Denali National Park Hotels & Lodging
You want to find Denali Park lodging that's right for your needs...and your budget. Here's our insider's advice: First, decide if you want to stay near the Denali Park Entrance or in the remote center of the Park, an area known as Kantishna.
90% of visitors choose a Denali hotel near the park entrance because it’s convenient, less expensive, offers a variety of lodges from luxurious to rustic, is near the national park visitor center, and is within easy access to transportation and interpretive bus trips along Denali Park Road and a variety of recreational activities and Denali excursions.
We recommend 7 hotels near the Denali Park Entrance; McKinley Chalet Resort, Denali Park Village, Tonglen Lake Lodge, Denali Grizzly Bear Resort, Denali Princess Lodge, Grande Denali Lodge, and Denali Bluffs Hotel. They are all scenically situated and among the better-managed Denali lodges at the park entrance.
If you want a secluded setting (and have a little extra money and time to spend) in the remote center of the park, choose a Kantishna area wilderness lodge.
Back here, a 6-hour drive from the park entrance, near the end of the mostly unpaved, winding 90-mile Denali Park Road, are a few wilderness lodges. (In 2023, lodges will be accessible via a short flight instead of the 6-hour drive due construction on the Denali Park Road) You won’t find restaurant choices or souvenir shops; what you will discover is the quiet solitude of Denali’s backcountry.
Staying in the heart of the Park is not for everyone. Not only are these Denali wilderness lodges far from civilization; they’re also more expensive. Unlike park entrance Denali hotels, though, prices are all-inclusive, per person rates that include transportation, lodging, meals, and activities.
Some lodges require a 2- to 4-night stay, such as Camp Denali Lodge, one of the finest wilderness lodges in the state. Nearby Kantishna Roadhouse is another quality Kantishna area lodge with a deep sense of history and an idyllic setting on the bend of a river. Or, stay at the Denali Backcountry Lodge on the banks of Moose Creek.
Denali Hotels
Denali Park Entrance Area Hotels
| Hotel | Time to Visitor Center | Shuttle to Park Entrance | Price Per Night | Restaurant On Site | Walk to Nearby Restaurants | Private Bath | Trip Advisor Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denali Park Village | 11 mins | yes | $319+ | no | yes | yes | 3 |
| Denali Bluffs Hotel | 7 mins | yes | $229+ | yes | no, shuttle available | yes | 3.5 |
| Denali Grizzly Bear Resort | 12 mins | yes | $128+ | no | yes | yes | 3.5 |
| Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge | 7 mins | yes | $149+ | yes | yes | yes | 3.5 |
| Grande Denali Lodge | 7 mins | yes | $359+ | yes | no, shuttle available | yes | 3.5 |
| McKinley Chalet Resort | 7 mins | yes | $199.95+ | yes | yes | yes | 3.5 |
| Tonglen Lake Lodge | 15 mins | no | $815+ (meals all-inclusive) | yes | no | yes | 5 |
| Backwoods Lodge | 35 mins | no | $139+ | no | yes | no | 4.5 |
Kantishna Hotels Inside Denali National Park
| Hotel | Flight Time from Visitor Center | All-Inclusive Price / Night | Restaurant on Site | Private Bath | Trip Advisor Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Denali | 1 hr | $1375+ per person per night, all-inclusive, 3 night minimum + $700 (round-trip flight) | yes | no | 5 |
| Denali Backcountry Lodge | 1 hr | $1700+ per person, per night (2 night minimum) | yes | yes | 4.5 |
| Kantishna Roadhouse | 1 hr | $1600 per person, per night (plus bed tax). 3 night minimum | yes | yes | 4.5 |
Denali Park Entrance Area
Set on a hill, this 166-room hotel offers a bright, contemporary version on the classic rustic lodge style with native Alaska art in the lobbies. The lodge features a vaulted ceiling, comfortable lounges facing a stone fireplace, gift shop, tour desk, guest laundry, courtesy shuttle service and the Alpenglow Restaurant. The rooms feature colorful Alaskan décor and, at about 300 square feet, are some of the largest in the area. For even more ...more
An exclusive lakeside oasis with hideaway cabins accessible by car and only 7 miles south of Denali National Park entrance. In addition to luxurious accommodations, you can enjoy the art gallery, artisan bakery, and spacious lawn with a campfire circle and a lovely view of the Alaska Range.
One of the reasons Princess has risen to be the largest cruise and tour company in Alaska is the huge investment they’ve made in their lodges. The spacious new main building of the Denali Princess Lodge is a prime example with a 50-foot mural of Mount McKinley, grand staircases, and a 65-foot fireplace. The resort offers casual and fine dining, an expansive deck overlooking the Nenana River and Denali National Park, and a long list of amenities. ...more
The Denali Bluffs is the closest to park entrance. The lobby greets you with a warm fireplace and large windows that look out onto the patio. If it’s a nice day, sit outside and enjoy a meal at the Mountaineer Grill & Bar. The 112 original Hillside Rooms and the new 64 room addition, the RiverView Premium Rooms, are nestled in to the shoulder of Sugarloaf Mountain, above the Denali National Park entrance. The hotel is designed to make ...more
12-room, locally owned lodge 30 minutes south of Denali National Park at the intersection of the Parks and Denali Highways. This year-round accommodation provides simple but well-appointed rooms away from the main activity of the park entrance.
Overlook the Nenana River in rustic elegance at the McKinley Chalet Resort, a recently remodeled upscale hotel just one mile from the Denali Park entrance. Heavy on cedar, the lodge has several buildings tucked into forest, all connected by boardwalks, and this Swiss chalet feel makes it more intimate than its 478 rooms suggest. Choose from deluxe rooms or upscale, cedar-lodge mini-sites. The “upper” rooms at the McKinley Chalet have great views ...more
Located seven miles from the park entrance, the comfortable accommodations at Denali Park Village are far enough from the park’s hustle and bustle that you can focus on Alaska’s natural treasures.
The family-run Denali Grizzly Bear Resort offers a variety of accommodations, great amenities, and amazing views of mountains and the Nenana River. And its location, six miles south of the Denali National Park Visitors Center but outside the main tourist area, means you’ll have easy park access without feeling crowded. Choose from their hotel rooms, private cabins, or campground.
Kantishna Area (Inside the Park)
At Camp Denali, you’ll immerse yourself in a remote backcountry, but with a cozy bed to settle into each night. Take in the quiet of the surrounding wilderness and enjoy the simple, sustainable amenities for around 38 guests. Here, the balance of “light touch on the land” and providing a comfortable stay is perfected. Refined rustic guest cabins, each of which claims a unique view of Denali, sleep from two to six people.
For a lot of travelers, exploring deep into Denali National Park, far from the crowds, sounds like the ideal way to experience the famous park. But not everyone wants to rough it out there — which is why this lodge is the perfect balance, a comfortable perch in seriously remote wilderness.
The Kantishna Roadhouse is an indigenous owned and operated, all-inclusive backcountry lodge in the heart of Denali National Park. Accessible only by air, experience the wilds of Kantishna with just a handful of other guests and experienced staff. They limit the number of guests on property in order to provide you with a unique, intimate experience.
Expert Advice
