5 Things You Should Know About the Alaska Railroad (Fairbanks to Denali to Anchorage)

The author traveled as an invited guest of the Alaska Railroad. All opinions are the author’s own, and the Alaska Railroad had no input in any part of this article.

I took the Alaska Railroad on board the Denali Star from Fairbanks to Anchorage in July 2025. This journey departed from Fairbanks at around 8 a.m., with an approximately 4-hour ride to Denali National Park and Preserve, arriving around noon. I stayed the night and then departed around noon the next day, with an approximate 6-hour ride that afternoon, arriving in Anchorage in the early evening.

It was an absolutely awesome experience, and I’d highly recommend it to any tourist visiting Alaska during the summer months. I’ll walk you through which class to book, how to best enjoy the ride, and why adding a stopover is a good idea.

1. GoldStar Deck Is the Place To Be

There are 2 classes of service on the Alaska Railroad: Adventure Class and GoldStar. While there are several perks that differentiate between the 2 levels, the biggest reason to upgrade to GoldStar accommodations is the outdoor deck. At the end of each car on the upper level, the outdoor viewing area is accessible to all GoldStar passengers in that carriage.

What made this deck particularly interesting was that we had free, unobstructed access to it throughout the train journey. So, even as the train plowed along at top speed in the middle of the Alaska wilderness, we could head to the deck to get some fresh air and see the outside world without having to peer through a window.

The deck was really useful for getting pictures of the train meandering throughout the curves of the tracks since we could stick our heads out to see the entire length of the train, which was pretty cool.

We could get a good view of passing wildlife from the deck. As the train continued on its journey, the guides on board shouted out various animals they saw on either side, and when we were standing on the deck, we could run to either side as soon as an animal was called out to get the best vantage point.

Numerous moose were sighted throughout the trip, and there were also a number of birds. At one point, there was a sighting of a bear, but I didn’t actually see this with my own eyes, as I couldn’t run fast enough to the window before the train whizzed on by!

2. There Are Big Differences Between GoldStar and Adventure Class

When it comes to doing a train journey like this, you need to do it right. The biggest perk of the GoldStar service is the outdoor deck, but there are other key differences to be aware of.

When it comes to windows, the windows in the Adventure Class cars only face to the side, so you don’t really get a great view when looking up. In GoldStar, the windows of each carriage wrap around the top of the car to create glass-dome ceilings, so you have a full panoramic view no matter where you’re seated.

Here’s another area where there’s a big difference: food service. In GoldStar, we had restaurant-style service on the bottom deck of our carriage. Because this area only had limited seating, we were divided into 2 groups and went down to meals at staggered times. Don’t worry if you’re traveling with a group, however, because you’ll all be assigned the same time.

Once we headed downstairs, we sat at comfortable booth-style seating, and a server took and served our orders just like at a restaurant.

At breakfast time, we had a choice of pancakes or biscuits and gravy alongside reindeer sausage (a real treat!). For lunch, we could choose between a fantastic turkey club wrap or a burger, among other dishes. For dinner, we were offered fish or steak. Dinner was the only meal where we were served an appetizer and dessert alongside the entree. Meals also included a choice of nonalcoholic beverages.

In Adventure Class, meals were served like on an airline, using trays and reheated food, according to a passenger who was seated there. Those passengers didn’t go to a separate dining car to eat, and instead ate at their seats. The food wasn’t nearly as plentiful or good.

GoldStar included 2 free alcoholic beverages. A bar station was on the upper deck of our carriage, and a bartender was stationed there throughout our journey. There were a ton of options, including beers, wine, sparkling wine, and a variety of spirits and mixed drinks.. Throughout the ride, we could have as many nonalcoholic drinks as we liked, including water, tea, coffee, and sodas.

In Adventure Class, passengers needed to pay for all beverages, which cost the same as drinks in GoldStar above and beyond the 2 complimentary ones. Most alcoholic drinks were priced at $12.

For summer 2025, GoldStar cost $532 for a one-way journey from Fairbanks to Anchorage, while the Adventure Class ticket cost $285 for the same trip, making it about a $250 upcharge to sit in GoldStar, something I wouldn’t hesitate to pay for if I ride this train again.

