We are easy to find as we are right on the Parks Highway, the main (and only) highway that traverses the state north to south and leads you north from Anchorage or south from Fairbanks to Denali National Park.

This is our new sign	This is what our office looks like from the highway

There are two reliable bus companies serving us, The Park Connection and Alaska Yukon Trails.
Here are some of the differences.

The Park Connection

The great thing about using them is that we are an authorized ticket vendor. We will make all the arrangements and they will be expecting you. Just let us know when you reserve your accommodations or after and we will take care of the rest. The price having us arrange it for you is THE SAME AS IF YOU DID IT YOURSELF!
This is a free service to you.

They will be in service from May 17 through September 14, and they utilize large Motor Coaches.

They will pick you up at Seward, Anchorage, or Talkeetna and drop you off in Denali. And they will take you back.

There are two departures and arrivals each day. The most common one used is to leave Downtown Anchorage at 3:00 PM. You will arrive in Denali at about 9:00 PM. They will drop you off at the Denali Princess Lodge in "The Canyon". Just a short walk (one block) from there (back toward Anchorage) you will find the Canyon Market and Cafe'. This is your opportunity to stock up on groceries, alcohol and a box lunch for a trip into the park the next day if that is your plan. The other option is their Denali Express. It leaves at 7:00 AM from Anchorage, doesn't go through Talkeetna and arrives in Denali about 12:30 PM. It's $10 cheaper, but you need to plan for what to do until 5:30 PM when we pick you up. The Salmon Bake next to the Market will watch your luggage for you until the shuttle comes if you wish.

If you take the later bus, we will pick you up at the Market about 9:30 PM with our free shuttle service and take you to the hostel.

When it comes time for you to say good-bye, you take our free shuttle at 6:35 AM, and we will drop you off at McKinley Village at about 6:45 AM. They pick you up, at the same spot, at about 7:50 AM. (You could eat breakfast while waiting.)

A one-way ticket from Anchorage to Denali or Denali to Anchorage is $90. Round-trip $180.

Additionally, we can arrange travel for you with The Park Connection to and from Talkeetna and Seward.

As an additional prize for taking The Park Connection, late bus, you are entitled to a FREE Pass to the Anchorage Museum of History and Art. A value of $8.00! If you are taking the 3:00 PM bus to Denali, you can check-in as early as noon at the museum. You can also visit the Museum on your arrival back. Just ask the Park Connection attendant for a pass to the museum.

Click HERE to see the Museum's website.

Alaska Yukon Trails

Alaska Yukon Trails serves Anchorage, Denali and Fairbanks.

They will be in service from May 15 to September 10 with daily service. They do provide service before and after these dates, just not daily. With Alaska Yukon you travel in a passenger van with a trailer. This is the only bus service to and from Fairbanks.

similar to this but their van is red

The Best thing about Alaska Yukon is that they will pick you and drop you off right at the door of Spenard Hostel in Anchorage. They are also the least expensive way to get to and from Fairbanks.

They leave Spenard Hostel (Tell them you want picked up there when your reserve.) about 6:15 AM. You will arrive in Denali around 12:45 PM. They also pick up at several other places in Anchorage.

They will drop you off at the Tesoro Gas Station in "The Canyon". Then it is just a short one block walk to the Canyon Market and Cafe'. Just walk back toward Anchorage and you will find them.

You can also have them drop you off at the Wilderness Access Center if you wish and then you can call the Salmon Bake and they will come get you and take you to the Market.

We will pick you up there at either 5:30 PM or 9:30 PM, whichever you prefer. The folks at the Salmon Bake next to the Market will also watch your bags for you while you stroll around or eat a great meal at the Salmon Bake. This is your opportunity to stock up on groceries, alcohol and a box lunch for a trip into the park the next day if that is your plan.

Another great thing about using Alaska Yukon is that on departure day, they will pick you up right across the highway from the hostel to take you to either Anchorage or Fairbanks. Check-out is at 10 so you will need to leave the property then, but we will watch your luggage for you.

Depart to Anchorage at about 1:15 PM and arrive at Spenard's door at about 7:00 PM which conveniently is when they start their check-in. To Fairbanks, they depart at 12:30 PM and arrive at about 4:30 PM.

If you wish you can take our morning shuttle to the Park and be picked up there.

To make a reservation or ask questions you can call Alaska Yukon Toll Free at 1-800-770-2267, or Email them HERE or Reserve on-line HERE.

A one-way ticket at last check is $75. Round-trip is $150. (please let me know if you find it changed.)

For Information, schedule, and a picture of our Hostel Shuttle just click HERE. There have been big changes this year, so you better go read up.

North from Anchorage, Wasilla or Talkeetna

First after leaving Anchorage, don't forget to turn off that highway onto Highway 3 to Wasilla, Denali and Fairbanks. The turn is about 30 minutes out of Anchorage and there are a lot of signs, it's hard to miss.

We are located at Mile 224.1 of the Parks Highway. You will find us fourteen miles north of the small town of Cantwell. As you come up to Milepost 224 SLOW DOWN! Immediately ahead you will see the Carlo Creek Bridge (there's a sign). We are located just beyond that bridge.

Take your first left after the bridge. Be careful of traffic, especially behind you, you are still in a 65 MPH zone. We usually have a very tall mailbox and cones out to show you where the driveway is. Our office is the first cabin you come to.

The trip from Anchorage can take anywhere from 4 to 5 hours, depending on RV traffic. And remember check-in is not until 4 PM and the office may be closed during shuttle runs.

South from Fairbanks

We are located at Mile 224.1 of the Parks Highway. You will find us 13 miles south of the National Park entrance.

When you come to Milepost 225 start to slow down, you are just under a mile from our driveway.

You will see a gravel pit on your right and up ahead some businesses on your left. Watch for our tall mail box and orange cones marking our driveway.

We are just before the Carlo Creek bridge (there is a sign) so if you cross that bridge, you have gone too far. Be careful of traffic, especially behind you, you are still in a 65 MPH zone.

We are about a two-and-a-half-hour drive (130 miles) south of Fairbanks. Traffic is usually much less of a problem coming from Fairbanks until you get to "The Canyon" at about Mile 240.

Remember check-in is not until 4 PM and the office may be closed during shuttle runs.