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In the Park | Outside the Park
In the Park
If you can afford the price tag, it’s worth it to book your stay at a wilderness lodge within Denali, like Camp Denali and North Face Lodge or the Kantishna Roadhouse.
Tent and RV Camping in Denali
If you want to camp in the park, either in a tent or an RV, there are six campgrounds, with varying levels of access and facilities. Two of the campgrounds—Riley Creek (near the park entrance, essentially no scenery at all) and Savage River (Mile 13; on a very clear day, you might be able to see the mountain from here, but not much of it)—have spaces that accommodate tents, RVs, and campers. Visitors with private vehicles can also drive to the Teklanika campsite (Mile 29; check for rules about minimum stays, which help keep traffic down), but they must first obtain park-road travel permits; in recent years no tent camping has been allowed at Teklanika, but visitors should check with park staff for updates. Sanctuary River (Mile 22, the smallest campground in the park, ideal if you want to be alone but can’t backpack), Igloo Creek (Mile 43, comparable to Sanctuary River), and Wonder Lake (Mile 85, the cream of the crop in Denali camping—best views of the mountain and great easy hikes) have tent spaces only. The camper buses offer the only access to these sites. Visit www.reservedenali.com for details.
Visitors to the Sanctuary and Igloo Creek campsites should come prepared: both campgrounds lack treated drinking water. All campgrounds have vault toilets and food lockers. Individual sites are beyond sight of the park road, though within easy walking distance.
Fees for individual sites range from $9 to $28 per night; some have an additional one-time reservation fee of $5. Campsites can be reserved in advance several ways: online, through the Denali National Park website (www.reservedenali.com); by faxing a reservation form (form available at www.nps.gov/dena | 907/264–4684); by calling the reservation service (800/622–7275, 907/272–7275); or by email to | reservedenali@aramark.com. Reservations can also be made in person at the park. It’s best to visit Denali’s website before making reservations, both to see the reservation form and to learn whether any changes in the reservation system have been made.
Fodor’s Choice | Camp Denali and North Face Lodge.
RESORT ALL-INCLUSIVE | The legendary, family-owned-and-operated Camp Denali and North Face Lodge both offer stunning views of Mt. McKinley and active learning experiences deep within Denali National Park, at Mile 89 on the park road, past where most of the park buses stop at Wonder Lake. Guests return time and again to both properties–they’re like high-end summer camps for adults and families. At Camp Denali, an inholding that predates the formation of the park, guests stay in one of 18 cabins that include a small wood-burning stove, wall-mounted propane lights, Alaskan artwork, and quilts crafted by members of the staff. Guests share bathing facilities, though each cabin has its own outhouse. Camp Denali is largely run on renewable energy. North Face Lodge is a north country–style inn built on a tundra meadow. It has 15 rooms, each with private bath. The knowledgeable naturalists on staff offer guided outings during the three-, four-, or seven-night stays. Evening programs focus on the natural and cultural history of Denali. Each lodge has its own kitchen and dining room featuring local and organic food, and fresh-baked goods. Rates include round-trip transport to the park entrance on custom buses, all meals, guided activities, and recreation gear such as canoes, mountain bikes, and fishing tackle. The lodge can also arrange flightseeing. Pros: only in-park lodge with a view of Denali; knowledgeable and attentive staff; strong emphasis on learning. Cons: credit cards not accepted; rates start at $1,695 per person ($1,271 for children); alcohol is BYOB; not advisable for families with children under eight. | Rooms from: $1695 | Mile 89, Denali Park Rd. | 907/683–2290 | www.campdenali.com | 18 cabins (Camp Denali) with shared shower, 15 rooms (North Face Lodge) | No credit cards | Closed mid-Sept.–early June | All-inclusive.
Kantishna Roadhouse.
RESORT ALL-INCLUSIVE | Run by the Athabascan Doyon Tourism, this establishment at Mile 95 on the Park Road offers an enriching wilderness getaway. You must commit to at least two nights in an elegant log-cabin duplex or fourplex. The Kantishna Roadhouse, a massive log lodge, is where you’ll spend your time when not out on adventures. The Fannie Quigley Dining Room prepares family-style meals with fresh fruits, vegetables, and baked goods. If you plan on a full-day excursion, the kitchen will prepare a sack lunch. Activities range from two- to six-hour guided hikes, mountain biking, dog-mushing demos, gold panning, fishing, and—for an extra cost—flightseeing. Cozy up every night with a cup of cocoa and catch an evening program with guest speakers, artists, or Athabascan elders. If you have a big group, the Dog Musher’s Hall can handle 35 people. Prices start at $495 per person per night at double occupancy, but that includes all meals and transport out. Pros: guided hikes with naturalists; all rooms have private baths; home to the only saloon in the Denali backcountry; transport from the train station is provided. Cons: no connection to the outside world besides a phone booth; lacks a direct view of Denali. | Rooms from: $495 | Mile 95, Denali Park Rd. | 800/942–7420 | www.kantishnaroadhouse.com | 32 rooms | Closed mid-Sept.–early June | All-inclusive.
