Where to stay near Denali National Park — Denali Park Adventures (2024)

If you’re planning a trip to Denali National Park as part of your Alaskan vacation, one important consideration is where you’ll stay in Denali. Most lodging options are located outside of the park entrance, with a few notable exceptions. If you want a more rustic experience in the last frontier, you may decide to skip the hotels and opt to check out the campsites within the park.

From camping to premium hotels and lodges, let’s discuss some options for where to stay depending on your budget and preferences. Feel free to use the table of contents to jump directly to a section of interest.

Denali Hotels and Lodges

Below are some nearby hotels and lodges in the Denali area that offer comfortable accommodations to fit any budget. Some hotels offer premium rooms and proximity to fine dining, souvenir shops and gift shops. Some offer incredible views of the Alaskan wilderness. Some hotels provide shuttle services to the entrance to Denali National Park so you can have easy access to the park. Keep in mind that few hotels remain open outside of the summer months (mid-May through mid-September), so be sure to consider the timing of your Alaska trip and contact the hotel or lodge with any questions about booking hotel rooms.

Accommodations near the main Denali National Park entrance:

• Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
• Grande Denali Lodge
• Denali Bluffs Hotel
• McKinley Chalet Resort
• Denali Park Village
• Tonglen Lake Lodge
• Denali Grizzly Bear Resort
• White Moose Lodge
• Denali Lakeview Inn
• Aurora Denali Lodge
• Denali Cabins

Accommodations inside Denali National Park:

Outside of campsites, lodging inside Denali National Park & Preserve is limited to a few privately owned wilderness lodges in the Kantishna region. Each are on private property near the end of the park road. These options area:

• Camp Denali
• Skyline Lodge
• Denali Backcountry Lodge
• Kantishna Roadhouse

Camping options near Denali National Park

Camping inside of Denali National Park

Lots of Denali National Park visitors choose to get the full Alaska experience by camping inside the park. Depending on the time of year, sleeping underneath the night sky can offer spectacular views of the Northern Lights, plus ample opportunities for wildlife viewing.

There are six developed campgrounds in Denali National Park: Riley Creek, Savage River, Sanctuary River, Teklanika River, Wonder Lake, and Igloo Creek.

Keep in mind that no campground inside Denali National Park can accommodate an RV over 40′ long. If you have an RV that is larger, you’ll want to explore options outside of the park.

Below is a summary of the sites, including when they are open, what they can accommodate, and how many sites are available:

• Riley Creek: Riley Creek is largest campground inside DNP, open year-round, with 142 sites. It can accommodate tents and RVs.
• Savage River: Open from mid-May to mid-September, Savage River Campground has 32 sites for RVs and tent campers.
• Sanctuary River: Open from mid-May to mid-September, Sanctuary River Campground has 7 sites. It is tent-only and is accessible only by camper bus.
• Teklanika River: Teklanika River Campground is the second largest campground and is open from mid-May to mid-September. There are 53 sites. Open to both tents and RVs, it requires a minimum 3-night stay if you drive to the campground. You must keep your vehicle in your campsite for the entire duration of your stay, while you take transit buses around to see the park.
• Wonder Lake: Open from mid-May to mid-September, Wonder Lake Campground is the farthest campground from the park entrance (and the It is the closest campground to the Denali mountain!) There are 28 tent-only sites.
• Igloo Creek: Open from mid-May to mid-September, Igloo Creek Campground has 7 tent-only sites. It is is accessible only by camper bus.

You can learn more details about each campground and reserve your campsite on the Denali National Park website.

Camping outside the park in Denali

There are also a variety of private campgrounds located outside the park boundaries. Many of them offer RV hookups and some even have cabins for rent. Some private campsites include:

• Rainbow Village RV Park & Motel
• Denali RV Park & Motel
• Denali Grizzly Bear Resort

Airbnb and VBRO near Denali

If you’re looking for alternative lodging options, there are also many choices for renting cabins, rooms, or entire homes on Airbnb or VBRO.

You can often find reasonably priced options, especially if you’re willing to share a space with other travelers.

Hostels near Denali

For a truly unique experience, you may want to consider staying at a hostel near the park. For example, Denali Hostel & Cabins is about 15 miles outside the park entrance.

Hostels are communal style accommodations, typically with bunk beds in dormitory-style rooms. Some hostels also have private rooms available.

One advantage of staying at a hostel is that it’s often much cheaper than other lodging options. Another benefit is that you’ll meet lots of other travelers from all over the world, which can make for a fun and interesting experience.

Summary

There is no shortage of options for staying in Denali that will give you easy access to adventure inside and outside Denali National Park. Many hotels offer shuttles to and from the park. Many adventure tour companies will pick you and your group up at your hotel, take you to the adventure launch site (think ATVing, rafting, or flightseeing!), and then bring you back when you’re done. You can choose from the premium hotels and lodges in the area, or you can camp. Or if you’re looking for something more unique, try an Airbnb or hostel. Whichever option you choose, we know you’ll enjoy your visit to the pristine wilderness and beauty that is Denali National Park and the surrounding Denali area.