Alaska by sea, rail or road?

Flashback · Feb 13, 2022

We're spending 10 days in Alaska and have been considering what we'll do when we arrive. Why are we flying there? Well, of course it was a nice ex-EU J fare around £1k return netting a healthy 920 TP in BA's Exec Club; a nice return to some more normal flying. We may as well have a holiday out of it too.

We've been considering cruises, but cruises still seem a bit up in the air and of course we would need to factor in starting in ANC whereas most of the cruises tend to start in SEA or YVR. You'd then also need to factor in a 1 way YVR/SEA-ANC at the end to pickup our flight back home.

So, maybe that is saved for another trip?

Then there's rail, Anchorage to Denali to Fairbank and return (or a combination of).

There are coach tours...........

There are self drive options..........

There are smaller day or 2 day options on fjord cruises etc.

Keen to get any insight from those who have done any of these options, what worked, what didn't and what would you absolutely recommend we do while there?

Mwenenzi · Feb 13, 2022

You do not say the time of the year.
I have travelled Anchorage to Denali by train (good) and then bus back to Anchorage
Denali is very good if you like the out doors/national parks. The park shuttle/bus trips can book out at times. If you are lucky FT trip reporter guru Seat 2A may be your green transit bus driver. Denali accommodation can be hard to get. Book early.

Are other 1 day train trips from Anchorage to Seward and the like .

Non-Narrated Transit Buses - Denali National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) (what I went on)

Bus Tours - Denali National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)

bus tours

www.nps.gov

drron · Feb 13, 2022

I would leave the cruise until next year. I have suggested my option on the Cruise thread.

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We drove around Alaska for 8 days and thoroughly enjoyed it. Denali definitely worth at least a couple of days.
Another absolute highlight was Kennecott. We stayed in the lodge in Kennecott.You can drive in but a hairy gravel road and most rentals not allowed. Also no cars allowed in the 2 towns there. So we drove to Chitina and flew in with Wrangell air. That was in itself so worth it.

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Located in Wrangell St. Elias National Park, Kennicott is Alaska's most famous ghost town, while McCarthy is a sister village, 5 miles away.

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Kennicott & McCarthy, AK | Things to Do, Recreation, & Travel Information

Located in the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Kennicott and McCarthy offer visitors a taste of Alaska’s historic mining era and outstanding recreational opportunities. Find information on things to do, Kennecott Mine, hiking, rafting, lodging, and driving the McCarthy Road.

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luxury-lizard · Feb 13, 2022

@Flashback - here is an overview of a trip we did in 2012 - if you want a link to my full blog please PM me.

Flashback · Feb 13, 2022

Late May to early June for us, have been looking at a combo of rail and coach more than likely.

Thanks for all the suggestions, will have a look through and then had better get onto booking!

We do like the outdoors, so will be hoping to do some hiking while there.

luxury-lizard · Feb 13, 2022

Hi again @Flashback - you did not mention using a hire car to get around - highly recommended - also you may find your dates in some places are already heavily booked. Some people recommend hiring a camper van and there are plenty of them in Alaska - we looked at it but it's not really our style of travel

Flashback · Feb 13, 2022

luxury-lizard said:
Hi again @Flashback - you did not mention using a hire car to get around - highly recommended - also you may find your dates in some places are already heavily booked. Some people recommend hiring a camper van and there are plenty of them in Alaska - we looked at it but it's not really our style of travel

We've done a lot of driving around the rest of the US, so assuming rates aren't ridiculous there (like they seem to be everywhere since COVID hit) then it's definitely an option. We're hiring a car and driving around Iceland in a month so will be a good dry run for Alaska, similar terrain and such.

luxury-lizard · Feb 13, 2022

Driving is easy in Alaska - e.g. road from Anchorage to Denali is a 4 lane highway - other roads very good as well. Compared to the cost of the scenic train we found a hire car much more cost-effective and more flexible (of course rates will be very different than 2012).

RB · Feb 13, 2022

We absolutely loved the way our Alaskan trip went, especially using the Marine Highway. The road rtip from Skagway to Whitehorse was also an option we were very happy with. It is a long time ago but you might get a few ideas from my trip report. Zig Zag Around the US | Australian Frequent Flyer

Flashback · Feb 13, 2022

So far I'm finding zero car rental availability having searched all the majors (including consolidators). We may end up stuck having to do rail / coach / fly etc. The search continues....

Edit: Have found the odd car here and there, circa $2000 for an 11 day rental. Youch!

Fiesta with Budget, or a Chevy Suburban with Thrifty.

BAM1748 · Feb 14, 2022

It has to be rail doesn't it.......

