How to get from Whittier to Denali

It is nearly 300 miles from Whittier to Denali Park, including a trip through a two-mile long tunnel as you depart Whittier. That can be a long day, and we generally encourage our guests to spend the night in Talkeetna on the way north. That said, it can be an efficient option for travelers disembarking a cruise in Whittier who want to take a post-cruise land tour, but are short on time.

10.5 hours by bus | 6.5 hours by car

Read on for additional details, or if you are ready to book online, try our Train & Bus Express Checkout.

Take the Bus

The Park Connection Motorcoach picks up right at the Whittier cruise terminal on ship days at 9:45 AM, and will first take you to Anchorage, a two-hour drive away. In Anchorage, you will have a few hours to grab lunch or explore a bit of downtown. You will depart for Denali at 3:00 PM, arriving in Denali Park around 8:30 PM after a brief stop in Talkeetna.

Ride the Train

There is no same-day scheduled train service from Whittier to Denali Park. Your options are to spend the night in Anchorage, or purchase a cruise tour from the cruise line that includes a special charter train that travels directly from the ship to Denali Park on ship days.

Drive Yourself

Plan on about seven hours of driving from Whittier to Denali Park, in addition to some stops along the way. If you need to pick up a rental car in Whittier, consider the unique offer we have on our Whittier rental car page. With this special, you can ride the Park Connection Motorcoach for free from Whittier to the Anchorage airport and pick up a premium 4x4 car rental. You can return the car to either Anchorage or Fairbanks.