Fairbanks has a few sites on offer as well such as Pioneer Park, the Chena River, and downtown Fairbanks. Settle down and relax by the lake, or partake in the many recreational activities offered here; both land and water-based. Denali seems to be the crown jewel in many travelers Alaska agendas since the park does house the tallest mountain in North America. If going into the backcountry you must obtain a backcountry pass at the visitor center- they are free. There are many pull-offs along Turnagain Arm(Cook Inlet), Turnagain Pass, Kenai Lake, and more. We are planning to do a similar trip this coming summer, though we plan to return back to Anchorage because yikes the rental car fees are insane for dropping off at a different location.
Ive not personally done a Denali flightseeing tour yet, but I have yet to hear a bad thing about it from anyone whos done it. Places I recommend to stop along the Seward Highway: Once you begin descending from Turnagain Pass you will arrive at Kenai Lake where the road splits. National Park Pass holders just need to show their pass to get in.
Stop in to shop, or for atour of the facility at mile 1.1 of the Talkeetna Spur Rd, just off the Parks Highway. Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. 
You could see goats and sheep on the cliffside along the road and sometimes whales in the inlet. Anchorage Fairbanks Road Trip Table Of Contents. This bridge over the Susitna River appears without warning, so if you want to stop and see this huge drainage, slow down and pull off the road at either end. Entrance costs are $15 for adults, $12 for kids 6-17yrs(must be accompanied by a parent), and $13.00 for Seniors 60+ yrs. Our airport is the busiest between 10 pm-2 am. Go for arelaxing 3hour float trip down gentle Willow Creek as you take in the gorgeous scenery of the Alaskan backcountry. These flights can range from $220 to $460 per person. 
View artifacts from Athabascans, learn about dog mushing, and walk through ahistoric dentists office.
*Note: the Denali flightseeing tour, as with any flightseeing tour is heavily weather dependent. 2-5 day small ship explorations. You cannot drive past the Savage River post in Denali National Park (unless you visit in September and secure aDenali Road Lottery Permit) which is only a few miles past the visitor center. 
Once in Eklutna, you can tour a Russian Orthodox church that dates from the 1800s and see brightly painted spirit houses, refuges created for the souls of those whove passed on. Listen to your pilot narrate while you enjoy theviews. Located at mile 1.1 of the Talkeetna Spur Rd, just offthe. Travel Alaska is a registered trademark of Alaska Travel Industry Association. Known locally as the southern gateway to Denali State Park, Trapper Creek only had 423 residents at last count. If you werent lucky enough to see Denali the mountain while in Denali National Park, you might have better luck here: the road into Talkeetna offers some of the best viewpoints for seeing the mountain when its out. Once you make it to Talkeetna, take a scenic tourflightseeing,fishing trips, rafting, ATV tours, and jet-boat excursions are all popularand then spend the evening exploring Talkeetna's wonderful, locally owned gift shops and art galleries and enjoying a local craft brew on Main Street before you turn in for the night. About 100 miles north of Anchorage youll see signs for the Talkeetna Spurr Road turn off, take the exit to the right and follow for about 14 miles where youll end up in tiny, walkable Talkeetna. Visitor's traveling by RV have a wide variety of campgrounds & RV parks to choose from as well. Enjoy two more hours of scenic driving on the way south to Eklutna. Wander through spruce and birch trees on the north side of the lake and enjoy bigviews, 2019 UPDATE: Trail, day use area, kayak tours &rentals, and public use cabins are open, but the main campground will be temporarily closed beginning in 2019 due to the danger posed by trees infested with spruce-bark beetles. You can also follow this itinerary via passenger train, minus the stop in Eklutna. The state has created several different loopscomplete with portage routes and cabinsthat make for easy, multi-day adventures. On National Register of Historic Places, Surprise! Alaskas road to modernization acentury ago was adramatic journey, and the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum explores that journey in fun, vivid detail. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. Many of these flightseeing trips do include a glacier landing. Youre covered with our custom protection packages. Youll find creations of over 80 Alaskan artists and chefs that make for perfect souvenirs or gifts for friends backhome. This one week Anchorage to Fairbanks road trip can be a great addition for people taking an Inside Passage Cruise up to Alaska from Seattle or Vancouver. The trip can be done one way fromSewardtoFairbanksafter a cruise or from Fairbanks to Seward before the cruise.
