The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Tent Camping near Denali National Park and Preserve

109 Reviews

Tent camping options surrounding Denali National Park and Preserve range from established campgrounds to remote backcountry sites, with several tent-only areas available throughout the park. Wonder Lake Campground, located 85 miles from the park entrance, provides dedicated tent sites with stunning views of Denali when weather permits, while backcountry units like Mount Eielson and Muldrow Glacier offer primitive camping experiences for those seeking solitude.

Sites within the national park require varying methods of access, with most backcountry camping accessible only by hiking in and established campgrounds like Wonder Lake requiring a 4.5-hour bus ride from the park entrance. Most tent-only areas lack amenities such as showers or electricity, though Wonder Lake does provide flush toilets and potable water. Sanctuary River and Igloo Creek campgrounds operate from May through mid-September, while backcountry permits are required for primitive tent camping in the park's wilderness units. One camper noted that "the bear locker is huge! Bring as much as you are willing to lug out there!" Bear-resistant food storage is essential throughout the region, with dedicated lockers available at established sites.

The mountainous terrain creates variable weather conditions that tent campers should prepare for, including potential rain, cold temperatures, and notorious mosquito activity. According to one visitor, "Camping at Wonder Lake with a clear view is an amazing experience. Private sites with great views. It will make you forget the mosquitos." Walk-in tent sites at Wonder Lake provide relative privacy despite the campground's popularity, though all tents remain visible to each other. Backcountry tent campers in units like Mount Eielson may encounter marsh conditions at lower elevations but can find spectacular views by gaining elevation. Hiking even a short distance from access points in many backcountry units provides significant solitude, though water sources and mosquito density should factor into site selection within these primitive areas.

Map showing campgrounds near Denali National Park and Preserve, AlaskaExplore the Map

Best Tent Sites Near Denali National Park and Preserve (9)

Show More
Showing results 1-9 of 9 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Denali National Park and Preserve Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Tent Camping Photos near Denali National Park and Preserve

10 Photos of 9 Denali National Park and Preserve Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Denali National Park and Preserve

109 Reviews of 9 Denali National Park and Preserve Campgrounds

  • Gillian H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 9, 2018

    Backcountry Entrance Units — Denali National Park

    Backcountry units near the frontcountry

    Backpacking in Denali National Park and Preserve in the wintertime is rough. Do not try it unless you know what you are doing. Everything in the area pretty much shuts down during the winter months! Do not expect a warm Irish coffee after the backpacking trek through the snow. On the plus side, everything is free! If you can get yourself out there you can go as far as you would like. I only got 1-2 miles from the sled dog kennels as my toes thought it was too cold to venture further. There are limited water supply areas and if you do want them you must be willing to trek a few miles in deep snow to get to them. I should mention that there’s lots of snow during the wintertime just one more time. Be prepared! i visited in October but for some reason can not change it to the proper month.

    BUT you also get the chance to see the northern lights so it’s a win.

    P.s. these units are very very different during the summer months and very accessible to tourists!

  • Chad
    Jul. 10, 2024

    East Fork Chulitna Wayside

    Nice free campsite

    Over 10 free campsites, no electric, no water. Pit toilets available. Sites have tables and fire rings. This is a gem of a find! When Denali closed due to wildfires my family and I found this spot which saved our vacation. Some sites are overgrown, mosquitoes are bad so bring spray.

  • A
    Sep. 5, 2016

    Savage River Campground — Denali National Park

    Gorgeous scenery and great park access

    This was one of our all-time favorite campgrounds! The campsite was spacious and had lots of privacy, with a picnic table, fire ring and plenty of space for a large tent. Our site backed up to woods that were filled with spongy, mossy ground coverings and "evidence" of moose presence. Our family loved exploring this area! We walked to the savage river at the back of the campground and explored this area, attended a great ranger talk and had some fabulous mountain views. We also loved the location of the campground, as we could drive our car but were further away from the crowded front areas of the park. 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. 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!

  • B
    Jun. 24, 2016

    Igloo Creek Campground — Denali National Park

    in nature

    site: walk-in. wooded. private. amenities: no water. small campground. attractions: creek. Denali park. hiking. wildlife. I would go camping here again.

  • Alison G.
    Sep. 26, 2016

    Wonder Lake Campground — Denali National Park

    Nothing Compares

    There's not much that can compare to waking up in campground. Well worth the long drive in, the sites are large with plenty of space around you so that feel almost as if you're out there alone. A nice reminder that you aren't is the common area with picnic tables and large walk in bear storage room. There are ranger programs in the evening but by far the best part is soaking in the views.

  • Kathy M.
    Jul. 26, 2018

    Teklanika River Campground — Denali National Park

    Amazing Gem 30miles Into Denali

    Teklanika Campground is a phenomenal location for camping in Denali. Accessible to both tent and RV campers at mile 29.1 on the Denali Park Rd this campground has vault toilets, picnic tables, and fire pits and requires a minimum 3 night stay with no access to the front of the park (without additional fees) once you arrive. Campers here purchase a Tek Pass which allows access further into the park via the bus system (the only way to get further into Denali from this campground). Our favorite feature of this campground was the Tek River which is directly next to the campground. The river bar made for excellent hiking and adventures for the whole family with plenty of animals to see. We would definitely camp here again!

