How far is Denali from Anchorage?

The driving distance from Anchorage to Denali National Park is about 235 miles depending upon just where you will be starting from.

From the hotels in downtown Anchorage or from areas around Potters Marsh your looking at adding not only a few miles but some city driving time as well. Typically it's about a 5 hour drive to Denali Park but if you're not on a tight schedule, plan for a few more hours and take in some of the unique side trips along the way.

Heading out from Anchorage you will be traveling on what is known as the Glenn Highway where you pass through some outlying towns of Eagle River, Birchwood and Chugiak before crossing the Knik River bridge and Palmer Flats. Soon after, you come to the overpass for Wasilla and Denali Park via the George Parks Highway. Follow this route north and you find the town of Wasilla where our very own Sarah Palin was Mayor.

Wasilla is also home to the Alaska Iditarod Trail Headquarters located at

Alaska Iditarod Trail Headquarters
Knik Goose Bay Road
Wasilla, AK 99654
(907) 376-5155

Further up the road is Houston Alaska and the Little Susitna river where a lot of salmon fishing takes place each summer.

Keep going and there are numerous turnouts and roadhouses that can really make the drive a memorable one.

One other such place is Talkeetna where you can take off on a scenic flight to see Denali Park and Mount Mckinley from an entirely different perspective. There are also some great viewing areas of Denali in this general area.