By Laura Nguyen
Immerse yourself in the unparalleled beauty of Alaska during summer, where vibrant landscapes, abundant wildlife, and endless daylight create a truly unforgettable experience.
Denali Park Road Reopening in 2027: What Visitors Need to Know
Friday 23 October 2026
With the new Pretty Rocks Bridge finished, buses will once again travel the full 92 miles of the Denali Park Road, past Wonder Lake and on to Kantishna.
What happened, and what's changed
In August 2021, the Pretty Rocks landslide near mile 45 forced the National Park Service to close the road and cut Denali's only road in half. Everything west of the slide, including Wonder Lake, Kantishna and the lodges there, was off limits to road traffic. Over the past five years, crews built a roughly 475-foot steel bridge across the slide. It was completed in 2026, and the National Park Service is now repairing the road and facilities beyond it to prepare for the 2027 season.
What you can see in 2027
⛰️ Wonder Lake (mile 85):
Famous for its reflections of Denali on clear days, and reachable by bus again.
Famous for its reflections of Denali on clear days, and reachable by bus again.
⛰️ Kantishna (mile 92):
The former gold-mining district at the end of the road, home to Denali Backcountry Lodge, Kantishna Roadhouse and Camp Denali. These lodges have relied on small aircraft since 2021, and the road reopens their land access.
The former gold-mining district at the end of the road, home to Denali Backcountry Lodge, Kantishna Roadhouse and Camp Denali. These lodges have relied on small aircraft since 2021, and the road reopens their land access.
⛰️ The wider interior:
Long stretches of tundra, river valleys and big-mountain views, with some of the park's best chances to see grizzlies, caribou, Dall sheep and moose.
Long stretches of tundra, river valleys and big-mountain views, with some of the park's best chances to see grizzlies, caribou, Dall sheep and moose.
Denali park bus tours in 2027: rates and dates
The 2027 tour program is now confirmed. Four narrated park bus tours operate, and they differ mainly in how far along the Park Road they go. Because the road past mile 45 is open again, the longer tours return to the deep interior.
Denali Natural History Tour
Turnaround: Mile 17, Primrose Ridge
⏱️ 4.5–5 hours📅 May 12 – Sept 16
The shortest tour, with narration on the park's natural and cultural history along the first part of the Park Road. A good choice if time is tight, and the first tour to start in the season.
Adult
$124.75
Child
$55.00
Toklat Tundra Wilderness Tour
Turnaround: Mile 53, Toklat River
⏱️ 7–8 hours📅 May 20 – May 31
A narrated early-season trip past the Pretty Rocks Bridge to the Toklat River. It runs only in the last days of May, before the full Tundra Wilderness Tour begins.
Adult
$191.25
Child
$88.25
Tundra Wilderness Tour (Full)
Turnaround: Mile 62, Stony Hill Overlook
⏱️ 7–8 hours📅 June 1 – Sept 16
The classic Denali bus tour. It takes you deep into the park's wilderness to Stony Hill Overlook, a viewpoint with big-mountain scenery and, on clear days, views of Denali.
Adult
$221.25
Child
$103.25
Kantishna Experience
Turnaround: Mile 92, Kantishna, the end of the road
⏱️ 13 hours📅 June 8 – Sept 16
The full length of the Park Road to Kantishna and back in a single long day, past Wonder Lake. It is the only tour to the end of the road, and it starts when bus service to Kantishna resumes.
Adult
$329.75
Child
$157.50
Not offered in 2027
Teklanika Wilderness Tour
Mile 30, Teklanika Rest Area · 4–5 hours
Not offered in 2027
Eielson Excursion
Mile 66, Eielson Visitor Center · 8–9 hours
Not offered in 2027
Good to know about the rates
• A child ticket is for children aged 15 and under.
• Adult prices include the $15 per adult park entrance fee, which is added automatically.
• Visitors with a valid National Park Service pass can request a refund of the entrance fee at the Denali Bus Depot. Refunds can only be processed in person.
• Wheelchair-accessible buses are available on request when you make your reservation, and all stops are wheelchair accessible.
More day trips to Kantishna
Besides the park's own Kantishna Experience, two further guided tours take you the full length of the Park Road and back in a single day:
Denali Backcountry Adventure
$339 per person
A narrated 12–13 hour day trip along all 92 miles of the Park Road. Lunch is included at Denali Backcountry Lodge, followed by time to explore Kantishna at your own pace. The tour runs subject to park access, weather and operating conditions, and it can sell out in peak season.
Kantishna Wilderness Trails
$259 per person
A narrated full-day tour to the end of the road, with lunch at Kantishna Roadhouse. In past seasons the afternoon included a short hike along Moose Creek and a gold-panning demonstration.
Prefer to travel on your own schedule? Transit buses let you hop off to hike and catch a later bus. Shorter narrated tours are also a good choice if time is tight. We can help you choose. Our tour packages already include the transit bus.
What to know before you plan
⛰️ Bus service to Kantishna is expected to begin on June 8, 2027.
The 2027 schedule matches this: the Kantishna Experience runs from June 8 to September 16. The broader reopening happens in phases, so check exact routes and schedules before you book.
The 2027 schedule matches this: the Kantishna Experience runs from June 8 to September 16. The broader reopening happens in phases, so check exact routes and schedules before you book.
⛰️ Eielson Visitor Center stays closed.
The road to it reopens, but buses won't stop there for visitor services in 2027, and the Eielson Excursion is not offered.
The road to it reopens, but buses won't stop there for visitor services in 2027, and the Eielson Excursion is not offered.
⛰️ Wonder Lake Campground is expected to reopen.
There is no road access for private vehicles, so campers must book bus transport as well.
There is no road access for private vehicles, so campers must book bus transport as well.
⛰️ Private vehicles still stop at mile 15.
Past that point, you travel by park or tour bus.
Past that point, you travel by park or tour bus.
⛰️ The tour rates are set, but transit bus fares are not.
Park tour rates are listed above. The transit bus fares for 2027 haven't been announced.
Park tour rates are listed above. The transit bus fares for 2027 haven't been announced.
Book early
Bus and campground reservations for 2027 are scheduled to open on December 1, and the deep-interior options are likely to sell out first. If you're planning a Denali stay for summer 2027, now is a good time to talk to us. We can match the right bus option to your itinerary, build in flexibility, and pair it with Alaska Railroad or road trip routes.
