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McKinley Creekside Cabins & Cafe'-The Carlo House

Photo gallery for McKinley Creekside Cabins & Cafe'-The Carlo House

A wooden cabin with a front porch, a dining area with wooden chairs, and a large window overlooking the landscape.
Front deck
View from the front door-LR and kitchen
A cozy living room with a leather sofa, wooden walls, a fireplace, and a large mirror.
Kitchen and wood stove

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Firepit available
    One of the few properties with a dedicated outdoor firepit.
Sleeps 8•3 bedrooms•3 beds

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Barbecue
  • Deck or patio
  • Internet access

Explore the area

View map
McKinley Park, AK
  • Place, Alaska Railroad
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Place, Wilderness Access Center
    ‪15 min drive‬
  • Place, Denali National Park Visitors Center
    ‪17 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

2 Queen Beds

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Master Suite

1 King Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shower only

Master Bath

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

McKinley Creekside Cabins & Cafe'-The Carlo House

Alaska and Denali in particular (maybe we are a little biased) is an amazing, vast and majestic wilderness paradise. We are honored you are considering McKinley Creekside Cabins & Cafe' and the Carlo Property. We will do our best to give you all the information you need to plan and execute an incredible adventure and answer questions you have.

The Carlo House is located just 15 minutes south of Denali National Park. A beautiful three acre wooded property catering to families and small groups that want to be close to Denali, but away from the crowds; yet still have all the luxuries and amenities of home. The House is a 5 minute walk from our main property McKinley Creekside Cabins & Café. We also offer complimentary Wi-Fi.

A (3) three bedrooms, (2) two full baths house with washer/dryer, custom kitchen with stainless steel appliances and all the essentials of home. The cozy living room has a small sofa and chair, wood stove, cable TV, DVD player w/movies, complimentary Wi-Fi, and telephone.

There is a grassy yard with a stand alone sauna, and a fire pit. The deck is covered with an outside dining area and gas grill.
Main Floor
*Two bedrooms - One bedroom with two (2) queen beds, and a small bedroom with one (1) double/full sized bed.
*The full bathroom has a washer and dryer for your convenience.
*Custom Kitchen with stainless steel appliances and all the essentials of home. There is a small bar counter w/two stools for seating.
*Wine chiller in the kitchen.
*Oak hardwood and tile floors.

2nd Floor -The master suite
One (1) King bed, smart TV, Satellite cable, DVD player with movies, and a sitting area.
A luxury bath with antique claw foot tub, separate tile & glass shower and amazing panoramic mountain views!

Cleaning Fee of $125 will be applied to your reservation. You will need to remove all trash to on-site dumpster, wash all dishes/put away, and clean kitchen counters.

There is a full service restaurant, The Creekside Cafe', located on our main property, a 5 minute walk away; open mid-May - mid-Sept. We serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 394622vb
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Denali National Park

Located in McKinley Park, this holiday home is in the mountains. Alaska Railroad is a local attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Denali National Park and Wilderness Access Center. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing, and don't miss out on the snowmobiling.
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Map
McKinley Park, AK

What's nearby

  • Alaska Railroad - 3 min drive - 1.4 km
  • Wilderness Access Center - 15 min drive - 28.1 km
  • Kantishna Gallery - 15 min drive - 29.5 km
  • Denali National Park Visitors Center - 17 min drive - 29.8 km
  • Horseshoe Lake - 20 min drive - 29.5 km

Getting around

  • Fairbanks, AK (FAI-Fairbanks Intl.) - 143 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Denali Thai Food - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Panorama Pizza Pub - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Lucky Miss Saloon - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Creekside Cafe - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Denali Thai Food - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is McKinley Creekside Cabins & Cafe'-The Carlo House pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at McKinley Creekside Cabins & Cafe'-The Carlo House?

As of 3 August 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at McKinley Creekside Cabins & Cafe'-The Carlo House on 13 September 2026 start from NZ$2,911, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at McKinley Creekside Cabins & Cafe'-The Carlo House?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at McKinley Creekside Cabins & Cafe'-The Carlo House?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at McKinley Creekside Cabins & Cafe'-The Carlo House?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is McKinley Creekside Cabins & Cafe'-The Carlo House located?

