Talkeetna Alaska

Talkeetna: Should I Go?

Talkeetna, a charming pioneer town halfway from Anchorage to Denali, offers tons of adventures and great views of Mt. McKinley (it’s closer to the mountain than the Denali Park entrance). You can:

• Overnight on your way to Denali within full view of Mt. McKinley.
• Explore Talkeetna’s one-block-long Main Street for a taste of pioneer Alaska.
• Three major glacial rivers converge here, making for great excursions.

Read more »  Should you go here instead of Denali? See Talkeetna vs. Denali

Transportation: How Do I Get There?

It’s a breeze. Take the:

• Car or bus. It’s just 2 ½ hours from Anchorage and 3 hours from Denali.
• Train. 3 hours from Anchorage (easy day trip!) and 4.5 hours from Denali

Read more »  See the Alaska Railroad Schedule?

Lodging: Where Should I Stay?

There are a couple places we love:

• Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge is a grand hotel on 35 acres with superb mountain views.
• Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, 45 miles north, also has great views.

Tours: What Should I Do There?

At a minimum, choose one flightseeing tour and one river tour. We recommend:

• Flightseeing:
  • K2 Aviation McKinley Flightseeing with Glacier Landing Tour
  • Talkeetna Aero McKinley Summit Flight
  • Talkeetna Air Taxi McKinley Flightseeing with Glacier Landing
• River Tour:
• Mahay’s Jet Boat Adventures
• Denali View Raft Adventures
• Talkeetna River Guides
• Zipline Tour:
• Denali Zipline Tours
• Dog Sledding:
• Talkeetna Sun Dog Kennel Tour & Ride
• Fishing:
• Talkeetna Salmon Fishing Charter

Packages: Can I Take a Package Tour?

Yes, with some caveats:

• Escorted Tours and Small Group Escorted Tours: There are only a limited number of these.
• Self-Guided Tours are easy to do, since Talkeetna is so accessible.