Alaska in 5 Days

This trip was 4.5 days in Mid-August traveling through Anchorage, Whittier, Talkeetna, Denali National Park, Chena Hot Springs, and Fairbanks. A rental car was essential to covering this much area in a short amount of time. 

Day 1: Anchorage - Whittier

We arrived on a late plane, and caught a few hours of sleep before starting our journey through Alaska

• Start the drive to Whittier by 10am. The drive is really beautiful along the way, leave early so you can stop at all the pull outs for photographs
• Catch a Glacier Tour out of Whittier that winds through the Prince William Sound 
• Stretch your legs and hike Portage Pass Trail (you can do just the 1 mile to the viewpoint or go the extra mile and hike down to the lake)
• Head back to Anchorage and stop along the way to view the following
  • Portage Lake
  • Williwaw Fish Viewing Platform
  • Virgin Creek Waterfalls (a quick 15 minute walk up to a small and beautiful fall)
  • Beluga Point Site
  • Potter Marsh Wildlife Viewing Boardwalk

Sleep: Holiday Inn Express Anchorage

Tips

There is a one-way tunnel to get to Whittier so make sure you know the schedule so you can make it to your tour on time.

The glacier tour offered binocular rentals for $5- well worth it to see the detail of the glaciers

Day 2: Anchorage - Talkeetna

• Snap a picture in front of the Greetings from Alaska mural (there is a free parking lot right next to it)
• Park near the Anchorage Visitor Center and explore the area on foot or catch the Anchorage Trolley for a view of the city
  • Don't miss the Balto statue!
• Do a bit of hiking/walking (choose one based on how you are feeling)
  • Walk part of the Coastal Trail (we chose the Elderberry Park to Westchester Lagoon trail and had a nice two mile walk)
  • Explore the trails in Kincaid Park (be aware of wildlife as moose and bears frequent the area)
  • Hike Flattop Mountain for great views of the city
• Make the drive to Talkeenta as a stopping point between Anchorage and Denali National Park
• Explore the strip of shops and restaurants in Talkeenta
  • This town has lots of ATV, rafting, and airplane excursions if interested

Sleep: Talkeetna Inn for beautiful river views and a bar on site!

Day 3: Talkeetna - Denali

• Make your way early to Denali National Park
• Pack plenty of snacks, bear spray, and binoculars for your bus ride into the park
  • We took the green transit bus and made sure to book our tickets months in advance
• Enjoy the 8 hour round trip from the park entrance to Eielson Center
  • There are several rest stops along the way but there is no food and no water available. Water refill station is at Eielson Center
  • You can ask the bus driver to pull over at any time and they will let you off to hike, just wave down another green bus to keep going on your journey
  • At Eielson Center hike the steep Alpine Trail for great views! Then come back down and explore the visitor center (closed during our trip) as you wait for the next bus to take you back to the starting point

Sleep: Denali Grizzly Bear Inn (warning there is no cell service here and the wifi costs)