Situated in the mountains, this holiday home is 0.7 mi (1.1 km) from Alaska Railroad and within 16 miles (25 km) of Denali National Park Visitors Center and Denali National Park. Wilderness Access Center and Horseshoe Lake are also within 16 miles (25 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 19 out of 21 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 21 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 21 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 21 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Eric F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place near Denali!

Great stay right near Denali. Well stocked and kept place. Great restaurant too. Highly recommend it for any family
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jo T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Stay

The house was clean and as depicted in pictures. Super relaxing and we could have stayed much longer! The cafe was excellent as well. We would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Teresa A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Denali

Great stay at the Carlo House! Very comfortable atmosphere. Loved that everyone had their own space. We ate at their cafe and the food was excellent! Breakfast…Loved their Alaska Cinnamon Rolls!! Everyone was so friendly and helpful. Highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Wendy Ann R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Very cozy

Well supplied. Great sauna. Close to activities and Denali.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute house and location

The house had everything we needed with a great casual restaurant at CreekSide Cafe right up the road. We spent most of our days at Denali National Park hiking and this house was about 20 minutes from park. Our kids enjoyed the sauna and we all enjoyed the fire pit!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 29 August 2023
Thank you so much for the amazing feedback! We are thrilled you enjoyed your stay.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Darlene H.

First Class Lodging in Denali

Perfectly situated off Rt. 3 just outside Denali National Park is what we believe is the best lodging option in that area. Six of us stayed 3 nights at this well appointed home with just enough rustic chic. We can't say enough about the quality of the bedding and linens. The master bedroom and bath are beautiful and we felt guilty that we showered instead of soaking in the beautiful, deep "ball and claw" bathtub. ...and WHAT A PANORAMIC VIEW! The home is equipped with all necessary appliances, including front loading washer/dryer. With just a bit of a chill in the air, we were lucky enough to be able to burn the indoor woodburning stove, wood supplied. There is also an outdoor firepit. Management was quick to respond to inquires both prior to check-in as well as once we were on the property. While we did some cooking on premises, this property is within a quick walk to McKinley Creekside Cafe, an absolute gem!! The dinners and desserts were creative and delicious. Kuddos to the owners for revitalizing the "old homestead" and turning it into a first class lodging option. We loved our stay and hope to return.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Leslie H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house was perfect for family of 5. The kitchen area was open and the laundry machines are very large size. We also enjoyed the grassy yard and fire pit.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Alan C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Larry K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
House was great. Location very close to Denali. Restaurant was convenient and very good.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

