Denali National Park Lodging
 

Denali National Park is a challenging place to visit. Even though it’s over six million acres in size, the park has only one, unpaved road with very limited access. While private vehicles are allowed up to mile 15, miles 15-90 are only accessible by park-sanctioned bus trips. Inside the park, services are limited; backpackers, car campers, and park service buildings are responsible for meeting their own food, water, electricity, and telecommunications needs. It’s a wild place!

For this reason, Denali National Park lodging is best divided into two groups: inside and outside the park. We operate one property in each of these areas. A summary of the advantages and disadvantages of these two options is listed below.

Lodging Near Denali National Park

Many guests coming to Denali stay near the park entrance along a ten-mile stretch of the Parks Highway known as the Denali Town Site. While not technically inside the park, the area still offers beautiful views, vibrant forests, and chances to encounter wildlife. The park is experienced via day tours like Denali Backcountry Adventure.

Advantages:

• Cost: Lodging in this area is quite affordable by Alaska travel standards, with prices starting at $199/night for a room with two full-size beds.
• Ease of access: It’s easy to get to the town site because it’s located directly on the road and rail system. Drive a rental car, ride a motorcoach, take the train, or book a flight; there are no restrictions on travel.
• Amenities: The entrance offers a wide range of small shops, restaurants, day tours, and visitor centers.

Disadvantages:

• It’s not inside the park: The only real disadvantage to staying outside the park is the lack of an immersive experience. The location is still beautiful, and a wide range of opportunities for exploring the park abound, but you’re not in the thick of it, surrounded by millions of acres of protected land hours away from public roads.

Denali Cabins, our property outside the park, offers all the advantages of lodging near the entrance. The cost is reasonable—$199/night for a private cabin with two full-size beds, $149/night for a cabin with one bed. Located right off the Parks Highway, arriving via car, coach, or rail is easy. Hourly shuttles take guests to and from restaurants, shops, activities, and park services. Guests enjoy modern amenities like satellite TV, outdoor hot tubs, private in-cabin bathrooms with hot and cold running water, and a complimentary, hearty breakfast.

And while it’s not quite the same as lodging inside the park, guests can still see all of the Denali’s road-accessible areas by joining the Denali Backcountry Adventure. The Adventure is a 13-hour, full-day tour of the park that travels the entire length of the park road. More details can be found here.

Lodging Inside Denali National Park

Staying outside the park is a great way to experience Denali. But some visitors want a more immersive experience, one far away from public access, in the heart of millions of acres of wilderness. Incredible views, an abundance of wildlife, peace and quiet, and a chance to live off the grid draw these adventurous souls.

Advantages:

• Exclusivity: It takes 6 hours on a guided bus trip to get here. Electricity is provided by generators, water comes from wells, phone is via satellite. Space is limited. This is a truly unique experience!
• Wilderness: 90 miles from public access, guests are surrounded by wildlife (black and grizzly bears, moose, sheep, caribou, wolves, and more), winding rivers, open tundra, and incredible views of Denali, North America’s highest peak.
• Amenities: Living in the wild doesn’t mean you have to rough it. Guests stay in spacious, individual cedar cabins, each with a private bathroom (hot and cold running water), electricity, a propane heater, and comfortable beds. These aren’t rustic cabins; think of a nice hotel room, then add authentic Alaskan character and the smell of fresh cedar. Guests also have access to screened gazebos, multiple lodge buildings, river-side decks and benches, and a warm, family-style eating area.
• Service: Because of the remote location, all services are provided to lodge guests.
• 3 meals a day (plus small snacks at your convenience
• A wide range of daily guided hikes
• Natural history programs
• Access to outdoor gear (fishing equipment, mountain bikes, galoshes, etc.)
• A great family of friendly, knowledgeable staff.

Disadvantages:

• Wilderness: Although it’s also the biggest advantage, it should be clear that this isn’t a place of hustle and bustle. If you absolutely can’t live without a TV and quick access to lots of dining and shopping options, this isn’t the place for you.
• Price: When the included services—transportation to and from the lodge (normally $159/person), 3 meals a day plus snacks, use of equipment, naturalist programs, guided hikes, and more—are factored in, staying inside the park is actually quite reasonable. Still, the remote location and limited availability mean that initial costs are higher than areas outside the park. Prices start at $390/person/night for double occupancy, with a recommended minimum stay of two nights.

If you’re looking for a full-service, exclusive, adventurous journey into the heart of a true wilderness, look no further than a stay at Denali Backcountry Lodge.