National park · United States
Denali National ParkDenali National Park and Preserve
Go for 2–3 nights, not a day trip: ride a shuttle as far as the road allows, walk the free Savage River loop, and camp or sleep at the entrance; the road beyond mile 43 has been closed since 2021 and reopening is not confirmed — check current status before booking.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
24,585 km² (9,492 sq mi)9,492 sq mi (24,585 km²)
approximate
Established
1917
Best months
Jun–Aug
UNESCO
Biosphere
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 24,585 km² (9,492 sq mi)9,492 sq mi (24,585 km²)
- About 6 million acres (24,585 km²), larger than Massachusetts (check).
- Established
- 1917
- Best months
- Jun–Aug
- Permits
- For some areas
> Denali protects six million acres of Alaska Range, tundra and taiga around North America's highest mountain — 6,190 m, a bigger rise from its lowlands than Everest's base camp sits below its summit. One gravel road runs in from the Parks Highway; private cars stop at Savage River (mile 15), so beyond that you travel by shuttle, on foot or by bike. A landslide at Pretty Rocks keeps the road closed at mile 43 through summer 2026, so Wonder Lake and Kantishna are out for now. Wildlife — grizzly, caribou, moose, Dall sheep, wolves — is the other reason to come, and the mountain itself is cloud-covered most days.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO Biosphere Reserve · 1976Denali Biosphere Reserve.
- Special national site · 1917Established as Mount McKinley National Park; renamed and expanded in 1980.
Size and age
24,585 km² (9,492 sq mi)9,492 sq mi (24,585 km²) · national park since 1917
About 6 million acres (24,585 km²), larger than Massachusetts (check).
Why go
- A single road into six million acres of roadless Alaska Range, tundra and taiga.
- The shuttle ride itself is the wildlife trip: grizzly, caribou, moose, Dall sheep and sometimes wolves from the bus.
- Denali, 6,190 m, rises about 5,500 m above the lowlands near Wonder Lake — more vertical relief than Everest's base camp.
- Free ranger programs, sled-dog demonstrations and the Savage River loop need no shuttle ticket.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprAvoid
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepGo
- OctAvoid
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanDeep winter; −40°C (−40°F) possible; road closedDeep winter; −40°F (−40°C) possible; road closed
- FebWinter; only winter expeditions
- MarCold; limited access
- AprShoulder; most services shut
- MayRoad opens; snow lingers; fewer buses
- JunLong daylight; full shuttle service
- JulWarmest; peak crowds; book buses early
- AugWarm; berries; still busy
- SepRoad lottery mid-month; snow returns
- OctServices wind down; road closes with snow
- NovWinter access only
- DecWinter; no visitor services
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grizzly bearsMay–Sep · Seen from the bus most often between Teklanika and Toklat. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| CaribouMay–Sep · Herds move across the tundra; sightings are unpredictable. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| MooseJun–Sep · Willow thickets near rivers and lakes. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Dall sheepMay–Sep · White against the rock on steep slopes. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| WolvesMay–Sep · Rare; most often seen from the road. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Anchorage
Drive the George Parks Highway (Route 3) north; or the summer Alaska Railroad train to the park depot.
4–5 h by car; about 7.5–8 h by train
From Fairbanks
Drive the Parks Highway south; or the summer train.
2–2.5 h by car; about 4 h by train
From Talkeetna
Drive north on the Parks Highway; small local airport for flightseeing.