The Denali Highway is approximately 135miles long stretching from Paxson to Cantwell, connecting the Richardson and Parks highways. Learn how your comment data is processed. Catch a glimpse of the aurora shimmering in the night sky, witness the midnight sun, and enjoy the best kind of solitude amidst wildlife and Alaskan landscapes that feature lakes, pristine rivers, jagged mountains, and just pure unadulterated nature. BudgetBillies Backpacker Hostel|Booking.com|Hostelworld.com|, MidrangeMoose Lodge|Booking.com|Hotels.com|, SplurgeSophie Station Suites|Booking.com|Hotels.com|, Plan your visit to Fairbanks:The Fairbanks Travel Guide + 12 Things To Do In Fairbanks. Gold Rush Heritage in Nome, Fairbanks, & Girdwood. Im happy to have found this article. Camp or stay at a hotel or cabin near the park entrance. You can set up camp for the night in one of the many campsites available here and enjoy the gorgeous network of hiking trails and abundant wildlife. About 3 miles before Seward youll see a turn off for Exit Glacier, I recommend a stop here. In 2015 the mountain was renamed Denali, the Athabaskan word meaning the highone., Denali (McKinley) viewpoint &campground. The road is smooth with twists and turns, and runs alongside Eklutna River, and the beautiful and glacial Eklutna Lake. State parks plans to reopen the campground after the hazardous trees have been removed. Alaskans call it the Big Su. Rent from a pro and travel like one, too. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Forty minutes from downtown Anchorage lies Eagle River Nature Center, agateway to Chugach State Park and aglacial river valley as wild and dramatic as any in Alaska. The Chulitna River flows to the south out of ahuge valley from Broad Pass, one of only two breaks in the Alaska Range Mountains, where the highway, the train, the geese, and the river, all pass on their way to Cook Inlet. The full round trip can take 12 hours, but shorter routes are available. more, Village on south bank of Nenana River, historically served as home port for old paddle wheel riverboats. You could head toward Chena Hotsprings and have a soak in the hot waters. Talkeetna is a funky, fun, little Alaska town that at one point in time had a cat for a mayor (RIP Stubbs). Fairbanks is just the place if you are wanting to experience the beauty of Alaskan winters. You'll also get to witness the scenic views of the Denali that rises 20,310 feet off the ground and disappears amidst the clouds.
Heading right will take you onto the Sterling Highway toward Soldotna, Kenai, Nikiski and Homer. In fact, driving this 14-mile paththe Talkeetna Spur Roadis kind of like following the white bunny down the rabbit hole of Alaska. One of the most popular first hikes for families with small children, the one-mile trail to awaterfall. From here, this itinerary will take you south through rural communities to, Kikkan Kikkanimal Randall is an Olympic champion, active mom, cancer-fighter, and Get-Active-ist. This makes it the ideal camping destination for those seeking outdoor recreational activities such as mountain climbing, skiing, hiking, bird and wildlife watching, and of course fishing in Alaskas pristine river and lake waters. In-person support no matter where the road takes you. Tour old gold mines, take a historic riverboat cruise, or just wander around downtown. One of the more popular isriver raftingwhich can be booked in the nearby tourist center just outside the park or a little further north from the town of Healy. The race begins at 2p.m., with mushers leaving the gate every two minutes. Anchorage is, without a doubt, one of the most sophisticated and developed cities in Alaska. Many will opt to stop at Healy, Nenana, and more. The citys main attractions are the nearby snow-capped peaks and vast wilderness regions. Continuing left will keep you on the Seward Highway to Seward. If you do have a bit more time to budget for you Anchorage to Fairbanks itinerary, Id suggest spending a night over in Kayakers Cove to add an adventurous day on your trip. Who can say no to acool waterfall only ahalf-hours drive from town? You can also see musk oxen and reindeer on a tour of the Universitys Large Animal Research Station. Wildlife viewing is not an emergency. This city is cold but never dead. Under an hour from Anchorage, this 22-mile drive takes you away from Alaskas towns and cities, and into Chugach State Park. Pick up yourrental carand head to your hotel room for a few hours of sleep before heading off on the road. Theres a parking lot available near