A lot of people have heard of Talkeetna but haven’t been. It’s a cute little town off the Parks Highway between Anchorage, Alaska and Denali National Park. It’s not close enough to Denali to be your homebase for the National Park, and it’s not close enough to Anchorage to be the cute spot on the edge of town, but the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge is the perfect spot for enjoying the mellow side of the touristy town and nearby nature. We loved spending four days here and have a ton of ideas for adding Talkeetna to YOUR Alaska trip.
Have you been to Talkeetna before? It’s a great Alaska road trip stop. This was our first time staying at the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge and it added a lot to our time in town. It was great to have a cozy cabin to return to, and uniquely, a bit of community to connect with at the end of the day. If you have any questions about our stay here, about things to do in the MatSu Valley or need tips for visiting Alaska, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re happy to share more!
Accommodation Options at the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge
The Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge is all cabins, not a full lodge building. The cabins are all centered around a loop with a community space in the main house. There are a few different cabin setups:
- Queen w/ bunk bed (double & twin) – sleeps 5
- King w/ bunk bed (double & twin) – sleeps 5
- Family Cabin with separate bedrooms, queen and then room with two doubles – sleeps 6
- King Cabin – sleeps 2
- And the flexible cabin – sleeps 3 (we had an emergency and they helped us accommodate 4)
Each cabin has at least a kitchenette or breakfast space, with the larger cabins having a fully stocked kitchen (with pans and utensils and such), and then a screened in deck space. All cabins also have their own bathrooms so you’re not wandering around at night looking for the restroom.
And when I say cabin, I mean small house, not vintage rustic, no-electricity cabins. They are nice little houses with basic amenities, comfortable beds, lots of plugs, televisions and refrigerators. You can check in and chill out.
Book the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge here!
Check in / Check Out at the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge
While it would be nice to always arrive everywhere you plan to on time, travel mishaps are normal and sometimes you arrive late. We arrived at the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge a bit late and thankfully were able to still get into our cabin. There are caretakers on property at all times, but sometimes they’re not necessarily on the clock, but they’re got everything set up so you can access your cabin and get whatever sort of help you need if your timing doesn’t match theirs. You can contact them in advance to let them know your arrival time.
We arrived late, so found a note regarding our cabin assignment and access instructions, so it was easy and stress-free after our long day. If you have prepaid your reservation, you won’t need to worry about credit card stuff, but you will want to chat with the hosts to see what’s happening in the area and get some instructions for how to enjoy the property best. When it’s time to go, you can either just breeze on out or officially check out. Because things are mostly handled online, it’s all very easy.
Wilderness Lodge Amenities
What sort of amenities do you think you’ll find at the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge? I wasn’t sure what to expect, but we ended up loving the family friendly activities and supplies available to us in the main house. We took advantage of the fishing gear to fish in nearby Montana Creek, the nature trails for easy hiking and just enjoying the Alaskan forest, and ALL the boardgames to end out each day. You can hang out in the living area and play games with other guests or take games back to your cabin.
Also, we visited the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge during peak forest fire season, so outdoor fires and campfires were not allowed. The lodge staff created an indoor nightly s’mores experience for us and made sure we still got to enjoy the wilderness experience as best as possible.
Bonus: some people like to do a lot of their own cooking when they’re traveling, and it’s a great cost saver. In addition to the in-cabin kitchen space, there is a kitchen in the main house that is open to guests for cooking and dining. Really, it’s lovely to actually be able to make yourself at home during an Alaska vacation.
Nearby Dining in Talkeetna
Talkeetna is very much a tourist hub despite being such a small town. There are lots of restaurants, and being just fifteen minutes from the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge it’s easy to just pop into town for a meal. We have had quite a few lunches and dinners in town, so have our favorite spots. Something to keep in mind though, as with any tourist town, a lot of the staff tend to be seasonal or turn over quickly, so you need to have some patience and grace in all your interactions. Keep in mind that people are learning menus and balancing shifting staff. WITH THAT…
We really like the following restaurants and think they’re great options for where to eat in Talkeetna:
- Flying Squirrel Bakery and Cafe – it gets BUSY but is delicious
- Mountain High Pizza Pie – awesome pizza w/ a great patio or daily special pizzas
- Denali Brew Pub – if you like brisket you’ll love it
- Talkeetna Roadhouse – it’s managed by Pursuit (Seward Windsong Lodge, Belton Chalet…) so you know the food is top notch
- Annie’s Ice Cream- the best deal on ice cream in town, and they have simple lunch items
As you head out of Talkeetna you’ll find a few other restaurants, but they’re few and far between, with very few choices until Wasilla to the south and Cantwell to the north.
