Onboard the Denali Star Train: Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, Fairbanks

The Denali Star train connects Anchorage and Fairbanks by way of a 356-mile, 12-hour journey through beautifully remote Alaskan wilderness.

Summary

• The Denali Star train is the longest rail route in Alaska, connecting Anchorage to Fairbanks
• Onboard the Denali Star, you can either sit in upper-level scenic domed train carriages or enjoy a more typical rail experience
• The trip is a great chance to relax and enjoy stunning views of Alaska's Interior while easily accessing remote destinations

The Denali Star train is Alaska Railroad's flagship route, running from Anchorage to Fairbanks and, in doing so, crossing some of Alaska's wildest wilderness. It it one of the five routes run by Alaska Railroad, makes for one of the best vacation ideas in Alaska, and is something we recommend to our guests time and time again.

While testing experiences for our guests, our team has taken this route many times, both in small sections and its full, 12-hour, end-to-end journey.

If 12 hours onboard a train sounds a little daunting, it shouldn't — the coaches are fitted with large, extremely comfortable seats, scenic dome cars, and the food onboard is amazing. That being said, we also recommend taking the Denali Star in shorter sections.

Most recently, our team took Alaska Railroad's Denali Star train from Anchorage to Talkeetna as a scenic way of connecting the lower Interior region. The journey was just 2 hours and 45 minutes, and a great alternative to car travel or a coach transfer.

Credit: Alaska Railroad

The Denali Star Route

The Denali Star route spans from Anchorage in the south to Fairbanks in the north, stopping at Wasilla, Talkeetna, and Denali on the way. It runs in either direction, so even though we mention starting your journey in Anchorage, you can begin in Fairbanks and work south.

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We'll categorize the Denali Star train route into two legs: between Anchorage and Denali, and from Denali to Fairbanks. That's because we typically recommend our guests stop for a night or two in Denali or Talkeetna to best explore the national park and its surroundings.

That being said, the Denali Star is one continuous route, and many people ride the full 12 hours in one go.

Credit: Ken Graham Photography

Pre-Boarding

The Denali Star leaves Anchorage early in the morning, at 8:20am, so we always recommend our guests spend at least one day in Anchorage before the train is set to depart.

Luckily, Anchorage is a city that rewards an extra night. Despite being the largest city in the state, Anchorage still feels deeply Alaskan, that being down-to-earth and connected to nature.

You can find excellent restaurants and breweries throughout the walkable downtown, and the Chugach Mountains rise directly behind the city skyline, which practically call you to explore. With an extra day, you can tour the surrounding area, perhaps venturing down the Turnagain Arm. A favorite of our guests, though, and one we recommend often, is fly-in bear viewing in one of the neighboring national parks across the Cook Inlet.

The morning of the trip, plan to arrive at the station around an hour early (around 7:20am) to check in. The Alaska Railroad station sits right downtown, and you can spend time browsing the gift shop while you wait.

Credit: Alaska Rail Vacations

Boarding the Denali Star

Boarding the Denali Star is easy and fast. You'll check any large luggage in before you board, bringing with you a smaller bag with anything you'll need on the train, and all passengers will be directed to where they need to be to board smoothly.

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From here, you'll also get an up-close look at the outside before you climb onboard (and, for GoldStar passengers, ascend to the upper level of the dome car, where you'll be sitting) and get settled into your comfortable seats.

Credit: Alaska Railroad

Service Levels on the Denali Star Train

On the Denali Star, you'll either be traveling in GoldStar Service or Adventure Class.

GoldStar is the premium option; you'll be seated upstairs in a domed car, with panoramic glass windows arching over you and access to an exclusive outdoor viewing deck. Meals, included in your ticket, will be served in the downstairs dining section of your train car. We include this service level by default for our own guests whenever possible.

Adventure Class, on the other hand, is the more affordable option. You'll have access to all the same stunning views — the train travels the same route regardless of class — and large picture windows line the train, making them easy to see. Meals can be purchased in the cafe car.

Credit: Alaska Railroad

First Leg Onboard the Denali Star | Anchorage to Denali

The Denali Star pulls out of Anchorage just after 8:20am. Within minutes, the city gives way, and Alaskan wilderness begins in earnest. It quickly becomes clear why the Denali Star is one of the best train trips in Alaska.

This is perhaps the most grand part of the route — there's no shortage of mountains looming on the horizon as you head towards the Alaska Range, and directly on either side as you skirt the edge of Denali National Park and Preserve. Hopefully, you'll also catch a glimpse of the elusive and towering Mount Denali, which is visible from the train on clear days.

During this leg, you'll also pass Hurricane Gulch on the Hurricane Gulch Bridge, both the tallest and longest on the route (and the photo just above). You can see Hurricane Creek, which is a classically Alaskan braided river, snake away on either side.

