Alaska Railroad Anchorage a Denali One Way

It's a long ride but so worth it. Extremely organized departure including luggage. After flying across the country we were really hoping for clean bathrooms and wow, they kept them so clean! That was a nice surprise. Good narration, might have preferred a more seasoned naturalist each way but it was sufficient, just sounded like they were reading off a script. We did one way Adventure and one way GoldStar - for Adventure, bring snacks - snack bar doesn't have many healthy options. GoldStar meals ere better than expected and there was variety - not Michelin but decent for a train. Meal service was average. Seats in Adventure were more comfortable than expected - GoldStar was better but not super luxe - the viewing platform was a nice option for getting some fresh air. The Railroad does a great job and the scenery is absolutely gorgeous.

The scenery was beautiful, the food was excellent, plenty of space while seated in gold star service. Everyone working were so pleasant!

I was very excited to take this train because my friend and I booked the Gold Star service (premium seating in the panoramic train car). From a booking perspective, the office was very helpful and responsive. Here is my feedback by topic: 1) Reservations: The online info on train times was accurate and easy to find. We also booked our accommodation and some tours as well. My only recommendation is that their website is lacking details on tour times and dates. You have to call them to get more information or find out who the tour operators are and go to their website. This created some work on the customer side and we only had 2 nights at Denali so we had to really plan the tours to maximize our time. 2) Railroad Depot Check-in: The baggage drop off was very organized and easy. The check-in staff was super friendly. 3) Train Experience: As I mentioned, we booked the Gold Star service which was not cheap. The experience started off well but then went south quickly. The Gold Star car itself is very nice and comfortable. I love being able to step onto the outdoor viewing platform while the train is in motion. You can take some very cook pics from there. The breakfast service was fine although I think they were a little skimpy on the food portions. Lunchtime is when everything turned south. I have no idea what happened in the kitchen but they fell behind. Almost 2 hours passed by the time we were shuffled to the dining cart, seated and got our food. There was no explanation of what was going or timing. I actually got up and left because I didn't pay to sit in a dining care. I paid for the view and some meal service. They did not even offer an extra drink or glass of wine for the inconvenience. When the food came it was fine / mediocre. After Denali, we took the training to Fairbanks in the Adventure Class. The seats were still roomy and comfortable but that train can be very loud when it slows down and takes turns so bring some ear plugs if you're sensitive to sounds or cannot ignore loud repetitive sounds. 4) Hotel Accommodation: I know that Alaska Railroad is not responsible for hotel management but they could have informed us of changes in advance. We booked the Grand Denali Lodge but it ended up not opening. The Grand Denali moved all guests to a lower category accommodation. I only found this out when I was dropping off my luggage at the Anchorage train depot. When I got my boarding pass is when I found out more details about the new lodging. It was a 3 star rated lodge / camp ground. It ended up being fine. I just wish I would have known about the change earlier.

This is the Holland America train from Anchorage to Denali State Park. What a fantastic experience! if this was the ONLY thing someone did in the area, it's well worth it. Glass-domed train cars; and ours was not crowded due to being end of season (GREAT time to go! early September). Our host / guide was JOSH and he was such a pro! Talked just ENOUGH.. not too much. Told us when photo ops were coming up, and told us about all the regions we were passing through. The beauty of the areas you travel through.. it's unbelievable. We called it "beauty fatigue". The full bar is going the WHOLE TIME :-) and the dining is in the cars below. and it's FINE DINING; with breakfast and lunch (separate check than the excursion). The dining is so organized, as well. They get a "count" of the people who want to dine, then call you down in small groups. The steps between the upper and lower cars are steep and winding. This trip would be hard to do if you had any mobility issues.. you'd just want to sit and look at the scenery. But you'd be missing so much. There's also various viewing decks (between cars), and an open-air caboose. Yes it's 8 hours long.. but you are never bored. A bonus for us: we met alot of nice people who we also saw on the 7-day cruise ship a couple days later.... that made our trip all the more memorable.

