A Denali National Park Itinerary for Two Full Days

The Denali National Park and Preserve is at the top of travelers’ Alaska bucket lists for a reason. The park meets all expectations no matter how much time you’re able to give it.

If you only have time for two days on a Denali National Park itinerary, that’s enough to get an overview of the park and book a bus tour for a more intensive trip.

This guide details our trip to Denali from Anchorage for scenic hikes, Denali views, and some of the best wildlife spotting in the United States.

How Much to Spend in Denali National Park

You should spend at least a full day in Denali National Park. Two days allow you to take one of their guided Denali bus tours and spend another day hiking in the park.

A one-day itinerary will likely limit you to hikes and excursions from the main visitor center.

Note: The park is currently closed beyond the East Fork River at Mile 43. This is just about the halfway point in Denali. The closure is due to ongoing construction efforts to account for a missing chunk of road after several years of warming temperatures in the park. It’ll take a few more years before a bridge or other fix is completed to resume operations to the end of Denali Park Road.

The Best Time to Visit Denali National Park

Visit Denali from the end of May through the start of September. You’ll have access to the park’s shuttles and bus tours during this time and enjoy plentiful sun for a full day of activities.

We visited in August, typically the early start of fall in the park. That means we were treated to beautiful fall colors on top of Denali’s usual scenery.

How to Visit Denali National Park

You should book Denali as far in advance as possible if you’re talking about accommodations, airfare, and rental cars.

Denali’s tourist season is super short, so there’s lots of competition without waiting until the last minute.

Shoot for six months in advance before travel if you want decent options. I always recommend refundable bookings on everything if possible just in advance just in case prices do drop before you go.

To get to Denali, you’ll likely start in Anchorage and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Most travelers start here for travel to Kenai Fjords National Park and Seward to the south, too. I’d highly recommend both national parks if you have the time.

As far as how to explore Denali National Park, renting a car will offer the most flexibility over the Alaska Railroad. I love a scenic train trip, but if you drive, you can plan for scenic stops from Anchorage along the way.

READ MORE: Love the sound of a scenic road trip? Read about where we stopped on our drive to Denali.

Access to a car is nice in Denali itself, too.

You won’t have to rely completely on the park shuttles to get to and from some of the main trailheads, and you can time your days with more accuracy. 

Getting Around Denali National Park

I recommend having a car available to get you to Denali, even if you plan on booking tours and riding the park shuttles. You won’t be at the mercy of the park’s transit for every little thing that way, even if you can’t drive everywhere with your car.

Denali tours are also worth it, especially if you only have one day in Denali National Park.

Even if you drive yourself to the park entrance and beyond, there’s only so far you can get with your own vehicle.  

If you don’t have a ride, the free park shuttle is an alternative to the park’s bus tours. The green transit buses you see driving around the park are easy to hitch a ride with along the park’s main road and beyond.

They keep to a set daily schedule posted at all of the main stops, too. They don’t come with any narration, though, so don’t expect more than a ride on those.

Denali National Park Itinerary: Day 1

If you’re booking a bus tour in Denali National Park, try to do it on your first day in the park.

Better yet, time it for the afternoon. That’ll give you a full morning for hikes and getting yourself acclimated to everything around the Denali Visitor Center.

Stop 1: Horseshoe Lake Trail

This easy two-mile trail starts along a scenic set of train tracks for fantastic views right off the bat.

From there, you’ll pass by beautiful Horseshoe Lake, a large beaver dam, and the Nenana River. 

Fun fact: Look for potential whitewater rafting while you’re by the river, as it’s a popular spot for adrenaline-pumping activities. 

We didn’t see any beavers but saw lots of old beaver activity. There was quite a bit of busy beaver work on display just looking at the gnawed trees along the lakeshore.

We didn’t see any bear activity, either, but there were warnings along the trail about an overly “friendly” black bear.

The parking lot at the main trailhead is quite small, so I recommend starting early on this one.

If it’s full when you arrive, you can park at the visitor center. You’ll just add a mile each way if you do it that way.

Stop 2: Denali Visitor Center

I know many folks like to start at the visitor center when they visit a park, but you won’t miss anything by kicking off your Denali trip with one of its more popular hikes.

Once you’re done with that, by all means, check out the visitor center.

The National Park Service does a great job with this one. Spend some time inside the wildlife exhibit to learn about critters you may see and the park’s geological history. 

