Plan Your Visit

 

Roughly 600,000 intrepid travelers journey to Denali National Park and Preserve each year, primarily during the main summer season—late May to early September. While the summer trip planning information below will apply to most visitors, fall, winter, and spring travelers should refer to the information at the bottom of this page.

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The Highlights of a Visit

Most come in search of wildlife or glimpses of 20,310' tall Mount McKinley, the roof of North America. All are encouraged to take one of the many bus rides along the Denali Park Road, the sole vehicle access into the heart of the park, and to join a ranger-led program or two.

Whether you seek wildlife, scenery, or solitude and communion with this wild land, these webpages should be your guides to planning your trip.

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Welcome to a Wilderness Park

Denali has just one road, and private vehicles can only drive a short portion of it in summer. Most sightseeing in Denali is done by bus (either a narrated tour bus or a non-narrated transit bus). 

 

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3 Steps to Summer Trip Planning

Step 1: Decide Where to Stay and How Long

The first step to planning your trip is to determine where you're staying, and for how long. Denali has several campgrounds. Other accommodations are either outside the park or are on inholdings of private land inside the park. Because we are legally unable to recommend private businesses, we suggest you use the local Chamber of Commerce or a third-party trip planning website to find a hotel, cabin, etc.

Step 2: Start Planning Your Activities

Planning a trip to Denali can be a big undertaking! Just getting to the park can take half a day or more, and it is distinctly different from many national parks, so even seasoned park travelers can be unsure how to plan their trip.

Use the simplistic table below to start thinking about what might work well for you, given the amount of time you'll be here. There are plenty of other things to do than what is listed below - this is just a starting point.

Duration of Visit	Recommended for Everyone	High-energy Activities	Low-energy Activities	Notes, Other Thoughts
Half a day or less	Ride a free shuttle to Savage River Stop in the Denali Visitor Center	Hike one or more trails, such as the Horsehoe Lake Trail, Mount Healy Trail or Savage Alpine Trail.	Attend a ranger program at the visitor center or sled dog kennels Hike some of the short trails around the visitor center	More time is highly recommended. A visit this short isn't likely to see a ton of wildlife, but you'll have a chance to experience a sampling of the park.
One full day or part of two days (i.e., one night in the area)	Ride a transit or tour bus on the full day Stop in the Denali Visitor Center	Hike, especially Triple Lakes Trail and the trails around Savage River, or hike off-trail Join a ranger-led discovery hike	Attend a ranger program at the visitor center or sled dog kennels Walk some of the short trails around the visitor center	This is the real minimum for a visit. If you can stay another night, it is recommended.
One full day and part of two others (i.e., two nights)	Ride a transit or tour bus on the full day Stop in the Denali Visitor Center Ride a free shuttle to Savage River	Hike, especially on the half-days, or hike off-trail while taking a transit bus trip Join a ranger-led discovery hike on the full day (in lieu of a transit or tour bus ride)	Attend a ranger program at the visitor center or sled dog kennels Walk some of the short trails around the visitor center Consider a short tour or transit ride on one of the partial days	This is a common length of visit. More time is recommended, but this gives you a full day for one of the bus rides, and partial days for other activities, like hiking or joining ranger talks or hikes.
Two full days (i.e., three nights)	At least one tour or transit bus trip Ride a free shuttle to Savage River	Hike, especially Triple Lakes Trail and the trails around Savage River, or hike off-trail Join a ranger-led discovery hike Go backpacking	Attend a ranger program at the visitor center or sled dog kennels Walk some of the short trails around the visitor center	This is a nice amount of time in the area. You have at least one full day for a bus trip. Consider a second bus trip if you want to maximize your chances to see wildlife.
Three or more full days (i.e., you're practically moving here)	At least one tour or transit bus trip Ride a free shuttle to Savage River	Hike, especially Triple Lakes Trail and the trails around Savage River, or hike off-trail Join one or more ranger-led discovery hikes Go backpacking	Attend a ranger program at the visitor center or sled dog kennels Walk some of the short trails around the visitor center	You have chosen wisely! Denali is a big place with unpredictable weather. Having three or more days lets you make the most of your good-weather days (bus rides, hiking) and bad-weather days (ranger talks, time at the visitor centers, etc)

 

Step 3: Dig into the Details of Your Visit

This involves figuring out how you're getting here, orienting yourself to the layout of the park, deciding what to reserve in advance and considering some of the more specific activities that are possible, like flight-seeing, cycling, etc.

 

Details of a Summer Trip

General Park Overview

Basic Information

Totally new to Denali? Get a general overview of the park before you start planning the details of your visit.

How to Get to Denali

Directions

Whether coming by road or rail, you have several options for traveling to the park.

Activities in Denali

Things to Do

Explore the many activities Denali offers for visitors of all ages and experience levels.

Fees & Passes

How Much Will a Visit Cost?

Denali charges an entrance fee, and there are a few key park activities that also involve a cost.

Park Calendar

Browse our calendar for regularly scheduled summer ranger programs and special events.

Eating & Sleeping

Learn about options for lodging, campgrounds, restaurants, and picnic areas.

Explore Denali with Kids

Visiting Denali with your kids? Start planning your family-friendly adventure!

Places to Go

Exploring Denali's 6 million acres can be overwhelming. Read about some of the popular locations to visit.

Safety

Are you prepared? Make sure you are ready before you head out on your adventure.

 

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Visit in Fall, Winter or Spring

Mid-September to October

Plan a Fall Visit

Plan a trip in fall (mid-September to October).

October to April

Plan a Winter Visit

Closed in winter? Not Denali! Winter is a great time to explore the park, whether by foot, ski, snowshoe, bike, or more!

April to Early May

Plan a Spring Visit

Snow can linger, but spring is sure to bring sunlight and comparatively warm temperatures. Plan a trip before the busy summer season!