Designed for a small Alaska vacation budget, this self-drive tour packs in fun and features two popular National Parks, Kenai Fjords National Park and Denali National Park. Enjoy stunning drives along scenic Alaska highways. You have an opportunity to take a wildlife and glacier cruise in Resurrection Bay or into Kenai Fjords National Park from Seward. Then travel to Denali National Park for a guided and informative 4-6 hour bus tour to learn about the history of the parks, their ecosystems, and wildlife. Tour dates and availability is very limited, so book your Alaska trip now.
7 night accommodations in tourist class/budget hotels
7 days midsize rental car (pick up car on day 2)
Approximately 4-6 hour bus tour into Denali National Park (in Sept tour may be shorter due to 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
Anchorage Arrival
Arrive at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and transfer to the hotel on own. There are no activities planned, so you can arrive in Anchorage at any time. Overnight in Anchorage.
This morning, transfer on your own to the car rental station in the Anchorage midtown area. Here you pick up your rental car and your Alaska driving adventure begins. Drive south to Seward on the Kenai Peninsula. As you depart Anchorage you will have time to visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, home to bears and moose, as well as other animals native to Alaska. There are plenty of opportunities to stop along the way for a short hike or picnic. Overnight just outside of Seward.
Today is yours to explore the small, friendly port city of Seward and surroundings. There are many options to chose from. A tour that you should not miss, is a boat tour into Kenai Fjords National Park or Resurrection Bay! The boat tour gives you the chance to see some of Alaska’s most scenic coastlines and marine wildlife. You can book a boat your when you book this package, during the checkout process. Other options include a visit of Mitch Seavey’s Iditarod Racing Kennel with dog cart tour or explore the Alaska SeaLife Center. You can also take a walk up to Exit Glacier or take an amazing helicopter tour. Overnight just outside of Seward.
Don’t forget to visit Exit Glacier before you leave Seward today. The Exit Glacier area is the only part of Kenai Fjords National Park accessible by road. Walk the interpretive trail to reach views of the glacier or book a guided glacier hike to explore the stunning glacier ice! As you drive back to Anchorage, you may also want to stop at the small mountain town of Girdwood, also called Alyeska. Several scenic trails give you great hiking opportunities. Overnight in Anchorage.
Depart Anchorage and follow the Glenn Highway northbound. A few interesting stops along the way are the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the village of Eklutna. Continuing on the Parks Highway towards Denali National Park, you will drive through the Matanuska-Susitna Valley and Denali State Park. You can take a side trip to the small community Talkeetna for an optional jet boat tour or a ski-plane flight to land on Denali along the route to Denali National Park. This afternoon you may wish to take an optional Denali River rafting tour or attend a dinner theater (see Tour Add-ons). Overnight near the Denali park entrance.
Today enjoy a bus tour into Denali National Park. This tour takes you through the best wildlife viewing portion of the Park Road, approximately 43 miles into the 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 and make stops during your approximately 4-6 hour tour*. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight near the Denali park entrance.
Continue your driving adventure by heading back to Anchorage. If you did not stop on the way to Denali, you still have the opportunity to visit Talkeetna for optional tours such as a jet boat tour or a flightseeing tour to land on Denali. Overnight in Anchorage.
Today return your rental car at the airport in time to meet your departure flight, or extend your Alaska vacation by adding additional days to your trip.
* Please note that in September the bus tour into Denali National Park may be shorter due to road and weather conditions.
Tour Map
Dates & Rates
Only limited departure dates available!
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.
This program is designed to give you the opportunity to see Alaska on a rather lower budget. Please keep in mind Alaska has a short tourism season and costs are higher in comparison to many other destinations. In this program we have included reasonably priced services that allow you to explore and see what Alaska has to offer. Accommodation will be in clean but simple properties with limited amenities. This tour has very limited availability.
Contact us to book this Tour.
Thank you for your interest in this tour! At this time, it is not currently available to book online. Please feel free to continue to peruse our website for more Alaska travel ideas. If you would like options and information from our team of Alaska experts, please call 1-866-317-3325 or fill out the form below.
Tour Add-ons
Browsing optional excursions for the Alaska “On A Dime” Self-Drive Tour:
Enjoy old-time Alaska as you enjoy a popular dinner theater performance in Denali National Park set in an authentic Alaska log-paneled roadhouse. Join heroine Fannie Quigley and an unforgettable cast of characters in this true-to-life Alaska Gold Rush tale of […]... Browse itinerary
During this guided glacier hiking tour from Seward, Alaska, you’ll follow a scenic hiking trail through an alpine valley to Exit Glacier which is a mixture of back-country and on-trail trekking (about 1.5 – 2 hours). The elevation gain on […]... Browse itinerary
This independent Alaska self-drive tour features many of the state’s most popular attractions and scenic roadways. Visit Denali National Park and Kenai Fjords National Park and the cities of Anchorage, Fairbanks, Valdez, and Seward. The circular self-driving itinerary and route take you to many major attractions and allow all visitors ample time to experience these […]
Explore three of Alaska’s National Parks: Denali, Wrangell – St. Elias, and Kenai Fjords. Excellent wildlife viewing opportunities throughout. Travel on four designated National Scenic Byways showcasing Alaska’s natural beauty with its jagged mountain peaks, lush alpine meadows, and pristine lakes and rivers all along the way.
Travel along the scenic Seward and Portage Glacier Highways before entering the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, the second-longest tunnel in North America. On arrival in Whittier, embark on the 26 Glacier Cruise with lunch. Enjoy viewing massive rivers of ice flowing from the surrounding Chugach National Forest, then return to Anchorage by evening. Next, travel […]
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