Talkeetna Travel
Frequently Asked Questions

A Full Service Agency Specializing In Alaska Travel 

What is the fee for your services?
What is your cancellation policy?

Where is Talkeetna?
What clothes should I bring to Alaska?
What is the weather like?
Are there many mosquitoes?

Where is the best place to view Mt. McKinley?
Where is the best place to view bears and other Alaskan wildlife?
Where is the best place to view Northern Lights?

Where can I check my email?

When is the Talkeetna Moose Dropping Festival?
Is there anything I can do for “Free” in Talkeetna?

What is the fee for your services?

It's free!  Most of the time, there is no extra fee for booking accommodations and activities,  as we make a commission from the businesses that we work with. There are a few exceptions where a small fee would be added. We will inform you of this when we are giving you a quote.

As you probably know, travel agents are no longer paid commission by major airlines when we book plane tickets.  Therefore, we do charge a reasonable service fee of $40 per domestic ticket (discount for Alaska residents).  The good news is that our familiarity with Alaskan travel makes it possible for us to really save you money coming into and out of Alaska. We will always do our very best to find you the cheapest airfare possible to your destination wherever you're heading!

What is your cancellation policy?

Every business that we work with has an individual cancellation policy. When you book an activity or lodging with us we will advise you of the individual policies then.

Where is Talkeetna?

Talkeetna, Alaska is between Anchorage and Fairbanks, 14 miles off the Parks Highway.  It is the closest town in Alaska to Mt. McKinley, with only a 60 mile flight to the summit.

115 miles north of Anchorage (approx. 2 1/2 hours drive)
125 miles south of Denali National Park (approx. 3 hours drive)
246 miles south of Fairbanks (approx. 6 hours drive)

What clothes should I bring to Alaska?

The key to comfort in Alaska in the summer is wearing layers of clothing. Bring a jacket or sweater you can slip on and off as the day gets hotter or cooler, plus a rain jacket that can double as a windbreaker.  Comfortable walking shoes and warm socks are appropriate for all seasons and are a must. Casual wear is welcome virtually everywhere. Bug repellant, a hat, sunglasses and extra film are also very useful. If you are going to be taking a cruise or spending any time out on the water I would recommend a pair of gloves, light scarf and even a hat, so that you can enjoy the outdoors even if the weather is cool.

What is the weather like?

June, July and August - Alaskan summer weather can very greatly from blazing hot sun until midnight, to freezing rain and even snow!  We can get long stretches of rain and drizzle, so be prepared with raingear.  It is definitely the busiest time of the year for Alaskans with long days that fade into just a few hours of twilight.

September, October - Fall comes in September and goes fast.  The trees usually change color and drop their leaves within a week. By mid-October the snow starts falling and we are rapidly losing light.

November thru March - The depths of the Alaskan winter.  Usually plentiful snow in Talkeetna.  Great for cross-country skiing, dogsledding, Aurora viewing,  and socializing with friends.  If you come to Talkeetna in winter, you'll experience "the real thing".

 March is a particularly nice month to come up and experience the winter for many reasons: 
 #1  Its not crowded.  A sense of community abounds.
#2  We have lots of daylight, milder temperatures,  and still have snow for skiing, sledding, and mushing.
#3  You can witness the start of the famous Iditarod Dog Sled Race!
#4  NO MOSQUITOES YET!! 

April, May - Some call it "breakup", some call it "mud season".  It's sloppy with all the winter's snow melting, but the exciting smell of spring is in the air, and the days are getting longer and longer...  It's a great chance to take advantage of Talkeetna Travel's  Alaska Folk Festival Package, including airfare and lodging in Juneau for 4 days of this wonderful free music festival.

 Click here for average seasonal temperatures in Talkeetna.

Are there many mosquitoes?

Yes! There can be. It varies every year depending on the weather and which part of the state your in.  Prepare yourself with bug spray, and/or  a head net if your going to be spending time out in the backcountry.  June is generally the most intense month for mosquitoes.

Where is the best place to view Mt. McKinley?

I think the view from the Talkeetna overlook (on the Talkeetna Spur Road just before you reach downtown) on a clear day is unsurpassed!

Where is the best place to view bears and other Alaskan wildlife?

You have a good chance of seeing animals on the river rafting and jet boat trips that go out of Talkeetna.  You might also see moose, bears, and trumpeter swans from the plane on a McKinley Flightseeing Tour , but they will look small and far away.   Otherwise, your best bet is the early bus tours or shuttle buses that go out into Denali Park.  The Denali Park Road is a major "thru-way" for wildlife.  Talkeetna Travel can arrange your lodging and activities in Denali Park.  Please email or call us for more info.

Where is the best place to view Northern Lights?

Any place where you have open sky, away from the lights of a city, and of course it must be dark. That eliminates May, June, and July.  Sometimes you can catch a display on a late August night.  Some people travel to Alaska in the winter to heighten their opportunity to see a good Aurora display.  If you catch it on the right night, oh, what a pleasure!

Where can I check my email?

Right here at Talkeetna Travel! We have blazingly fast internet access!  (Yes, we even have DSL way out here !) Our price is just $3/15 minutes, $5/half hour, $10/hour. Please stop by and say hello!

When is the Talkeetna Moose Dropping Festival?

The Talkeetna Moose Dropping Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday, usually the second weekend in July.  It's a wonderful small-town event, with music in the Village Park, lots of vendors, a softball tournament,  the "Mountain Mommas" contest,  and the famous Moose Drop, where you buy a numbered moose dropping (yes, they're real!) which gets dropped from a crane, and the closest poop to the center of a big x in the VFW parking lot wins half the pot.  It's difficult to get lodging and Denali flightseeing that weekend, so book early!!

Is there anything I can do for “Free” in Talkeetna? 

Click here for a list of fun and interesting things to do that cost little or nothing.  You can watch your budget and dig deeper into the "real Talkeetna" than most visitors.

Talkeetna Travel · PO Box 479 · Talkeetna, Alaska  99676
Phone (907)733-8728 · Fax (907)733-8729 · Email:  talkeetna_alaska@talkeetnatravel.com
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