try posting this on the Alaska forum: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55

[Keith1010]

The time you have planned is great

 

I too would post on the Alaska ports of call to get additional input.

 

Keith

[mef_57]

We are flying into Anchorage on May 29th and want to rent a car and drive to Denali National Park for 3 nights before our cruise. How long does it take to drive to Denali from Anchorage? Is 3 nights too long to stay there? We are going on a cruise leaving from Whittier on June 2nd - 9th. Also should we rent a SUV or would an economy car be just as good for the drive at that time?

Janice

Teach4Jan@aol.com

Definitely post on the Alaska board, but we did this a few years ago. Normal economy car is fine. You can't drive far into Denali itself anyway, so might as well plan to book the bus day trip and sit back and enjoy. Unless you want to do some extra hiking, 3 nights might be too long. Anchorage itself has some interesting stuff to do. Some great local history museums and walking areas. Early June, some of the gardens/parks will be in bloom.

[olemissreb]

We spent 3 nights in the Denali area in 2013. We rented and SUV. There were 4 of us (including 2 teenage boys) with lots of luggage so we figured we'd like the extra room. It takes a couple hours to get up to Denali. Don't rush it - take your time and look for wildlife and check to see if Denali herself is "out". Get a copy of the MilePost and it will help you with sights along the way - doesn't have to be the most current issue as not much changes.

 

Before you leave, check to see how much of the road in to Denali National Park is actually open. You want to get in as far as you can (Eielson Visitor Center is a good distance) to maximize your chances of seeing wildlife and the mountain. We went in late June, so the road was open all the way and we took the shuttle to Wonder Lake.

 

Other things we did - a white water rafting trip down the Nenana River which was awesome and a Midnight ATV Ride in an area that is surrounded on 3 sides by Denali National Park. Bit of advice - don't do the Midnight ATV Ride the night before you go in to Denali National Park. We didn't get to bed until about 2 or 3am and then had to be at DNP at 6am to catch our shuttle. Also - take 100% DEET with you (can get it at REI). The mosquitoes are HORRID! They travel in swarms and the Off stuff didn't work for any of the people that were with us on the ATV ride. We used the DEET (so did the tour guides) and no one got bit. YMMV since you will be there in May.

[evandbob]

You can also fly into Fairbanks and wend your way south to Denali and later into Anchorage. An SUV would be my choice.

[zqvol]

We are flying into Anchorage on May 29th and want to rent a car and drive to Denali National Park for 3 nights before our cruise. How long does it take to drive to Denali from Anchorage? Is 3 nights too long to stay there? We are going on a cruise leaving from Whittier on June 2nd - 9th. Also should we rent a SUV or would an economy car be just as good for the drive at that time?

Janice

Teach4Jan@aol.com

 

That is going to be over Memorial Day weekend. Depending on how many times you stop you can make Denali in about 4.5 hours or take as long as 8. Three nights is about right for many people. I think two is enough. Drive up one day, explore the park the next, return to Anchorage or someplace the next.

 

 

If you are staying on main roads there is no need for an SUV, they are paved and well maintained.

[JAN1]

Driving to Denali on May 30 for 2 nights and returning to Anchorage on June 1st Going on a cruise leaving June 2nd. We decided not to try to drive Denali to Whittier and get the ship

On the same day in case it takes longer. Don’t want to push

It. Is it worth seeing Denali since we can’t get too far into the park at that time? The longer tours start on June 1st but we can take a shorter bus tour.

Janice