How to Actually Plan a Trip to Denali National Park in 2026
Denali is not like all the other U.S. national parks where you just drive in and see the sights. In Denali, there is only one road into the park (92 miles long) but you can only drive the first 15 miles in your own vehicle. Beyond it you need a bus reservation, which operates only between mid May and mid September. To make things more complicated, a landslide has closed the road beyond Mile 43 for the past few years.
This is the complete guide I wish I had when I was planning my Yukon and Alaska road trip. It includes how the bus system works, where to stay, how to get to Denali and how to actually see the tallest mountain in North America.
Quick Snapshot of Denali National Park
Denali National Park was established back in 1917 under the name Mount McKinley National Park, with the original goal of protecting the Dall sheep in the area. It was only in the 80s that the park was renamed Denali.
Over the years, Denali has become one of the best U.S. national parks for wildlife viewing, backpacking and unique hiking trips.
Best Time to Visit Denali National Park
We visited Denali in fall and the surrounding valley looked like something out of a postcard. The alpine tundra turns a deep gold and the whole landscape feels like it’s on fire with color. It’s one of the most beautiful times to be there. Temperatures are mild during the day, but nights can get cold.
If you’d rather have warmer weather on your Alaska trip, June or July are better bets. You’ll also get the bonus of nearly endless daylight.
Denali Entrance Fees and Passes
To visit Denali, you need to pay an entrance fee of $15 per person or $45 for the annual park pass. You can buy the entrance ticket at the visitor centre at the park entrance or online. This fee excludes the summer bus trips or campground fees.
If you have an America the Beautiful Pass, you do not need to pay the park entrance fee.
How to Get to Denali National Park
Denali is located about 2 hours from Fairbanks and 4-5 hours from Anchorage. We drove our RV to Denali on our way north, but you can also use the Alaska Railroad to reach Denali National Park.
If you’re flying into Anchorage or are visiting Alaska for the first time, it’s worth adding a few days to visit Kenai Fjords National Park and Whittier for glacier view and marine wildlife.
How to Explore Denali by Bus
Exploring Denali by bus is great if you’re getting in via the Alaska Railroad, prefer a car-free experience or if you want to visit beyond Savage River at Mile 15. The busses are only available in summer, between mid May and mid September, and you can choose between three different bus experiences.
Because of the Pretty Rocks landslide, the 92 mile road in Denali National park can only be accessed by all buses to Mile 43.
The free buses help connect visitors visiting Denali without a car with numerous stops across the park. There are three main bus lines: Savage River Shuttle, Riley Creek Loop Shuttle and the Sled Dog Demonstration Shuttle. You can see the detailed timeline for each shuttle service here.
The free buses only drive up to Mile 15 at Savage River. This is the same as for private vehicles. If you’re interested in driving further to Mile 43, you need to reserve either the transit or tour bus.
A non-narrated bus allows you to access Denali National Park up to Mile 43 but it does not provide any narration on the way. It’s a middle-ground between the free bus, as it drives further than Mile 15 and the tour bus, since it’s cheaper.
A tour bus is a more expensive option to visit Denali and there are two main tours to choose from.
The Denali Natural History Tour travels to Primrose Ride at Mile 17 and lasts about 5 hours. Whereas, the longer Tundra Wilderness Tour drives to Murie Cabin near the East Fork River at Mile 43 and lasts about 5.5 hours.
The only drawback of the tour bus is that you’re not allowed to hop on and off during the tour. Instead you need to stay on the same bus you’ve originally boarded.
Denali Itineraries (Half, 1, 2 and 3+ Days)
How to Spend Half a Day in Denali
If you’re visiting Denali from Fairbanks or Anchorage, getting there might already take half a day.
So, if you only have half a day in Denali National Park, you can either drive the Denali Park Road to Salvage River or use the free shuttle bus.
Stop at the Denali Visitor Center and watch the park film. Also consider attending the sled dog kennels or one of the ranger programs.
If you’re into hiking, you can choose between several trails nearby:
- Horsehoe Lake Trail: 6.4 km (4 miles) round trip, 76 m (250 ft) elevation gain, 2 hours round trip
- Mount Healy Trail: 4.3 km (2.7 miles) one way, 518 m (1,700 ft) elevation gain, 2 hours one way
- Savage Alpine Trail: 6.4 km (4 miles) one way, 460 m (1,500 ft) elevation gain, 3 hours one way
If your goal is to see moose in Alaska, we talked to photographers and locals in Denali and they all agreed that dawn or sunrise are the best times for wildlife sightings. That’s usually when animals are most active before the day heats up. We got lucky too and on our way out of Denali we spotted four moose within 30 minutes.
I strongly recommend carrying binoculars to observe the wildlife from a safe distance.
