Bus Tours

 

Note: An ongoing landslide at Pretty Rocks is impacting bus service. Through 2024, buses will travel no further than Mile 43 of the 92-mile long Denali Park Road.

Understanding Narrated Tour Buses

Unlike non-narrated transit buses, tour buses feature a trained naturalist who both drives the bus and narrates during the trip.

Tour bus trips begin and end at various locations around the entrance of the park—they do not pick up at campgrounds along the Denali Park Road and they are not designed for passengers to disembark and re-board. Transit buses are a better option for passengers who want to get off the bus to hike, picnic, etc.

There are a few different bus tours from which to choose. All tours are conducted by certified driver-naturalists who will provide a guided, informative trip into the park. Tour buses are tan-colored and transit buses are green to help you identify the different types of buses in the park. Descriptions of each tour are below.

Reservations

Reservations for bus trips are made through our concessioner, Doyon/Aramark Joint Venture. You can buy tour bus tickets online or call 1-800-622-7275.

The National Park Service does not operate these tours. Questions concerning departure times, ticket refunds, etc., should be directed to Doyon/Aramark Joint Venture, the concessioner who operates these tours.

2023 Ticket Prices

Tour Name	Dates	Adult (16 and older)	Children (15 and younger)
Natural History Tour	May 12–mid-September, 2023	$114.00	$49.50
Tundra Wilderness Tour	May 20–September 14, 2023	$141.25	$63.25

Note that the $15 park entrance fee is included in the price of an adult tour bus ticket. If you have an annual or lifetime pass (i.e., an Interagency Pass or the Denali Annual Pass), you are entitled to a refund of the fee. Upon arrival to the park, go to the Denali Bus Depot or Riley Creek Mercantile with your pass, photo ID, and bus reservation information to receive the refund. Learn more about entrance fees and passes.

Schedules

There is no fixed daily schedule, tour bus departure times vary each day depending on demand. Contact the bus company with questions about tour bus schedules.

 

Descriptions of Tours

Read about the different tour bus options. Use the map below to orient yourself to locations along the road and preview some of the views you might see.

Denali Natural History Tour

• Offered: mid-May to mid-September
• Duration: 4.5 to 5 hours (round-trip, including all stops)

Focusing on the rich natural and cultural history of the park, this 4 ½ to 5-hour tour travels to Primrose Ridge (Mile 17).

Several interpretive stops enhance the experience, with an hour of time spent exploring off the bus. Beginning with a stop at the Denali Bus Depot, learn about the creation of the Denali Park Road with the film “Across Time and Tundra.” Next, visit the historic Savage Cabin to learn how the cabin was once used and how it continues to be used today. Finally, stop at Primrose Ridge to experience a memorable Alaska Native presentation that will enlighten you with how the land has been used for nearly 10,000 years!

Along the way, your driver-naturalist will introduce you to the landscape, geology, and history of Denali National Park.

Tundra Wilderness Tour

• Offered: May 20 to mid-September
• Duration: 5 to 5.5 hours (round-trip, including all stops)

Variations of this tour have been in existence since 1923, with the first concessioner offering bus trips as far as the road extended at that time.

In 2023, the Tundra Wilderness Tour is a 5–5.5 hour excursion into the park with a certified driver-naturalist. This tour will guide you along the spectacular road corridor, promising different experiences every day, as Denali’s wildlife moves at its own pace and according to the seasons. Travel to the Murie Cabin near the East Fork River (Mile 43) to experience where Adolf Murie lived while conducting his famous research inside what was then known as Mount McKinley National Park!

Wheelchair accessible buses are available, and all stops are wheelchair accessible. The schedule each day varies depending on demand, so there is no fixed, daily schedule. Contact the bus company for more details.