Denali Star Route

Welcome Aboard the Denali Star

Connecting Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali Park, and Fairbanks

Destinations

Operating Dates

May 13 – September 17, 2026

Service Options

Alaska Railroad Denali Star Route

Like the name implies, Denali National Park is really the star attraction of the Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star route. The route spans over 350 miles from Anchorage to Fairbanks, with stops along the way in Talkeetna and Denali Park. Each morning during the summer two trains depart at 8:20 AM from both Anchorage and Fairbanks, passing each other along the way, and arriving at their respective destinations at around 8:00 PM. 

Choose from the Alaska Railroad Adventure Class, GoldStar Dome, or privately operated Wilderness Express. A typical Denali Star train is made up of a couple locomotives, a baggage car, two GoldStar Dome cars, several Adventure Class cars, one or two shared dome cars, a bistro or dining car, and two Wilderness Express dome cars at the end of the train. All service options on the Denali Star are wheelchair accessible, and ramps are available at all boarding locations.

While not truly part of the Denali Star, the McKinley Explorer service operates on a separate train and unique schedule between Anchorage, Talkeetna, and Denali Park.

Adventure Class cars feature the Wilderness Café which offers hot and cold grab-and-go menu items for purchase. There are tables in the café where you can eat, or you can take your food with you back to your seat. GoldStar Dome cars feature sit-down dining in the lower level of each dome car. The dining area is available to GoldStar guests, who enjoy meals and two beverages included in their ticket price. The Wilderness Express also has a private dining area for sit-down meals along with a bar area in the upper-level dome.

Traveling north from Anchorage, the Denali Star route takes you out of Anchorage, through the joint military bases of Elmendorf and Richardson, along the Knik Arm and across Knik and Matanuska Rivers. The first major stop northbound is the funky Alaskan community of Talkeetna. Some of the best views of Denali are available from the train just to the south and north of Talkeetna, and at one point the train passes a mere 46 miles from the summit. Between Talkeetna and Denali Park you will travel over Hurricane Gulch on a bridge that is 914 feet long and 296 feet above the creek below. Most passengers will disembark at Denali National Park for a few nights, before either heading north to Fairbanks or returning south. Another scenic area on this route is the Nenana River canyon gorge, which the train winds through shortly after departing Denali for Fairbanks.

Due to the distance, nearly all passengers will spend a night or two in Denali Park or Talkeetna, and many will not venture further north than Denali Park. If you’d like to travel the full route, consider beginning or ending your Alaska trip in Fairbanks to avoid a lengthy roundtrip. Even if you are planning just to travel Anchorage to Denali roundtrip, consider a railroad and bus package to save time, money, and to see some different scenery. Also, don’t skip an overnight in Talkeetna. In our opinion, the perfect Denali Park rail adventure includes at least two nights in the Denali Park area, and one night in Talkeetna.

Schedule & Fares Route Guide

Schedule

RouteDeparture TimeArrival Time
Northbound
Anchorage to Talkeetna8:20 AM11:05 AM
Talkeetna to Denali11:20 AM3:40 PM
Denali to Fairbanks4:00 PM8:00 PM
Southbound
Fairbanks to Denali8:20 AM12:10 PM
Denali to Talkeetna12:30 PM4:40 PM
Talkeetna to Anchorage5:05 PM8:00 PM
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Fares

RoutePrice (Adult/Child)
Anchorage to Denali$205/103
Anchorage to Fairbanks$294/147
Anchorage to Talkeetna$127/64
Denali to Anchorage$205/103
Denali to Fairbanks$102/51
Denali to Talkeetna$133/67
Fairbanks to Anchorage$294/147
Fairbanks to Denali$102/51
Fairbanks to Talkeetna$174/87
Talkeetna to Anchorage$127/64
Talkeetna to Denali$133/67
Talkeetna to Fairbanks$174/87
RoutePrice (Adult/Child)
Anchorage to Denali$393/218
Anchorage to Fairbanks$553/315
Anchorage to Talkeetna$286/151
Denali to Anchorage$406/234
Denali to Fairbanks$219/129
Denali to Talkeetna$281/148
Fairbanks to Anchorage$553/315
Fairbanks to Denali$207/129
Fairbanks to Talkeetna$361/201
Talkeetna to Anchorage$297/166
Talkeetna to Denali$281/148
Talkeetna to Fairbanks$371/216
RoutePrice (Adult/Child)
Anchorage to Denali$315/157.50
Anchorage to Fairbanks$435/217.50
Anchorage to Talkeetna$170/85
Denali to Anchorage$315/157.50
Denali to Fairbanks$160/80
Denali to Talkeetna$185/92.50
Fairbanks to Anchorage$435/217.50
Fairbanks to Denali$160/80
Fairbanks to Talkeetna$315/157.50
Talkeetna to Anchorage$170/85
Talkeetna to Denali$185/92.50
Talkeetna to Fairbanks$315/157.50
RoutePrice (Adult/Child)
Anchorage to Denali$265/132.50
Anchorage to Fairbanks$370/185
Anchorage to Talkeetna$150/75
Denali to Anchorage$265/132.50
Denali to Fairbanks$135/67.50
Denali to Talkeetna$150/75
Fairbanks to Anchorage$370/185
Fairbanks to Denali$135/67.50
Fairbanks to Talkeetna$265/132.50
Talkeetna to Anchorage$150/75
Talkeetna to Denali$150/75
Talkeetna to Fairbanks$265/132.50
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