Day 1—Arrive in Anchorage (1 night)
Lodging options:
Copper Whale Inn https://www.copperwhale.com/
Hotel Captain Cook https://captaincook.com/
Day 2—Arrive in Seward (2 nights)
Lodging Options:
Bell in the Woods Bed and Breakfast http://www.bellinthewoods.com/
Van Gilder Hotel https://vangilderseward.com/
Day 3—Overnight in Seward
Day 4—Arrive in Wasilla (1 night)
Lodging Options:
Grand View Inn and Suites https://alaskagrandview.com/
Susitna Suites https://www.susitnasuites.com/
Day 5—Arrive in Denali National Park Area (2 nights)
Lodging Options:
McKinley Creekside Cabins https://www.mckinleycabins.com/
Healy Heights Family Cabins http://www.healycabins.com/
Day 6—Overnight Denali National Park Area
Day 7—Arrive in Anchorage for return flight
Daily Activity Suggestions
Day 1: Arrive in Anchorage, pick up the rental car at the airport. After checking into your lodging, explore downtown Anchorage by foot. Get dinner downtown, walk the Tony Knowles Trail, or check out the view of Mt Susitna from Resolution Park.
Day 2: Begin the drive to Seward (2-3 hours without stops). You’ll have lots of scenic views driving along Turn Again Arm with many photo opportunities. Stop at the Wildlife Conservation Center for a tour. You’ll arrive in Seward late afternoon/early evening. Check into your accommodation in Seward.
Day 3: Kenai Fjords tour https://majormarine.com/ or https://www.alaskacollection.com/day-tours/kenai-fjords-tours/. Both companies are good. Be sure to choose at least a 6-hour tour to get out to see tidewater glaciers.
Day 4: Begin the drive to Wasilla (3-4 hours without stops). In Portage take the round-trip Glacier Discovery Train https://www.alaskarailroad.com/ride-a-train/our-trains/glacier-discovery. Check into your accommodations once you arrive in Wasilla.
Day 5: Begin the drive to Denali (4-5 hours without stops). Make a side trip to Hatcher Pass if it’s a nice day. On the Parks Highway you may get lucky and catch a glimpse of Denali along the route. Check into your accommodations in the Denali Area. Visit the Denali National Park Visitors Center and sign up for a Discovery Hike or other ranger-led hike. Drive the first 15 miles of the road to look for wildlife.
Day 6: Reserve a shuttle bus into the park at least as far as Eielson Visitor Center. If you decide to do a Discovery Hike (ranger-led backcountry hike), the bus reservation can be transferred.
Day 7: Begin the drive to Anchorage (4-5 hours without stops). Your flight is late enough that you can make a stop in Talkeetna. There are lots of shops to look in, walk down to the river, and get lunch in town. Visit the Iditarod Headquarters on the way back through Wasilla, then on to Anchorage and the flight home.
Next Steps
- Flight—Done.
- Rental Car—Done. I recommend using Autoslash to track the rental. If the price drops you can rebook and save money.
- Lodging—Look through the above options and book your lodging for each location. They all have availability as of today.
- Activities—Review the above options. I recommend booking anything you don’t want to miss before your trip begins. Consider buying The Alaska Toursaver coupon book for 2 for 1 deals on many activities. https://toursaver.com/
- Schedule a follow-up call with me to answer any questions you have. If needed, I will make a one-time revision to your itinerary. https://calendly.com/sojournalaska/30min