Working at Denali Air, Denali National Park, Alaska

Posted byChristi IfferganPosted inAlaska, Denali Air, Denali National ParkTags:, , ,

My last couple of jobs were working as a shuttle driver in Glacier National Park & in Taos, New Mexico.  I’m continuing to drive here in Alaska, too.  I transport guests flying on our flightseeing tours to and from the airstrip.  I get to talk to people from all parts of the US and the world about a common passion—travel!

One of the best parts of my job is my coworkers.  One couple is from the Asheville, NC area & their son is working here for his second season.  Another coworker is from Gastonia, NC.  We discovered that he is friends with my niece!  The more people I meet, the more I realize what a small world it truly is. 

All of the shuttle buses lined up & ready for the day.

One of the best perks of my job is the schedule.  Drivers work 3 days and are off for 3 days.  It makes taking day trips or 2 day trips possible without being exhausted when you come back to work.  

A few of our fleet in the early morning daylight.

My second day of work, I was able to experience a flight for myself. I took our Peak Experience tour, a 60-70 minute flight along the Alaska Range with all 20, 310 feet of Denali right in front of you. It truly is a once in a lifetime experience.

See Denali for yourself
The view from my flight in May 2023

If you’ve never experienced Alaska, do yourself a favor and visit this beautiful place. It will make you appreciate nature in a way you can never imagine.

Published by Christi Iffergan

Hi! I am Christi, a full-time RV traveller since August 2021. I have always loved to travel, but COVID-19 put a stop to that. I was fast approaching 50, my condo was being placed up for sale and I was ready for a major change. Originally from a tiny town in rural Southwest Virginia, I am the mother to one son and a rescue Shih Tzu, Cappy. For the last 20 years, I worked in public library systems around the Charlotte & Myrtle Beach areas. I met some amazing people and made great friends along the way. Follow along on my adventures as I travel the US. I hope that our paths will cross one day!

9 thoughts on “Working at Denali Air, Denali National Park, Alaska”

  2. WOW, I took a visual ride in the plane, how cool, vast land out there, you must meet some interesting people all the time too, love your kinda job, not like really working, just having fun everyday with the tourists, so what do you do on your 3 days off ??? what`s there to do for you ???

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  3. For a great expirence take the helicopter ride to the top of the Mendenhall glacier . It’s so beautiful up there.love your pics and blogs. Keep in touch.

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  4. Hi Christi. I love reading about your adventures and really admire your get up and go! My husband & I would like to work in the National Parks when we retire in a few years with our own RV. Please could you tell me what website you find your jobs on & when is the best time to apply? Are they paid or volunteer – how many hours a week/do they provide Campsite/meals/stipend? I appreciate your advice. Thank you Catherine

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    1. Catherine, each job is different. The site I use most now is coolworks.com. I like it because you can search for jobs by several different criteria: state, park, season, job type, pet friendly, or housing provided. There is also a section for year round employment. The jobs I take are all paid, either salary or hourly. Some have included housing or an RV site, either free or discounted.

      My current position includes both housing and meals at a very, very discounted price. Housing plays a very important part in where I choose to go because it can be scarce and/or very pricey.

      Jobs are listed every day all throughout the year so it’s best to check the listing frequently. I check several times a week just to see what is out there.

      My next job is in Colorado working as a driver. The pay package includes a sign-on bonus, 4-5 weeks of paid CDL training & an end of season bonus. They have helped me find a spot for my RV, too.

      I hope this helps with your research and if you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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      1. Hi Christi. Thank you so much for your informative and helpful reply. I will check Coolworks.com to get a feel for what jobs are available throughout the year. We recently returned from a 12 day trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton and camped in Rocky Mountain NP last year. They really touched our souls. America is a beautiful country with so many wonders.
        We spoke to volunteers at Grand Teton who got their part-time jobs through Volunteer.gov with complimentary campsites but no salary. The workers in the Visitor Center gift shops seemed to get their jobs through Xanterra, I presume they got a salary and accommodation. Would you recommend either of those options? Thank you Catherine

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