5 Days Before or After an Alaska Cruise: Adding Denali on Your Own

Five days is the point where you can add Denali to your trip. No cruise ship gets within 200 miles of North America's tallest mountain. If the interior's tundra, rivers, and grizzlies are part of your Alaska picture, this is how to get there without cramming it in. It's essentially a do-it-yourself version of a cruisetour's land portion, with two nights at the park, which is the part we never compromise on.

The plan at a glance

• Night 1: Anchorage
• Nights 2 and 3: Denali
• Night 4: Talkeetna
• Night 5: Anchorage, Girdwood, or Seward
• Day 6: Board the ship

Day 1: Arrive in Anchorage

Land, settle in, and take it easy. Walk the Coastal Trail or have an early dinner downtown. Tomorrow starts early. More on Anchorage.

Day 2: North to Denali

You have two good ways to get there.

• By train. The Alaska Railroad's Anchorage to Denali run is one of the great train rides anywhere. It's a full day in a domed railcar, past Talkeetna and along rivers and wilderness with no road in sight. You'll arrive at the park in the late afternoon. More on the Alaska Railroad.
• By car. The drive is about 240 miles, 4.5 hours without stops, up the Parks Highway. It's faster and gives you flexibility for the rest of the trip. Stop at the Denali viewpoints along the way if the mountain is out.

The train is the more memorable day. The car is more practical if you want to set your own pace for days 4 and 5. Either way, you'll spend the night near the park entrance.

Day 3: Inside Denali National Park

Private vehicles can only drive a short way into the park, so the way to see it is a bus tour on the park road. Book the longest narrated tour available. The wildlife is the draw: grizzlies, caribou, moose, and Dall sheep in open country. Bring snacks, binoculars, and patience, and sit on whichever side the driver suggests. Tours go as far into the park as the road currently allows, and we'll tell you what to expect for your dates.

This is also why we insist on two nights. The mountain is only visible on about a third of summer days, so a second morning gives you another chance at it.

Day 4: Denali to Talkeetna

Take a slow morning. There's a sled dog kennel demonstration at park headquarters and short trails near the entrance. Then head south to Talkeetna, a funky little river town and the jumping-off point for Denali climbing expeditions. If the weather is clear, this is the place for the splurge of the trip: a flightseeing trip around Denali, ideally with a glacier landing. Standing on a glacier on the mountain's flank is a moment people talk about for years. Book it with a flexible time, since the flights depend on the weather.

Day 5: Back toward the ship

From Talkeetna, it's about 2.5 hours to Anchorage. For a Whittier departure, spend the night in Anchorage or Girdwood. For Seward, keep going down the Seward Highway (about 2.5 hours more, plus stops along Turnagain Arm) and sleep in Seward, a short walk from the ship. That makes a long driving day, so if you'd rather keep it relaxed, stay in Anchorage and take the scenic drive or the train to Seward on embarkation morning.

Day 6: Board the ship

Unpack once, sit back, and let the ship carry you south. After this pace, a week on the water will feel like a treat.

Doing it after the cruise instead

This works in reverse after a northbound cruise. Disembark, transfer to Anchorage or head straight north to Talkeetna, then spend two nights at Denali. You also don't have to come back to Anchorage: from Denali, it's about 2.5 hours to Fairbanks, and flying home from there saves you a day of backtracking. Our 7-day plan builds on exactly that.

On your own, or as a cruisetour?

Cruise lines sell this same shape of trip as a cruisetour, with lodges, rail, and luggage handled for you. The packaged version is smoother, and some lines' own lodges are very good. Doing it yourself gives you a rental car, a choice of hotels, and Talkeetna on your own schedule. If you're not sure which suits you, that's a good question to ask us. We book both and will tell you honestly which fits your trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do I need to add Denali to an Alaska cruise?
Five is a comfortable minimum. That gives you travel days to and from Anchorage, two nights near the park for a full park-road tour and two chances to see the mountain, and one buffer night before the ship.

Is it better to take the train or drive to Denali?
The train is the more memorable day and lets everyone enjoy the scenery. Driving is faster and more flexible. A lot of travelers take the train north and rent a car for the rest.

Is a Denali flightseeing trip worth it?
If the weather cooperates and the budget allows, yes. It's the most reliable way to see the mountain up close, and a glacier landing is a highlight of many people's entire Alaska trip.

Can I see Denali from Anchorage?
On a clear day, yes, from the Coastal Trail and other high points in town. It's about 130 miles away, though, so it's a distant view.

Want Denali handled around your cruise, whether it's a do-it-yourself itinerary or a packaged cruisetour? Get in touch and we'll build it. Not sure you want the interior? Here's the 3-day coastal version.