Snowy peaks seen from a flightseeing trip.

Both Sides of Denali Self-Drive - Tour 148

See the spectrum of Denali, mountain and all.

Play with sled dog puppies on the Husky Homestead tour.

Both Sides of Denali Self-Drive - Tour 148

See the spectrum of Denali, mountain and all.

Tour Bus waiting at a rest stop with Mt. Denali in the background.

Both Sides of Denali Self-Drive - Tour 148

See the spectrum of Denali, mountain and all.

Both Sides of Denali Self-Drive - Tour 148

See the spectrum of Denali, mountain and all.

K2 Denali Experience Flight in front of Denali.

Both Sides of Denali Self-Drive - Tour 148

See the spectrum of Denali, mountain and all.

Overview
What's Included
Itinerary
Map
Rates & Dates
Options & Upgrades
Photos
Add to My Trip

Trip Overview

Over four days, explore much of Denali National Park, from its culture, to its history, wildlife, mountains, and lakes. All travel is done by rental car. The trip begins in Anchorage and continues directly to the Denali National Park area for the next four days. Within that area, excursions include a sled dog kennel tour, bus trip into the park, kayaking, and flightseeing. Of the five total nights of accommodations included, this package features a special overnight at a more remote resort lodge south of the park. The trip ends in Anchorage.

Trip Highlights

Land by ski plane on a glacier during a flightseeing tour through the Alaska Range.
Travel along the solitary road into Denali National Park on a guided wildlife bus tour.
Kayak the quiet waters of Byers Lake in Denali State Park.
Enjoy the freedom of traveling by rental car along Alaska's scenic Glenn and Parks highways.

Why Pick This Trip

When you're working with limited vacation time, choosing a single area to focus on is the best way to have an immersive travel experience in just a few days. In this case, the focus is the Denali Park area and that immersion comes through tours chosen for their diversity and depth. You'll see much, and do much in just five short days.

What's Included

Here is everything that is included. Remember, we can easily add or remove services so this vacation package is the perfect fit for your party.

Anchorage | 1 Night

Stay in a quieter corner of Anchorage while still enjoying proximity to the airport, railroad depot, and downtown at this all-suites hotel. Amenities include complimentary breakfast and shuttle service. Learn More >

Anchorage | 4 Days

When flexibility and freedom is a must, opt to travel by rental car. Rates available for compact, midsize, full size, and minivans. Learn More >

Denali Park | Depart 6:45 PM | 2 Hours

Visit a respected Denali Park sled dog kennel, meet some pups, and learn about one of Alaska's most important traditions on this 2.5-hour tour. Learn More >

Denali Park | 2 Nights

Minutes away from the Denali National Park entrance, this mountaintop property offers standard guest rooms, premium rooms with a view, and private cabins as well as fine dining at the Alpenglow Restaurant and Peak Spirit Lounge. Learn More >

Denali Park | Depart 6:30 AM | 13 Hours

Take a guided bus tour into the heart of Denali National Park, enjoy a hearty lunch at the Kantishna Roadhouse, and spot iconic wildlife on this full-day excursion. Learn More >

Talkeetna | Depart 4:15 PM | 3 Hours

With complimentary transportation available from the McKinley Princess Lodge, this easy three-hour kayak trip takes visitors into the wildlife-rich waters of Byers Lake. Learn More >

Talkeetna | 1 Night

Offering the perfect balance of remoteness and accessibility, this property features two restaurants, free presentations by state park rangers, and comfortable rooms just two hours south of Denali National Park. Learn More >

Talkeetna | Depart 10:30 AM | 1 Hour

Land on a glacier deep within the Alaska Range on this unforgettable flightseeing trip out of Talkeetna. Learn More >

Anchorage | 1 Night

Itinerary

Read on for a day-by-day breakdown of this tour package. Click on an item to get started, and be sure to contact us if you have any questions.

Fly into Ted Stevens International Airport and transfer to your accommodations. The hotel is located on a quiet city lake with access to trails. Overnight Anchorage.

Pick up your rental car this morning and hit the highway north toward Denali. The 230-mile drive starts along the Chugach Mountains before crossing the Knik River and heading north through spruce forests. Depending on the weather, you'll catch your first big Denali views from the town of Willow.