This is also a great place to interact with park staff about available hikes and how to stay safe while you’re out there.

Stop 3: Visitor Center Trails

There are a number of trails that start at the Denali Visitor Center that you can link together for a choose-your-own-adventure type of morning.

We started with the Spruce Forest Trail, a 0.2-mile walk through the forest, to the Morino Trail, a 0.2-mile forest walk to an old homestead and roadhouse. This was the old hub of activity in the park. 

From there, we connected to the McKinley Station Trail. The full trail is 1.6 miles each way, but you can connect to a portion of the Triple Lakes Trail from here to get to Riley Creek and stunning views of a railroad trestle.

Continue along the bridge ahead of you to a swinging suspension bridge. This was one of our favorite spots in the park.

If that plan seems like too little or too much, I have a rundown of more trails at the Denali Visitor Center with mileage listed roundtrip: 

• Roadside Bike Trail (3.4): This is a popular one if you brought your mountain bikes with you. It travels along Denali Park Road.
• Rock Creek Trail (4.8 miles): I’ll mention this one in a little bit as a moderate forest hike.
• Mount Healy Overlook Trail (5.4 miles): This steep, difficult Denali hike offers views of Denali if the conditions are right.
• Triple Lakes Trail (19 miles): You’ll hike a portion of this if you follow my plan above. The full trail is a pretty epic day hike to three beautiful lakes.

Stop 4: 49th State Brewing

Visit the prop bus from the movie Into the Wild at one of the state’s best breweries. Just don’t leave any sandwiches inside.

There’s a reason I say this. There was a sandwich inside when we visited.

Once you’re in the brewery itself, opt for tasters if you’re not sure what you’d like. They had a delicious canned sour available during our visit that I had to try, in part because some of the proceeds went to Maui’s rebuilding efforts after the fires at that time.

Lunch was good if pricey for brewery food, but you’ll find that Alaska just isn’t a budget destination.

We shared the King Crabby Grilled Cheese and a jackfruit quesadilla, but they’re also known for their yak burgers if you need more meat.

Optional Stop 5: Rock Creek Trail

We did a portion of Rock Creek Trail before our bus tour. If you don’t have a tour planned for your first night in Denali, feel free to tackle the full hike.

It’s 2.4 miles one-way but easy enough if you have the time.

The trail is a nice walk through the woods with peekaboo views of Mount Healy along the way. The full trek connects the Denali Visitor Center with the Denali sled dog kennels if you’d like to prioritize them on your first day.

I make time for the pups on day two if you’d rather follow along!

Stop 6: Denali Bus Tour

You won’t know your exact departure time until about 48 hours before you’re set to meet your bus tour, but you can decide between a morning and an afternoon ride. 

I’d recommend the afternoon times to leave your first morning in Denali open for some hikes. The bus tours are long, so despite sitting on your bottom for hours, they do have the potential to take it out of you. 

I’ve read mixed reviews about the worthiness of the bus tours, but I definitely recommend one based on our own experiences. The fact that you’re only able to access half the park at the moment only makes me feel more confident in that opinion.

The Denali bus tours are the best way to see the park’s wildlife safely and efficiently, learn more about the history of the park, and travel as far as you can go at the moment.

READ MORE: I loved the Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour. Check out my detailed guide!

At the moment, it’s the longest tour available, but check on the status of the park’s new bridge plans before you book.

Denali National Park Itinerary: Day 2

Start your second day in Denali with my favorite trail or feel free to move things around on this day as the weather allows.

We experienced some rain on this day toward late afternoon, but we were still able to visit the Denali sled dogs in the drizzle. 

Stop 1: Savage Alpine Trail

If you’re looking for Denali National Park hikes that offer spectacular views, including a shot at seeing a view of Denali along the way, the Savage Alpine Trial has to be it.

This was our favorite hike in the park by far, so I’d call it an essential stop in this guide to the park.

You’ll need to get yourself close to the Savage River area of the park to make this one happen. You shouldn’t go all the way to the Savage River bus stop unless you want to make it harder on yourself.

Park or take the free shuttle bus to the Mountain Vista Rest Stop at Mile 13, instead.

The approach from this starting point is easier. You’ll still need to tackle four miles roundtrip from this trailhead, but you won’t have steep stone stairs to climb this way. It’s much more gradual and scenic, as the initial climb gives you potential views of Denali.

