Are you planning a trip to Alaska? If so, you’ll want to spend at least a day or more visiting Denali National Park & Preserve. Ranked by landmass, Alaska holds claim to some of the largest national parks in the United States, with Denali coming in at number three at a whopping 6 million acres (with Wrangell-St. Elias and Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve at one and two, respectively). It’s certainly the largest national park that I have ever visited, with its namesake Denali towering at 20,310 feet. But don’t let the massive size scare you. There are activities for everyone, including easy hikes, bus tours, and a visit with the famous sled dogs. Whether you are visiting Alaska on a land trip or on a cruise, here are some things to do with at least two full days to spend enjoying the spectacular landscape of Denali National Park.
*Post was updated November, 2024
This post contains affiliate links; if you purchase something familyTravelsUSA may receive a small commission. As always, opinions are my own. Table of Contents Getting to Denali National Park Two Day Itinerary for Denali National Park Where to Stay and Eat Around Denali Planning Tips & Things to Know When Visiting Denali
Before you start planning a visit to Denali, it’s important to know about the current status of the main park road. Initially, when we planned our 2020 trip, Denali shuttles and tour buses could take visitors 92 miles along Denali Park Road. In 2021, the road was closed to all traffic at mile marker 43 due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide. This limited access to experience much that Denali has to offer, like the epic views from Wonder Lake and hikes from the Eielson Visitor Center. We didn’t let this stop our plans, yet we still hope to return in the future when we can travel beyond mile marker 43. The park service is working on a plan and is currently expecting the road will be closed through the summer of 2026. Even with the road closure, we found plenty of ways to experience the beauty of Denali and see wildlife such as moose and even a grizzly bear!
It’s also a good idea to learn about the history of a park before & even during your visit. Many people still might think of the park by the mountain’s original name: Mount McKinley. Despite efforts in 1916 to use the name Denali, a reflection of the language of the local Athabascan culture, the park was named Mount McKinley National Park in 1917. Almost one hundred years later in 2015, the name Denali was officially established. Listen to a short audio clip about the Athabascan Legend of Denali, known as “The Great One.” Getting to Denali National Park
One of the things we loved about our trip to Alaska was the ease of getting around using trains and buses. Sure, renting a car gives you more flexibility and the ability to plan your stops. But the Alaska Railroad has a station located in Denali National Park, making it super accessible by train. By car, Denali is about 4 hours from Anchorage (roughly 240 miles); travel by train adds approximately 3 hours to the journey. Another option during the summer months is the Park Connection bus service; we had no issues traveling by bus from Seward, through Anchorage and Talkeetna, to the Denali area. If your trip is based in Fairbanks, it’s a little over 2 hours of driving to Denali under normal driving conditions.
Two Day Itinerary (Plus an Early Morning) at Denali National Park
We planned our late August visit for three nights, which gave us two-full days plus an extra morning in the park before our mid-day train departure. This gave us plenty of time for the Tundra Wilderness Bus Tour, a great option to travel beyond mile marker 15 where private vehicles can’t pass. Plus we had time to visit the Denali Sled Dogs and take a hike or two in the park.
Day One
Tundra Wilderness Tour | Denali Sled Dog Kennels | Hike to Horseshoe Lake (1 ½ - 3 miles) Day Two Denali Highway Jeep Excursion (outside of park) | Visitor Center | Savage River Hike (2 miles) Bonus Early Morning Day Three Shuttle to Mountain Vista for short hike | Continue on to Savage River
Our first day started early, with a 7 am pickup at our hotel for the Tundra Wilderness Tour. Advanced reservations were required, and we didn’t receive our assigned departure slot until the night before. This tour is good if you want to learn about the park from a guide and don’t mind sitting (mostly) on a bus for about 5.5 hours; the bus made a few stops along the way, including at least one restroom break. This narrated tour took us as far as we could go in the park before the landslide road closure.
Traveling along the park road, our driver shared his knowledge of the landscape and wildlife of Denali. He made several stops, including one for a close-up look at our first moose just several miles into the park! He was good about reminding everyone to follow some basic rules when observing wildlife—remain quiet, do not get too close, and keep hands and cameras inside the bus windows. Visiting in late August/early September was an excellent time to see the bursts of fall foliage as we traveled to the Savage River area.