How to Spend a Full Day in Denali
If you have a full day to spend in Denali, consider reserving either the transit or tour bus. See above for a comparison of the two experiences.
Do the activities suggested for the half day itinerary in Denali and if you prefer a longer hike consider hiking the Triple Lakes Trail. It’s 15 km (9.5 miles) one way, takes about 5 hours to hike one way and has about 300 m (1,000 ft) of elevation gain.
On a clear day, make sure you stop at Mountain Vista for clear views of Mount McKinley (Denali).
How to Spend Two Days in Denali
On top of the suggestions for the full day itinerary, if you have 2 days in Denali National Park, you’ll have more time to enjoy the nature around you.
I would recommend taking either the transit or tour bus on one day and covering a longer hike, such as the Triple Lakes Trail, on the second day. You can explore additional hiking trails in Denali.
How to Spend Three or More Days in Denali
With three days in Denali, or maybe even more, you can spend a lot more time exploring the park. One of the best ways is to go on a backpacking trip in Denali. To do so, you’ll need a free backcountry permit and you have to attend a backcountry orientation before you go. Read more about it here.
If you have a week in Alaska (or more), add Denali to an itinerary including Kenai Fjords National Park or Whittier, one of the most remote towns in Alaska.
Camping in Denali National Park
If you’re visiting Denali in one day or more, the best place to stay overnight is at one of the campgrounds within the national park boundaries. You can reserve the campsites online as early as December 1 a year in advance.
Campground fees are between $25 and $50 per night depending on the site.
Riley Creek Campground is one of the easiest campsites to access, as it’s located close to Denali National Park entrance. This is where most of the visitors book when they’re at the end of their trip in Denali or have just arrived.
There are four more campgrounds you can access along the Denali Park Road. The only other you can reach with the free shuttle bus or with your private vehicle is Savage River Campground.
Sanctuary River Campground, Teklanika River Campground and Igloo Creek Campground can only be reached by camper buses, on foot or bike.
Where to Stay in Denali (excluding Campgrounds)
If you prefer not to stay at a campground in Denali National Park, there are other lodging options you can choose from.
The Denali Village area is one of the most convenient options for staying close to Denali. Here you can find large hotel-style properties usually run by big tour or cruise companies.
Healy has a wider variety of accommodation types across different price points. For example, here you can find budget motels such as Denali Park Hotel, mid-range lodges, like Aurora Denali Lodge, or Denali Dome Home B&B.
Talkeetna is worth considering especially if you’d like to book a Glacier Flight over Denali as well. This is usually the departure point for most of the flights.
In Talkeetna, you can find large resort lodges, such as Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, or cabins near the downtown area.
Cantwell is a quieter alternative near Healy and Backwoods Lodge is a popular option for many visiting Denali National Park.
FAQ Denali National Park
1. How do I actually see Denali National Park?
Denali is different to other U.S. national parks, such as Mount Rainier, Yosemite or Olympic National Parks, where you can drive your own vehicle to most of the areas. In Denali you can only drive your own vehicle to Mile 15, after which and up to Mile 43 you’ll need to reserve a bus. From Mile 43, the road is closed due to a landslide.
2. What is the latest Denali road status?
Denali Park Road is 92 miles long but it’s currently only open up to Mile 43. A landslide has closed the road beyond this point and there is no expected date for reopening.
3. How early do I need to book Denali bus tickets?
Denali bus tickets go on sale at the beginning of December of the year prior to your trip. Tickets tend to sell out fast during the peak summer months, so I’d advise reserving them in advance.
4. What is the best time to see Denali peak?
The chances of seeing Denali mountain are at about 30% during the summer months. Even on a sunny day, the Denali peak might be hidden behind a cloud cap. So, if you managed to see Denali on your Alaska trip, you should consider yourself very lucky.
One of the best spots to see Denali is along the Highway at Denali Viewpoint South or North. But you can also see it from Anchorage (Point Woronzof is a local’s favorite) or Fairbanks (at UAF). In the Denali National Park, the best viewpoints are beyond Mile 43. But this section of the Denali road is currently closed due to a landslide.
5. Is a day trip to Denali doable?
Yes, but staying overnight in Denali will give you more time to explore the national park. Note that if you’re coming from Fairbanks you’ll get to Denali in 2 hours and from Anchorage it’s about 4-5 hours.
6. What are the best hikes in Denali?
Denali is largely backcountry and only a few trails are maintained. The easiest hike to access in Denali is Horseshoe Lake Trail, which takes about 2 hours to hike. If you have some additional time, Mt. Healy Overlook trail is about 3-4 hours long and has beautiful views of the park.
7. Can I combine Denali with a broader Alaska itinerary?
Absolutely! We traveled to Denali in an RV from Whitehorse and added Denali to our Yukon and Alaska road trip itinerary.
