Denali National Park - Complete Guide 2024
Traveling to Alaska and not visiting Denali National Park is like flying all the way to Poland and not tasting locally-made Pierogi (I was born in Poland, so you understand the analogy).
Denali National Park is the most famous and one of the most visited National Parks in our beautiful state of Alaska, so if you have more than a long weekend to spend in Alaska, you should definitely include this in your itinerary. Nevertheless, Denali National Park and Preserve is very unique. Because the park is very seasonal, there is one road with restricted access for private vehicles and a limited number of tours; make sure to plan your trip well in advance.
To make the most of your visit to Denali National Park, read Our Guide to Denali National Park in 2023!
Denali National Park Introduction
Denali National Park and Preserve (formerly known as Mt. McKinley National Park) is located in Interior Alaska. The park is known for its natural beauty, spectacular mountains, and abundant wildlife, including grizzlies, caribou, moose, Dall sheep, and wolves. Its central point is Denali, the highest peak in North America at 20,310 ft (6,190 m).
On average, only 30 percent of summertime park visitors can see the mountain. If you are not lucky to see its glory from the Denali Park area, don’t give up yet - you might be able to see Denali from Anchorage, Talkeetna, or Fairbanks.
The name “Denali” comes from the Koyukon language spoken by the Athabascan group living on the north side of the Alaska Range. It means “The Tall One.”
Denali National Park is the third-largest US National Park. It’s also larger than the entire state of Massachusetts or New Jersey.
On average, more than 600,000 tourists visit Denali National Park annually.
The park was established as Mt. McKinley National Park in 1917. In 1980, Mt. McKinley Park, Denali National Monument, and Denali Preserve were connected to establish Denali National Park & Preserve.
Construction of Denali Park Road began in 1923, and the 92-mile-long road was completed in 15 years.
There are 39 species of mammals and 169 species of birds residing in Denali.
The first successful summit of Denali took place in 1913.
This region has been home to many groups of Alaska Natives for thousands of years - long before the establishment of the national park.
Glaciers cover one-sixth of the park.
What to Know Before Visiting Denali National Park:
NOTE:
An ongoing landslide at Pretty Rocks is impacting bus service. Through 2024, buses will travel no further than Mile 43 of the Denali Park Road.
There is only one road that runs through the park. Private vehicles can drive only a small section, usually to Mile 15. Those interested in exploring more of the Denali Park Road must use buses.
If you are not joining a narrated bus tour, you must pay a $15 per person entrance fee (valid for seven days). Kids 15 and younger are free. If traveling in a group of 3 or 4 people, you should purchase a Denali Annual Pass. The cost is $45 in 2023 and is valid for one year for four adults. You can also use your America the Beautiful Pass if you have one already.
Take care of your bus tour tickets and accommodation long before your visit! Denali is a very busy park in the summertime, and the best-narrated tours are usually sold out long before the season starts. Don’t make a mistake and miss out. Reserve your seat ahead of time.
Expect the unexpected. Weather in Alaska is usually quite unpredictable, but the Alaska Range weather forecasting is even more challenging. Always pack a quality rain jacket, good shoes, and a warm layer. A light winter hat and gloves might be useful as well.
Be prepared and learn more about Wilderness Safety.
Mosquito season in Denali starts in early June and continues into mid-August, so pack the bug repellent and wear long layers. Head nets might also be helpful.
Don’t forget your binoculars!
If you are a photographer, take a Telephoto Lense - wildlife (usually) keeps its distance from the road.
How to Get to Denali National Park
Access to Denali National Park is relatively easy - especially by Alaska standards. The park is around a 5-hour drive from Anchorage or 2.5-hour drive from Fairbanks. Both cities have international airports.
Those not planning to rent a car can use the Alaska Railroad (from Anchorage, it takes about 8 hours to get to Denali), but if you decide to do so, choose a hotel that offers a train depot and park shuttle.
The Park Connection Bus runs between Anchorage and Denali daily. There is also a shuttle service that operates between Fairbanks and Denali.
