Denali National Park
Campgrounds


Campgrounds at Denali

Denali National Park & Preserve has seven campgrounds with a total of 291 sites. You may camp a total of 14 days in Park Service campgrounds.

Reserve in Advance or in Person:

Advance: About 1/3 of the campsites at Riley Creek, Savage, Teklanika and Wonder Lake may be reserved in advance by phone, fax or mail-in. Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-622-7275 from anywhere in the United States or (907) 272-7275 locally, in Anchorage, or outside the United States or by using the reservations line fax (907)264-4684. Faxed requests should contain the following information:

  1. a daytime phone and fax number,
  2. the address to which the tickets should be sent,
  3. a credit card number (please include the expiration date and the cardholder's name).
Reservations for shuttle tickets should also include:
  1. date and time of departure
  2. destination
  3. names and ages of passengers
Up to eight seats may be booked during any reservation transaction. Reservations for campsites should include:
  1. the name of the campsite,
  2. requested date,
  3. size of vehicle and license plate number

Please note that advanced reservations for campgrounds often sell out. When sites available for advanced reservation are sold out, sites may still be available by walk-in at the Visitor Center.

In person: Reservations are made at the Visitor Center, up to two days in advance. Sanctuary and Igloo Campground sites are available only at the Visitor Center and not via phone, fax or mail-in. In addition to camping and entrance fees there is a one-time $4.00 service fee, for both phone and in-person reservations.

Self-register: The Morino backpacker campground is available for those campers who arrive without a vehicle. This 60-site campground is located one quarter mile west of the Alaska Railroad Depot.

Outside the Park: If you do not have advance reservations, plan to camp outside of the park when you first arrive; there may be a two night wait for park campsites.

Reservation Refund Policy: There is a $6.00 cancellation fee for each bus seat and/or campground site. This fee will also apply to any changes made to existing reservations, but will not apply to cancellations of reservations for children 12 and under.

Camper Buses

Since Sanctuary, Igloo, and Wonder Lake campgrounds are accessible only by bus, camper buses are provided to take campers and their gear into the park. Teklanika (Tek) campers may drive their vehicles to that campground (see info below); however, those without cars or who wish to leave their cars behind, may take a camper bus in order to camp at Tek.

When you make your campsite reservations, reserve your seat on a camper bus ($15 adult).

Return reservations are not necessary for camper buses. Campers may board any shuttle bus with available seats to exit the park. Be sure to pick up a bus schedule before leaving the Visitors Center. This is especially important for those visitors wishing to catch a train or other transportation.

Boarding the Bus: Park your vehicle in the Riley Creek Campground overflow parking lot where the camper bus will pick you up. You may also board at the Visitor Center. Although the camper bus can accommodate more luggage than regular shuttle buses, for your own convenience, pack efficiently.

Teklanika Campground

For Teklanika campers who wish to drive their vehicles to the campground there is a three night stay minimum. To reduce road traffic, your road pass is good only for one trip into the campground and one trip out. Make sure you use the RV dump station at Riley Creek Campground and get all necessary items before going to Teklanika. There are no gas stations or services west of the Denali Park Hotel, and no telephones west of Park Headquarters. Once at the campground, you may not return temporarily to headquarters, since transportation back to the campground is unavailable unless you have purchased a camper bus ticket. Please leave towed vehicles in the Riley Creek overflow parking lot.

Group Campgrounds

Group sites are located at Savage Campground (mile 13). There are three tent-only sites for 9-20 people each. Advance reservations are available after October 1, 1996. For further information or to reserve a group site, write to Denali National Park, Box 9, Denali National Park, Alaska, 99755 or call (907)683-2294.

Campground Regulations Wildlife and Food Storage

For the safety of visitors and animals alike, observe the following:

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