The National Parks Service Campgrounds offers a great way to experience this spectacular park. Whether you wish to tent-camp, or camp with an RV or other vehicle, one or more of the park campgrounds should suit your interests. Please note that vehicles can only camp in established, open campgrounds in the park – not along pullouts or the side of the road.
Fees & Reservations:
- Fees: Camping fees vary by campground but generally range from $20 to $50 per night. As a general rule, the summer operating season runs from approximately Memorial Day to mid-September, though exact dates vary. Camping is free in winter (roughly late September to early May).
- Entrance Fee: In addition to the nightly camping fee, all visitors are subject to the standard park entrance fee of $15 per person (or per vehicle, as applicable), unless they possess a valid interagency pass (such as an Annual, Senior, or Access Pass). This entrance fee is paid upon arrival.
- Pass Holder Discount: Senior Pass and Access Pass holders receive 50% off nightly camping fees.
Making a Reservation:
- You may make reservations online, through a third-party reservation system, as early as December 1 of the year before your visit.
- The National Park Service does not handle campground reservations. For questions about making or changing a reservation, please contact the concessioner, Doyon/ARAMARK Joint Venture, at 1-800-622-7275.
- If your schedule is flexible, you can try for last-minute openings, but availability may be limited. There are also many campgrounds outside of the park.
Campground Details:
Browse the campgrounds, below, for more details. Note that locations in Denali are usually given as a mile number along the sole road in the park – this indicates its distance from the park entrance (e.g., Mile 35, Igloo Creek Campground, is literally 35 miles from the park entrance).
- Riley Creek Campground (Mile 0.25)
Open year-round (fees charged in summer). Open to RVs and tents. This is the most accessible campground. - Savage River Campground (Mile 14)
Open in summer only (mid-May to mid-September). Open to RVs and tents. - Sanctuary River Campground (Mile 22)
Open in summer only (May 20 – mid-September). Open to tents only; access is by shuttle bus. - Teklanika River Campground (Mile 29)
Open in summer only (May 20 – mid-September). Open to RVs and tents. Requires a minimum 3-night stay if you drive your personal vehicle to the campground. - Igloo Creek Campground (Mile 35)
Open in summer only (May 20 – mid-September). Open to tents only; access is by shuttle bus. - Wonder Lake Campground (Mile 85)
Currently closed while the Denali Park Road is closed at mile 43. When open, access is by shuttle bus only.
Regulations and Key Things to Know:
- Check-in / Check-out: Check-in for all campgrounds is at the Riley Creek Mercantile or the Denali Bus Depot. Check-in and check-out time is 11 am at all campgrounds.
- Duration: There is a 14-night maximum for all visitors in any summer season.
- RV Access: People may camp with RVs and other vehicles at Riley Creek, Savage River or Teklanika River; the other three campgrounds are open only to tent-campers. No campground in Denali can accommodate an RV over 40′ long.
- Amenities: No campground has electrical or water hookups. All campgrounds have toilets (some flush, some vault-style). All campgrounds have potable water except Igloo Creek and Sanctuary River—bring a water filter if camping there.
- Quiet Hours: Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 6 am at all park campgrounds.
- Fires: Fires are permitted only in established fire grates at Riley Creek, Savage River, and Teklanika River. Fires are prohibited at Sanctuary River, Igloo Creek, and Wonder Lake (cook-stoves only).
- Group Size: Limits vary by campground but generally allow 4-8 people and 1-3 tents per site.
- Campsite Selection: In all campgrounds, you choose your specific campsite upon arrival, based on the site type you reserved.
