Alaska Short in train

with its beautiful setting between Cook Inlet and the Chugach Mountains, Anchorage is home to more than forty percent of Alaska’s population, a sprawling city on the edge of one of the world’s great wildernesses.

You travel along the Seward Highway, a scenic coastal road carved into the side of the Chugach Mountains. Also known as the National Forest Scenic Byway, it follows the first 50 miles along the arm of the sea that extends inland from Turnagain Bay and leads to Seward, passing through bays, glaciers, and alpine valleys. It is a picturesque town surrounded by rugged mountains and overlooking Resurrection Bay, rich in salmon. Born at the beginning of the last century as a ice-free port at the southern end of the Alaska Railroad, it has become famous as a starting point for gold seekers heading to Nome.

The journey from Anchorage to Denali National Park follows the scenic Parks Highway (Alaska Route 3) and covers approximately 240 miles (about 380 km). Travel time is usually 4 to 5 hours, depending on traffic and weather conditions. The road is fully paved and well maintained, offering classic Alaskan landscapes such as vast boreal forests, river valleys, open tundra, and mountain ranges. Along the way, you pass small towns including Wasilla, Willow, and Cantwell, and on clear days you may catch your first glimpse of Mount Denali, North America’s highest peak. There are several scenic viewpoints and frequent opportunities to spot wildlife, particularly moose, especially in the early morning or evening hours. This route is considered one of Alaska’s most beautiful drives and is an integral part of the overall travel experience rather than just a transfer. The huge Denali National Park is a vast world of tundra and taiga, glaciers, huge mountains and abundant wildlife, so that backcountry hiking is a wonderful experience, but it's undertaken by only a tiny fraction of visitors. Most travellers just want to see Mont Denali, so in In high summer, the visitor centre and the Park Highway becomes a stream of car, RVs, tour buses.

The drive from Denali National Park to Anchorage follows the scenic Parks Highway (Alaska Route 3) south for about 240–250 miles (380–400 km) and typically takes around 4 to 5 hours without long stops. The road is fully paved and well-maintained, winding through classic Alaskan landscapes of dense forests, wide river valleys, and towering mountain ranges. Along the way you pass small towns such as Cantwell, Talkeetna, Willow, and Wasilla, and you’ll have frequent opportunities for scenic views of the Alaska Range and possibly wildlife along the roadside. The route is straightforward and one of the most beautiful highway drives in Alaska, making the journey itself an enjoyable part of the overall experience. If you want a more scenic detour or photo stops, there are viewpoints and small nature areas along the highway, making the return trip both relaxing and visually rewarding.