Denali by RV: A Drive on Alaska’s Wild Side

Visiting Denali National Park in an RV opens up a special kind of wilderness road trip. Although Denali has one main road—your experience doesn't have to feel touristy or crowded. In this post, we’ll highlight skimmable, practical tips for RV travelers, steer you to less-visited corners of the park, and help you pick campgrounds that can handle your rig.

Whether you roam in a 25-ft travel trailer or a 40-ft motorhome, your Denali adventure can be wild, quiet, and uniquely yours.

Quick Overview: Denali & Access Basics

• Denali (formerly Mount McKinley) is the tallest peak in North America at about 20,310 ft.
• Denali National Park has only one road entrance. “Park Road” is about 92 miles long, runs east to west and is mainly dirt and gravel.
• Private vehicles may drive only the first ~15 miles of that Park Road. Beyond that, access is via shuttle buses or guided tours. 
• That limitation means your RV planning needs to consider where you can actually park, camp, and explore on foot or by bus.

RV-Friendly Campgrounds & Overnight Spots

Inside Denali National Park

Of Denali’s six campgrounds, three allow RVs (no hookups). 

1. Riley Creek Campground (mile ~0.25) — the park’s most developed. 142 RV & tent sites. It’s open year-round.
2. Savage River Campground (mile ~14) — RV/tent allowed. Open in summer only (May 20 to mid-September).
3. Teklanika River Campground (mile ~29) — also allows RVs. Open in summer only (May 20 to mid-September). There is a 3-night minimum.

Important details:

• None of the Denali campgrounds offer electric or water hookups. 
• Generator hours are restricted: 8–10 am and 4–8 pm. Outside those timeframes, generators must stay off. Plan your arrival accordingly. Also, be sure to carry extra water and power reserves.
• There is an RV dump/fill station at Riley Creek Mercantile, free for campers. 

Nearby Private & Full-Service Campgrounds

Because in-park camping is limited, many RVers use private parks just outside the boundary:

1. Denali RV Park & Motel (Healy, just minutes from the park entrance) — 82 full-hookup RV sites, pull-throughs, laundry, etc. 
2. Denali Rainbow Village RV Park (mile 238.6 Parks Hwy) — close proximity to the park, full hookups, basic facilities. This is a Good Sam park.
   
3. Cantwell RV Park — located ~26 miles south of the Denali entrance, useful as a staging point. 

Make a nearby campground home base and explore the park via shuttles or guided tour.

Off the Beaten Path: Hidden & Little-Known Highlights

Here are some fun, less-visited ideas to sprinkle into your Denali RV trip (when weather and schedule allow):

1. Fox Creek Waterfall Hike A short but adventurous offshoot hike passes alongside a creek, through loose rock, and requires crossing a creek to reach a 35-foot waterfall. Many travelers skip this one—but it can be squeezed into a half-day outing. 
2. Ewe Creek Ranger Cabin (Lower Savage Patrol Cabin) This rustic log cabin (built in 1931) sits about 5 river miles downstream from the park highway along the Savage River. It’s part of Denali’s historic ranger network. 
3. Igloo Creek Patrol Cabin No. 25 Near mile 34.1, originally built in 1928, this is a log shelter used by park rangers in their backcountry patrols. 
4. Stampede Trail & Abandoned Mines Intersects near Healy (milepost ~251.1 on the Parks Highway). Though much of it is rough and backcountry, it leads to an old antimony mine and offers a rugged Alaskan feel. 
5. Kesugi Ridge Trail Just outside the national park boundary, this 22-mile ridge line hike offers sweeping views of Denali and takes hikers across tundra ridges and alpine terrain. 
6. Shuttle Hop-Off Exploring When riding the official shuttle buses deeper into the park, you can hop off, explore for a bit, then reboard another shuttle later. This isn’t heavily advertised, but it allows more flexible micro-exploration. 

Sample 5-Day RV Itinerary

Tips:

• Reserve early — Denali’s campgrounds and the private ones fill up during summer.
• Check for road closures — Some sections (e.g. Pretty Rocks landslide) have periodically caused closures or limited access.
• Come prepared — Pack solar panels, water jugs, extra gas, spare parts.
• Respect wildlife — Bears, moose, caribou roam freely. Always store food properly, follow park rules.
• Backcountry permits — Apply in advance via NPS for off-trail hiking and remote camping. 

Little-Known Facts

• The Pretty Rocks Landslide is a slow-moving landslide under part of the Park Road, becoming more active in recent years due to thawing permafrost.
• Denali’s park road was built on permafrost — as it thaws, ground instability is a real infrastructure challenge.
• Denali is sometimes considered the tallest mountain “from base to peak” on land, depending on how base is defined, which is a fun debate among mountain geeks.
• The Koyukon Athabaskan people have called the peak “Denali” (meaning “the tall one”) for centuries—only recently did the U.S. federal maps officially restore that name after years of “Mount McKinley.”

Denali National Park is perfect for RV travelers—it delivers untamed wilderness by day and peaceful rest by night. After exploring rugged trails, spotting wildlife, and soaking in Alaska’s vast beauty, you’ll want bedding that fits as perfectly as the adventure itself. AB Lifestyles RV bedding, proudly made in the USA, is designed for tricky RV mattress sizes and sheet sets featuring our exclusive NoTuck Top Sheet®, making bed-making simple so you can relax and recharge for tomorrow’s adventures.