the lake where you can leave your RVs and enjoy a hearty picnic at one of the picnic tables. Driving north from Anchorage isnt as instantly dramatic as going south, but within an hour youre immersed in stop-and-shoot scenery. Youll be able to see the loading tipple, the grizzly and its small control cabin, the storage tower, the dog house, and many other unidentified structures. Reaching the coal mine will require you to get off the highway and drive deeper into the wilderness. However, if your timing is off and you aren't able to catch sight of the aurora or the midnight sun, you can still have loads of fun hiking Table Top Mountain, relaxing at Chena Hotsprings, exploring Chena River State Recreational Area, admiring antique cars at the Fountainhead Auto Museum, visiting the Aurora Ice Museum, and taking the little ones to Pioneer Park. A relaxing 3hour float through the Alaskan backcountry. Use code ADVENTURESOFNICOLE And because its studded with lakes, its agreat place to take asummer canoe trip or winter cross-country or snowmobile expeditions. McKinley for many years, named after aUS President. Youll likely arrive at the Anchorage airport at an ungodly time. Planning to spend more time in Anchorage? I wish the rental companies would get on board with one way rentals here. Option:Take afishing charterinstead, relax in Seward, enjoy a nearby hike. In the last century, fires burned the big spruce trees; intheir OFFICIAL STATE OF ALASKA VACATION AND TRAVEL INFORMATION, Copyright 2022 Alaska Travel Industry Association. Hi Cherise, Fine dining-quality meals using the freshest, highest quality ingredients, In astrip of restaurants pumping out good meals, 229 Parks stands alone as creating fine dining-quality meals using the freshest, highest quality ingredients. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Highlights plus less visited destinations. Camping sites are available from $15.00 to $30.00 per item per night. Check out the official You can opt for a hotel in Anchorage or continue north out of Anchorage toward the communities of Eagle River, Chugiak or Wasilla for camping opportunities. Their salads are excellent, as are the entrees. more, Its Milepost 98.9. Rotting trees have been toppling. Then learn about the hard-rock gold mining in Hatcher Pass during the 1930s. Fairbanks, AK, is the place to be during the weekend if you are looking to sit back and relax amidst nature. This town-like-city is situated where the railroad meets the river. It fits perfectly into ahalf day or full day, when you want to step out of the hustle and bustle of your vacation and into authentic Alaska. Most traffic reaches the pass from the Palmer side. for 20% off at checkout, Login After the cruise, drive back towardAnchorageand make any stops youd like to check out that you may have missed on the way down. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. Start the morning with a riverboat cruise along the Chena or Tanana Rivers, followed by lunch on the deck at a riverside restaurant. Sample delicious syrup and sweets made from birch trees at Kahiltna Birchworks in Talkeetnathe worlds largest producer of birch syrup. You can opt for a quick 1 mile round trip walk to the face of the glacier or the much longer and strenuous hike up to Harding Icefield (about 8.4 miles roundtrip to the emergency shelter). Link two of Alaskas largest cities together in this 360-mile road trip from Fairbanks to Anchorage, with stops in Denali National Park, Talkeetna, and Eklutna along the way. This lodge offers spectacular views of Mount McKinley and is situated within Denali State Park on the banks of the Chulitna River. Nauti Otter Inn & Yurt Village|Booking.com|Hotels.com|, SplurgeHarbor 360 Hotel|Booking.com|Agoda.com|, Seward Windsong Lodge|Booking.com|Hotels.com|. Browse creations of over 80 Alaskan artists and chefs that make for perfect souvenirs or gifts for friends backhome. Hit the road again for a three-hour drive south to Talkeetna. Fairbanks is one of those cities where you can enjoy the best of both worlds as it offers plenty of amenities and luxuries, as well as seclusion and raw nature depending on what you prefer. Tricks to find the perfect rig. A $10 per person pass fee will be charged per visitor at the entrance of the park. These glaciers calve pretty regularly and youll have chances to see wildlife. One of the best Denali (McKinley) viewpoints on aclear day. Set on 20acres, you can wander through old train cars, around commercial fishing boats and cars and explore old farm and oil machinery.