Fun fact: Only about a third of visitors see Denali on visits to the park. We were lucky enough to see it twice. You’ll know it’s there if you see a bright mountain covered in snow as if under a spotlight.

I’d call this one moderate if you take it from the Mountain Vista Rest Stop. The hardest bit to navigate was the summit, not for the elevation gain, but because of the wind.

I’m going to go ahead and call this one of the windiest spots I’ve ever experienced!

The end of the trail drops you off at the Savage River on Mile 15. From there, you can return to the original rest stop on the park shuttle or walk back to your car at the other rest stop.

It would have added another two miles to our trip on the point-to-point trail, so we took the shuttle. 

Note: You don’t need to rush to Mountain Vista to snag parking from what we could tell. We got there at around 9:15am and only saw one other car in the lot. 

Optional Stop 2: Savage River Loop

If you have the energy to tack on another two miles at the Savage River, you can walk the Savage River Loop without a ton of effort.

This one is exactly as it sounds, a walk along the Savage River with little elevation change.

Stop 3: Savage Cabin Interpretive Trail

The 0.3-mile Savage Cabin Trail is a nice, easy loop to learn about the history of cabins in the park. You can see one still used by rangers who patrol Denali National Park in winter with sled dogs.

There are no motorized vehicles here in the winter, by the way. If you visit during that time, expect a completely different experience.

Stop 4: Lunch in Denali

The closest option for a quick lunch in Denali without packing your own is just a mile north of the park entrance along the Nenana River. This area is casually known as Glitter Gulch. 

It’s a seasonal strip of hotels and eateries that cater to tourists, just in case you were wondering if this is a tourist trap.

Prices at these places are pretty high. We picked The Black Bear cafe for our lunch because I wanted to try the “bearitos” folks online were talking about. They were fine. 

We also bought some grab-and-go sandwiches for the following day that I regretted post-purchase. It was $12 for a simple turkey and cheese. I get to feel my feelings.

Here’s the thing. I usually just pack our lunches for exploration in our national parks, but doing that was pricey, too. Alaska is just an expensive place to visit these days. 

With half the park closed, we also didn’t feel as pressed for time as we usually do on our national park adventures.

I’m not sure I’d do anything differently here, but it’s something to consider as you plot out what works best for you and your budget.

Stop 5: Denali National Park Kennels

The Denali sled dogs are likely the cutest thing you’ll see on your trip to Denali.

We drove over to the dog sledding demo at the kennels, but you can also take the free shuttles at the Denali Visitor Center throughout the day.

This is what the park recommends. I can see parking getting quite limited here, especially in the summer months. We had just missed the shuttle, so I’m glad driving in worked out for us.

When we arrived, there were already four full shuttles of people from the visitor’s center waiting for the demo. They definitely got the “best” seats, but we didn’t have trouble seeing the dogs from the back of the gathering space.

The dogs were adorable and super enthusiastic about doing their very important work and being good boys and girls.

You can meet them ahead of the demo in their large outdoor pens. Some came over for pets.

The demonstration itself was great. Watching them interact with the staff was also great. The guide talked as if in slow motion, though, and as the rain started coming down his talk started to get tedious. 

You could tell he was working off of a memorized script that he really wanted to get through, which I guess is commendable.

If you take the shuttle here, you’ll take it right back to the Denali Visitor Center. Demonstrations are free and offered a few times per day in the summer.

Stop 6: Healy

We stayed in Healy, so decided to stay closer to our accommodations for our last night in Denali. (There were goats on the property that needed petting.)

Our pick for a quick meal before turning in was the restaurant in the Denali Totem Inn, a spot that was recommended to us a few times by locals.

The food here was the cheapest we’d seen in these parts and decent enough. I had a chicken gyro and Brian had a chicken sandwich.

The staff seemed a little overwhelmed and it was definitely one of those places where everyone looks at you upon entry, but I can’t pretend that it wasn’t nice to pay less.

If you’re traveling outside of the summer season, note that many businesses close down for the winter months.

Here are a few more options for eats near Denali if hyper-local doesn’t sound up your alley:

• Denali Doghouse: If you want something quick, this hot dog shop is a popular option. They specialize in reindeer dogs.
• Moose-AKa’s: I did feel some regret over not trying this one, if only because I’m not sure I’ve ever had Serbian food.
• Prospector’s Pizzeria & Alehouse: Enjoy a variety of game meats and other unique toppings at this rustic spot that surely hits the spot after a day of hiking.