This is a fantastic way to see the state and all it has to offer, allowing you into the back country where there are no roads but lots of beauty. If you can afford it, upgrade to the Denali Star with its glass dome roof, excellent service, dining car built in with two meals and unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, plus a full time bartender in your car, no better way to travel in style and enjoy the beauty of Alaska

We took 3 legs with Alaska Railroad, Anchorage to Seward, Talkneeta to Denali, and Denali to Anchorage and each trip was wonderful. Would highly reccomend splurging for the gold star class as it comes with 1-2 meals, dome glass windows, comfy seats with footrest and a major recline, and outdoor viewing area, and 2 included drinks. The tour guides are knowledgable about the trip and answer any questions you may have. It's a great way to travel between cities without a car.

Traveling from Anchorage to Fairbanks aboard the Alaska Railroad's flagship train, the Denali Star, is something VERY special. Hubby, friends, and I decided to split the trip into two parts. The first leg of the journey, we boarded in Anchorage. We were met with a great crew who answered all our questions and made sure our luggage was taken care of pronto! We then found our seats in the GOLDSTAR section - they were super cushy and there were windows from the seat to the well into the ceiling (dome ceilings)!! Also, there is a table and a place to hold your electronics. If you need to "power up" any of your technology, the crew will help you find an available outlet. The best part of the GoldStar class was being able to stand outside in an open car train. You also receive meals as part of the price of your ticket. I must admit that I was beyond amazed at the sights and the information shared by the on-board docents (crew). The first 8 hours went by so fast! After spending a full day in Denali- we again boarded the train and opted for the Adventure Class seating. Although there is no formal dining experience, as with the GoldStar class, there was ample food for purchase. This four-hour trip was highlighted by our sitting on the top closed dome floor. It was wonderful! I would suggest getting a taxi service to await you at the Fairbanks center. The Alaska Railroad has a commitment to accessibility, and it showed aboard the trains. There was a lift for wheelchairs, ramps, and straps for mobility equipment. They are also sensitive to the needs of people who prefer a quieter environment. The ALASKA RAILROAD is a solid WIN for anyone who loves to travel - solo, couple, families, and groups of friends!

Very impressed in how they make the trip so seamless. On Goldstar you check your luggage in at Anchorage and it is delivered direct to your hotel (no hassle). The dome seating gives good visuals and a great outside viewing deck is at rear of carriage. Commentary was interesting and not overwhelming. Food/dining was more than adequate and the small bar in the carriage was excellent. Overall a very comfortable way to travel.

This is a great way to get from Anchorage to Denali. So much better than being on the bus! Even though it may take a little longer going by train, having the ability to get up and walk around and go outside was a definite bonus. We did the gold service which included meals, which were actually pretty good. Being gold service, there was more legroom, wider seats, that reclined and beverages available throughout the trip. We actually did round-trip on the train from Anchorage to Denali and back to Anchorage and we are so glad that we did versus the bus. The scenery is amazing.

We were not able to take the train all the way to Denali as we would have needed to overnight there. So we went one-way to Talkeetna (Goldstar Dome), spent about 5 hours in the town, then took another one-way (Wilderness Express) back to Anchorage. Our day was rainy but the views were still spectacular and we have an amazing trip! The train ride both ways and the service was excellent! Everyone was very friendly, welcoming, and attentive. The train station in Anchorage was organized (busy!) and instructions were clear and the signage was easy to follow. The train station in Talkeetna was small, but the 1 gentleman working there was really nice and helpful, as our return train was a bit delayed and we were not sure where we could wait. He directed us to a great little bar up the street. I highly recommend visiting Talkeetna. The shops, breweries, walking to the river, and all of the people in the town were amazing! We visited a few food trucks where we had salmon cakes (DELICIOUS!) and seasoned chickened skewers. We shopped, ate and drank, and really enjoyed it! There is about a 10 minute walk from the train station to the town (we walked in the rain, but it wasn’t too bad). I would absolutely return. I also highly recommend the Alaska Railroad. Both levels of service were amazing and worth it. I hope to return and do it again some day -maybe down to Seward next time.