2.5 h
From Interior Alaska plan
Where Denali fits with Fairbanks, the Richardson Highway and the Arctic.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance area (miles 0–3) | Visitor center, Wilderness Access Center, Riley Creek campground, sled-dog kennels. | Open to private cars; free shuttles. |
| Savage River (mile 15) | The end of the public road; river canyon, 1.6 km (1 mi) loop trail, picnic area.The end of the public road; river canyon, 1 mi (1.6 km) loop trail, picnic area. | Open to private cars; free Savage River shuttle. |
| Teklanika to Toklat (miles 29–53) | Tundra, braided rivers and the best wildlife stretch; Teklanika campground. | Shuttle, bike or foot only. |
| Eielson Visitor Center (mile 66) | The classic Denali viewpoint and short trails. | Shuttle only, and only if the road is open past mile 43; check current road status. |
| Wonder Lake and Kantishna (miles 86–91) | Wetlands, Reflection Pond and the old mining settlement. | Beyond the closed section; no road access while the mile 43 closure stands. |
Sketch map
- 1Denali Visitor Center · Headquarters≈63.731, -148.917Map ↗
- 2Wilderness Access Center · Headquarters≈63.729, -148.926Map ↗
- 3Savage River · Trail≈63.730, -149.260Map ↗
- 4Teklanika River · Sleep≈63.650, -149.580Map ↗
- 5Eielson Visitor Center · Viewpoint≈63.430, -150.310Map ↗
- 6Wonder Lake · Viewpoint≈63.460, -150.870Map ↗
- 7Kantishna · Village≈63.520, -150.980Map ↗
Take the points offline
7 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions along the park road, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entrance fee (7 days, private vehicle) | US$35 | vehicle | 2026 estimate; covers all passengers in the car. |
| Entrance fee (7 days, per person on foot, bike or shuttle) | US$20 | person | 2026 estimate; America the Beautiful annual pass US$80 covers entry. |
| Shuttle to Eielson Visitor Center (mile 66) | US$30–35 | person | 2026 estimate, round trip; youth 15–17 half price, under 15 free. Only runs if the road reopens past mile 43. |
| Shuttle to Toklat (mile 53) | US$22–25 | person | 2026 estimate; shorter round trip. |
| Camper bus to a campground | US$30–35 | person | 2026 estimate; campers and backcountry permit holders only. |
| Alaska Railroad, Anchorage to Denali | US$150–300 | person | 2026 estimate, one way, varies by season; Fairbanks leg cheaper. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Backcountry camping permit or guide
Shuttle and campground reservations permit or guide
Denali Road Lottery permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- US$35
- US$20
- US$30–35
- US$22–25
- US$30–35
- US$150–300
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on NPS — Denali fees and passes before you go.
Park rules
- Private vehicles
- Cars may drive only to Savage River (mile 15); beyond that it is shuttle, bike or foot. Teklanika campers may drive to mile 29.
- Food storage
- Keep all food and scented items in a vehicle or bear-resistant container; never leave packs unattended.
- Bears
- Stay in groups, make noise, and never run; carry bear spray and tell the bus driver if you have it so it can be stored below.
- Drones
- Not allowed anywhere in the park.check
- Fires
- Campfires only in provided rings at campgrounds; no fires in the backcountry.
- Firearms
- Possession follows federal and Alaska law; discharge is prohibited, and guns must be unloaded and cased on shuttle buses.
Where to stay
In the park
Riley Creek campground
The largest campground, at the entrance; tents and RVs, book ahead.
In the park
Teklanika River campground
Mile 29; one vehicle per site, minimum stay rules apply.
In the park
Backcountry camping
Free permit; camp on the tundra away from the road and trails.
Near the park
Entrance-area hotels
Lodges and cabins along the Parks Highway at mile 1–2 and in the canyon.
Near the park
Healy
Cheaper rooms and groceries, 20–25 minutes north on the highway.
Safety
Bears high
Weather swings medium
Long bus rides medium
Steep road sections medium
Cold water medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Denali Visitor Center, Wilderness Access Center and sled-dog demonstration are wheelchair accessible.
- Shuttle buses are not wheelchair accessible; the free Savage River shuttle and entrance-area trails are the practical option.
- Mount Healy and most backcountry routes are steep or pathless; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Pack out everything; there is no rubbish collection in the backcountry.
- Stay on durable surfaces near the entrance and spread out on tundra to avoid trail scars.
- Keep 400 m from wildlife and never feed animals; food-conditioned bears are killed.
- Book the shuttle rather than driving; the road is the park's main wildlife corridor.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Denali National Park?
About US$35 per private vehicle for 7 days, or US$20 per person arriving on foot, by bike or by shuttle (2026 estimate). The America the Beautiful annual pass at US$80 covers entry and other federal lands. Shuttle buses into the park cost extra — roughly US$30–35 to Eielson.
What are the best hikes in Denali National Park?
Near the entrance: the Savage River loop (1.6 km, easy), Horseshoe Lake and Triple Lakes. Mount Healy Overlook is the steep half-day climb. Past mile 20 there are no trails — you walk the tundra, which is the real Denali experience.
When is the best time to visit Denali National Park?
June to early September, when the road and shuttle buses run. July and early August are warmest but busiest; late June has the longest daylight. Book shuttle seats days ahead in July.
Can I drive my own car into the park?
Only to Savage River at mile 15. Beyond that you need a shuttle, a bike or your feet. Teklanika campers may drive to mile 29, and a mid-September lottery lets 400 vehicles a day drive further when the road is open.
Can I reach Wonder Lake or Kantishna?
Not by road while the Pretty Rocks landslide closure stands at mile 43 — it has been in place since 2021 and reopening is not confirmed. Check the park's road status before booking; Eielson is the practical far point when the road is open.
Will I actually see Denali?
Maybe. The mountain is at least partly in cloud most summer days and fully visible only a few days a month. Plan several days and take the first clear morning.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go