Great Alaskan Road Trip

Rent a car and explore Alaska's most popular destinations at your own pace with flexibility and freedom.

Tour Code: 1521CTA

Tour Overview

Discover Alaska on our “Great Alaska Road Trip” while you visit Denali National Park and Seward and cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park! Enjoy Alaska at your own pace as you drive through the wilderness to three top Alaska attractions: Denali National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park, and the Matanuska Valley. This Alaska self-drive itinerary offers excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing, and experiencing diverse landscapes with mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, and more! After arriving in Anchorage, you will head to Denali National Park for two nights. A bus tour of Denali gives you best opportunities to see the scenery and the animals that make this park famous. You’ll then stay for two nights at Alaska Glacier Lodge, where you’ll experience natural Alaska without the crowds with the option to add a helicopter flightseeing tour to a glacier! Your final two days in Seward feature a glacier and wildlife cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park to see icebergs, whales, sea lions, and more

What's Included
  • 7-night accommodations  in tourist to moderate class hotels
  • 7 days midsize rental car with unlimited mileage (pick up car on day 2)
  • 6 hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise with lunch
  • 4-6 hour bus tour into Denali National Park (depending on weather and road conditions)
  • All taxes and fees
What's Not Included

Airfare, meals other than those mentioned, optional excursions, and gratuities. Car rental coverage (such as LDW or liability insurance), additional driver fees, gas, and GPS rental. Car rental category upgrades available at additional fee.

 

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival in Anchorage

Arrive in Anchorage and transfer to your hotel on your own. Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city, nestled between the Chugach Mountains and Cook Inlet. Enjoy the rest of your day on foot, exploring Anchorage downtown. Anchorage offers shopping, cultural attractions, and gourmet restaurants. Overnight in Anchorage.

Day 2
Anchorage to Denali National Park

After picking up your rental car, this morning is free to explore some of Anchorage’s many attractions. City highlights include the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the Anchorage Museum, the Log Cabin Visitor Center, and the Coastal Trail. Later, depart Anchorage and follow the Glenn Highway northbound. A few interesting stops along this highway are the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Eklutna Indian Village. Continue on the Parks Highway towards Denali National Park and drive through the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. Then drive through Denali State Park. With a size of over 6 million acres, Denali National Park is one of the world’s greatest wild animal preserves. Here, protected from hunting, Alaska’s many animals roam freely in a region dominated by the continent’s tallest mountain. Most visitor facilities operate near the park entrance. Your evening is free for optional activities, or you can just relax and enjoy some leisure time. Overnight near the Denali park entrance.

Day 3
Explore Denali National Park

Today, depart on a narrated bus tour into Denali National Park. As you travel through the pristine wilderness, look for wildlife, such as bears, caribou, and moose, as well as views of the Mountain. Your experienced driver/guide will provide commentary. The tour is approx. 4-6 hours long and takes you approx. 30 – 43 miles into the park, depending on weather and road conditions. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Check out the Visitor Center at the park entrance or add a rafting trip or sled dog kennel tour. Overnight near the Denali park entrance.

Day 4
Denali National Park to Palmer and Alaska Glacier Lodge

This scenic drive takes you back south on the Parks Highway towards Anchorage. We recommend a side trip to the quaint town of Talkeetna, known for its special backcountry-town charm. Weather permitting, Talkeetna can have one of the best views of Denali and the Alaska Range. Continue to Wasilla and make a stop at the Iditarod Sled Dog Race Museum before you head out to Alaska Glacier Lodge. If time allows, you can also visit the Musk Ox Farm, and the Reindeer Farm in Palmer. You overnight at Alaska Glacier Lodge, a breathtaking property at the end of the road, overlooking Knik River and the surrounding mountains.