JULEY S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This place is part of a larger community of cabins. This particular cabin, however, is off the beaten path a bit, and feels very private, and the backyard is away from everyone. There are two other cabins in the separate drive where we pulled up, but we never heard them or had any problem. The place was clean and a little cozy for the five of us in the shared space. Comfy seating for three or four - and comfortable bar stools for the other folks. They had lots of games available. We had a fantastic time! Being so close to the entrance of Denali Park (about 15 miles north of this cabin) was really special. Oh!! - and the restaurant there is fantastic!! And is about 1/3 mile south of the cabin itself. (Which is also where you check in and out.) They have a sweet little deal going on at this site. I'd go back there!! p.s. The primary bedroom is absolutely gorgeous!!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 18 July 2026
Hi Juley, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the peaceful setting of the Carlo Guest Cabin. It's one of the things guests love most, offering a little extra privacy while still being just a short walk from our main property. I'm so glad your family had everything you needed to relax, enjoy some games together, and use our cabin as a home base for exploring Denali. And thank you for the wonderful compliments about our café! Hearing that you enjoyed the restaurant as much as the cabin means a lot to our entire team. Your comment about the primary bedroom made us smile. It really is a special space, and we're happy you appreciated it. Thank you again for choosing to stay with us. We hope the memories you made in Denali will stay with you for years to come, and we're honored to have been a small part of your Alaska adventure!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Tom N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The cabin was clean and just as the pictures showed on the website. The location was perfect for the Denali bus tour. The cafe was a little slow, even though we were the first people there.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 18 July 2026
Hi Tom, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. I'm so glad to hear the cabin met your expectations, that everything was clean, and that our photos accurately reflected what you found when you arrived. It's also great to know our location worked well for your Denali bus tour. I also appreciate your feedback about the café. I'm sorry breakfast service was slower than expected, especially when you were among the first guests of the day. That's certainly not the experience we strive to provide, and I'll be sharing your comments with our café team so we can look at where we can improve. Thank you again for choosing to stay with us. We appreciate both your kind words and your honest feedback, and we hope you had a wonderful time exploring Denali!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Amanda O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was by far the nicest place we stayed on our 10 day trip! Roomy, clean and loved the extras, especially the laundry!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 18 July 2026
Hi Amanda, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It means a lot to hear that our cabin was your favorite stop during your 10-day Alaska adventure. We're so glad you found everything clean, spacious, and comfortable. And I'm especially happy to hear the laundry was one of those little extras that made a difference. After days of traveling and exploring Alaska, having a chance to catch up on laundry can be a pretty welcome luxury! Thank you as well for taking the time to share your photos. We always enjoy seeing McKinley Creekside through our guests' eyes, and we appreciate you sharing a little piece of your adventure with future travelers. Thank you again for choosing to stay with us. We hope the rest of your Alaska trip was just as memorable, and we're honored that McKinley Creekside was one of the highlights. Safe travels, and thanks again for being our guest!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Tanya L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy cabin

This cabin is so cozy. It has a fireplace and a sauna. If it hadn't been raining I could have enjoyed 1 of the 2 decks or the grill or the yard games that were provided. Having a good restaurant so close was another big plus. I would definitely stay here again if I get back up Alaska way.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Nancy B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Stay!

The Carlo House was absolutely perfect for our group of 8. It was clean, comfortable, and only about 15 minutes to Denali National Park entrance. The cabin was stocked with the necessities as well as plenty of towels and soap (under the bathroom vanities). We used the fire pit almost every night during our stay. Be aware that there isn't a dining area inside of the house (a couple of bar stools) so if you are staying during colder months, the outside eating area may be an issue. The master bedroom was AMAZING!! The blackout shades in each room worked perfectly. We actually checked in at McKinley Creekside Cabins and I cannot say enough nice things about the staff! We ate at the cafe for dinner one night and the food was awesome! The whole place is gorgeous! Thank you for a great stay and we would definitely stay again!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Chad P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place in great location

Conveniently located to everything near Denali. Nice quiet house that provided a good place to retreat at the end of the day. Great place for families.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Tim B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing stay

Located about 10 minutes from the park entrance. This cabin was peaceful, relaxing, and enjoyable. Everything was as listed.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Susan M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Everything was great.

Clean, organize, staff very friendly, saw mooses in yard, beautiful yard, beautiful house, walking path close to house, games to play.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Great Place to stay

This house is newly appointed and is a great place to stay especially if you have several people in your group. It is located a short distance from the Denali Park entrance and the town center. The food at the McKinley Creekside restuarant was also very good and reasonably priced. We had a great time and loved the upstairs king size bed with the mountain view.
Response from VrboOwner on 30 March 2020
Thanks, we appreciate your feedback and glad you enjoyed the Carlo House!
Archival

8/10 Good

Dick N.

Four day cabin stay outside of Denali.

Beautiful setting. Newly remodeled cabin. Left a short list of shakedown items (none too major) that need to be corrected to bring cabin up to advertised features. Staff seemed to be willing to deal with them. Only major item was lack of good indoor dining table for our family of six. Hope staff will acknowledge our comments as the cabin has strong potential.
Response from VrboOwner on 30 March 2020
We are glad you enjoyed your time at the Carlo House and appreciate your feedback and input on how we can make things even better. Indoor seating is an issue as there is no space, so we added a covered deck with plenty of seating just off the kitchen. I will review our description to ensure guests are aware that there is only a small bar/counter area with no inside dining. Our goal is provide quality lodging with a clear description. Thanks again!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Great Place!

