Last minute arrangements - Whittier to ??? to Fairbanks

[pballwizard]

I'm late to the game and I might be bottom feeding now, but I ended up booking 1-way cruise Vancouver to Whittier.  Flying out of Fairbanks 3 days after we disembark.

I need to fill the the 3 extra days, looks like car rental from Whittier to Fairbanks is not an option, Anchorage to Fairbanks is damn expensive with the one way surcharge.  Another option is a bus to Anchorage, fly to Fairbanks, r/t car rental from Fairbanks looks reasonable.  I want to spend 2 nights near Denali/Healy, maybe one night in Fairbanks.   

I  figure most people book the land extension thru the cruise line, but I didn't do that 🙂   Anyone have suggestions on how I should fill in the the land portion of this on my own? Looking for suggestions for transport from Whittier, end up in Fairbanks, and either line up transport or car rental (I've already reserved a car in Anchorage that I can cancel).

thanks for the advice, and best regards!

Mike

[AKJonesy]

You can take the ship transfer to Anchorage.  Renting a car in Anchorage with a one way drop I imagine is going to be incredibly expensive.  Alaska Air has mulitple flights per day to FAI from ANC and the trick here is to book in advance.  I didn't know when you are coming, so I could not look up a price for you, but regardless, it's probably going to be less than the car rental in ANC which have been insane.

You COULD take the train which would be nice, but it will be a very long day and you will still have some logistical issues to then get from DNP to FAI, and it's going to be very expensive.  So, I think you should stick to your idea of flying to FAI renting a car and drive down to the park.  You could make that a day trip out of FAI or try and secure an accommodation in Healy or surrounding.  Keep in mind you DONT have to stay in a hotel and might secure an Airbnb which is what we do when we are up in FAI.  In DNP you can do something on your own like do the hike that is right by the Visitor's Center or you can get on the bus into the park.  You can drive in part way, but cars are NOT allowed past a particular point.  Also, make sure to check on the rental car to see if you can go on gravel roads because it's easy to break the windshield here!  

Another day trip would be to drive up to the Arctic Circle.  So to me it's not about the sign and getting the certificate, but the drive is beautiful and rugged and most people won't do this trip.  I consider this off the beaten track and maybe this would be a nice day trip for you.  I'm not sure because I don't know your interests.  You don't have to do the driving yourself; there are a few tours from Fairbanks going there and back each day.  

There is plenty to do around FAI for a few days depending on your interest.  You can also look at top things to do in FAI on T Advisor for some ideas.  If you go to DNP stop in Healy at 49th State Brewing (Restaurant).  

[AKJonesy]

Here are some links:  (See my original post #1)

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g31007-d1906344-Reviews-49th_State_Brewing-Healy_Denali_National_Park_and_Preserve_Alaska.html

 

https://www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm

 

https://www.airbnb.com/s/Fairbanks--Alaska--United-States/homes?tab_id=home_tab&refinement_paths[]=%2Fhomes&flexible_trip_lengths[]=one_week&monthly_start_date=2023-08-01&monthly_length=3&price_filter_input_type=0&price_filter_num_nights=5&channel=EXPLORE&query=Fairbanks%2C AK&place_id=ChIJqWX9Z09FMlEROvf-CeAF2LM&date_picker_type=calendar&source=structured_search_input_header&search_type=autocomplete_click

 

https://www.alaska.org/advice/alaska-railroad-schedule

 

https://www.morristhompsoncenter.org/

 

https://chenahotsprings.com/

 

You can also get around on the bus in Fairbanks which has a pretty extensive system.  

 

https://northernalaska.com/tours/arctic-circle

 

https://hoodoobrew.com/

 

https://www.uaf.edu/museum/

 

 

Edited July 27, 2023 by AKJonesy

[Northern Aurora]

I don't know how OP get into this predicament, but I would suggest purchasing the cruise line transfer from Whittier to the Anchorage airport.  The Alaska Airlines flight from Anchorage to Fairbanks is about 55 minutes in length.  There are a number of flights, but our OP will need reservations.

 

The drive from Fairbanks to the entrance of Denali National Park is about two hours and fifteen minutes in duration assuming no delays for road construction.  I hope our OP realizes that access into the park is limited due to the road closure at Pretty Rocks.  I have always felt that folks who don't go into the park as far as Eielson Visitor's Center cheat themselves and so we have not visited the park since the road closure (prior to the closure at Pretty Rocks we went down at least once a summer).  