Day 5
Palmer / Alaska Glacier Lodge

The Alaska Glacier Lodge is a hub for stunning helicopter tours. Take this opportunity and add on a helicopter trip to your Alaska vacation (additional costs apply). One of the most popular Alaska helicopter tours is the helicopter adventure with glacier dogsled tour, where you fly up a glacier and ride on a dog sled in the snow! During the flightseeing portion you have the chance to see Knik Glacier and you will have an hour to experience a dog sledding tour on this adventure.  You can also book an amazing helicopter tour with glacier landing! On that tour, you will land right in the middle of Knik Glacier, where you can get out of the helicopter and spend about 30 minutes exploring with your pilot/guide. You will be able to see azure blue melt pools, crevasses, and the bizarre ice formations created by water, wind, and the sun.
There is more to explore around Palmer! Take a drive to Hatcher Pass, an old mining area, visit the close by Reindeer farm or enjoy one of the great hiking trails around Palmer. You might also want to drive to beautiful Eklutna Lake (approx. 45 minutes away) where you can hike, bike or kayak (mountain bike and kayak rentals available at the lake).
Overnight in the Palmer area at Alaska Glacier Lodge.

Day 6
Palmer and Alaska Glacier Lodge to Seward

Drive south onto the Kenai Peninsula today. You will pass through the communities of Eklutna and Eagle River as you near Anchorage. Continue south from Anchorage along Turnagain Arm to Seward. This route has beautiful views of the Chugach Mountains. Recommended stops along the route include the Begich-Boggs Visitor Center at Portage Glacier and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Just before you reach Seward, you have a chance to visit Exit Glacier. This is one of the few glaciers that visitors can walk to. The interpretive trail leading to the glacier provides an illustrated history of the glacier’s path as it has receded over the last 100 years. Overnight in Seward.

Day 7
Seward - Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise

At 11:30 am, you’ll depart on an 6-hour wildlife and glacier cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park, one of Alaska’s treasures. As you cruise through the park and the Chiswell Islands National Wildlife Refuge, watch for Stellar sea lions, harbor seals, puffins, eagles, and whales. During the cruise, you will see examples of Alpine, Cirque, Piedmont and Tidewater glaciers. A stop will be made at either Holgate or Aialik Glacier to witness glacier calving – when large ice chunks fall off the glacier. Lunch is included onboard. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Seward.

Day 8
Seward to Anchorage - Departure

Today, drive to Anchorage at your leisure (driving time is approximately 3 hours). Return your car to the Anchorage airport rental car station. Depart for home or begin an additional Alaska adventure.

Tour Map

 

Dates & Rates


*Child prices are valid for children 11 years and younger, sharing a room with at least 2 full paying adults with the existing bedding. Maximum of 4 people per room.

Our Standard Program Includes:

2 and 3 star hotel accommodations.

The program will include a combination of hotels or motels that are considered moderate to standard tourist class. Please be aware not all hotels have shuttle services.

Standard train car seating on all rail services (reserved seats).

If you would like to book the standard program but with upgraded rail seating, the option and surcharge will be listed when you save to your cart.

Our Upgraded Program Includes:

* 3 and 4 star hotels (best available) wherever possible.

The program will include standard rooms at this category of hotel where possible. Alaska has very limited hotel choices in remote areas and small towns. The properties will typically offer a wider range of services such as a full-service restaurant, room service and perhaps a pool or spa facilities. Please be aware the upgraded accommodations in downtown Anchorage do not have hotel shuttle services. Many of the upgraded hotels also offer guaranteed view rooms for additional cost. If you would like a specific room type, in addition to the upgraded program, please ask us about availability and cost difference.

Deluxe dome train car seating between Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks, or Anchorage and Seward.

All journeys between Anchorage and Whittier are in standard seating as deluxe dome cars are not available on that route.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  At the end of the tour, you drive from Seward to Anchorage. An overnight in Anchorage is not included at the end. If you are planning to fly out on that day, please only book a flight that departs Anchorage in the afternoon or evening. You have the option to book a night in Anchorage at the end as well.

 

Tour Add-ons

Browsing optional excursions for the Great Alaskan Road Trip:

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