Eating & Sleeping

About Locations in Denali

This page refers to various locations in Denali. Check out our maps if you're unfamiliar with the layout of the park. Addresses or locations along the Denali Park Road are often given as a mile number, which indicates how far from the park entrance a place is (e.g., the Denali Visitor Center is Mile 1.5 on the park road).

 

Restaurants & Grocery Stores

In summer, there are numerous restaurants outside of the park, along Highway 3. The main summer season runs from June through August. Businesses open at different times each year, so prepare for limited services if you visit in May or September.

Located next to the Denali Visitor Center, the Morino Grill is the only sit-down restaurant in the park. Snacks can be purchased at the Wilderness Access Center and snacks, sandwiches and camping food can be purchased at the Mercantile in Riley Creek Campground.

In fall, winter and spring (roughly mid-September to mid-May), the nearest restaurants and convenience stores are in Healy, 11 miles to the north.

Picnic Areas

Near the park entrance

The Riley Creek Day-Use Area has several covered shelters with picnic tables. Located next to Riley Creek, the area is easy to reach but feels remote. (Safety note: Riley Creek, though shallow, is very swift and caution should be used if you walk along the creek).

Access:

• With a car, turn into the park off of Highway 3 and turn left immediately at the sign for the Post Office. Drive past the post office and turn left again, down a dirt road. After about 100 yards, you'll reach the picnic area.
• You can also choose to walk here from the Denali Visitor Center, via the McKinley Station Trail (~2 miles one way) or the Bike Path (~1.5 miles one way).

Farther in the park

There are picnic tables at Mountain Vista and Savage River, miles 13.5 and 15, respectively. These areas are very pretty, with great views of the Alaska Range. Both can be pretty windy, however, so plan accordingly.

Access: You can reach Mountain Vista or Savage River by driving yourself (spring, summer or fall) or by riding a free bus called the Savage River Shuttle (summer season only). The road to this area is not plowed in winter (roughly October through late February).

Lodging

Unlike some parks, there are no National Park Service-run accommodations in Denali. There are a handful of privately owned and operated lodges in the park, as well as a wide range of accommodations outside of the park. Most area businesses are open in summer only (roughly mid-May through mid-September), though some businesses nearby stay open year-round. Learn more about lodging in and around Denali.

Note: Some lodges offer transportation for their guests, to and from the Denali Visitor Center. Be sure to ask about this if you will be traveling without a car, as public transportation in the area is extremely limited.

 

Campgrounds

With six different campgrounds, there are plenty of options for you to camp in Denali with a tent or RV.

Explore Denali's six campgrounds

 

Camping

Denali has six campgrounds, three of which are open to tent or vehicle camping (RVs, etc) and three of which can only be used by tent campers. Most are open May 20—mid-September, though Riley Creek is open year-round.

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