Talkeetna Alaska
A small Alaskan town with big mountain views and lots to do.
Talkeetna Alaska
A small Alaskan town with big mountain views and lots to do.
Talkeetna Alaska
A small Alaskan town with big mountain views and lots to do.
Talkeetna Alaska
A small Alaskan town with big mountain views and lots to do.
Talkeetna
The town of Talkeetna sits at the confluence of three rivers: The Susitna, Talkeetna, and Chulitna. The location was for thousands of years a gathering site of native Dena'ina peoples who came to fish, hunt, forage, and trade. The area later drew gold prospectors in 1896, riverboat steamers in the early 1900s, and eventually the railroad by 1915.
While rich in history, Talkeetna is also rich in personality. During an afternoon in town, it's not unlikely to cross paths with eccentric locals, professional crafters, artisan ice cream makers, off-the-grid homesteaders, and even elite mountain climbers.
There's just one thing that can eclipse both history and charm: Denali. Talkeetna is 60 miles from North America's tallest peak. The town is the staging area for climbers waiting their Denali expeditions, and the Talkeetna area is one of the best location on the highway system to view the mountain. Because of that, Talkeetna offers fantastic flightseeing trips.
Keep reading for expert advice on things to do in Talkeetna , where to stay, and how to get around.
Talkeetna offers many other activities alongside flightseeing. Take a jetboat trip up the Susitna River, go for a guided hike, or embrace the adventure of ziplining. Check out our Talkeetna activities page for more ideas.
If seeing Denali is a goal for your Alaska vacation, overnighting in Talkeetna is a good way to up your chances. The Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge is a great choice. Located just a few miles from town, on a clear day the lodge offers a perfect view of Denali. The lodge is also the best choice if you are traveling by the Park Connection Motorcoach, particularly if you need connecting service between Talkeetna and Seward or Whittier.
Talkeetna is located approximately 115 road miles north of Anchorage, about 14 miles off the Parks Highway at the end of the Talkeetna Spur Road. Visitors usually reach Talkeetna by Alaska Railroad, Park Connection Motorcoach, or rental car. The Park Connection offers twice daily service to and from Denali Park, Anchorage, and Seward. All trips arrive or depart from the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge. The Alaska Railroad offers daily summer service to Talkeetna from Anchorage, Denali Park, or Fairbanks. A full list of travel options is available on our Talkeetna transportation page.
A quick note about location: The area surrounding Talkeetna is also often referred to as South Denali Park due to its location near the southern border of both Denali National Park and Denali State Park. For our purposes, we group services in the "Talkeetna Area" or "South Denali Park" that are located between the actual town of Talkeetna and the McKinley Princess Lodge, which is roughly 45 road miles north on the boundary of Denali State Park. It is also important to keep in mind that the McKinley Princess and the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge are 105 and 150 miles from the actual entrance to Denali National Park, respectively.