  • Amber A.
    Jun. 30, 2016

    Wonder Lake Campground — Denali National Park

    Surreal experience, National Park perfection!

    Drive alllll the way to the end of the road in Denali. As if you weren't already rewarded by the trip through the park, this campground is incredible. You can't choose a bad site, almost all of them have a view of Denali (assuming it doesn't hide in the clouds). So much wildlife! We saw bears along the road but no evidence of them near the campsite thanks to the rules in place (store food in lockers). Camp sites weren't close together, "neighbors" are from all over the world and fun to talk with.

    Facilities are clean and among the best I've encountered in the National Park system. Tents only!! Make reservations far in advance.

    Lots of hiking in the area or just bushwhack (check with rangers for policies). Once in a lifetime adventure, stay a few days!

  • Dan G.
    Jun. 14, 2016

    Wonder Lake Campground — Denali National Park

    Wonder Lake, was wonder-ful

    Wonder Lake Campground is one of those campgrounds that you may be surprised by. We were! First Wonder Lake is the last campground on the long and only road in Denali National Park. The bus stops by several campgrounds during the long 5.5 - 6 hours bus ride to wonder lake, but don't be tempted by a shorter bus ride. Wonder Lake is the only campground that you can actually see Denali from and is well worth the extra bumpy few hours on the bus to get there.

    Once we arrived we were surprised to see bathrooms with flush toilets, potable water easily accessible and large walk-in bear storage areas along with picnic tables in a common area and at each campsite. All of the campsites face Denali and will have a view of the Alaskan Mountain range as long as it is not clouded in. Unfortunately for campers, we were told the mountain is only visible about 20% of the time. We were lucky enough to be the 20%, but I would recommend reserving a few days to give yourself a better chance of seeing the great views the campground has to offer.

    There is a short path behind the common area that leads to Wonder Lake. The lake is also a great spot to view wildlife and if you are into fishing i recommend bringing a fishing pole. The fish in the lake are very active and will bite on anything since there are very few people who actually fish in the lake. The nice thing about fishing in Denali is that you do not need a permit or license to actually fish. There is also a great, and one of the few, hiking trail called the McKinley Bar Trail that is well worth the hike is the mountain is out. It is a pretty flat and well marked trail that is only about a quarter mile from the campground entrance.

    The entire area is very buggy and you will want to bring mosquito nets or very strong bug spray at the very least.

    One of the other things that we wish we would have known is that with the large bear lockers and picnic tables you don't have to skimp on the food packing. There were a couple of campers that actually brought an entire large yeti cooler with them and they ate like kings the few days they were there We had packed light, but wish we would have known about the ample storage area so we could of had at least one nice dinner instead of a couple of Clif Bars.

    All in all I would rate Wonder Lake my favorite non back country campsite that I have visited as long as you can see the mountain. If you can't it is still a great spot just not as awe inspiring.

  • Sam M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 28, 2019

    Sanctuary River Campground — Denali National Park

    small and quiet

    I camped here a few years ago when I was on an Alaska trip with my grandma.  We were moving around a lot and this campground was just what we needed for one night.  We took the shuttle bus in, since that's the only way to get there, stayed for a night and then moved on. There aren't many sites in this place, maybe 10 or so but they are spread out and nice. Only tent sites with no hook ups. Be prepared because there is no drinking water here so you need to bring your own or some way to purify it. You can't make reservations, its only walk ups.  

    We did one little hike while we were in the area which ended up being really nice. I would definitely recommend checking out horseshoe lake trail if you need an easy hike and want some nice views. I think it was about 2 miles without much elevation gain. 

    Although we didn't stay here for very long, just passing through Denali, it was a good experience and I would recommend the campground.

Guide to Denali National Park and Preserve

Tent camping near Denali National Park and Preserve offers breathtaking views and a chance to immerse yourself in Alaska's stunning wilderness. With a variety of campgrounds to choose from, outdoor enthusiasts can find the perfect spot to pitch their tent.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • At Wonder Lake Campground, campers can enjoy drinking water, picnic tables, and toilets, making for a comfortable stay amidst nature.
  • Igloo Creek Campground provides a secluded experience with wooded sites, though it lacks drinking water and communal fire pits.
  • Sanctuary River Campground features a small number of spread-out tent sites, perfect for those seeking a quiet retreat.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Fishing and hiking opportunities abound at Wonder Lake Campground, where stunning views of Denali can be enjoyed.
  • Backcountry Unit 13: Mount Eielson offers a vast playground for summer camping, with endless hiking trails and the chance to spot wildlife like caribou.
  • Adventurers at Muldrow Glacier can explore beautiful hiking routes and enjoy the thrill of crossing rivers to reach the glacier.

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $25

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Denali National Park and Preserve?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Denali National Park and Preserve is Backcountry Unit 18: Muldrow Glacier — Denali National Park with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Denali National Park and Preserve?

TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Denali National Park and Preserve, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring