Alaska Railroad · Rail vacation package

North to Denali

4-day Denali rail package with guided jetboat ride and Park Road tour

Alaska Railroad's North to Denali is a 4-day, 3-night rail package that starts in Anchorage and ends in Denali National Park, with an overnight stop in Talkeetna along the way. It is set up as a self-guided trip, with only a handful of excursions guided: a jetboat ride on day one, reached by getting off the Hurricane Turn Train at its flagstop service, and a Denali Park Road tour on day three that looks for wildlife and a view of Denali itself. Day two adds a dinner theater in Denali covering the area's history after the Denali Star Train's afternoon arrival. Afternoons are left open, with rafting and ziplining offered as optional extras rather than included activities. Travelers choose between Adventure Class and GoldStar Service seating. The mix of scheduled highlights and free time suits travelers who want some structure around a couple of guided experiences without committing to a fully escorted tour.

What to know before you look closer

  • Rafting, ziplining and other Denali-area activities mentioned for day 3 afternoon are optional add-ons, not included in the base package price.
  • Prices are subject to change and can vary from the published $1,695 (Adventure Class) or $2,275 (GoldStar Service) rate depending on hotel and tour selections, per Alaska Railroad's terms.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Talkeetna

    Anchorage to Talkeetna via Denali Star and Hurricane Turn

    Leave Anchorage on a morning departure on the Denali Star Train. Arrive in Talkeetna to connect to another route, the Hurricane Turn Train. On the River, Rail and Trail tour, disembark via the Hurricane Turn's unique flagstop service for a guided jetboat ride back to Talkeetna.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Denali

    Talkeetna to Denali National Park

    Continue the journey north aboard the Denali Star Train, savoring incredible views from the rails before the afternoon arrival to Denali National Park. That evening, learn about the area's history at a lively dinner theater.

  3. Day 3overnight: Denali

    Denali Park Road tour and free time

    Take a guided tour of the Denali Park Road in search of Denali's famed wildlife and a view of North America's tallest peak. The afternoon offers the chance to go rafting, ziplining or many other Denali-area tours.

  4. Day 4rail

    Return to Anchorage

    The morning is at your leisure before departing aboard the southbound Denali Star Train; arrive to Anchorage in the early evening.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1The Hurricane Turn Train's flagstop service allows a stop for a guided jetboat ride back to Talkeetna, part of the River, Rail and Trail tour.
  • Day 2A dinner theater in Denali teaches the area's history after the Denali Star Train's afternoon arrival.
  • Day 3A guided tour of the Denali Park Road searches for wildlife and a view of Denali, North America's tallest peak.

Included

  • Rail travel via the Denali Star Train (Anchorage to Talkeetna to Denali and return)
  • Guided jetboat ride on the Hurricane Turn flagstop service (River, Rail and Trail tour)
  • Overnight accommodation in Talkeetna (1 night)
  • Overnight accommodation in Denali (2 nights)
  • Dinner theater in Denali
  • Guided tour of the Denali Park Road

Questions travellers ask

Is the trip guided or independent?
It is a self-guided rail package; the jetboat ride on day 1 and the Denali Park Road tour on day 3 are the guided portions.
Which trains are used?
The Denali Star Train (Anchorage to Talkeetna to Denali National Park and back) and the Hurricane Turn Train's flagstop service for the jetboat excursion connection.
What is included?
Denali Star Train rail travel, the guided jetboat ride, 1 night in Talkeetna, 2 nights in Denali, a dinner theater evening, and the guided Denali Park Road tour.
What costs extra?
Rafting, ziplining and other Denali-area tours offered for the day 3 afternoon are optional extras.
What seating options are there?
Adventure Class, from $1,695, or GoldStar Service, from $2,275.

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