Choose Your Adventure
Do you already know what bus trip you want? Head over to our concessionaire's website. They manage most of the buses in the park (both narrated and non-narrated types), and you'll reserve your tickets through them.
Otherwise, read the rest of this page to decide which bus is for you.
An Introduction to Denali
The Denali Park Road parallels the Alaska Range and travels through low valleys and high mountain passes. It is the only road in the park. Along its route, beautiful landscapes can be seen at every turn, and there are many opportunities to view Denali—if the normally cloudy skies permit. Wildlife can often be seen, too, though sightings are not guaranteed—they are, after all, wild animals roaming an unfenced land.
During summer, roughly late May through early September, private vehicles may drive the first fifteen miles of this road, to a place called Savage River. The road to Savage River is paved, and features numerous pull-outs for folks to stop and snap some scenic photos. "The Mountain" can be seen as early as Mile 9, if the day isn't too overcast, and animals of all sorts can sometimes be seen on this stretch of road—although chances to see wildlife increase greatly with a bus trip farther down the Park Road.
Types of Bus Trips: Tour vs. Transit
You should understand the nature of bus trips in Denali before booking anything.
There are two main types of buses in Denali—narrated trips (tour buses) and non-narrated trips (transit buses). In addition, a few free buses travel routes around the park entrance, connecting visitor centers and points of interest in the same area where visitors may drive their own vehicles.
Non-narrated transit buses
Cheaper than tour buses, and more flexible in that you may disembark and re-board anywhere along the road, these are called transit buses. Transit bus drivers aim to help you experience the park on your own terms. These buses stop for wildlife viewing, restroom stops and beautiful scenery, just like tour buses.
Read more about non-narrated transit bus options
Narrated tour buses
Your driver is your narrator on the tour buses, and they will provide a detailed and captivating program to accompany your journey along the Denali Park Road. Tour buses make the same restroom stops as the non-narrated buses, and of course will pause for views of wildlife and scenery. All tours offer either a snack or full lunch.
Read more about narrated tour bus options
Free buses
Three types of free buses operate on the publicly-driveable portion of the Denali Park Road. These enable visitors without vehicles, or those who wish to leave their vehicle behind, to travel between various facilities, trails, campgrounds and day-use areas. All of these are free, and none require reservations.
Learn more about free buses
Which Bus Do I Choose?
While simplistic, this matrix may help you decide which bus trip is right for you.
| Bus Type | Good for Hiking or Camping? | Good for Learning About the Park? | Good for Seeing Wildlife? | Round Trip Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural History Tour | No | Yes | No; wildlife viewing may occur, but chances are slimmer than with other trips | 4.5–5 hours |
| Tundra Wilderness Tour | No | Yes | Yes | 5–5.5 hours |
| Transit Bus | Yes; passengers may disembark to day hike | No; drivers are not required to narrate | Yes | 4.5 hours |
| Camper Bus | Yes; only passengers camping or backpacking in the park can use this bus | No | Varies depending on how long you spend on the bus before disembarking to camp. | Variable |
Note: Several buses each day are equipped with a wheelchair lift. Learn about accessibility of bus trips and other park buildings, trails and activities.
Child Restraint Information
Alaska State Law requires children to be in a car or booster seat as follows:
- Children younger than 12 months of age or less than 20 pounds (9 kilograms) must be in a rear facing infant seat.
- Children older than 12 months and younger than 4 years, and at least 20 pounds (9 kilograms), must be in a child restraint.
- Children aged 4 through 7 years who are less than 57 inches (1.4 meters) tall or less than 65 pounds (30 kilograms) must be in a booster seat. Booster seats are no longer required for children of this age once they reach 57 inches (1.4 meters) tall or weigh 65+ pounds (30 kilograms).
- Parents are responsible for providing the appropriate car seat.
Day hiking or backpacking may require extra logistical planning if your children require a car seat.
Why Buses?
Beyond the Savage River Check Station at mile 15 of the Park Road, you'll need to be on a bus, bicycle, or on foot.