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Pushka · Feb 14, 2022

Flashback said:
So far I'm finding zero car rental availability having searched all the majors (including consolidators). We may end up stuck having to do rail / coach / fly etc. The search continues....

Edit: Have found the odd car here and there, circa $2000 for an 11 day rental. Youch!

Fiesta with Budget, or a Chevy Suburban with Thrifty.

Alaskan rail is excellent. You can get into Denali and then stay at the lodges and from there day trips on buses.

tgh · Feb 14, 2022

Diag o/t FB… but I would not use Blue car again in Iceland.
A very well used and tired disco that had a coolant light blinking away after we waited in a pick up line for 50 hours in the middle of an endless night.
For many interesting places in Iceland a 4x4 is essential and I would expect the same if seeking the roads less crowded with rv's and Coaches in Alaska

justinbrett · Feb 14, 2022

Flashback said:
We've done a lot of driving around the rest of the US, so assuming rates aren't ridiculous there (like they seem to be everywhere since COVID hit) then it's definitely an option. We're hiring a car and driving around Iceland in a month so will be a good dry run for Alaska, similar terrain and such.

I just got back from a 14 day road trip in the US - it is very expensive. Just for a corolla sized car it cost me around A$200/day (just under $2800 for a 14 day rental including a US$300 one way fee). The base rate was US$109/day. That was pre-booked months in advance with a corporate discount code, most other companies were a lot more expensive and I kept an eye on prices at it got closer and it didn't go down.

Fuel is also expensive by US standards - averaging around $3.50/gallon (I did see it just under $3 in some places, whilst others it was over $4). Sounds cheap but that is around US$1/L - which accounting for conversion and tax is closer to A$1.50/L. Still cheaper than it is here, yes, but nowhere as cheap as it used to be.

Flashback · Feb 15, 2022

justinbrett said:
I just got back from a 14 day road trip in the US - it is very expensive. Just for a corolla sized car it cost me around A$200/day (just under $2800 for a 14 day rental including a US$300 one way fee). The base rate was US$109/day. That was pre-booked months in advance with a corporate discount code, most other companies were a lot more expensive and I kept an eye on prices at it got closer and it didn't go down.

Fuel is also expensive by US standards - averaging around $3.50/gallon (I did see it just under $3 in some places, whilst others it was over $4). Sounds cheap but that is around US$1/L - which accounting for conversion and tax is closer to A$1.50/L. Still cheaper than it is here, yes, but nowhere as cheap as it used to be.

California was around $4/Gallon from what I remember, so that doesn't sound too bad. Arizona was probably the cheapest on that trip.

$2k for a Suburban looks to be a pretty good option and my folks are thinking about fleeing WA as well to join us, so that might be the best option for a car. Seems to be about the going rate so not bad.

It doesn't look like you can drive much in Denali NP, so will drive to our accommodation and then jump on the busses that run, I remember similar from the Grand Canyon NP.

justinbrett · Feb 15, 2022

Flashback said:
California was around $4/Gallon from what I remember, so that doesn't sound too bad. Arizona was probably the cheapest on that trip.

$2k for a Suburban looks to be a pretty good option and my folks are thinking about fleeing WA as well to join us, so that might be the best option for a car. Seems to be about the going rate so not bad.

It doesn't look like you can drive much in Denali NP, so will drive to our accommodation and then jump on the busses that run, I remember similar from the Grand Canyon NP.

Those prices were East coast. Prices in California are about $4.70 at the moment, they have a lot of excise compared to other states. That works out to be A$1.75/L which is pretty much the same as here.

In Jan 2017, the price in California was only $2.80/gallon.

BAM1748 · Feb 15, 2022

There are some good rental car deals at the moment, I guess it pays to shop around. I haven't tried turo.com but others tell if you want something a bit different it's not bad.

Flashback · Feb 15, 2022

BAM1748 said:
There are some good rental car deals at the moment, I guess it pays to shop around. I haven't tried turo.com but others tell if you want something a bit different it's not bad.

Turo is like Airbnb, can have a last minute cancellation and no recourse. Not that the major car rental companies are any better in the US........

Mwenenzi · Feb 15, 2022

Flashback said:
It doesn't look like you can drive much in Denali NP, so will drive to our accommodation and then jump on the busses that run, I remember similar from the Grand Canyon NP.

Private cars can only drive a short distance (15miles) into the park. The best parts are only by park bus: 2 types. Guided and unguided (green). Book these early & park gate accommodation early. Go to the far end Wonder Lake mile 85. Common for people to plan Alaska trips around these reservations.