 

It is unclear to me if our OP is visiting this summer or next.  But we are having a very busy tourist summer season in the Interior, so if our OP doesn't have reservations for accommodations they may have a problem.

 

@AKJonesy mentioned a trip north of Fairbanks.  If that is of interest consider booking one of the tours offered by Northern Alaska Tour Company.  A very reputable company with different options.

[GTJ]

You do seem to have an attraction to renting a motor vehicle, but if your interests are limited to the typical tourist stops (i.e., those places enumerated above), then there is likely little need or benefit for doing so. The logistics for flying north to Fairbanks, only to then turn around and drive yourself south to Denali, would add some complications. Nonetheless, to do so, you could travel from Whittier to the Anchorage airport by motorcoach. Alaska Cruise Transportation motorcoaches depart Whittier at 8:45 a.m. on all cruise vessel days, and an additional departure at 11:45 a.m. on Princess Cruises (not Holland America Line) days, arriving at the airport at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. only. Park Connection motorcoaches depart Whittier at 9:45 a.m. on all cruise vessel days, arriving at the airport at 12:00 noon. Additionally, the cruise lines themselves arrange for their own (usually more expensive) motorcoach transfers to the airport. From the Anchorage airport you could use an early afternoon flight north to Fairbanks, rent a motor vehicle, and drive yourself back south to Denali. Buy tickets for Alaska Cruise Transportation directly from the motorcoach company. Buy tickets for Park Connection service from Alaska Tour & Travel, the broker that arranges for this bus service. Buy tickets for the cruise line-arranged service from your cruise line.

Note that there is a fair amount of transportation that connects Whittier, Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, and Fairbanks, such that you can allocate your time among these locations, and end up in Fairbanks on a timely basis. Below is a map that illustrates the various passenger railroad services that connect these points. In addition, there are motorcoach services that connect Whittier with Anchorage (Alaska Cruise Transportation, Park Connection); and Anchorage with Talkeetna and Denali (Park Connection).

 

Given what you have expressed about a desire to spend two nights at Denali, my suggestion is to skip the flight and the rental vehicle, but travel directly from Whittier to Denali by either railroad or motorcoach, and after a two night stay at the park, continue onward to Fairbanks by railroad.

 

From Whittier to Denali, you can travel upon the Denali Express train. This service is provided with Ultra Dome railcars owned by HAP Alaska exclusively for passengers of Holland America Line and Princess Cruises (the train itself is operated by the Alaska Railroad). The train departs from Whittier on cruise vessel days at 8:15 a.m., and arrives at Denali National Park at 5:45 p.m. (all times are approximate). While the train is marketed in connection with the ground tours offered by the cruise line brands, it appears that none of their packaged tours meets your needs. Nonetheless, you could enquire from the cruise lines about train-only tickets if you're otherwise willing to make the other arrangements (i.e., lodging at the park, onward travel to Fairbanks) on your own.

 

Otherwise, you could travel from Whittier to Denali by motorcoach. Because there is an intermediate stop between Whittier and Denali in downtown Anchorage, it is best to buy a through ticket using the Park Connection service, so that the logistics of baggage handling are completed by a single company (as opposed to using two different bus services and connecting in Anchorage). The motorcoach departs from Whittier on cruise vessel days at 9:45 a.m., and arrives in downtown Anchorage at 11:30 a.m. You will have a few hours in downtown Anchorage, to get lunch and see sights, before departing on a connecting motorcoach at 3:00 p.m. Arrival at Denali National Park is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Buy tickets for this Park Connection service from Alaska Tour & Travel, the broker that arranges for this bus service.

 

Finally, from Denali to Fairbanks you would travel upon the Denali Star train. This service is provided traditional railroad cars and Ultra Dome railrars--used for Adventure (coach) class and GoldStar (first class) service, respectively--owned and operated by the Alaska Railroad as a regular passenger train available to all persons. The train departs from Denali daily at 4:00 p.m., and arrives in Fairbanks at 8:00 p.m. Buy tickets for this Denali Star service from the Alaska Railroad.

