The Ultimate Road Trip Guide to Denali National Park

Some tips for visiting Denali National Park:

-Northern Lights are stunning when viewed from Denali! The best time to see them is between 10pm and 2am during the fall, winter, and early spring. In the summer, the sun sets much later in the night than it does in the lower 48, meaning it stays light much, much later. -Set realistic expectations. The Denali Mountain is almost always hidden behind clouds, and even though you'll probably see some wildlife, it'll probably be from a distance. Also, the areas outside Denali (known as Glitter Gulch) are pretty developed, thanks to the tourism industry, but the resorts and restaurants might not have all the amenities you'd find at places in the lower 48-- this is the remote wilderness, after all. -The best way to get around Denali is the park bus. It's nothing fancy, but it goes between the visitor centers in the park. Reserve a spot on the shuttle in advance online! They offer narrated and non-narrated options. -There's only one road through the park, and only 15 or so miles of it is paved. It's only accessible to private vehicles in the summer, so if you want to go any further into the park, you'll need to get on the shuttle.

Willow, Alaska is everything you think of when you envision an Alaskan wilderness town. There are plenty of hiking trails throughout the area and it's very popular for sled dog racing and dog mushers in general. Willow is gorgeous, rustic, and very, very cold. But that didn't deter one mysterious homeowner from building a massive house that's been dubbed the "Dr. Seuss House". No one knows exactly what the original owner was thinking, or how he came up with the peculiar design of the house, but regardless it's now one of America's architectural wonders. And you can see why...

It's a massive 12-story building that's every bit as weird and quirky and eccentric as a Dr. Seuss book. The original owner worked on it extensively for 10 years before he died. Then it sat abandoned for 10 years until a new owner purchased it and has started renovations. If you plan on visiting, keep in mind that although the house is virtually abandoned it's still privately owned and thus is on private property. A great way to see it is by driving past it, on a train, or take a ride with an Alaskan bush pilot, which in general is a great way to see the Alaskan countryside.

Wonder Lake is home to another campground, the closest to the mountain of Denali-- it's about 26 miles due south of the lake, but feels closer due to its size. Take the camper shuttle bus to this lush corner of the park, and relax in the peace and quiet of the Alaskan wilderness. Remember to pack in food and a camp stove (fires aren't permitted here)... and enjoy the potable water available here.

Located in a funky, cozy purple building, Mountain High Pizza Pie is another grab place to fill up before an adventure out into Denali. The salads and pasta are a great way to mix things up, but their pizzas are the main attraction. The signature Mountain High Pizza Pie has over 30 toppings ("everything but the mosquitos" as they say), and that's just the beginning. If it's nice out, grab a table outside and enjoy the rustic vibes of the town of Talkeetna.