As we traveled further into the park, all eyes were searching for other wildlife. The big five in Denali include moose, caribou, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, and wolves. That makes bear spray essential for any hiking activity. With many eyes searching from the bus, the group spotted a grizzly bear from afar and watched as he moved across the tundra. The bus was equipped with a zoom camera which allowed folks without binoculars (highly recommended) or a camera zoom lens to see the bear close-up on a video screen. I was glad that our bear encounter was from the safety of the bus. As with many national parks, there is never a guarantee what wildlife you will see, but we were excited with the bear sighting, along with moose, and Dall sheep.
You don’t have to be a dog lover to enjoy a visit to Denali’s Sled Dog Kennels. I highly recommend this activity! Because this is a working kennel, there are no sled rides or holding puppies like on some paid excursions in Alaska. Many of the dogs were happy to walk over to greet you (when we visited during late summer they were outside and tethered), while others were content sleeping in, or on top of, their dog houses. We also saw a few puppies playing in a fenced area.
While at the kennels you get to learn about these working dogs and their history over the last 100 years at Denali (2022 was the centennial). These dogs’ job is essential throughout the winter, hauling goods, transporting park employees who are checking on adventurous winter visitors or conducting scientific research. The coolest part of the demonstration was when the ranger asked if the dogs were ready to go. Suddenly all the sleeping dogs came alert and started barking and jumping as if to say “pick me!” Several were chosen to run a wheeled-sled on a dirt track, which ended in front of the cheering visitors. The ranger then explained the history of the dogs and their important job at Denali during the winter. It’s a unique national park experience that you can only find at Denali AND there’s no extra charge to visit the kennels.
After the Sled Dog Demonstration, there was still time for a hike. The Horseshoe Lake Loop trail is one of a handful of trails that you can find near the Visitor Center area. We hiked about 2 miles on this moderate trail and found nice views of Horseshoe Lake. Find out more about Denali hiking trails here. 
Day Two started with a Denali Highway Jeep Excursion. We originally were planning on doing this excursion in the late afternoon but moved it based on the weather. Unfortunately, the morning wasn’t much better, but it was still fun! The drive is not too far outside of the park on the scenic Denali Highway, with convenient pick up locations. It is considered an Alaska bucket list item. On a good day, the views of the Alaska Range are quite spectacular! Each party got to drive a jeep as part of a convoy, connected by radios and guides at the front and back. Being on the hard-packed Denali Highway gave us a better sense of the remote nature of Alaska. It is important to know that many companies prohibit driving rental vehicles on this road. Along the way, we made several stops, including one on our way back to view a pair of trumpeter swans.
After the tour, we headed back to the park, spending a few minutes in the Visitor Center, watching the park movie, and chatting with the rangers. We still had plenty of time to get out to Savage River for the two-mile Savage River Loop hike. A great hike, mostly flat along the Savage River, with lots of fall color contrasting against the greenish water. This shuttle stop is also home to one of the trailheads for the Savage Alpine Trail, a more strenuous 4-mile trail. We hiked a small portion of the trail, then spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the Savage River area before returning on the shuttle.
We were so excited to wake up on Day Three to find blue skies! August is one of the rainiest month in Alaska. For most of our trip, we felt lucky to have overcast skies with days of sun mixed in, even if it wasn't always optimal conditions for photography. When we saw the sun on our last morning in the park we knew it was our best chance to catch a glimpse of the mighty Denali! You would think that at over 20,000 feet it would be easy to see the mountain but in reality only about 30% of people who visit Alaska in the summer catch a view of Denali.
The convenience of the Denali Park Depot and the fact that the hotel was getting our bags on the train made it easy to spend the morning in the park. Our first view of the mountain came on the Savage River Shuttle. Our driver was as excited as we were and stopped so that we could all take in the majestic mountain views. Little did we know that our train ride later that day on the Denali Star would also take us past many breathtaking views of the Alaska Range in all its glory! After a short walk at the Mountain Vista stop, we continued to the Savage River area for a final visit. Before we left the park, my husband turned in his completed Junior Ranger activity book at the Visitor Center. It took a few minutes to be sworn in and to receive the special centennial badge. You are never too old to become a Junior Ranger!