Stores in Talkeetna and Willow
I love that there are kitchenettes and a full kitchen available at the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge, so of course we did a little of our own cooking while we stayed here. There is an IGA grocery store at the start of the Talkeetna Spur Road, so you can do whatever grocery shopping you may need here… but it’s expensive. I get it, things cost a lot when there is a complex shipping route, but like, it’s very expensive. You’re best to actually do your grocery shopping for any snacks and cooking when you’re in Wasilla or Anchorage BEFORE you head to Talkeetna.
In the actual town of Talkeetna, there is a small general store for snacks, drinks and souvenirs, and then lots of little shops for things to bring home.You’ll have to try the birch syrup, and before you leave town, be sure to grab some spinach bread. Talkeetna is fun for shopping and walking around, but it’s definitely Alaska at a premium rate.
Where is the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge?
So now that you know where to stay in Talkeetna, and really the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge is a great, chill place to stay, here’s how you incorporate the area into your Alaska trip. Talkeetna is located smack in the middle between Anchorage and Denali National Park. It’s a two hour drive to each from the town (fifteen minutes more to Denali NP) and is a great place to be based for fishing and hiking around Denali State Park and the Susitna River.
The Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge is located just onto the Talkeetna Spur Road, so not far from the Park Highway. It’s about fifteen minutes from the actual town, so where you’ll stay is nice and quiet, and you may even have moose and bear hanging out as there are far fewer people around.
Book the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge here!
Transportation To and From Talkeetna and Denali NP
The best way to get to Talkeetna from Anchorage is to drive yourself (yes, rental cars in Alaska are expensive too). The highways are well maintained and if you’re visiting after April the chances of having to encounter snow are minimal. If you don’t want to drive though, there are other ways to visit Talkeetna and Denali. The most popular option is riding the Alaska Railroad. Starting in Seward near Kenai Fjords National Park or going from Whittier (the main cruise ship port) you can ride the train to Anchorage, or catch the Alaska Railroad in Anchorage and get off either at Talkeetna or continue up to Denali Village.
Can I Walk from the Wilderness Lodge to town?
The Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge is 14 miles from the actual town along the spur road. You could walk, but that’s a five hour walk. There is a nice bike trail along the Talkeetna Spur Road that goes into town, so if you want to bike you can do it in about an hour. If you’re staying at the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge, you for sure have your own vehicle, so enjoy the drive into town and watch for moose along the way. We almost hit one this last visit!
Ten Fun Things to do in Talkeetna
I like staying at the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge because it really is a great location for either doing stuff in town or exploring just beyond Talkeetna. There are lots of things to do very near the town and if you want to plan a day trip or two, your options grow even more. Here are our top picks for things to do in and around Talkeetna, Alaska.
- Walk around downtown Talkeetna – shops, snacks and dining
- Ride the jet boat on the Susitna River
- Do a scenic float on Willow Creek (just south)
- Hiking in Denali State Park
- Hike the trails or kayak at XYZ Lakes / Talkeetna Lakes
- Go fly fishing on Montana Creek or other tributary creeks
- Flightseeing from Talkeetna around Denali
- Do the flag-stop round trip train from Talkeetna to Hurricane
- Have an all-day trip across Hatcher Pass
- Do a day trip (leaving early) to Denali National Park
Book the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge here!
Staying at the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge is a great way to immerse yourself in Alaska while still being close to good restaurants and fun things to do. Our family really enjoyed the property itself and made ourselves at home for our four days of relaxation here. For sure, this is a top recommendation for a mellow trip or nice stop-over on the way to Denali or Fairbanks.
If you have any questions about planning a trip to Talkeetna or specifically the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge, or if you need more tips on putting together a fun Alaska trip, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to help others plan amazing adventures!
