Denali National Park is a popular destination for all our visitors.  It offers beautiful scenery, great hiking, wildlife viewing, and a (slim) chance of seeing Mt. McKinley.

If you want to visit the park, budget at least two days of your trip.  It will take you approximately five hours to get there from Anchorage.  The bus trips into the park (more on that in a minute) last eight to eleven hours, depending on how far you decide to go.  It's wise to arrive the night before your bus trip, and it's up to you whether or not to stay a second night.  (Some people don't want to make a five hour car trip back to Anchorage after spending eight hours on a bus, so they opt to stay a second night.)

There is only one road into Denali National Park, and private vehicles are only allowed on the first eleven miles.  That means you need to sign up for a bus ride if you want to see the park.  The busses aren't glamorous, but luckily the trips are very affordable.  You can ask your driver to stop at any time so you can get out and hike, and the next bus will pick you up if there are seats available.  The bus will stop whenever there is wildlife, and you can take pictures from the windows.  I won't lie to you:  it's not ideal, but it's your only choice if you want to see the park.

You can pretty much count on seeing caribou and moose.  Grizzly bears used to be a sure bet as well, but now we're getting more and more reports of people going to the park without a single spotting.  There is only a 30% chance of seeing the mountain on any given day - it's just so dang big that it makes its own weather, and it usually creates clouds at the top.

For more information, check out the official web site for Denali National Park.  You can find information about the park itself, as well as the bus fares and schedules.

Where should you stay?  There has been a lot of development in this area, so lodging - whether you want to camp or get a room - isn't difficult to find.  Do your homework... but here are a few recommendations...

Staying in the park is a good option.  There are campgrounds, or you can backpack if you get a permit.  There is also a great little campground with lots of character about 10 miles south of Denali.  It's called Carlo Creek Lodge, and tent sites or log cabins are available.  If you really want to splurge, check out the Denali or McKinley Princess Hotel.  Also, consider grabbing a bite to eat at The Perch.  It isn't fast or cheap, but the view is great, the food is delicious, and the beer is cold!  It's located at Mile 224 of the Parks Hwy.

Lillian and Nola - in the park, and at the Carlo Creek cabin.

So should you add Denali to your itinerary?  Here is our advice:

Staci:  If you are in Alaska for a longer trip (two weeks or so), then go for it.  Just don't get your hopes up to see that mountain!  But if you're only in the state for a week, this could eat up a lot of your time... a real bummer if you get poor weather.  P.S.  Large coolers don't fit under the bus seats!

Nola:  I guess my main advice on the Denali trip is that the trip to Eielson is enough of a bus trip. I know we saw a little when we went past that to Wonder Lake, but it gets to be a long ride for sure. If you go back to Wonder Lake, be sure you have something to protect you from all the mosquitoes. There you really get the buzz in the air from them, a steady hum and they are all over you until you leave. Bring lots of bug spray if you go the long route. But it is a wonderful bus tour and some lovely scenery. Good luck on seeing the mountain. I have not seen it from in the park.

Lillian:  While I had a really good time on our trip to Denali, I guess I would say that if you only had one week I would pass on it. It is a long drive. One but... if there was a guarantee that you could see the top of the mountain I guess I would go for it. Something like that can't be planned what with having to reserve the cabin so far in advance. Someday I WILL see it!

Elle:  I would recommend the Carlo Creek Cabin for lodging. It's a great place to stay.