Ten Day Road Trip to Denali and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

This 10-day itinerary sweeps you through some of the most majestic parklands in all of Alaska, including Denali National Park, which is home to the tallest peak in North America, and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the largest national park in the United States. This itinerary requires a rental car.

Day 1: Anchorage

Begin your journey in Alaska’s largest city, where you can experience our rich culture and heritage with visits to the Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center. If you like planes, the Alaska Aviation Museum and nearby Lake Hood, the busiest seaplane base in the world, are fascinating stops. End the day with one of several fun walking tours, or by exploring Anchorage’s many hiking and biking trails; there are several bike rental shops downtown.

Day 2: Anchorage to Denali

Wake early and make the drive north to Denali National Park. The trip is about 240 miles and usually takes around five hours once you allow time for rest and photo stops. Take a detour to the small town of Talkeetna for lunch, where you'll find spectacular views of Denali on clear days. Settle in for the evening at one of the many lodging options to choose from in the Denali Park area, near the entrance to the park. 

A note for visitors from 2024 - 2026:
The Denali Park Road will be open until mile 43 through 2026 due to road improvements. Narrated bus tours and transit buses will continue to be available for guests visiting the park and will travel as far as mile 43. The main visitor center will remain open along with four campgrounds and numerous trails accessible via the park road. Free shuttle bus service will run every 15 minutes during peak visitation times between the Denali Bus Depot / Denali Visitor Center to the Mountain Vista and Savage River Trailheads. 

Day 3: Denali National Park

Spend the day on a guided wilderness tour of Denali National Park. Bus tours that take you deep into the park along its only roadway are the most popular option here, but you can also book guided hiking trips, ATV tours, rafting, horseback riding, touring the National Park Service’s sled dog kennels, flightseeing, ziplining, or exploring the hiking trails near the park's entrance on your own. Panoramic views of mountain ranges, rivers, lakes, and glaciers provide the backdrop as you look for brown bears, black bears, caribou, wolves, marmots, ptarmigan, and other animals. Overnight again at your lodging near the park entrance.

Day 4: Denali Highway & the Copper River Valley

From Denali National Park, travel about 30 miles south to the small community of Cantwell. This marks the beginning of the 135-mile Denali Highway, which will take you east through some of the most beautiful wilderness in Alaska. Most of the road is gravel, so your maximum speed may be as low as 35 mph — but the views are worth it. (Please note that some rental car companies don't allow you to drive on the Denali Highway due to rough road conditions, so make sure to check for any road restrictions before planning this route.)

A few wilderness lodges along the way offer food, restrooms, and a chance to ask for information. Take your time and enjoy the spectacular scenery as you watch for wildlife like moose, caribou, bears, and bald eagles. Once you reach the tiny community of Paxson, which marks the end of the Denali Highway, follow the Richardson Highway south for another 75 miles to Glennallen, where you can find lodging for the night.

Day 5: Copper River Valley (Gakona, Glennallen, or Copper Center)

The Copper River Valley’s many activities can keep you busy for days — but for now, pick one. Take a guided fishing charter for king and red salmon on tributaries to the world famous Copper River, go rafting, book a flightseeing trip over Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, or visit the park's headquarters at the Copper Center Visitors Center and the Ahtna Cultural Center to learn about Alaska Native culture. Overnight again in Glennallen or Copper Center.

Day 6: Copper River Valley to McCarthy

Today will offer a driving adventure like no other. Start by making the 70-mile drive southeast to the small community of Chitina, where you can fill up on gas before starting the more adventurous leg of your trip. When you’re ready, set out on the unpaved road to McCarthy, located in the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. This road is only 60 miles long, but it is narrow, has many blind corners, and was built on an old railbed that sometimes still surfaces tire-popping railroad spikes. Plan at least two or three hours to make the drive, and double-check that your rental car company allows you to drive this road. Once you arrive in McCarthy, you’ll have to park your car and cross a narrow footbridge to get into town.

If you don’t want to risk your tires on the McCarthy Road, you can also take a regularly scheduled shuttle service or book a small plane flight from Chitina to McCarthy. Spend the night in McCarthy or at a lodge in the historic mining town of Kennicott, located 5 miles away and accessible by shuttle.

Day 7: McCarthy & Kennicott

Spend the day enjoying the sleepy, laid-back feel of life in McCarthy, where the year-round population was just over 100 people as of the last census, and cellular service is a recent innovation that may still be limited to just one carrier. Choose from long day hikes, fishing, whitewater rafting, flightseeing, or a guided trekking or ice-climbing trip on the nearby Root Glacier - all of which take you into the incredible wilderness of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. 

You can also walk, bike, or take the local shuttle bus for the 5-mile trip to Kennicott, a nearby ghost town that comes back to life with visitors every summer. Kennicott, the town, was founded to tend to the needs of the workers of the Kennecott Copper Mine, and many of the historic buildings are still standing. You can join a fascinating guided tour through the towering Mill Building or explore some of the other buildings on your own. Several hiking trails start from Kennicott, as well. After a full day, head back to your accommodations in McCarthy or Kennicott. 

Day 8: McCarthy to Valdez

Retrace your drive (or flight) out of McCarthy and back to the paved road system, where it’s another 120 miles southwest to the friendly little port community of Valdez. The last 30 miles of roadway into Valdez are some of the prettiest in the world, so leave yourself plenty of time for stops to view sights like the roadside Worthington Glacier and the spectacular waterfalls that line the steep walls of Keystone Canyon.

If you reach Valdez before business hours are over you can visit the town’s three museums, which display Alaska Native artifacts and tell the story of the outsized historical events that have taken here, including the cataclysmic effects of the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake that measured 9.2 on the Richter scale — the second-largest earthquake ever recorded in the world. Overnight in Valdez.

Day 9: Valdez

Enjoy a full-day tour of your choice in the beautiful waters of Prince William Sound. Popular options include cruising to the Columbia or Meares Glaciers, kayaking among icebergs shed by the same glaciers, or taking advantage of Valdez’s world-famous halibut fishing. Upon your return, enjoy dinner in one of Valdez’s excellent restaurants and turn in for another night.

Day 10: Mat-Su Valley & Palmer to Anchorage

Get an early start to make the 260-mile drive from Valdez to the farming town of Palmer in the Mat-Su Valley. You'll retrace your route along the Richardson Highway to Glennallen and then head west for a scenic drive along the Glenn Highway to Palmer. Make sure to stop to appreciate the views of the mighty Matanuska Glacier, which you can view from roadside pullouts or explore on foot on a guided glacier trekking trip. 

Once you reach Palmer, visit the family-run musk ox or reindeer farms, where you can get up close and personal with baby animals. From here, it’s another 45 miles — or about an hour’s drive — to Anchorage, where you can catch a nice dinner and rest up in your hotel before starting the journey back home tomorrow.