Around 12:30, our train departed for Anchorage. I highly recommend splurging on the GoldStar service, with large dome windows for seeing the gorgeous scenery on both sides of the train. It also included both lunch and dinner served in a private dining car. On a clear day like we had, the views were priceless and something we will never forget! Here's a few of our favorites.
Where to Stay and Eat Around Denali National Park
The hotels and restaurants in the area surrounding the park are seasonal, closing in early fall. Due to the short season, book well in advance for the busy summer months. The Denali Bluffs Hotel was our base for 3 nights in late August, with comfortable rooms and a nice view from our balcony. It was a short shuttle ride into the park, and easy access (other than the long walk up the hill) to restaurants. Note that the property itself is very hilly, so if mobility is an issue this might not be the best place to stay.
Other nearby places include the Grand Denali Lodge, the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, and options for cabin rentals. Just down the hill from the Denali Bluffs hotel is a cluster of restaurants along Parks Highway. We enjoyed the pizza at Prospectors Pizzeria and Alehouse, and a casual meal across the highway at Fannie Q’s Saloon (note: you can take the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge shuttle from the visitor center bus stop directly to this lodge, home to several restaurants). Next time I would also try Moose-AKa’s, which is one of the top restaurants in the area. Also, consider skipping the recommendation to purchase a box lunch for the Tundra Wilderness Tour and just grab some food at one of the local restaurants after the tour. The snacks that were provided on the bus were enough to tide us over, or you can bring your own snacks to eat on the bus. The restaurant at the Denali Bluffs (the Mountaineer Grill and Bar) had a limited menu when we stopped in for dinner upon arrival. We did enjoy the grab and go breakfast options from the Perky Moose Café, also in our hotel. 
Planning Tips & Things to Know for Visiting Denali National Park
*We can’t say enough about our decision to use Alaska Tour & Travel to help us plan our amazing 10 Day Alaska vacation. In addition to Denali, the trip included 3 fun days in Seward. They make it easy to put together a trip based on your activity level and accommodations that fit your budget, including our 3 days in Seward. Plus they take care of all the bookings. We also purchased the Moon Anchorage, Denali & the Kenai Peninsula Guide for more ideas when we initially started planning our trip.
*The most popular time to visit is during the peak summer months, primarily June through early September. That’s not to say that the park doesn’t get visitors during the winter, but the activities are different (exploring trails by snowshoe rather than hiking) and you likely won’t get past mile 3 on Denali Park Road. Accommodations are limited in winter. *During the summer months, a variety of buses take visitors deeper into the park. Note: At this time, the main park road is closed to ALL traffic at mile marker 43 due to a landslide. Be sure to understand the types of buses in Denali and how they work before you arrive. No private vehicles are allowed beyond the Savage River Check Station at mile marker 15. In addition to the Tundra Wilderness Tour bus (with reservation and fee), there are several free shuttles, including the Sled Dog Demonstration and Savage River Shuttle which we used during our visit. For a more independent way to tour the park via a hop-on/hop-off shuttle, consider making a reservation (with a fee) for one of the transit buses. *If you are planning a family trip, use the guide, Denali for Families, to help plan your adventure. Upon arrival, stop by the Visitor Center and pick up a Junior Ranger Activity Book; remember, kids of any age can complete the activities and earn a Junior Ranger Badge. It’s a good activity to work on while riding the buses if you don’t get carsick. My husband was excited about earning the badge and adding the special 2022 badge commemorating the Sled Dog Centennial to our collection! *The main visitor center near the park entrance is only open during the summer season and is home to a small exhibition along with a theater to watch the park movie. Keep in mind that the other visitor centers further in the park are currently closed due to the road closure at mile 43. In the winter months, the visitor center is housed at the Murie Science and Learning Center. *Plan to visit the Sled Dog Kennels, even if you don’t want to watch the 30-minute demonstration. It’s offered 3 times a day during the busy season, but you can visit the kennels any time they are open to learn more and see the dogs (check ahead for shortened winter schedule). A free shuttle is available. *Grab a photo or hard copy of the shuttle bus schedule before you head out. Remember that cell service in most national parks is non-existent. Download the National Park Service app and save the park information for offline use. We do this before any visit to a national park. Just remember to download it from your hotel or another place where you have WiFi before getting into the park. Pin For Later
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