How Much Time Should You Spend in Denali National Park
The amount of time you spend in Denali depends on your needs, time, and itinerary. When designing itineraries for our guests, we usually plan 2 or 3 nights in the Denali area. Two nights are usually enough if you want to take a bus tour, take a hike, and learn more about the park. If you have an extra day, you can add some activities or go on a longer hike. Sometimes it is even possible to spend only one night in Denali and still go on a narrated bus tour. It depends on your time and expectations.
Denali National Park certainly has a lot to offer, but there are so many incredible places in our state that we don’t recommend spending too much time here.
Best Time to Visit Denali National Park
Denali National Park is open year-round, but to fully experience the area's beauty, you should visit in the summertime. In Denali, the summer season usually starts around May 20 and runs until mid-September.
It is essential to note that summer is the only time of year when buses operate within the park.
We truly believe that visiting Denali National Park is always a great idea. If you are hoping to see the Denali mountain, your chances are slightly higher earlier in the summer; if your priority is hiking, plan your trip for July or August, and if you are a photographer, then there is no more spectacular time than September. Don’t stress too much about timing - the weather here is too unpredictable anyway!
All seasons - including winter - in Denali National Park are simply phenomenal.
Mid-May to Mid-June
Early summer is an exciting and less busy time to visit Denali National Park. There is a high chance of experiencing some (or plenty!) of snow, which can be beautiful and even helpful in spotting wildlife! The weather is usually cooler, but it is also the dry season in Alaska, meaning fewer rainy days.
Mid-June to Mid-July
This is the time of transition in Denali National Park. Mountains are turning green, wildlife is more active, trails are accessible, and the weather is usually warm and relatively predictable. Mid-July tends to be wetter than May or June, so a quality rainproof jacket is necessary.
Late July and Early August
This time of the season, nature in Denali is at its peak. It is a prime time for flora and fauna and probably the busiest time in the national park. It should still be pretty warm, although always expect the unexpected, especially in this mountainous area. Two of our 2022 groups woke to a winter wonderland in early August! It is rare, but it happens!
Mid-August to Mid-September
The end of summer in Alaska is usually the beginning of autumn in Denali. Expect chilly nights and wet, cooler days. The tundra's colors are generally changing in early September, and it is one of the most picturesque times to visit the area. It is also the rutting season for the moose, so be ready with your camera. On top of that - if you are lucky - you might be able to see Northern Lights!
Mid-September and Later
September is the end of the season in Denali National Park. That means most restaurants and hotels are closing, and park buses are no longer operating.
When the bus service ends, the park road is usually open to Mile 30 for private vehicles, but this decision is always based on the road conditions. You also need to ensure that your car rental company allows you to drive this road - usually, they don’t.
Bus Tours in Denali National Park:
You must use the park buses to visit deeper into the park. The reason behind it is straightforward - this system allows the park service to protect wildlife from increased traffic. In 2023, there are three types of buses available in Denali National Park:
Tundra Wilderness Tour
This is the tour we always recommend and include in our itineraries. It is a 5-6 hour narrated tour that offers the best opportunities for wildlife viewing in Denali National Park. The Tundra Wilderness Tour costs $141.25 per adult and $63.25 per child. A $15 Park Entry Fee is already included in this rate. Remember that you won’t know the exact departure time until 48 hours before the tour. You can book a morning or afternoon tour, but no specific time is provided at the time of reservation.
Denali Natural History Tour
This is a 5-hour narrated tour that goes to Mile 25 on the Denali Park Road. In 2023 this tour costs $114 for adults and $49.50 for a child. This tour is focused on the area's history - you will stop at one of the original ranger’s cabins and learn more about Alaskan Native history in the area. Your driver will also provide you with lots of information about the geology and wildlife of Denali National Park.
Transit Buses
Transit buses are non-narrated and designed to move people around the park. They offer stops for restrooms and wildlife viewing along the way. The best part about using the transit bus is that you can leave the bus and catch the next one if you want to hike or take some extra time in the beautiful surroundings. The transit bus is much cheaper and will cost $32.77 in 2023. Kids under 15 ride free, but they still need a reserved ticket. We usually book this tour for more active groups looking for additional savings or if Tundra Wilderness Tour is unavailable (which happens quite often).