Once you arrive in the Denali Park area, head to the Husky Homestead for a dog sled kennel tour. Here you'll meet mushers and many resident Alaskan Huskies, see them train, and learn all about the culture of sled dogs in Alaska. Overnight Denali.

Today you'll head into Denali National Park. There's a single road in the six-million-acre park, and your guided bus tour traverses all 92 miles of it. You'll cross the braided Teklanika River and snake up Polychrome Pass, visit the modern Eielson Visitor Center and see Wonder Lake. Wildlife sightings are common.

After a lunch break at the Kantishna Roadhouse, the tour returns along the Park Road. Overnight Denali.

You'll depart the Denali National Park area this morning for Denali State Park. The much smaller park is about 90 miles south. Here you'll take a kayak tour on Byers Lake, a quiet waterway with Denali views when the weather is clear.

Once you're off the water, it's just 20 more minutes down the road to your accommodations for the night, a more remote resort-style lodge on a hilltop surrounded by forest.

You've explored the Denali Park area by highway, remote road, and kayak. This morning you'll see it by air. You'll head to the Talkeetna Airport and board a small ski plane for a flightseeing tour into the Alaska Range mountains at the center of Denali National Park. Partway through the trip you'll land on an alpine glacier, giving you the chance to soak in the scene even more.

When you're back in Talkeetna, visit one of the many fine local eateries for lunch, before returning to Anchorage. The package concludes with a final overnight in Anchorage.

Map

Check out the map below for a visual overview of this specific tour package. You can see a larger version of the map here, or try our an interactive tour map by using the link below.

SHOW INTERACTIVE MAP >

Rates & Dates

The prices below will give you an idea of approximately how much this trip will cost. Keep in mind your actual price will likely vary based on your departure date, availability, and any modifications you make. You can use one of the links below to request an exact quote for your party, or price the trip yourself if you prefer using our My Trip feature. You can often save money by traveling in the value season, typically May and September.

	Single	Double	Triple	Quad	Child
Tour Price	Single: $2,457	Double: $1,575	Triple: $1,307	Quad: $1,173	Child: $602
Taxes & Fees	Single: $243	Double: $147	Triple: $117	Quad: $102	Child: $39
Total	Single: $2,700	Double: $1,722	Triple: $1,424	Quad: $1,275	Child: $641
The columns above represent room occupancy. For example, "Double" means two adults sharing one room. The "Child" rate shown is based on an 11 year old sharing a room with two adults.

	Single	Double	Triple	Quad	Child
Tour Price	Single: $2,197	Double: $1,445	Triple: $1,220	Quad: $1,108	Child: $602
Taxes & Fees	Single: $220	Double: $136	Triple: $109	Quad: $96	Child: $39
Total	Single: $2,417	Double: $1,581	Triple: $1,329	Quad: $1,204	Child: $641
The columns above represent room occupancy. For example, "Double" means two adults sharing one room. The "Child" rate shown is based on an 11 year old sharing a room with two adults.

Options and Add-Ons

This is one of our more popular Alaska rental car packages, but you can make it even better! We can add or remove services to make it a perfect match for your party. Many of our guests opt to add an extra day in Anchorage for a Lake Clark National Park bear viewing tour. Are you interested in a more active exploration of the Denali Park area? Switch out the sled dog kennel tour for an ATV tour or guided hiking trip. Even when you're on a shorter trip, the choices are many! We've listed a few suggestions below.

You can make these changes at check out and your final package price will be updated to reflect just the services you choose. Give us a call or request a quote for more specifics.

Denali Park | Depart 8:00 AM | 1 Hour

For visitors planning a full-day bus trip into Denali National Park, this one-way flightseeing trip makes for a shorter but no less scenic return to the park entrance. Learn More >

Anchorage | Depart 8:00 AM | 11 Hours

View bears as they feed on abundant Alaskan salmon in the shadow of the Chigmit range and Mt. Redoubt volcano on this immersive full-day excursion into Lake Clark National Park. Learn More >

Denali Park | Depart 7:45 AM | 2 Hours

Spend an exciting two hours cruising 10 miles of creek beds and rocky trails on this rowdy ATV adventure outside Denali National Park. Learn More >

Denali Park | Depart 8:00 AM | 3 Hours

Offering active exploration of the unique natural setting of the Denali Park area, guests return from this three-hour walking tour both energized and educated. Learn More >