Credit: Alaska Railroad

Leaving Anchorage

Leaving Anchorage, the Denali Star follows the Knik Arm north, passing alongside the Chugach State Park, before curving inland through the Matanuska-Susitna Valley.

The valley itself is broad and flat, framed on all sides by mountains. The size is Alaskan in scale (very large and extremely beautiful), and the GoldStar Service dome car access really comes into its own here.

Credit: Alaska Rail Vacations

Breakfast on the Denali Star

Breakfast is included in GoldStar Service on routes that leave early in the morning (departing from either Fairbanks or Anchorage) and can be purchased in Adventure Class.

To best enjoy the classic draw of long-distance rail travel — to us, that being views of the remote wilderness complemented with meals taken in the dining car — we always recommend GoldStar Service, and include it by default where possible for our own guests. The included meals are hearty Alaskan fare, with reindeer sausage found alongside eggs and potatoes, biscuits and gravy, and other rotating options.

Credit: Dreamstime

Stopping in Talkeetna and Denali

The Denali Star stops in both Talkeetna and Denali on its route between Anchorage and Fairbanks.

We almost always recommend an overnight stop in Talkeetna or Denali as a part of the Denali Star train ride to our guests. Without it, you'd miss the chance to explore some of the most beautiful sights you pass on the train. And, as a bonus, it breaks up what would be a long travel day if you were to complete Anchorage to Fairbanks in one sitting.

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Talkeetna is a small, eccentric, and utterly charming town. Its 'downtown,' which encompasses all of two blocks, is lined with cafes, eateries, art galleries, and the famous Nagleys General Store, all housed in historic clapboard wooden buildings. It sits in the direct sightline of Mount McKinley (or Mount Denali) on clear days, and is our base camp of choice for guests exploring Denali National Park and Preserve by air — our partner flightseeing companies and air taxis are mostly based out of the town.

Credit: NPS Photo

Stopping in Denali, on the other hand, gets you closer to the national park itself, and is best for exploring within the park, whether by a bus tour along the (inaccessible by private vehicle) Park Road, by 4x4 Jeep, or by foot. We always recommend stopping by the Denali National Park and Preserve visitor center for its incredible ranger programs, exhibits, and neighboring Denali Sled Dog Kennels, where the dogs continue to work to protect the national park, as they have since the 1920s.

Second Leg Onboard the Denali Star | Denali to Fairbanks

From Denali, the landscape flattens slightly as you leave Denali National Park and Preserve (and with it, the Alaska Range) behind. From here on out, it’s gently undulating boreal forests intersected with wide braided rivers.

Credit: Alaska Rail Vacations

Lunch and Dinner in the Dining Car

Lunch and dinner are both served after leaving Denali and, for GoldStar passengers, taken in the dining car. Like breakfast, they consist of hearty Alaskan staples like an Angus beef burger, reindeer meat bolognese, salmon chowder, buffalo chili, or pot roast, though the meals on offer rotate across trips and between lunch and dinner.

The dining car is a classic sit-down experience — white-clothed tables, fresh-cooked food in generous portions.

Credit: Explore Fairbanks

Arriving in Fairbanks

The Denali Star arrives in Fairbanks in the evening, around 8pm, pulling in alongside the Fairbanks depot on the north edge of town.

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Fairbanks is Alaska's second-largest city and has more frontier to its character than Anchorage. It's known as the Golden Heart City due to the central part it played during the gold rush. While it's mostly seen as a winter destination for the vibrant Northern Lights displays visible from near the city, Fairbanks makes a historic end to Alaska's greatest rail journey.

What to Consider Before Taking the Denali Star

A few practical notes from our team's (and previous travelers') collective experience:

The Denali Star runs daily from mid-May through mid-September. Outside those dates, the route becomes the Aurora Winter Train, and runs a limited service.

If you're planning a summer trip, book early — GoldStar Service in particular sells out well in advance.

Luggage check is straightforward, but carry a day bag onboard with anything you want access to during the journey. Checked bags aren't accessible while the train is moving.

Cell service and data are sparse for large stretches of the route. But, that being said, one of the biggest pleasures onboard the train is disconnecting from modernity and relaxing into classic rail travel. That means no tech-based distractions (though a book is a great travel companion) and endless undeveloped wilderness views.

Credit: Alaska Rail Vacations

Book a Trip on the Denali Star Train

If you're just looking for a train ticket, then you can purchase a train ticket on Alaska Railroad's website. However, if you're looking for rail vacation packages that include Denali Star, Alaska Rail Vacations puts together bespoke and tailored packages built around Alaska's train routes.

Like we said before, we think the Denali Star is best experienced with stops along the way, in Talkeetna, Denali, or both, and a pre-night in Anchorage. Building a complete vacation lets you explore the landscapes you see rather than just pass them by.

If you’d like to travel Alaska by train, reach out to a Travel Designer to begin booking your trip.