Academic Fee Waiver

All visitors aged 16 and older must pay the park entrance fee to enter Denali unless they qualify for a fee waiver.

Unlike some national parks, Denali National Park and Preserve does not have a per-vehicle price for entry. Instead, Denali uses a per-person price for entry. There is no entrance fee charged to visitors aged 15 years or younger. Visitors aged 16 and older pay a $15 entrance fee valid for seven consecutive days. This entrance fee is charged year-round. Read more on Denali's Fees and Passes page.

National Park Service regulations allow academic institutions to obtain a waiver of park entrance fees, provided the visit is for academic or scientific purposes, and the resources or facilities that the group intends to use support those purposes.

 

Qualifying for a Fee Waiver

A school group does not automatically qualify for an academic fee waiver. Academic groups must demonstrate that they qualify for the waiver by meeting each of the three requirements listed below:

1. Eligibility: Applicants must prove they are an academic or scientific institution.
2. Relevance: Applicants must provide a written explanation identifying the park resources and/or facilities that will be used to support the educational purpose of the visit, and how they are relevant to that purpose.
3. Educational Purpose: Applicants must provide a written statement confirming that the visit supports a specific curriculum for which academic credit is offered.

Academic fee waivers are granted only if each of the three criteria are met.

Applying for a Fee Waiver

To apply for an academic fee waiver, submit the Fee Waiver Application. Applications for academic fee waivers must be received at least two weeks prior to date of your planned visit.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How many chaperones can travel with our group?

The park may limit the number of chaperones, teachers, and guides accompanying your group.

Optimal chaperone-to-student ratios are:

• College Students: 1 to 10
• Students in Grades 5-12: 1 to 6
• Students in Grades 3-4: 1 to 5
• Students in Grades Pre-K to 2: 1 to 4

Where can we drive with our academic fee waiver?

Groups that qualify for an academic fee waiver can drive anywhere that personal vehicles are allowed on the Denali Park Road, which varies due to the time of year and weather conditions. The park road is generally open to personal vehicles as far as Mountain Vista (Mile 12) in late winter, Savage River (Mile 15) in summer, Teklanika (Mile 30) in spring and fall, and Park Headquarters (Mile 3) mid-winter. Road conditions may change at any time due to hazardous conditions; check the Current Conditions page for up-to-date road status information.

Groups qualifying for an academic fee waiver may use school buses, commercial buses, or personal vehicles to transport students.

Where can we park with our academic fee waiver?

Parking in Denali can be very limited, and may be influenced by weather conditions, time of year, and conditions on the park road. Check the Current Conditions page for the most up-to-date road information.

If you are trying to access:

The Denali Visitor Center (Mile 1) – spring/summer/fall or
the Winter Visitor Center (Mile 1) – winter

• Park at the Denali Visitor Center parking lot or the Winter Visitor Center parking lot.

The Sled Dog Kennels (Mile 3) – year-round

• When free shuttle buses are running, groups qualifying for an academic fee waiver can park at the Denali Visitor Center (Mile 1) and take a free park shuttle bus to Park Headquarters.
• If groups are traveling in a bus, they may be dropped off at Park Headquarters (Mile 3) in the flagpole lot. The bus cannot park at Mile 3, but can park at the Denali Visitor Center (Mile 1) and return at an agreed-upon time. Cell phone service is generally available in the park from Mile 0-3 on the park road.
• If traveling in personal vehicles, park at the Denali Visitor Center (Mile 1). Walk on the Roadside Trail or Rock Creek Trail to the kennels.

Mountain Vista Rest Area (Mile 12) – spring, summer, fall

• Groups qualifying for an academic fee waiver may park at Mile 12 as space allows.
• When free shuttle buses are running, groups qualifying for an academic fee waiver can park at the Denali Visitor Center (Mile 1) and take a free park shuttle bus to Savage River.

Savage River (Mile 15) – spring, summer, fall

• Group parking is not available at Savage River (Mile 15).
• When free shuttle buses are running, groups qualifying for an academic fee waiver can park at the Denali Visitor Center (Mile 1) or at Mountain Vista (Mile 12) and take a free park shuttle bus to Savage River.
• If groups are traveling in a bus, they may be dropped off at Savage River (Mile 15) in the west parking lot. The bus cannot park at Mile 15, but can park at Mountain Vista (Mile 12) or the Denali Visitor Center (Mile 1) and return at an agreed-upon time. Cell phone service is generally available in the park from Mile 0-3 on the park road, and is not available beyond Mile 3.

Teklanika (Mile 30) – spring, fall

• Groups qualifying for an academic fee waiver may park at Mile 30 as space allows. If your itinerary has stops at destinations east of Mile 30, be sure to read parking requirements for those destinations (above).

Our students are all age 15 or under. Do we need an academic fee waiver?

Students age 15 and under are not charged an entrance fee to the park. However, all accompanying adults are charged an entrance fee. A fee waiver can help waive entrance fees for a reasonable number of adults assisting with the school group. Additionally, applying for a fee waiver can alert the Denali Education Team that you are planning to visit. We can suggest resources to complement your trip and help with logistics, ranger talks, and itinerary building.

We are a college group. Do we qualify for an academic fee waiver?

Possibly. Academic groups must demonstrate that they qualify for the waiver by meeting eligibility, relevance, and educational purpose requirement. Broadly, college courses for credit are typically able to demonstrate the three criteria.

We are a service group or other not-for-profit group. Do we qualify for a fee waiver?

Possibly. Leisure learning groups, service or civic groups, fraternal organizations, or other not-for-profit groups must meet the same requirements as an academic group. Academic groups must demonstrate that they qualify for the waiver by meeting eligibility, relevance, and educational purpose requirement.

Does an academic fee waiver cover the cost of campgrounds or bus tours?

Academic fee waivers only apply to entrance fees. Campgrounds and bus tours beyond Mile 15 incur an additional cost.

What can I use to prove our academic institution’s eligibility for an academic fee waiver?

National or international applicants must prove they are a school or bona fide academic institution by submitting one of the following types of documentation:

• A statement confirming educational or scientific tax exemption from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the applicant's national, state, or local tax authority; or

• A statement, from a bona fide academic institution meeting one of these eligibility standards, confirming that the group is visiting for the purpose of providing transferable academic credit based on a curriculum; or

• A statement of accreditation or recognition as an educational institution from a legitimate international, national, regional, state, or local authority for the applicant's location.

Who can I contact if I have additional questions?

You can e-mail the Denali Education Team anytime.