Rate Denali National Park & Preserve
Learn and Explore
Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year. But our work doesn’t stop there.
We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close to home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun.
Taking care of the national parks and helping Americans take care of their communities is a job we love, and we need—and welcome—your help and support.
Our Mission
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I obtain a park entrance pass?
Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
About this location:
National Park & Preserve
Operating Hours & Seasons
The main season for visitors is May 20 through the second or third week in September, though there is plenty to see and do outside of the summer. There is just one road in Denali and it is closed for most of the winter, though the park remains open for winter recreation.
There is no gate at the park entrance, so you are technically able to visit any time of the day or night (which, in summer, is quite bright thanks to how long the sun is up!). You can recreate (hike, bike, etc) any time, but camping can only occur in designated campgrounds or with a backpacking permit.
To plan a trip effectively, however, you may need to learn more about:
- Visitor centers and campgrounds
- Bus trips in the park
- Spring or fall info (i.e., for a visit before or after the summer season of mid-May to mid-September).
- Backpacking and other things to do
All Park Hours
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.
Standard Hours
- Sunday:Open 24 hours
- Monday:Open 24 hours
- Tuesday:Open 24 hours
- Wednesday:Open 24 hours
- Thursday:Open 24 hours
- Friday:Open 24 hours
- Saturday:Open 24 hours
Fees & Passes
Entrance Fees:
- $10.00 – Denali Entrance Fee – Per Person
The park entrance fee is $10.00 per person (youth age 15 years or younger are free). This fee provides the visitor a 7-day entrance permit. It is charged year-round.
Entrance Passes:
- $40.00 – Denali Annual Pass
This pass is valid for a year from the month of purchase (e.g., purchasing it in May of one year means it is valid until the end of May the following year). The pass covers the cardholder plus up to three fellow-travelers. Up to two names can be written on the pass, meaning it can be used by either cardholder.
About
More than a mountain
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′ Denali. Wild animals large and small roam un-fenced lands, living as they have for ages. Solitude, tranquility and wilderness await.
Directions
Many rural locations in Alaska use a mile marker on a road to denote their physical address (as opposed to a traditional street number).
For people who wish to use a GPS device to navigate their way here, you may need to input the latitude and longitude of the park entrance: 63.728443, -148.886572.
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. A small private airstrip is also available near the park entrance for individuals wishing to fly their own small craft to the park.
Visitor Centers
Most visitor centers in Denali are open in summer only (roughly mid-May through mid-September). The Murie Science & Learning Center acts as the winter visitor center, and is open nearly every day of the year.
Denali Visitor Center
Open in summer only, this is the main visitor center near the park entrance. Here, you can watch the park film; check out a variety of exhibits about the natural and cultural history of the Denali area; and join a variety of ranger walks or talks. Eielson Visitor Center
Eielson Visitor Center is open in summer only. Located at Mile 66 of the Denali Park Road, Eielson Visitor Center can be reached by most shuttle buses, and by the Kantishna Experience tour bus. Features include daily ranger-led programs, a small gallery of art inspired by Denali’s natural wonders, and, on clear days, amazing views of Denali and the Alaska Range. Murie Science and Learning Center
The Murie Science and Learning Center promotes science and stewardship on behalf of national parks in northern Alaska. Murie is part of a national effort to increase scientific literacy by showcasing research from living laboratories like Denali National Park and Preserve. Located in Denali, the Murie Science and Learning Center is run by the National Park Service in partnership with Alaska Geographic and other organizations. The facility also serves as Denali’s winter visitor center. Wilderness Access Center
This summer facility is operated by our concessionaire rather than by the National Park Service. It is the primary place to buy bus tickets, arrange for stays in park campgrounds, or to check in for an existing reservation. Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station
Located in the town of Talkeetna, about 100 miles south of the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve, this ranger station serves as the center of mountaineering operations. Climbers wishing to attempt Denali or other peaks in the Alaska Range stop here first, for an orientation to the mountain and to acquire their climbing permit. This ranger station also offers some visitor services, particularly in summer. It is open year-round.
Weather
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. Learn more about Denali’s weather
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