Logout The speed limit is 60-65 mph which makes the trip about 7-hours from Anchorage, longer including stops. We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. Denali Air flights see the majestic mountain awhopping 90% of the time, thanks to the companys experienced pilots and its location just outside the park. Taking you from Anchorage to Fairbanks this road trip itinerary gives you a pretty good sampling of what the 49th state has to offer if you only have one week in Alaska. Rooms offer nine-foot ceilings and fans; some offer amazing mountain views. Other options:If Seward isnt appealing to you, you can opt to take the Sterling Highway to Kenai & Soldotna for fishing, or go all the way down toHomer(about 5 hours from Anchorage). Another half-hour of driving will get you to the shore of beautiful blue-green Eklutna Lake, where you can enjoy the outdoor adventure of your choice: go kayaking, rent a bike to ride the lakeside trail, or hike one of the nearby trails. This village on the south bank of the Nenana River, where the railroad meets the river, served as home port for old paddle wheel riverboats that plied interior rivers for many years. When youre ready to move on, Anchorage is just an hours drive away. Updated March 2022,One Week in Alaska Road Trip: Anchorage to Fairbanksoriginally written in July 2017. 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You can also subscribe without commenting. Your email address will not be published. But are you familiar with the other rushes for gold that forever changed Alaska? The last surviving riverboat from here is now on display in Fairbanks, but the town still remains, and is still asupply center for many people up and down the Nenana and connecting rivers. The areas oldest continuously inhabited Athabaskan settlement. If you order small plates, youll get to sample more of the menu! Or, step outside and stroll one of the three nature trails, either on your own or on aguided, park ranger-led walk. MidrangeTalkeetna Roadhouse|Booking.com|, SplurgeTalkeetna Alaskan Lodge|Booking.com|Hotels.com|. Use the pull-offs, the Seward Highway is the most dangerous road in Alaska and one of the most dangerous in the USA. Blueberries and mountain views dominate Broad Pass. Rich in coal reserves, smoke would constantly rise up from the coal seams found here and is the reason behind the chilling name. Bush pilots even navigate by this river. The best route from Anchorage to Fairbanks is via the George Parks Highway Interstate 3. An hour after leaving Suntrana, youll come across a small town called Nenana rhymes with banana along the George Parks Highway. Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, more, This is one of Alaskas few flat state parks. How is the drive in one day? If this is the case, your best option will likely be to add an additional day onto your trip and return back to Anchorage and fly out from there. Check out mining digs as you travel down stairs painted like an old mine shaft. After nearly two hours of driving, from Wasilla, youll find yourself at the gates of Denali State Park that straddles the George Parks Highway. Theres still gold in Alaska, and you can learn from Denali Gold Tours what it takes to pan for the shiny flakes in pristine water near Trapper Creek. Our picks for the best tours and experiences during your Alaska Cruise. The main museum building, once acommunity center for basketball games and church services, nowtells Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. The Adventures of Nicole is a participant in the View the colorful Spirit Houses built over the graves of the deceased, along with an Orthodox Christian Crossacustom that came from the melding of the cultures. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. McKinley; with Denali Air, everyone. With the route youre taking, it might not be possible for you to make a trip to the highly acclaimed Denali National Park And Reserve, but that doesnt mean you cant have a glimpse of Denali the highest peak in North America. Once you are well-rested, grab a quick brunch(BearstoothandSnow Cityare some of my faves), and run by a store to grab any supplies youll need before heading south on the Seward Highway. Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. Hike in alpine tundra dotted with wildflowers and ptarmigan, ski fresh, deep powder, or visit Independence Mine Historical StatePark. To get to Talkeetna, take the Glenn Highway north from Anchorage and make sure to follow the signs as you approach the Mat-Su Valley toward the Parks Highway and Wasilla. Come visit and you might see up to 15 different kinds of mammalsfrom beavers to red foxes, flying squirrels, snowshoe hares, and even mooseand several species of birds. Highest point on the Parks Highway with greatviews. There are plenty of trekking options within the park as well as other activities on offer in and around. Check out myAnchorage Travel Guidefor ideas. Theres usually ashuttle from Wasilla,and And, everyone is guaranteed awindow seat. Why should you care? Id recommend a visit to the Seward Sealife Center and having a fresh Alaskan seafood dinner if your budget allows. 45mins from Talkeetna. Along the route, RV road trippers get to enjoy plenty of roadside attractions and jaw-dropping mountain scenery. Before the Parks Highway was completed in the early 1970s, the Denali Highway was the only road access to Denali NationalPark. How Much Does It Cost To Travel In Alaska? The most intimate multi-day cruise option. Transport yourself to the Alaska of the past in this museum and historic town site. If you are craving a nap before you reach the end of your journey you can also head to the Nenana RV Parks and Campground and doze off before hitting the road again.
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