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Denali National Park: reservations, fees, camping and weather
Denali National Park, Alaska: what you need to book, what it costs, and when the weather is mildest. Checked November 2026.
Do you need a reservation to enter?
No entry reservation is mentioned on the park's fees page.
Fees and passes
$15 per person aged 16 and older, valid 7 days, charged year-round.
Non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250).
An America the Beautiful pass covers entrance at every national park. US citizens and residents get free entry on national park fee-free days.
Camping: how to book
Camping and permits differ by area; reservable sites and permits are booked on Recreation.gov. Many Recreation.gov campgrounds open on a rolling window months ahead and sell out within minutes; if yours is full, set up a cancellation alert.
Official planning pages
The park's own pages for the things that change: conditions, closures, camping and permits.
Key dates
- Wed 11 Nov 2026 National parks fee-free day: Veterans Day Confirmed
- December 2026 · exact dates not announced 2027 national park fee-free days announced Expected
Weather by month
| Month | Camping weather | Avg high | Avg low | Precip. | Snow | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor · 0 | 10°F | -6°F | 0.6 in | 9.6 in | 5 h 15 m |
| February | Poor · 0 | 20°F | -1°F | 0.7 in | 9.6 in | 8 h 19 m |
| March | Poor · 0 | 25°F | -0°F | 0.5 in | 8.2 in | 11 h 21 m |
| April | Poor · 2 | 41°F | 17°F | 0.4 in | 6.9 in | 14 h 44 m |
| May | Good · 74 | 55°F | 31°F | 0.8 in | 2.6 in | 17 h 57 m |
| June | Great · 100 | 65°F | 41°F | 2.4 in | 0.1 in | 20 h 20 m |
| July | Great · 99 | 66°F | 44°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in | 19 h 15 m |
| August | Great · 97 | 61°F | 41°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in | 16 h 06 m |
| September | Fair · 59 | 51°F | 31°F | 1.7 in | 5.0 in | 12 h 43 m |
| October | Poor · 0 | 34°F | 16°F | 0.8 in | 9.4 in | 9 h 27 m |
| November | Poor · 0 | 18°F | 2°F | 0.8 in | 12.9 in | 6 h 12 m |
| December | Poor · 0 | 14°F | -2°F | 0.8 in | 12.4 in | 4 h 07 m |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Mckinley Park, AK weather station (2,070 ft). Higher trails are colder; temperatures usually drop about 3–5°F per 1,000 ft. "Camping weather" is our simple score: best with highs of 62–82°F, nights above freezing and under 3 in of precipitation. It rates weather only, not road closures, snow on trails or crowds. Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th. About NOAA normals ↗
Questions
Do I need a reservation to enter Denali National Park?
No entry reservation is mentioned on the park's fees page.
How much does it cost to enter Denali?
$15 per person aged 16 and older, valid 7 days, charged year-round. Non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250).
When is the weather mildest at Denali?
Using NOAA averages at the park's weather station, average highs are between 60°F and 85°F in June to August. July is warmest (about 66°F) and January has the coldest nights (about -6°F).
Sources: Denali fees and passes (nps.gov), NOAA station data. Rules change; always check the official park site before you go.
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