Prior to the 1972 completion of the George Parks Highway (Alaska Route 3), which is the main travel artery into interior Alaska, visitation to Denali National Park and Preserve was fairly low. Anticipation of major increases in traffic resulting from a direct route to the park prompted park officials to implement a mass transit system beyond Mile 15 on the Denali Park Road. To provide for visitor access and enjoyment of the world class resources, our concessioner, Doyon/ARAMARK Joint Venture, offers several types of bus services along the park road.
Extending 92 miles from the park entrance to its terminus in the old mining community of Kantishna, this mostly-gravel road traverses boreal forests and sub-arctic tundra. The eastern half of the road (from Mile 0–43) crosses rolling mountainsides and scenic river valleys as it meanders through spectacular vistas and prime wildlife viewing areas.
By riding a bus, you help to reduce traffic congestion and to protect the natural resources of the park. Even more information on how the park road is managed, as it relates to vehicle traffic, can be found in the Denali Park Road Vehicle Management Plan.
Beyond Buses: Recommended Itineraries
Planning a trip to Denali can be a big undertaking! Just getting to the park can take quite a while, and it is distinctly different from many national parks, so even seasoned park travelers can be unsure how to plan their trip.
Use the table below to start thinking about what might work well for you, given the amount of time you'll be here. There are plenty of other things to do than what is listed below - this is just a starting point.
| Duration of Visit | Recommended for Everyone | High-energy Activities | Low-energy Activities | Notes, Other Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half a day or less | Stop in the Denali Visitor Center to watch the park film and chat with a ranger | Go hiking on one or more trails from the visitor center or Mountain Vista area (note: Triple Lakes and the Savage Alpine Trail are potentially too long for a short visit) | Attend a ranger program at the visitor center or sled dog kennels | Walk some of the short trails around the visitor center | More time is highly recommended. A visit this short isn't likely to see a ton of wildlife, but you'll have a chance to experience the frontcountry of the park and hopefully be inspired for a longer visit in the future! |
| One full day or part of two days (i.e., one night in the area) | Ride a transit or tour bus on the full day | explore the Denali Visitor Center | Hike, especially Triple Lakes Trail, around the Mountain Vista area, or off-trail while taking a transit bus trip | Attend a ranger program at the visitor center or sled dog kennels | Walk some of the short trails around the visitor center | On a clear day, ride the free Savage River Shuttle to Mountain Vista to look for scenic views of Denali | This is the real minimum for a visit. If you can stay another night, it is recommended. |
| One full day and part of two others (i.e., two nights) | Ride a transit or tour bus on the full day | explore the Denali Visitor Center | visit Mountain Vista | Hike, especially Triple Lakes Trail, around the Mountain Vista area, or off-trail | join a ranger-led discovery hike | Attend a ranger program at the visitor center or sled dog kennels | Walk some of the short trails around the visitor center | Ride a shuttle to look for scenic views of Denali | This is a common length of visit. More time is recommended, but this gives you a full day for one of the bus rides, and partial days for other activities, like hiking or joining ranger talks or hikes. |
| Two full days (i.e., three nights) | Ride a transit or tour bus on the full day | explore the Denali Visitor Center | visit Mountain Vista | Hike, especially Triple Lakes Trail, around the Mountain Vista area, or off-trail | join a ranger-led discovery hike | go backpacking | Attend a ranger program at the visitor center or sled dog kennels | Walk some of the short trails around the visitor center | Ride a shuttle to look for scenic views of Denali | This is a nice amount of time in the area. You have at least one full day for a bus trip. Consider a second bus trip if you want to maximize your chances to see wildlife. |
| Three or more full days | Ride a transit or tour bus on the full day | explore the Denali Visitor Center | visit Mountain Vista | Hike, especially Triple Lakes Trail, around the Mountain Vista area, or off-trail | join one or more ranger-led discovery hikes | go backpacking | Attend a ranger program at the visitor center or sled dog kennels | Walk some of the short trails around the visitor center | Ride a shuttle to look for scenic views of Denali | You have chosen wisely! Denali is a big place with unpredictable weather. Having three or more days lets you make the most of your good-weather days (bus rides, hiking) and bad-weather days (ranger talks, time at the visitor centers, etc) |
