Denali National Park spans 6 million acres of Alaskan wilderness, with camping options located between 1,700-3,900 feet elevation. Weather conditions change rapidly in this subarctic environment, with summer temperatures ranging from 33°F-75°F even during peak season. Campgrounds near the park entrance provide the most amenities, while those deeper in the park offer greater wildlife viewing opportunities but require shuttle access beyond Mile 15 of the park road.
What to do
Hike the Savage Alpine Trail: From Savage River Campground, access this moderately challenging 4-mile trail with 1,500 feet of elevation gain. "We absolutely loved our hike on the savage alpine trail, which we took the free shuttle to get to the start and ended outside of our campground," reports one visitor who appreciated the convenient access.
Wildlife viewing along park roads: The Denali Park Road provides excellent wildlife spotting opportunities. "Anyone reading this and considering going to Denali - you WILL see wildlife. We saw a family of foxes, caribou, grizzly bears, a marmot, ground and red squirrels, moose, bald eagles, and a variety of other birds," shares a camper who stayed at Savage River Campground.
Attend ranger programs: Many campgrounds offer evening educational talks. "We also took advantage of the ranger talk that was given in the evening," notes one Riley Creek Campground visitor who found the programs informative for their family.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Waugaman Village RV Park, campers appreciate the generous spacing. "We stayed in camp spot number nine, which was a huge spot and perfect for our 32ft camper truck and three dogs," shares one visitor who found the layout accommodating despite the campground's proximity to a power plant.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain high standards for restrooms and shower facilities. "The bathrooms were some of the cleanest I've seen at any camp site," notes a visitor to Denali RV Park and Motel, highlighting the staff's attention to detail.
Natural surroundings: Campsites often feature native vegetation and wildlife opportunities. A Riley Creek camper describes: "The sites are nicely maintained with nice, edged out tent pad areas. The surrounding trees provide a nice barrier between sites so you don't feel crammed into the campground."
What you should know
Seasonal weather challenges: Alaska's weather can change rapidly. "We camped in a tent under constant daylight and got down to 40s between 3-5am," reports a Savage River Campground visitor describing the summer temperature fluctuations.
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies throughout the area. One visitor to Denali RV Park noted: "Verizon had 4 bars LTE, T-Mobile 2 bars LTE. Wi-Fi is supposedly shared with the motel, but despite seeing the network, we couldn't connect."
Shower token systems: Many campgrounds require tokens for shower access. "Nice bathrooms, you need special tokens from the office for showers," explains an observer at Denali RV Park and Motel, adding that early June visits benefit from smaller crowds.
Limited availability: Campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "Make reservations online up to 6 months in advance to secure your spot," advises a Riley Creek Campground visitor who planned ahead for their Denali trip.
Tips for camping with families
Discovery backpacks: Enhance children's park experience with educational tools. "If you have kids, be sure to check out a discovery backpack filled with activities and science kits they can use. Our 9-year-old loved it so much she asked for a science kit for Christmas!" recommends a Savage River family.
Morning wildlife walks: Schedule early walks for best animal sightings. "The camp host told us that people see moose and bear a lot in the morning on that hike," shares a camper regarding the trail connecting Savage River Campground to the river.
Mercantile access: Some campgrounds offer convenient stores for essentials. Riley Creek features "a mercantile store open to book buses, pay for camping, get beer, ice cream, some goodies. They have laundry and showers," explains a visitor who appreciated the amenities with children.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategies: Choose carefully based on your RV size. A Cantwell RV Park visitor recommends researching sites beforehand: "Great stay, very clean and well kept," noting the importance of checking pad dimensions against your specific rig requirements.
Utility placement awareness: Note hookup locations when setting up. One camper at Denali RV Park shared: "Utilities are at the far end of the gravel pad; we needed 18' of sewer hose to reach. Water pressure was inconsistent, around 35 psi, but we had no issues with 30 AMP power."
Early reservation timing: For RV camping near Denali National Park and Preserve, book early. "We liked how the campground was not right next to the main highway going through Healy and Denali. It is about 3 to 4 miles off the main road," reports a Waugaman Village visitor who reserved ahead to secure their preferred site location.
