Denali to Anchorage: 8 hours on a train

Denali to Anchorage

After our quick hike in Denali, we headed over to the train depot. We boarded another train for the last leg of our Princess tour from Denali to Anchorage. The trip lasted about 8 hours. We again had a tour guide, a bartender, and servers. The weather broke, so we had some nice views. I didn’t take as many photos because this was the same route that we took the day before. We saw about four moose, eagles, and swans with cygnets. The time passed very easily, and it was a pleasant day.

The train depot at Denali National Park
Views on the train ride from Denali to Anchorage

I would recommend spending some of the hours-long trip taking in the views. If your train has an observation deck or car, definitely spend some time there. The scenery between Denali and Anchorage is absolutely stunning. A family sitting near us brought a deck of cards to pass the time, but I didn’t think we needed it. Our tour guide would hop on the microphone every hour or so and share some interesting tidbits. If you decide to take a nap, be sure to get up and stretch your legs once or twice during the ride.

Views on the train ride from Denali to Anchorage

About halfway through the trip, we headed down to the dining car. It had standard booths with table service, and we ordered off the menu. We decided to split a Cubano sandwich and a turkey club and then shared a sundae. They weren’t overwhelming, but they were convenient. I think we also ordered drinks and an order of nachos at our seats.

Highest point on the Alaska Railroad
Views on the train ride from Denali to Anchorage
Views on the train ride from Denali to Anchorage

My revised Alaska packing list  |  Our Alaska itinerary  |  Alaska Zoo  |  Anchorage Trolley  |  Train ride to Talkeetna  |  Talkeetna, Alaska  |  Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Tour  |  Talkeetna to Denali  |  McKinley Chalet Resort  |  Denali National Park  |  8 hour on a train: Denali to Anchorage  |  Alaska Railroad to Seward  |  Kenai Fjords Cruise