This place is great! It has just been refurbished and looks and feels brand new. We had the entire family at the Carlo house and all of us enjoyed it very much. We had a fire in the fire pit every night and made smores. We cooked all of our own meals which saved us a lot of money. The house has many amenities that we did not expect considering the location; Wi-Fi Internet access, Dish TV, phone, gas grill, washer/dryer, full kitchen. It was just a 20 minute drive to Denali. The staff was very helpful and friendly. We needed a hair dryer, so one of the staff brought it up to us within a couple minutes. The mosquitoes weren't too bad, but you probably want to bring repellant. There is no cell phone service, but you can use the house phone or Skype. It was very affordable for a family size group.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Gloria

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

About the host

Hosted by Tracey Smith

Host profile image
Owned by two best friends, Holly Slinkard and Tracey Smith. We purchased our main property McKinley Creekside Cabins & Cafe in 1997 and the 'Carlo Property"' in 2009. Both of us being avid travelers ourselves, our goal was to create a place 'Where guests become friends'. We found in our travels that the best experiences, had more to do with the people we met and friends made on the journey.

We both live in Alaska year round. Holly spends 8 months in Denali and the remainder in Anchorage and traveling the world in the off season. Tracey lives in Palmer with her husband and son.

Our Mission: "Cultivating relationships and facilitating opportunities to explore Denali National Park, with inspired hospitality and intentional service."

People coming from all over the continent...the world all seeking an adventure. A sense of self grows from the purposeful work of maintaining and growing this establishment together. Cultivating friendships with neighbors, guests and crew that will be lifelong. Having a steadfast commitment to provide an outstanding experience for all in a setting that is beyond compare.

We are most thankful to the Lord above, all our guests and crew members for making this life possible in such an amazing place.

We know you will enjoy your time at the 'Carlo Property' and Denali National Park, truly the last frontier!

Thank you for considering McKinley Creekside Cabins & Cafe-The Carlo HOUSE

Why they chose this property

Located in the beautiful Carlo Creek area of Denali, just 13 miles south or a 15 minute drive to Denali National Park. Home of Mt. Denali the highest peak in North America towering at 20,310 ft. This six million acre park has abundant wildlife (grizzly bears, moose, caribou, wolves, foxes, Dall sheep and more!)

We are a AAA approved property with 2019 Best in Housekeeping and Location. As hospitality professionals we take great care to provide not only the essentials but thoughtful consideration for the details.

The Carlo Property rentals offer all the features and amenities of home. Denali is an amazing place where one can explore the park and surrounding areas for a lifetime and never see it all. We try our best to take care of the details and provide the essentials that can make a house rental enjoyable and easy (basic spices, foil, plastic wrap, paper and glass ware, cooler, wood for the firepit)

The Carlo Property is a beautiful and well cared for property nestled in the woods with amazing panoramic mountain views and all the comforts of home and a great location that is close to the park.

BONUS-no cleaning fee is charged as long as the beds are stripped, kitchen/dishes are cleaned, and returned in the manner provided and removal of all trash, otherwise you can choose to have a cleaning fee of $125.00

We would be honored to host your stay in this amazing place we call home.

What makes this property unique

Thoughtful hospitality with intentional service where we try strive to take care of the details. We provide all the essentials from bathroom amenities (shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, toilet paper and tissue) to coffee, and pantry essentials (salt/pepper, oil, basic spices, paper towels, plastic wrap/foil, paper plates/utensils).

The Creekside Cafe' is within walking distance.

Minimum 2 night stay, unless 1 night is only available.

BONUS-no cleaning fee is charged as long as the beds are stripped, kitchen/dishes are cleaned, and returned in the manner provided and removal of all trash, otherwise you can choose to have a cleaning fee of $125.00

Languages:

English

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