With More Time in Denali National Park

If you have more than two days in Denali on your Alaska road trip, you can dig into the park a little deeper or incorporate more rest breaks. 

Once the park’s back half reopens for more backcountry hikes, two days in Denali can even feel a little limiting.

Here are a few things you could add to your Denali itinerary in a best-case-scenario type of way with full access to the park:

• Visit the Eielson Visitor Center. This stop at Mile 66 is known for its views of Denali on clear days. The Thorofare Ridge Trail is a highly-rated trek through the Alaskan tundra that starts here.
• Explore the Wonder Lake Area. Wonder Lake at Mile 85 is about as close as you’ll get to Denali. You’ll need to get lucky with a clear day, but if you do you can check out the views at Reflection Pond.
• Take a sightseeing tour from the sky. If you’re a little fancy, there are several small aircraft operators that offer sightseeing tours of the park from above. Some of them get you close to Denali itself, which sounds very bucket listy.
• Book a whitewater rafting trip. Travel down the Nenana River in an adrenaline-pumping way with a guided rafting excursion. This a popular experience in a park with a short active season, so book early if you’re interested.
• Go mountaineering. I wouldn’t even know where to start with a Denali climbing adventure other than knowing I’d probably need to be rescued. The park service has a detailed guide to mountaineering if you’re into it.
• See where the road ends. Once the park has fully reopened, I’d love to make it all the way to Kantishna, the center of the Denali area gold rush. This section sounds incredibly remote with even better opportunities for bear sightings.

More Tips for Visiting Denali National Park

You can’t go into Denali blind. This park requires quite a bit of pre-planning. Here are a few tips that we benefited from before our trip:

• There is a fee to enter Denali of $15 per vehicle unless you hold an America the Beautiful pass. That fee is also covered under any of the paid bus tours
• The trails in this Denali guide are all well-marked trails. That said, the park is mostly backcountry. If you’re an experienced hiker, this is the park to test your skills.
• Don’t assume you’ll see Denali on your visit to the park. Only about a third of travelers see the mountain, as conditions have to be just right.
• On that note, we saw the mountain twice on three days in and around the park. Yep. We were super lucky.
• The park service recommends you carry bear spray if you’re doing any hiking in Denali. Making plenty of noise on hikes is an even better preventative.
• If you want to book tours, book well in advance, especially if you travel in July. That’s the busiest time in the park, and things book up fast.

Where to Stay Near Denali National Park

We stayed in a cabin in Healy during our Denali trip and drove into the park from there. We saved some money and didn’t lose much time vs. staying somewhere more touristy like Denali Park Village.

Also, there were goats there.

If you’d like to do the same, check out the map below:

Healy is less than 20 minutes from the Denali Visitor Center. If that’s not close enough for you, there are lodges within 10 minutes of that spot.

Here are a few:

• Grande Denali Lodge
• Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
• McKinley Chalet Resort

The park service does not run any lodges inside the park itself, but there are several campgrounds available with reservations. Check out the park’s website if you’re cool with bears sniffing around your goodies.

Wilderness lodges in the backcountry may be another option once all of the park’s roads have reopened. I’m not including them here as they require flying in at the moment, and that’s beyond my pay grade.

Is Denali National Park worth seeing?

Denali National Park is worth visiting on any trip to Alaska. It does take some effort to get to, but once you’re there, it’s easy to navigate with the use of the park’s shuttles.

It’s also one of the best parks for easy wildlife spotting and glimpses of Denali itself. I’d love to come back once the park has fully reopened for an even more incredible experience.

Planning more national parks travel? Check out these guides:

• A Guide to Crater Lake in Oregon
• Spend a Day or Two at Saguaro National Park
• How to Plan a First-Time Trip to Yellowstone
• The Best Guide for Grand Teton National Park
• Top Attractions & Hikes at Cuyahoga Valley

I’m not done yet! Here are a few more national parks to check out:

• A Detailed Guide to Three Days in Sequoia
• Where to Hike on Trips to Death Valley
• See the Delicate Arch and More at Arches
• Plan a Road Trip to See Utah’s National Parks
• Why You Need to Visit Congaree National Park

Want to see more?