Denali Highway - All You Need to Know
Note: Denali Highway is NOT the road in Denali National Park.
The Denali Highway - Introduction
The Denali Highway is a 135-mile-long (around 220 kilometers) seasonal road connecting Paxson (located on the Richardson Highway) and Cantwell Junction (located on the Parks Highway).
The Denali Highway is seasonal. It usually opens in mid-May and is maintained until mid-September. The exact opening and closing dates depend on weather conditions.
The Denali Highway was established in 1957. For the following 15 years, it was the only road that could reach the Denali National Park area (until the completion of the Parks Highway connecting Anchorage with Fairbanks). This is where its name came from.
In 2010, the Denali Highway was recognized by National Geographic magazine as the second most beautiful road in the world. We believe that Alaska has even more beautiful drives to offer. Still, the Denali Highway - especially on a clear day - is very scenic: incredible mountain ranges, glaciers, and open tundra, as well as spectacular views of the Denali (from the Cantwell side ).
Highlights of the Denali Highway
Possible wildlife sightings including black bears, moose, fox, etc.,
Wide-open vistas of mountains, glaciers, tundra, forests, lakes, and rivers.
Spectacular views of the Alaska Range and the Wrangell Mountains,
Possible hiking (most trails are unmarked, so bring your map),
Lake trout and arctic grayling fishing in local rivers, streams, and lakes,
The Tangle Lakes Archeological District contains a record of subsistence use by indigenous people over 10,000 years ago,
Drive through the second highest highway pass (4,086 feet) in Alaska - Maclaren Summit,
Alpine tundra,
Adventurous drive.
Driving in the Denali Highway in a camper van
Main Information About the Denali Highway
Denali Highway is a seasonal road opened only during the summer months,
plan for a minimum of 4.5 hours one way,
services are very limited along this road,
have a (full-size) spare tire, and make sure you know how to change it,
do not expect phone and Internet service,
take some emergency food, water, a first-aid kit, and clothing,
fill up your tank before entering Denali Highway,
most of the rental car companies in Alaska do not allow rental cars on this road (more below),
in late August, the Denali Highway becomes a very popular spot for hunters across the state. The road is busier, and wildlife might be more difficult to spot.
The Denali Highway from above
Is Driving the Denali Highway Worth It?
The Denali Highway offers beautiful views of the Alaska Range, and driving it can be an exciting adventure. Before you decide to take this road, you should think about how to integrate it into your Alaska itinerary. If you don't mind skipping Fairbanks, the Denali Highway might be an interesting choice to get to Valdez. However, remember that driving this route requires renting a car from specific car rental companies (usually more expensive than regular car rental companies).
Rivers and roads on the Denali Highway
Denali Highway - Road Conditions
The Denali Highway has no technical difficulties apart from numerous potholes, bulges, and sharp stones. The majority of the road is unpaved.
We drove Denali Highway in our van, without four-wheel drive, and handled it without any problems. The condition of the road changes every year depending on the weather conditions.
When using a rental car, we suggest driving very carefully. On our trip, the worst road conditions hit us around 45 miles east of Cantwell, and stayed that way for about 30 more miles. Our speed was no more than 15 mph at the time, but we were driving a relatively low van. It is also worth slowing down on the road every time another car passes you to avoid damaging the windshield.
A large portion of the Denali Highway is unpaved
How Long Does It Take to Drive the Denali Highway?
The Denali Highway can easily be covered in one day, and most people choose to do so, but if you have time, are planning a campsite along the route, or want to spend the night in one of the accommodations, it is worth scheduling an extra night. If you plan to drive it in one day, plan at least a 4 to 5-hour drive and additional time for stops.
Mountain along the Denali Highway
Wildlife Viewing on The Denali Highway
Due to the numerous glacial lakes, rivers, and streams, over a hundred different species of birds make their home here in the summer. For the same reason, take a good mosquito repellent, have a long sleeve shirt and pants, and (just in case) a mosquito net head cover for your face.
According to the BLM website, visitors to the Denali Highway might see grizzly bears, gray wolves, wolverines, red foxes, moose, caribou, river otters, marmots, and more.
During our drive in 2020, we only saw Arctic ground squirrels and two moose.
No matter where you are, always take bear spray with you (and make sure you know how it works), move around in a group, and make a lot of noise when hiking. No one will hear you in such a large space, so it's worth being prepared for every occasion.
Moose on the Denali Highway
Where To Stay on the Denali Highway
Those planning to camp along the route can do so along Denali Highway. Permits are not required for non-commercial camping on BLM-administered public lands. We spent the night about 35 miles from Cantwell, from where there was a beautiful view of the glacier-covered peaks of Deborah and Hess. There are a few official campgrounds and plenty of wild camping pull-offs.
Wild camping on the Denali Highway - Smokey fire built to fend of mosquitoes
There are also a few places to stay on the route, but you must reserve the rooms well in advance. The most popular places to stay are:
Clearwater Mountain Lodge (the website indicates that the accommodation will not be available in 2023).
Renting a Car for the Denali Highway
Most car rental companies in Alaska do not allow you to drive the Denali Highway. If you plan to do so, your choices are limited to just a few local, Alaskan-owned businesses (which is great!).
GoNorth offers a wide range of vehicles, from SUVs to large campers. They have several cars that are suitable for making the drive on the Denali Highway. Remember that their office is a few minutes from the airport. They also have a more strict cancellation policy (25% nonrefundable deposit). They offer competitive rates, but they don’t include mileage. GoNorth works extensively both with US and international visitors. They have 4 locations: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Whitehorse (Yukon), and Seattle (Washington).
Alaska 4x4 is conveniently located at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Alaska 4x4 has a great fleet of cars, including some nice and new 4x4s. As of 2023, their rates include unlimited miles, no extra fee for an additional driver, and their cancellation policy is very flexible. The price on their website does not include taxes or other fees, which can be pretty high. They have 3 locations across the state - Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Deadhorse.
Midnight Sun Rentals offers a large fleet of cars and competitive prices in Anchorage. Make sure you understand that they do not offer insurance coverage. This means that ALL customers must provide proof of their full coverage insurance when they pick up the vehicle.
Alaska Auto Rental offers specially equipped Gravel Highway Vehicles for use on these roads. As of 2023, reservations canceled at least seven days before the scheduled rental date are fully refundable. Alaska Auto Rental requires full payment at the time of reservation. If you plan to drive any seasonal road, you must provide proof of full coverage (liability, comprehensive, and collision) in your name issued by a US insurance company. International drivers read more here.
If you want to incorporate the Denali Highway into your Alaska trip or want help designing your Alaska Itinerary, please visit the Design Your Trip page.
View from the start of the Denali Highway from Paxson