When purchasing your ticket, consider using a card like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. With this card, you can use your miles to cover travel expenses within 90 days of purchase.

3. Luggage Is Transported for You

One of the nice things about this train is that your luggage is transported and handled for you in GoldStar. You’re allowed 2 checked bags, not to exceed 50 pounds. In your car, there’s no room for carry-on bags. You’re allowed a personal item, such as a backpack or purse, but you won’t be able to fit anything large at your seat. When you check in at Fairbanks or Anchorage, your bags are checked, and you next see them at your final destination.

Most passengers take the train to Denali on their first day, so when you arrive at Denali, your bags are placed on a bus according to which hotel you’re staying at. You pick them up at that hotel and bring them to your room, or a bellhop can bring them right to your room. On my trip, some passengers were prechecked, while others had to visit the front desk to complete check-in formalities, but in either case, you could choose how the bags arrived at your room.

On departure day, you are asked to leave your bags outside your room by a certain hour. These bags are then transported and loaded onto the train. The next time you see them is at your final destination.

I have to say, this was kind of unnerving, since we were asked to leave our bags outside our rooms completely unattended and had to hope it would be picked up and loaded. I had an AirTag in my bag, but I can certainly understand how frustrating this process could be for those without tracking.

Even with this uncertainty, my bags made it to Anchorage on the final day without any issues, so I was delighted to step off the train there and see my bag being promptly unloaded from the baggage car. It really was a stress reducer not to have to deal with these heavy bags on our journey, so when the train crew took them for me, it allowed me to focus on having a great time on the train versus lugging my bag and watching over it.

If you’re in Adventure Class, you’re responsible for handling your bags to and from your hotel, and bags are available for pickup at the train depot.

4. Enjoy the Beauty, Not Your Phone

While my cell phone had signal for a portion of the journey, I found service to be spotty at best, and there were large stretches without any signal.

When you take this train, plan on disconnecting for the day. You won’t be able to reliably answer emails, messages, or send photos, and there is no Wi-Fi on the train. Instead, focus on the free entertainment outside, watching the gorgeous Alaskan landscape pass by. Spend your time looking out the window or on the open-air deck rather than on your device, hoping to catch a signal.

5. Stopping in Denali Is a Good Idea

Whether you’re leaving Fairbanks or Anchorage, taking the train all the way to the end without stopping is a 12-hour day. Even if you’re sitting for most of it, having constant meals, and taking in the gorgeous scenery and occasional wildlife sightings, it’s an exhausting experience.

When departing Fairbanks, the train arrives at Denali Depot about 4 hours later, making it the perfect place to get off and break up the journey. In fact, most passengers get off here. Very few passengers will make the entire train trip in a single day.

At Denali, your bags are unloaded for you, and you receive complimentary transportation to your hotel if you’re staying at one of the nearby lodges. There are a few hotels and lodges within a short drive, right outside the park boundaries in the town of Denali. While expensive, these hotels provide the best access to the park and offer amenities such as restaurants, free bus service, and walkability to the small town, which has a few restaurants and shops.

Right outside the train depot is the park’s main visitor center, which features several exhibits, films, and ranger talks. There’s also a demonstration of dog sled teams. The visitor center alone can be a full-day experience, not to mention the wide range of hikes in the area.

I stayed at the Denali Bluffs Lodge, which was about a 10-minute bus ride from the train depot. Thanks to a fast-paced itinerary, I only had the chance to stay 1 night, but I know it would have been nicer to spend a couple of extra days, even with the added expense.

My friends decided to go on an airplane tour of the park, which landed on a nearby glacier. I didn’t go, but they absolutely raved about the experience. This airplane tour took several hours, leaving us little time to do other activities, so I’d highly recommend at least 2 or 3 nights in Denali to get a full-fledged experience.

Final Thoughts

There are so many great ways to see Alaska, and the Alaska Railroad was an absolutely fabulous way to see its beauty without having to worry about driving or navigating the roads.

The railroad takes all the hassle out of the experience, and the GoldStar deck really is worth paying for, allowing you to spend as much time as you want breathing in the fresh air and getting all the photos you can snap! With its glass-dome ceilings, there was always something to see outside, and I was occupied with excitement for the entire stretch.

I highly recommend taking the Alaska Railroad from Fairbanks to Anchorage.