FAQs

General Denali Questions | Transit Buses | Campgrounds | Tour Buses

General Denali Questions

Q. Why are the buses school buses and not motorcoaches?
A. Motorcoach buses are rear-engine buses. These types of buses do not perform well on the gravel/dirt Denali Park Road due to the dust and dirt. School buses perform much better and keep to the historical and traditional transportation method.

Q. How long does it take to drive to Denali from Anchorage/Fairbanks?
A. The drive to Denali from Anchorage and Fairbanks to Denali is along Alaska Highway 3 – known as the Parks Highway. It is a two-lane highway with incremental passing lanes and passing zones. Allow four (4) hours to drive from Anchorage to Denali. Allow two (2) hours to drive from Fairbanks to Denali. These times are driving times without stops. Please add additional time for sightseeing and other excursions, if desired.

Q. What is the weather like in Denali?
A. A general answer is always “partly cloudy, chance of rain.” The weather can change quickly and often in the mountainous environment. Dressing in layers is recommended for all conditions at all types of year.

Q. Can I drive into the park?
A. Yes, but only to Savage River (milepost 15). This section of park road is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – weather permitting. Very limited parking is available at Savage River. The free Savage River Shuttle departs every 30 minutes for those who wish to leave their vehicle at the Denali Visitor Center or Denali Bus Depot. Those schedules can be found here: https://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/courtesy-shuttle-buses.htm. Those visitors wishing to see more of the park may chose a Transit or Tour bus.

Q. I am traveling with children. What are the car seat requirements?
A. Child seats are required by law aboard all buses inside Denali National Park and Preserve. It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to provide these child seats. Alaska state car seat laws can be found here: https://www.iihs.org/topics/child-safety#restraint-use and hovering over the state of Alaska.

Transit Buses

Q. What is a Transit bus?
A. Transit buses are the famous “green buses” in Denali. They are non-narrated, do not provide food or water (bring your own), and allow visitors to “hop-on/hop-off” (see below).

Q. Do I have to specify my departure time for a Transit bus?
A. Yes. The times listed for Transit buses (green buses) are the departure times from the Denali Bus Depot. Please be at the Denali Bus Depot a minimum of 15 minutes prior to your selected departure time. You will need to check-in at the reservations desk inside of the facility before boarding your bus. Buses will not wait for late individuals.

Q. Do I need to pick up physical tickets before board the bus?
A. Yes. All Transit buses require physical tickets for boarding – including those with reservations. Please proceed to the reservations desk at the Denali Bus Depot to collect your physical tickets prior to boarding. Please arrive a minimum of 15 minutes prior to your departure time.

Q. Do Transit Bus ticket prices include the park entrance fee?
A. No. Transit bus ticket pricing does not include the $15 per person entrance fee. This entrance fee will be charged upon your arrival at the Denali Bus Depot. You may pay this fee in advance at https://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/fees.htm. Be sure to bring the receipt with you and present it at the Denali Bus Depot reservation desk. If you have an Interagency Pass (Park Pass), please bring it with you and present it at the reservations desk at the Denali Bus Depot. We are unable to look up passholder information. Entrance fee refunds are only available in-person at the Denali Bus Depot.

Q. Can I pick up the bus from Mile 15 (Savage River)?
A. Transit buses board at the Denali Bus Depot only. Exceptions are granted for individuals who are camping at Savage River Campground. Visitors staying at Teklanika campground can purchase the Teklanika “Tek” Pass which permits bus boarding directly from Teklanika Campground. The Tek Pass must be purchased before proceeding to Teklanika Campground.

Q. How long is the bus ride?
A. Transit bus round trip times vary by destination. Round trip times include restrooms stops, wildlife viewing, and time spent at the turnaround location. In 2024, all Transit buses turn around at East Fork (milepost 43) which is a 4.5-hour round trip if you chose to stay with your bus for the duration of the trip.

Q. Are there any hiking trails beyond Savage River (milepost 15)?
A. There are no established hiking trails beyond Savage River. Off-trail hiking is available in nearly every area of the park for those who are comfortable and prepared.

Q. Where should I sit aboard the bus?
A. The trip along the only road within the park is an out and back – meaning you’ll see one side on the way in and the other on the way out.

Q. How does “hop-on/hop-off” work?
A. The Transit bus system is mirrored after an urban/city bus system which allows individuals to disembark or reboard the green Transit buses within the park. This system allows visitors to explore the park on their own schedule. With a Transit bus ticket, visitors will still depart the Denali Bus Depot at their ticketed departure time. Once aboard and beyond Savage River (milepost 15), visitors can yell “STOP!” to the bus driver and disembark at an area they wish to explore. At any point along the gravel portion of the park road (beyond milepost 15), your green ticket will permit you to reboard any Transit (green) bus on a space-available basis. Visitors may have to wait for the next bus if the first bus is full (groups larger than 4 may need to split up between multiple buses). Although not required, it is recommended visitors ride their bus to their ticketed destination first. This allows visitors to see the different areas of the park so they may have a better idea where they wish to spend time on their return. When ready to reboard, stand on the road in the direction you wish to travel and wave your hands at a Transit (green) bus traveling in that direction. Present your ticket stub to the bus driver for reboarding.

Q. It is raining. Can I change my tickets to tomorrow?
A. No. Tickets cannot be changed/modified/cancelled inside of seven (7) days from departure.

Campgrounds

Q. Do I need advance reservations to camp?
A. Advance reservations for campgrounds are STRONGLY recommended. It is common for campgrounds to be sold out for most of the season.