Alaska Railroad Map and Service 3.pdf

[pballwizard]

Back from my trip and wanted to circle back with what I put together:

 

- cruise disembark on Saturday in Whittier

- Coach travel Whittier to Denali Mt. McKinley lodge via Alaska Tour and Travel (lunch stopover/transfer in Anchorage, easy-peasy). Tunnel was cool, commentary was good, coach wasn't packed so we could spread out. B&B host picked us up at Mt McKinley lodge.

- 2 nights at B&B in Healy. Had a rental car throughout Healy stay and they handled transport between Denali depots. Dinner one night at 49th State, one night at Prospectors Pizza.  Drove into the park twice and also took the Transit bus to mile 43.

- Wilderness Express Denali to Fairbanks, slow but enjoyable trip, great views during first 12+ miles, less interesting beyond but there were some callouts and moose siting's.  Dinner and drinks were extra but 'reasonable' and good. Not crowded and plenty of room to stretch and move around

- 2 nights B&B outside Fairbanks proper.  Site had potential for Northern lights viewing, but weather wasn't cooperating.  Took cab between Train Depot and B&B.

- Booked a Turo very late (the one piece I didn't have laid out in advance).  Had to get a Lyft to Riverboat cruise, and Turo was waiting for me on our return so it worked out.  Dinner at the Pump House after.

- Final day we had the Turo, went to North Pole (wasn't worth the effort other than a photo opp).  Went to Chena Hot Springs but the Ice House was closed for renovation, no AppleTini! Saw 3 moose on the way. Had lunch at recommended breakfast/lunch joint back in Fairbanks, went to Auto Museum (very impressive), and snuck in a visit to view the pipeline before refueling and dropping bags at Fairbanks terminal. Returned the Turo in s-t parking at the terminal, easy-peasy.

 

In the end my last minute 'tour package' cost roughly the same as the cruise special pricing (not including car rentals but I factored equivalent transfer costs throughout), we had schedule flexibility, fresh breakfast, gracious hosts and less crowds, and weren't should-to-shoulder on the cruise line coaches.

 

Thanks all for the suggestions, if I get to do it again I'd try to book things earlier (this whole trip  assembly kicked-off on July 24th!), try to stay on Talkeetna 1-2 days, try to figure out the train maybe from Talkeetna to Denali. Hopefully Eielson visitor center would be open for visits, and I might add a northern excursion into the circle on an aurora excursion.

I'd also like to visit Seward, Homer and maybe Valdez in the future.

 

Thanks all for the input, I used a little advice from all!

 

Mike

 

 

 

 

[Northern Aurora]

Thanks for the update.

 

I am fuzzy as to when you were actually in Fairbanks, but our aurora season doesn't start until August 21st.  Simply too light to see an aurora between August 21 and April 21st.  So while it may seem dark on August 20th, it is still too light to  view an aurora.

[pballwizard]

NA, we were at Taste of Alaska Lodge Aug 21/22, had a late flight out of Fairbanks on the 23rd.

[Coral]

Looks like you extended your stay longer than 3 total nights?

[pballwizard]

39 minutes ago, Coral said:

Looks like you extended your stay longer than 3 total nights?

yes ended up changing return flight and staying an extra night in Fairbanks/Fox area.  I thought about an excursion to the Artic circle, but thought it would be too much for this trip.

2 nights in Healy, 2 nights outside Fairbanks.

 

[Coral]

1 hour ago, pballwizard said:

yes ended up changing return flight and staying an extra night in Fairbanks/Fox area.  I thought about an excursion to the Artic circle, but thought it would be too much for this trip.

2 nights in Healy, 2 nights outside Fairbanks.

Wise choice. Sounds like you made the best of your trip!

[Wetmib]

Piggy backing/hijacking if I may...the train comes in at 8pm...what do people do between then and if they're taking a red eye back to the east coast ie 2am? Assuming cab from train to airport_ which I'm told will not require 2hr window for check in. 

We're adding on land after cruise. Thinking the additional train up.to fairbanks gives more views of Alaska. Or should we do a tour, with travel back to anchorage and forget the denali_fairbanks piece?

Thanks.

[pballwizard]

I stayed in fairbanks a couple of nights, but... my flight out was 9:22pm back thru chicago so there wasn't a lot of wait time if I was flying back that eve.