Transit Buses

All buses pause whenever there's a chance to see wildlife.

NPS Photo / Kent Miller

Non-narrated buses, called transit buses, are designed to move people around within the park. They make regular restroom stops and wildlife-viewing stops, just like the narrated tour buses.

Unlike tour buses, however, you're not limited to staying on the bus in which you originally started. This is the type of bus to take if you're interested in day hiking, or just want to experience the park independently.

If you get off your initial bus, you can flag down any other transit bus passing by. Re-boarding is on a seat-available basis, so you may wait anywhere from five minutes to an hour or more for a bus with open seats. Transit buses are painted green, to help you identify them from far away. Narrated tour buses are tan-colored and will not stop to pick up hikers.

Transit bus drivers provide basic park and safety information, assist you in spotting wildlife along the road and answer questions, and make restroom stops—but they do not provide a formal talk or program. Tickets are priced based on destination. There are over twenty non-narrated buses each day in peak season, all of which go to their destination on the road, where they turn around and travel back to the entrance of the park.

Schedules

Please keep in mind that schedules are subject to small adjustments throughout the season. Always acquire the most recent schedule upon arriving in person, either at the Denali Bus Depot or Denali Visitor Center.

Download the 2026 transit bus schedule (check back soon for the 2027 schedule).

2027 Ticket Prices

Ticket prices for non-narrated transit buses do not include the park entrance fee.

Destination/Service	Length (round-trip)	Adult (16 and older)	Children (15 and under)
Toklat (mile 53)	6.5 hours	$46.50	Free
Fish Creek (mile 63)	8 hours	$59.50	Free
Wonder Lake (mile 85)	11 hours	$81.50	Free
Kantishna (mile 92)	12 hours	$89.00	Free
Camper Bus (variable)	Varies	$59.50	Free

Traveling with Children

Children (15 and younger) ride for free on transit buses, but they still need a reserved ticket.

Alaska State Law requires the use of car seats and booster seats:

• 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 device.
• Children aged 4 through 7 years who are either less than 57 inches (1.4 meters) tall or less than 65 pounds (30 kilograms) must be in a booster seat.

Parents are responsible for providing the appropriate car seat. Leaving the bus to hike requires extra logistical planning if your children require a car seat.

Reservations

All transit bus, tour bus, and campground reservations are handled by our concessioner, Doyon/ARAMARK Joint Venture.

You can make reservations online or call them at 1-800-622-7275 (or 907 272-7275 for international or local Anchorage callers). Reservations for a given summer can be made as early as December 1 of the year prior to your trip.

 

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Destinations

Each transit bus travels to one of four destinations, listed below. Buses traveling farther in the park than others will stop briefly at each of the other turnaround points - i.e., a Toklat bus turns around at mile 53 (Toklat River), while a Wonder Lake bus makes a rest stop at Toklat River, before carrying on to Wonder Lake at mile 85.

All trip durations listed on this page are round-trip, and account for driving time on the winding Park Road, restroom stops, and the average amount of time buses stop to view wildlife and wilderness.

 

Toklat

Fish Creek

Wonder Lake

Kantishna

 

Preparing for Your Trip

• The Denali Bus Depot is the starting point for nearly all non-narrated bus trips. Arrive at least 20 minutes early to make sure you can park and walk into the building.
• Bring food and water with you. No food or drinks are available once you depart.
• Rest stops occur around every ninety minutes throughout the trip. Stops usually last 15 minutes, though they might be longer or shorter if you are ahead of or behind schedule. The stop at your turnaround point will generally last 30 minutes.
• Trash cans are not available at every rest stop. Bring a bag to pack out your own trash.

 

The Tek Pass

This is only available to people staying in Teklanika Campground. The Tek Pass costs the same as a camper bus ticket. Learn more about Teklanika Campground and the Tek Pass.

Camper Buses

Camper buses are used to transport visitors to campgrounds and/or backcountry units within the park. They have more storage space than other buses as the rear seats have been removed to accommodate backpacks.

You must have a reservation at an eligible campground or a backcountry permit in order to reserve camper bus tickets. Campers at Riley Creek Campground and Savage River are ineligible to buy camper bus tickets, since they can drive or ride a free shuttle to their campground. Each bus has room for up to two bikes, for people who are biking the park road as part of a camping trip. Reserve space for bikes when you make a camper bus reservation, as space is limited.

To make a reservation, those who are staying in a campground can reserve bus tickets in-person or by calling 800-622-7275. Backcountry campers can only purchase camper bus tickets in-person after you have obtained your backcountry permit from the Backcountry Information Center.

Camper Bus tickets are valid during campers’ entire stay at the campground or in the backcountry and can be used to ride the bus on a space-available basis to any location west of Savage River. Camper buses are listed on the transit bus schedule (see the top of this page). Camper buses are marked with a small tent icon to differentiate them from regular transit buses.

Service: June 1 to mid-September each year. Prior to June 1 each year, campground and backcountry users can ride regular transit buses.