Q. Do I need to check-in?
A. Yes. All visitors who are camping – including those with reservations – must check-in at the Riley Creek Mercantile prior to proceeding to their campground. Campers will obtain their campground permit during the check-in process which are to be displayed at their campground site. The Riley Creek Mercantile is open until 11:00pm daily. Be sure to arrive prior to the Mercantile closing!

Q. How does campground site assignment work?
A. All campground sites are available on a first come, first serve system based on site type. The reservation agents will explain this in more detail during the check-in process. For best site selection, plan to arrive early. Check-in/out times are 11:00am daily.

Q. Is there a limit on how long I can camp?
A. Yes. Denali has a 14-day maximum stay limit each season. This limit is cumulative among all campgrounds.

Q. Do campground prices include the park entrance fee?
A. No. Campground pricing does not include the $15 per person entrance fee. This entrance fee will be charged upon your arrival at the Riley Creek Mercantile. You may pay this fee in advance at https://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/fees.htm. Be sure to bring the receipt with you and present it at the Denali Bus Depot reservation desk. If you have an Interagency Pass (Park Pass), please bring it with you and present it at the reservations desk at the Denali Bus Depot. We are unable to look up passholder information. Entrance fee refunds are only available in-person at the Denali Bus Depot.

Q. Do campgrounds have water or power hookups?
A. No. There are no hookups of any kind at any campground within Denali National Park and Preserve. A dump/fill station is available free of charge to all visitors camping inside the park. The station is located adjacent to the Riley Creek Mercantile.

Q. Are generators allowed?
A. Yes, but in limited amounts. Daily generator hours are 8:00am to 10:00am, 4:00pm to 8:00pm. Generator usage is not permitted outside of these times. For those individuals who require power outside of the stablished generator hours, please seek a campground outside of the park that can better accommodate those needs.

Q. I am camping at Teklanika Campground. How do “Tek Passes” work?
A. Please see the “Tek Pass” section on our campground page located here:
https://www.reservedenali.com/camping/camping-experience/

Q. Can I combine campground camping and backcountry camping?
A. Yes and no. You cannot occupy two campgrounds at same time (such as Teklanika and Sanctuary on same day). This rule also applies to backcountry camping. Campsites cannot be left unattended overnight. For example, visitors cannot have a campsite at Teklanika Campground, then leave it unattended to camp in the backcountry with plans to return to their Teklanika campsite. Unattended campsites are subject to search and removal of items. In addition, there is no additional parking available at campgrounds. Vehicles must be returned to the frontcountry at the end of a campground stay before departing on a backcountry camping trip.

Tour Buses

Q. What is a Tour bus?
A. Tour buses (tan-colored buses) are narrated excursions into Denali National Park and Preserve. These tours include the famous “Tundra Wilderness Tour,” “Denali Natural History Tour,” “Eielson Excursion,” and “Kantishna Experience.” The bus driver provides information as you explore the Denali Road corridor.

Q. How do I know my departure time?
A. When making a reservation for a Tour bus, reservations are made for a morning or afternoon departure time. Departure times and locations differ daily so a set departure schedule is not available. Assignment of actual departure times occurs two (2) days prior to your scheduled date. You will not receive an email once the time is assigned. Please keep your confirmation email which will contain information on how to retrieve your assigned departure time.

Q. Do Tour Bus ticket prices include the park entrance fee?
A. Yes. Tour bus ticket pricing includes the $15 per person entrance fee. If you have an Interagency Pass (Park Pass), please bring it with you and present it at the reservations desk at the Denali Bus Depot to be refunded this entrance fee. We are unable to look up passholder information. Entrance fee refunds are only available in-person at the Denali Bus Depot.

Q. Can I catch the bus from Denali Bus Depot even though I said pick up from a hotel?
A. Not all the tour buses stop at the Denali Bus Depot. Please select the pick-up location where you will be staying in Denali. If that pick-up location is not available, or you aren’t sure where you will be staying and have transportation, please select the Denali Bus Depot as your pick-up location. This pick-up location is not easy to change so please select carefully when making your reservation. Please note that not all area hotels offer transportation to the Denali Bus Depot early enough for morning departures or late enough for evening returns. Please check directly with your hotel for information on their Denali Bus Depot departure schedule.

Q. Can I purchase same-day tour bus tickets?
A. It is unlikely that tickets will remain for same-day purchases. Reservations are STRONGLY recommended for tour buses.

Q. How do I book a tour while traveling with others?
A. It is STRONGLY recommended that groups traveling together book tour bus tickets as a single reservation. Groups booking separately have a high likelihood of being split between buses when departure times are assigned. Groups booking as a single reservation will not be split.

Q. How long are tour buses?
A. Tour bus round trip times vary by tour type. Round trip times include restrooms stops, wildlife viewing, and time spent at the turnaround location. Round trip times are as follows:
Tundra Wilderness Tour = 5 to 5.5 hours
Denali Natural History Tour = 4.5 to 5 hours
Eielson Excursion = 8 to 9 hours
Kantishna Experience = 13 hours

Q. Is there any hiking involved on a tour bus?
A. There may be limited walking during bus tours. Courtesy wheelchairs are available at all stops for those visitors who may need limited assistance while off the bus.

Q. Do I need a physical ticket?
A. No. The driver of your tour will have your name on their manifest. Simply provide your name to the driver during the boarding process. Please ensure you obtain your departure time 2 days prior to your scheduled date.

Q. It is raining. Can I change my tickets to tomorrow?
A. No. Tickets cannot be changed/modified/cancelled inside of seven (7) days from departure.