McKinley Creekside Cabins.
HOTEL | This nice spot sits on 10 acres along Carlo Creek. There are creekside and mountain views of the Alaska Range. The property is pretty much surrounded by hiking trails. Most rooms include a refrigerator, microwave, and coffeemaker; most have large decks. Family cabins, which accommodate up to six people, are also available. Picnic tables and Wi-Fi add to the property’s attractions. Pros: great location by the water. Cons: no TV may lead to withdrawal symptoms in some. | Rooms from: $169 | Mile 224, George Parks Hwy. | 888/533–6254 | www.mckinleycabins.com | 32 cabins | Mid-Sept.-Mid-May.
Backcountry Camping
Only experienced backpackers should consider camping overnight in Denali’s wilderness. To try this option, you need to get a special permit (free of charge) from rangers at the Backcountry Information Center. This must be obtained in person. Advance reservations are not accepted. At the center you can look at descriptions of different areas in the park to decide where you want to go. Denali’s backcountry is divided into 87 units, and only a limited number of campers are allowed each night in most units. The most desirable units are near the middle of the park, in areas with open tundra and wide-open vistas. These fill up faster than the low-lying areas, many of which are moist and full of mosquitoes in summer. To get time in the best backpacking areas, arrive a couple of days early, stay at one of the facilities near the park entrance (or at the Riley Creek Campground), and check in at the backcountry desk early each morning until your desired unit opens up. Before heading out into the park’s wilderness, check the park’s website (www.nps.gov/dena) and read up on bear and wildlife safety, clean camping, river crossings, and proper food storage (bear-proof canisters are required in many units; you can borrow them, free, from the Backcountry Information Center); when you’re at the park, talk with the rangers and tap into their local knowledge. For $34.50 you may ride a camper bus for the duration of your stay.
Outside the Park
Along the George Parks Highway
Hotels, motels, RV parks, campgrounds, and some restaurants are clustered along the highway near the park entrance, which is at Mile 237.3. You can judge distance from the park by mileage markers; numbers increase northward and decrease southward.
Denali Cabins.
RENTAL | Cedar cabins built within the taiga forest have all the basic amenities (including TV and phone), private baths, and shared hot tubs at this complex along the highway 8 miles south of the park entrance. Complimentary shuttle service to the park visitor center is provided. Stays at the cabins can be packaged with a Denali Backcountry Adventure trip, a full-day narrated bus tour along the park road to Kantishna, returning to the park entrance in the evening, for $169 per person. Pros: quiet location; offers National Park day trips; sauna and hot tub to relax in. Cons: not on the river; few extra amenities offered. | Rooms from: $167 | Mile 229, Parks Hwy. | 877/376–1992 | www.alaskadenalitravel.com | 45 cabins | Closed mid-Sept.–June 1 | Breakfast.
Denali Crows Nest Log Cabins.
HOTEL | Under new ownership—and leaning more high-end for 2015—the Crows Nest cabins sit 1 mile north of the park entrance on a forested hillside with river and mountain views. More cabinesque hotel rooms than cabins (they’re not free standing), they run the gamut from double beds up to kings, all with new pillowtop mattresses and duvets. The Overlook restaurant has a fine-dining menu, featuring lamb shank and rabbit. The bar specialty: classic cocktails. A Continental breakfast is available for $9, and they can also prep boxed lunches ($13.50) for your day trip into the park. Pros: cabins have been completely remodeled; flat-screen TVs; in-room Keurig coffeemakers. Cons: cabins aren’t freestanding—they’re connected through the bathrooms. | Rooms from: $179 | Mile 238.5, George Parks Hwy. | 907/683–2723 | www.denalicrowsnestcabins.com | 33 rooms | Closed mid-Sept.–mid-May | No meals.
Denali Park Village.
