National Park and Preserve
Denali National Park and Preserve
- Alaska
- 9 hikes
- 9 places to see
- 1 current alert
Current alerts
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Notice
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.
From the National Park Service, as of November 1, 2026, 5:14 pm. Check nps.gov before you go.
About Denali
Denali is six million acres of wild land, bisected by one ribbon of road. Travelers along it see the relatively low-elevation taiga forest give way to high alpine tundra and snowy mountains, culminating in North America's tallest peak, 20,310' Mount McKinley. Wild animals large and small roam un-fenced lands, living as they have for ages. Solitude, tranquility and wilderness await.
From the National Park Service.
- Region
- Alaska
- Designation
- National Park and Preserve
- Entrance fee
- $15, per person
- Hikes on this page
- 9
- Places to see
- 9
- Articles
- 14
Know before you go
Fees, hours, weather and getting to Denali.
Entrance fees
- $15 Per Person Denali charges an entrance fee year-round. Youth age 15 or younger are free. For people age 16 or older, the $15 entrance fee provides a 7-day entrance permit. Be prepared to show your receipt or pass (digital or physical) if requested by park staff.
Passes
- $45 Annual Entrance - Park
Hours
All Park Hours
Open 24 hours a day, every day.
Denali is open 24-hours a day, although services are limited after-hours (generally after 4 pm in winter or 6 pm in summer). There is no gate at the park entrance. Please note that camping is only possible either in designated campgrounds (with a valid reservation) or in the rest of the park with a free backpacking permit.
Weather and 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.
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.
- Gateway towns
- Healy, AK · Cantwell, AK
- Nearest airports
- Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) · Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
Contact the park
- Address
- Mile 237 Highway 3, Denali Park, AK 99755
- Phone
- (907) 683-9532
- denali_info@nps.gov
- Official site
- nps.gov/dena
From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.
Trip planner
A day-by-day plan for Denali
Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.
The trails and places you save below go into your plan as must-sees.
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Where to stay for Denali
The gateway towns, closest first. Add your dates in the planner to search for your own nights.
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Healy, AK Closest
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Cantwell, AK
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Guided tours and trips
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Things to do in Denali
The park service's own list, with how long each takes.
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Explore Denali's Winter Trails
Whether on foot, skis or snowshoes, winter is a great time for you to explore Denali! Snow starts falling as early as September, although in some years the conditions aren't good…
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Sightsee on a Denali Tour Bus
Summer sight-seeing in Denali is mainly done by bus, and there are several trips to choose from. Narrated tour bus trips are more expensive than non-narrated transit buses. From h…
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Explore Mountain Vista & Savage River
While most of Denali’s sole road is restricted just to bus traffic, anybody can drive out to Mountain Vista and Savage River. Located about 15 miles inside the park, the area is s…
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Hike a Short Trail From the Denali Visitor Center
At 6 million acres in size, Denali is incredibly vast, and hiking is possible almost anywhere in the park. However, there are only a handful of established trails in the park, and…
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Bike the Denali Park Road
Biking the Denali Park Road is a rewarding way to explore the park at a slower speed than vehicles allow. Experience a variety of terrain over the course of just a few hours as yo…
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Berry Picking in Denali
Alaska is well known for it’s amazing and abundant berries in August and September—just ask any of the grizzly bears in Denali! A family friendly activity would be to strike off i…
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Discover the Boreal Forest: Identify Plants While Hiking in Denali
Denali is home to a beautiful variety of plant species, from tall Aspen trees to short Moss campion. With a diversity of habitat types that support water-loving to drought-toleran…
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Sightsee on a Denali Transit Bus
Summer sight-seeing in Denali is mainly done by bus, and there are several trips to choose from. Transit bus trips are the cheapest and most flexible option, although they aren't…
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Viewing Wildlife in Denali
Denali provides habitat for 39 species of mammals, 169 species of birds, 14 species of fish, and one species of amphibian The large animals that are often the most sought after ca…
Places to see
Viewpoints
Campgrounds in Denali
Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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 th…
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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 sit…
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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…
Reading about Denali
What to pack for Denali
Gear & Essentials
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Traveling with kids
Bringing a pet
RVing
Backcountry
Winter conditions
On the water
Photography
Accessibility
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