How To Explore Denali National Park on a Budget
Most people view Denali National Park as a “once-in-a-lifetime” kind of trip. Bucket-list travel, honeymoons, 50th anniversaries, a save-it-for-retirement vacation. While it can certainly be a 5-star, luxury destination, you can also do Denali on a budget. And here’s the thing: the views will be the exact same.
While you’ll be skipping the fancy backcountry lodges and the private plane or helicopter tours, you’ll still get the incredible feeling of being there, boots on the ground, experiencing Mother Nature at her finest. You’ll still get to see Denali’s best sights—up to mile 43, of course, now that Denali Park Road is closed until 2024 for improvements. Here’s how to explore Denali National Park on a budget.
Take the Denali Star Train
It’s more environmentally friendly anyway.
The Alaska Railroad’s flagship locomotive is the Denali Star Train, which runs from Anchorage to Fairbanks and back every day (issues permitting), so you can hop on at either hub pretty much whenever you like.
Currently, tickets from Fairbanks to Denali are less than $66 one-way, per adult. The train drops off near the visitor center, where you can then explore the park like nearly every other traveler—on foot or via bus. Personal vehicles aren’t allowed past mile 15 anyway, so not having a car is hardly an obstacle here.
Insider tip: Denali’s permafrost is melting thanks to climate change. Without a car, you’ll also be traveling greener.
Stick to the Savage River Shuttle
A cost-effective way to explore.
The Savage River Shuttle runs from the Denali Visitor Center bus stop and the Denali Bus Depot all the way to Savage River at mile 15—for free. Once you’re at the end of the line, hike on the trails, go for a picnic on the river’s edge, or simply use the 2-hour round-trip ride as a free scenic drive, which it definitely will be. There’s no wrong way to do it.
Insider tip: The shuttle also stops at the Savage River Campground and Mountain Vista, a 0.7-mile (1.1-kilometer) loop trail that lets you get a peek at the peak.
Opt for the transit bus
If you want a scenic ride beyond mile 15.
Denali runs three types of buses: tour buses, transit buses, and camper buses. They’re pretty self-explanatory—tour buses do narrated tours; transit buses take visitors around the park; and camper buses shuttle visitors to campgrounds and backcountry units. They sound pretty similar—and they are—but their prices are very, very different.
If you just want to see and explore the park, take the transit bus—it’s about $70 cheaper than the tour bus ($30 vs $100). Download the park on the NPS app before you lose coverage, do your research ahead of time, buy a smartphone audio guide … there are a million things you can do to make sure you still get a lot out of your adventure.
Insider tip: Though you can only go to mile 43, you’ll still get to experience spots like Sable Pass, Cathedral Mountain, Hogan Creek, and more.
Consider taking a group tour
You don’t need to go private to have a good time.
Denali’s tour buses are the main way visitors get to know the park and get around it—and they cost a little over $100 per adult. It gets pricey quickly, especially considering the buses now only run to mile 43 (when they used to run to mile 92).
Booking a group tour—like a Jeep tour through the wilderness—could be a much cheaper flat rate, depending on the size of your group.
Go camping
Just choose your campground wisely.
Ah, camping—the ol’ standby. Camping fees in Denali range from around $20–$40/night. But here’s the kicker: Riley Creek (mile .25) and Savage River (mile 14) are the only campgrounds accessible via free shuttle; to stay beyond mile 15, you’ll have to hitch a ride on a camper bus, which costs around $30 (prices vary depending on distance).
Of course, if you’re staying a while—up to 14 nights is allowed—the cheapest campgrounds can be the way to go. Those are Sanctuary River (mile 22) and Igloo Creek (mile 35).
Insider tip: To camp for free, set up shop in “winter,” aka late September to early May.
... or go backpacking
A stalwart of the budget traveler.
Backcountry permits are free and usually only take about an hour to get. You can nab one at the Backcountry Information Center at the Denali Bus Depot, no more than one day prior to the start of your trip. From there, your only cost is the camper bus fee (distance depending), which will shuttle you to your designated backcountry unit.
That being said, backpacking in Denali isn’t like backpacking in other national parks. There are no trails here, and you’ll be left to your own devices in a wilderness the size of Vermont. Only consider this option if you’re a seasoned pro.
Insider tip: Units 12 and 13, with access to Sunrise and Sunset Glaciers, are highly sought-after. Unit 9—the east branch of the Toklat River—is great, too. Really, though, there’s no bad unit in this majestic park.
Stay on the Sheep Shuttle route
If you don’t want to rough it.
The Sheep Shuttle runs along the George Parks Hwy (Hwy #3) between miles 224 and 239—Carlo Creek and the Canyon, aka Glitter Gulch—and into Denali National Park. At roughly $15–$30 per ride, if you don’t want to rough it in the woods, this could be the way to go. It does require reservations in advance, so make sure to call ahead. (Sadly, it transfers humans, not sheep.)
Insider tip: The company also runs Denali Hostel & Cabins, and the staff there can hook you up with shuttle rides, too.