RESORT | Rebranded in May 2014, this sprawling 20-acre resortlike property operated by one of the National Park Service’s largest concessionaires, Aramark, sits just 7 miles south of the park entrance near the Nenana River. Denali Park Village brings two of the company’s properties (The Lodge, The Cabins) under one name, and all rooms have been either updated or fully renovated. There’s plenty to do on-site during your off-hours from the park, including taking an easy walk on the trails, browing the gift shop, or just gazing out on the Alaskan wilderness as you warm up with a drink by the fire pit on the deck. Dining options include the Gold Rush Dining Room, Lucky Miss Saloon, and Quigley’s Coffee Cart. There’s also a gold rush–themed dinner show, Cabin Nite Dinner Theater. You can also book activities from river rafting to bus tours. Pros: shuttle service for all guests; transfers to railroad depot. Cons: this is not the place to grab some quiet or meet many (or any) locals. | Rooms from: $271 | Mile 231, Parks Hwy. | 800/276–7234 | www.denaliparkvillage.com | 290 rooms | Closed mid-Sept.–mid-May | No meals.
Healy
Denali Dome Home.
B&B/INN | A 7,200-square-foot modified geodesic dome houses this year-round B&B, decorated with Alaskana and local art. One room has a sauna, two rooms have jetted tubs, and, over time, the owners have added heated tile floors in many of the bathrooms–a welcome addition for winter travelers. An inviting common room has a TV, a fireplace large enough for logs 3 feet long, and Alaska-related books and videos. Sit by the fireplace to take in spectacular views of nearby mountains through the tall windows. Rooms come equipped with any amenity you might need, and they’re the only place around where you get a full cooked-to-order breakfast. They also offer car rentals; free pick up from the train station if you’re renting a car. Pros: thoughtful and knowledgeable owners; unique architecture; attention to detail; DVD and VCR collection. Cons: anyone with dog allergies should beware of two Scottish terriers; anyone squeamish about animal hides should be warned that the house is decorated with a few prize trophies. | Rooms from: $185 | 137 Healy Spur Rd. | Healy | 907/683–1239, 800/683–1239 | www.denalidomehome.com | 7 rooms | Breakfast.
Fodor’s Choice | EarthSong Lodge.
B&B/INN | Above the tree line at the edge of Denali National Park, EarthSong has views of open tundra backed by peaks of the Alaska Range. Each of a dozen hand-built cabins has a theme (Denali, Sled Dog, Mountaineering) and private bath, a rarity in cabins in remote settings. Cabins sizes range from super-cozy (perfect for one or two people) to queen suites with separate sitting rooms and decks. lIn winter EarthSong Lodge is the only concessionaire permitted to lead multiday dog-mushing tours into Denali, though the lodge itself is closed during winter months so they partner with the nearby Dome Home for accommodations. The restaurant, Henry’s Coffeehouse, named after a beloved sled dog, serves breakfast and espresso drinks and makes sack lunches. It has a great homey atmosphere with a living room, dining room, and library. Browse the made-in-Alaska gifts next door at the Divas in Denali gift shop. Slide shows of Denali through the seasons and dogsledding expeditions are a nightly treat; tours of the sled-dog kennel are offered as well. Pros: each cabin has unique character, as well as hypoallergenic bedding in a totally smoke-free environment; the owners offer a wealth of knowledge. Cons: a 17-mile drive from the park entrance; some people might not like the “shoes off” policy in the cabins, but (a) it’s very Alaskan, and (b) after you go tromping around Denali, you’ll find it really does help keep things cleaner. | Rooms from: $165 | Mile 4, Stampede Rd. | Healy | 907/683–2863 | www.earthsonglodge.com | 12 cabins | Closed mid-Sept.–mid-May | No meals.
Motel Nord Haven.
HOTEL | Five wooded acres protect this motel from the road, providing a secluded feeling that other accommodations along the George Parks Highway lack. There’s wood trim throughout, and rooms have one or two queen-size beds. Rooms with two queen beds can sleep up to five people at no additional cost. For a minimal charge, box lunches can be prepared to carry along on your explorations. No breakfast is served in winter (September–May), but it’s there in summer. Some rooms have stocked kitchenettes, with dishware, rice cookers, microwaves, coffee makers, and more. Pros: open year-round; reading and puzzle area with comfy couches; meeting–dining room with large deck and fireplace; one of the least expensive options in the area. Cons: lacks character; no stovetops in kitchenettes. | Rooms from: $152 | Mile 249.5, Parks Hwy. | Healy | 907/683–4500, 800/683–4501 | www.motelnordhaven.com | 28 rooms | Breakfast.