Denali National Park & Preserve

Usual hours

• Mon–Sun 0:00–0:00

From 56 published days, 2026-10-25 to 2026-12-19; community-mapped.

About

Entrance / day-use fee applies.

This park's official page lists: Store / concessions.

This park's official page lists: Visitor center.

Official facts

Public access: Open access.

Protected area: 4,680,746 acres (1,894,232 ha).

Designation: National Park. Listed as "Denali National Park" in the Protected Areas Database of the United States. Protection: managed for biodiversity (GAP 2). IUCN category II.

Managed by: NPS.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gap Analysis Project (GAP), 2025, Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1

At the park

• Hunting activity
• Photography scenic feature
• Hiking trails trail

Events

• Sled Dog Demonstration
• Sled Dog Kennels Open Hours 01:00 PM–04:00 PM

Before you go

Mobility

Available in the park: mobility & stroller rentals. Confirm rental availability and pricing with the park.

Limits

Yes, service dogs are legally permitted anywhere in a park that visitors can go

Park alert: Road Open To: Mile 3 (Park Headquarters)

The Denali Park Road is currently open to Mile 3, Park Headquarters. Snowy conditions beyond that point prevent vehicle travel, though pedestrian travel is permitted.

Getting there

You can drive to Denali from Anchorage or Fairbanks, along Highway 3, which is known as the "George Parks Highway." Fairbanks is about 2 hours north, while Anchorage is 5 hours south of the Denali entrance. You can also reach Denali from either city via the Alaska Railroad, which is operated by the State of Alaska.

Weather & when to go

Summer is typically cool and wet, with highs typically in the upper 50s to low 60s, and lows in the 40s. On occasion, summer highs reach the low 80s, though this is rare. Snow can fall any month of the year, so be prepared for chilly weather even in summer. Fall colors emerge on the alpine tundra in August and in the low valleys in early September. Winter generally starts in mid-September, with temps often getting down to -40 by January. Spring is a short season in April / May, with highs above freezing.

Visitor center

Denali Bus Depot

Visitor center

Denali Bus Depot

Visitor center

Denali Bus Depot

Visitor center

Denali Bus Depot — Open: May 20 through mid-September each year (closing date varies). Daily hours: 5 am to 7 pm for coffee service, bus loading, ticket sales, and pre-booked bus and campground reservation check-ins.

Visitor center

Denali Park Store & Morino Grill

Visitor center

Denali Park Store & Morino Grill

Visitor center

Denali Park Store & Morino Grill

Visitor center

Denali Park Store & Morino Grill

Visitor center

Denali Park Store & Morino Grill

Visitor center

Denali Visitor Center

Visitor center

Denali Visitor Center

Visitor center

Denali Visitor Center

Facilities on the park map

11 bench, 1 changing table, 6 defibrillator, 4 first aid kit, 2 mobility rental, 8 picnic area, 39 restroom, 38 visitor information, 1 water fountain.

Where to stay

• Wonder Lake Wonder Lake Campground is closed until further notice. Wonder Lake Campground is at mile 85 on the Denali Park Road. It offers 28 tent-only sites. This is the closest campground to Mount McKinley. Though still nearly 26 miles away, the sheer size of the mountain makes it loom impressively over Wonder Lake Campground. Cloudy skies can obscure views, and mosquitoes can be fierce, but clear days offe · 28 campsites · Accessibility: Paths between campsites vary from compact gravel to muddy, rocky surfaces. The campground is laid out with some sites on a small hill above the level of the…
• Igloo Creek The campground is at mile 35 on the Park Road. It offers 7 sites, making it the smallest in Denali (along with Sanctuary River Campground, which also has 7 sites). Igloo is tent-only—you will not find any RVs or other vehicles in this campground. It is accessible only by camper bus. The bus stop is a short walk from the campsites (less than 50 yards). · 7 campsites · Accessibility: Surfaces in the campground are largely compacted gravel or native soils with roots and rocks. The path from the campground to the bus stop on the Denali Park…
• Teklanika River Open in summer only (May 20 to mid-September). Though nearly all private vehicles must turn around at mile 15, Savage River, Tek campers are an exception to that rule. If you wish, you may drive your vehicle / RV to Tek. The trade-off is that you must make, at minimum, a three-night stay, and your vehicle must stay in your campsite for the duration of your stay, while you use transit buses to sigh · 53 campsites · Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible bathrooms are available in the campground. Paths and roads in the campground are made of compacted gravel and have little or no gradient…
• Sanctuary River Open in summer only (May 20 to mid-September). Sanctuary River is a heavily wooded campground, with screening between most sites. The immediate area is brushy, but nearby mountains offer chances to hike directly from the campground and gain elevation, with views of Mount McKinley to the south possible on clear days, after some strenuous up-hill hiking. Sanctuary is tent-only—you will not find any · 7 campsites · Accessibility: There are no ADA-specific campsites.
• Savage River Open in summer only (May 20 to mid-September). Savage River campground is located at Mile 13 on the Denali Park Road. It sits in a spruce forest, with moderate screening between sites. On clear days, Mount McKinley can be seen from a short walk below the campground. · 32 campsites · Accessibility: Several restrooms are wheelchair accessible. Paths throughout the campground are free of barriers, and are generally composed of well-compacted gravel. In…
• Riley Creek Riley Creek is a fairly wooded campground, with some screening between sites whenever possible. Most of the campground sites are open to either tent campers or vehicles / RVs. The proximity of Highway 3 means there is occasional traffic noise, but also means campers have all the conveniences and amenities of the park entrance area, and businesses outside the park, close at hand. Trails leading fro · 142 campsites · Accessibility: Ranger programs occur in summer and can be presented with American Sign Language if you request it in advance. Area pathways and restrooms are wheelchair…