Thanks to the opportunity to work remotely, I spent three weeks in Alaska working in Anchorage during the week and then taking off to explore on the weekends. (Check out my post on a weekend road trip on the Kenai Peninsula here.) Visiting Denali National Park had always been a dream, and even though I couldn’t spend as long as I would have liked in the park, I decided that a car-free weekend in Denali was well worth it! Getting to Denali without a car was fairly simple – I took an easy, direct bus there and back, and used the park shuttle buses within the park.
Day 1 – Bus to Denali
3pm – I took the Park to Park northbound bus from Anchorage to Denali on a Friday afternoon, leaving Anchorage at 3pm and arriving at Denali at 8:30pm. The bus was very comfortable, with a bathroom on board, and made one stop in Talkeetna at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge. The Lodge was a nice stop, and apparently has great views of Denali when it’s not too cloudy! While there was a gift shop with some snacks when I was there, and there may be other food available now, I’d suggest bringing some food on the bus.
9pm – There are several official bus stops in the Denali area, and a few other campers and I were happy our driver let us off at the turnoff for the Park Road. From there (near the iconic park sign) it was just a short walk in to the Riley Creek Campground. Thanks to those long Alaska days, no rush to set up camp before dark; you can take your time getting situated and even have a late dinner at camp if needed. Reservations are not required but are available online; the Riley Creek Mercantile, where you can get permits and bus tickets, is open until 10pm.
Day 2 – Car-free in Denali National Park
6am – Rise and shine! The big question with Denali is whether the sun will be shining and if you have any chance of actually seeing the mountain – historically they say only 30% of park visitors actually get a glimpse during their visit. That said, the odds of seeing wildlife along the way are much higher and there are a variety of hiking options, and adventure is generally found out along the Park Road.
There are a variety of bus tour options available; in July 2021 I took the non-narrated transit bus to the Eielson Visitor Center at the end of the road, which is an 8 hour round trip so worth starting early (although there were buses leaving throughout the morning). In 2022 the Park Road is closed beyond Mile 43 due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide – which has been an issue for years and unfortunately seems to be getting worse – so be sure to check conditions right before your trip. Visitors this year can still make the most of their day with hikes along the road up to Mile 43.
12pm – After arriving at the Eielson Visitor Center, I took the Thorofare Ridge Trail, a little less than a mile up to the ridge but quite steep. Denali was hidden on the weekend I visited, but the clouds were drifting through dramatically and I enjoyed the views of the surrounding landscape regardless. Note that there is no food available at the Visitor Center, so pack a lunch and snacks.
3pm – During my visit, a transit bus ticket to the Visitor Center allowed you to catch a bus back whenever you were ready – although the return trips were first-come, first-served, so it was important to check in with the staff managing the list of folks waiting to go back, and be patient as you might not get a spot on the next bus going back as soon as you’re ready.
7pm – Back at the campground for dinner; there are some restaurants in the area, but without a car (there weren’t really any rideshares available in the area while I was there) I found it easier to just cook at my campsite. The Riley Creek Mercantile does have some camp food options, if you don’t want to bring everything with you.
Day 3 – Riley Creek Area & Return
7am – Maybe sleep in a little today, but you can make the most of the morning to explore the area around the park entrance. The Denali Visitor Center is a short walk from the campground, and there are a few hikes in the area. You might even be able to visit the Denali Sled Dog Kennels, a little down the road and accessible by bus.
1:45pm – Catch the Denali Express southbound, leaving the Denali area at 1:45pm at arriving in Anchorage at 8:30pm. Be careful to check the available pickup locations and find your best pickup option. I took a shuttle from the Denali Visitor Center to the Denali Cabins and then caught the bus to Anchorage from there.
Google probably wants me to make sure you know that you can find other sample weekend 48-hour trip itineraries here, and other national park guides here. You can see all my Alaska posts, including a guide to taking the ferry to Alaska, here. And, I should probably re-state that this is a post about a car-free weekend in Denali. Happy walking!
