The only place that will be crazy is Seward for the July 4 Mt. Marathon Race. Town is innundated with people to watch the runners and it can resemble a zoo.
Compared to outside cities, this place is positively quiet!
A good and unknown bargain for lodging is student housing at the University of Alaska Anchorage campus. A car is a necessity but room go for between $45 and $85 a night depending on type of accommodation. Since the campus is fairly new, these are not run down; in fact, some are condo-type units and quite nice. You can check with University Housing and Dining at
www.uaa.alaska.edu or call directly at 786-7212. The campus is only five miles from downtown and the dorms are surrounded by woods and the occasional moose.
By the way, the road to Denali on the Parks Highway is completely paved. You drive out of Anchorage on the Glenn Highway until it connects with the Parks. It is the Denali Highway (the old park access road) that is mostly unpaved. Certainly wouldn't drive it in a rental car.
For more on what's in Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska, go to
www.anchorage.net
Enjoy your visit.