Best Things to Do in Denali National Park in 2023
1. Denali National Park Tour
Joining one of the bus tours is the number one activity in the area. Choose a tour that fits your needs, budget, and schedule best. Our preferred choice is always the Tundra Wilderness Tour.
2. Wildlife Viewing
Denali is a great place to spot the Big 5 (five big mammals): grizzly bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and wolves. Your chances are best if you take a bus tour, but keep your eyes open even on the first 15 miles of the road. We’ve never spotted the wolves, but they are somewhere there! Do not limit yourself to the big guys only - Denali National Park is home to 39 species of mammals, 169 species of birds, 14 species of fish, and even one species of amphibian!
3. Denali Sled Dog Kennels
Denali National Park has a long history of sled dog use in the park, and they offer free demonstrations in the summer. It is worth a visit! Read more here: Denali Dog Kennels.
4. Stay Active
Denali National Park is a wild place and can feel intimidating, but luckily there is something for everyone to enjoy. The park service offers a Guided Nature Walk covering around three miles and even an option for more advanced hikers -a Discovery Hike. There are also plenty of non-guided options, including the Savage Alpine Trail (our favorite), the easier Horseshoe Lake Trail, or the challenging but popular Mount Healy Overlook Trail. Read more about the best hiking trails in Denali National Park HERE. Denali is also a great place to join an ATV or a rafting tour if you are looking for some exciting activities.
5. Denali Flightseeing Tour
Read more about this unforgettable activity HERE.
Where to stay in Denali National Park
There are plenty of accommodation options around Denali National Park. If you plan your trip way ahead of time, you can sometimes get a reasonable price, but - in general - you should expect to pay high rates in this area. Denali National Park is a very seasonal location that hugely impacts local businesses and their prices.
If you are looking for an Airbnb, you should focus on the town of Healy. Healy is the closest year-round community to the Denali National Park and is around a 15-20 minute drive from the Visitor Center. There are many restaurants, some shops, and even a big supermarket. Prices here are usually lower than those closer to the park entrance.
We work with a variety of hotels in the area, but here are two of our most popular partners:
Denali Bluffs Hotel is close to the Denali National Park entrance and offers comfortable rooms in buildings tucked into the forest on a hillside. The Denali Bluffs has 176 rooms, so it gets busy in the middle of the summer! This hotel has a cafe where you can pre-order a lunch box for your Denali adventures and a restaurant, although - if you have time - we recommend finding somewhere else to eat. There is complimentary transportation to the Denali Visitor Center and nearby shops from the Denali Bluffs Hotel. If you are joining a narrated bus tour, you are lucky - the bus stops at the hotel.
Denali Grizzly Bear Resort is a more affordable alternative to other expensive hotels near the national park. They offer spacious rooms and basic cabins overlooking the Nenana River and beautiful hills. There is no restaurant, but the Denali Grizzly Bear Resort has a small store, gift shop, and food trucks. The resort is located a 12 -15 minute drive from Denali Visitor Center. If you are going on a narrated bus tour, you can usually start from Denali Park Village, right across the street.
Best Places to Eat in Denali National Park
There are surprisingly many food choices in the Denali area. The main problem is usually availability, as most tourists visit the national park during summer. Sometimes you might need to wait a bit (or much longer) to be seated. Just roll with the punches, and don’t give up!
Some of our favorite restaurants and cafes in the area are:
49th State Brewing in Denali is a well-known local brewery located in Healy, a 20-minute drive from the Denali National Park entrance. They have a broad food menu, including local fish and meat. On top of that, they offer a great selection of beer. It can get busy here, but you can’t go wrong with this place.
Moose AKa’s. As someone born in Poland, I was surprised that one of the best restaurants near Denali Park is Eastern European! This is a Balkan-style restaurant with a good selection of wines. It is a small space, and they don’t take reservations, so getting a table might be challenging.
The Black Bear - A great place to grab your morning coffee and some delicious pastries. They also have a few tables so you can have a full breakfast before your big Denali adventure!
Rose’s Cafe - If you ask locals where to get breakfast, they will point to this place. The cafe is in Healy and serves impressive portions of American-style breakfast. It is an experience you won’t forget.
