Denali National Park and Preserve - things2know (U.S. National Park Service)

The Park Road

Denali National Park and Preserve has one road, simply called the Denali Park Road, and it is the main avenue for visitors to see and experience Denali.

The road is 92 miles long, and only the first 15 miles of it are paved. That paved portion, leading from the park entrance to Savage River, is open during the summer for public (non-commercial) vehicles to drive. Summer travel beyond mile 15, which is hugely recommended, is by shuttle or tour bus, or under human power. The summer season in Denali runs from late May through early September.

Click here to learn more about bus trips in Denali
Click here to learn about cycling the Park Road
Click here to learn about other activities in Denali

Visitors enjoy the scenic views from a park bus

nps photo / kent miller

Using a bus, visitors ride higher than in a normal car - letting you see over brush. Many eyes make for more frequent wildlife sightings, too. Also, the Park Road is a winding dirt road that travels along cliffs and through mountain passes - highly trained drivers allow you to sit back and enjoy the views while someone else does the driving.

"What is the weather like?"

This is perhaps the most-often asked question in Denali. Unfortunately, weather here is extremely variable and unpredictable. Often, changes in weather occur without warning. Many of our rangers tell visitors to expect sun, wind, rain, and clouds, and expect them all on the same day.

Click here to read more about Denali's weather

NPS Photo / Kent Miller