In short
- Private cars can drive up to Mile 15 (Savage River) in summer.
- The remaining 77 miles are restricted to official park buses.
- Winter driving is limited to the first 3 miles due to snow.
In this article
- How far can I drive into Denali National Park?
- What is there to do along the first 15 miles?
- How do I see the rest of the park beyond Mile 15?
- What are the rules for driving around wildlife?
- Do I have to pay an entrance fee to drive in?
- Can I drive the park road in winter?
- How far is the park entrance from major cities?
Denali National Park features a single 92-mile road. To protect the land and reduce traffic, the park heavily restricts personal vehicles. If you bring a rental car or RV, you need to know exactly where you can go and where you must turn around.
How far can I drive into Denali National Park?
During the summer season, you can drive your personal vehicle to Mile 15.
This point is known as the Savage River turnaround. The road is paved up to this point. Past Mile 15, the road becomes unpaved and is reserved strictly for official park buses and permitted vehicles.
What is there to do along the first 15 miles?
The first 15 miles make up the park's accessible frontcountry.
- Denali Visitor Center: Get maps, watch the park film, and join ranger programs.
- Sled Dog Kennels: Watch free demonstrations by the park's canine rangers.
- Mountain Vista Area (Mile 13): Walk a short loop trail for views of Mount Denali on clear days.
- Savage River (Mile 15): Hike the steep Savage Alpine Trail before turning your car around.
How do I see the rest of the park beyond Mile 15?
You must book a seat on a park bus to travel deeper into the interior.
The park operates narrated tour buses and non-narrated transit shuttles. These buses take you past the Savage River. Bus trips last between 4 and 12 hours depending on your chosen route. Advance reservations are highly recommended because summer seats fill quickly.
What are the rules for driving around wildlife?
You must maintain strict distances from all animals and never feed them.
If you see animals while driving the first 15 miles, do not approach them. You must stay 25 yards from moose, caribou, Dall sheep, and all other wildlife.
| Animal Type | Required Distance |
|---|---|
| Bears & Wolves | 300 yards |
| Moose, Caribou & Sheep | 25 yards |
| All other wildlife | 25 yards |
Do I have to pay an entrance fee to drive in?
Yes, anyone aged 16 or older must pay a $15.00 entrance fee.
This fee gives you a 7-day pass to the park. Youth aged 15 and under enter for free. You only pay the entrance fee to drive your own car. There are no separate vehicle tolls. The America the Beautiful National Parks pass also covers this fee.
Can I drive the park road in winter?
Winter driving is restricted to the first 3 miles of the Denali Park Road.
Heavy snow closes the majority of the road during the colder months. You cannot reach the Savage River turnaround in winter. The road is only fully open to Mile 15 from late May to early September.
How far is the park entrance from major cities?
Denali is a 2-hour drive from Fairbanks and a 5-hour drive from Anchorage.
You will take Alaska Highway 3, also known as the George Parks Highway, to reach the park. The highway connects directly to the Denali Park Road at Mile 237.
Questions travellers ask
Do you need a reservation to enter Denali?
No reservation is required to enter the park or drive your car for the first 15 miles. You only need to pay the $15.00 entrance fee upon arrival. Advance reservations are highly recommended for the park buses.
Can you hike off-trail in Denali?
Yes. The park contains 6 million acres and only 35.5 miles of official trails. You can hike off-trail in the backcountry, provided you follow Leave No Trace principles and maintain required wildlife distances.
Is the Denali Park Road paved?
The road is paved from the entrance up to Mile 15 at the Savage River. Beyond that point, the remaining 77 miles are unpaved and restricted to park buses.
