Denali / Denali National Park

Riley Creek

Open — Open year-round. Winter season (mid-September through early May) offers free camping on a first-come, first-served basis in the Bear Loop only. Summer reservations strongly recommended for late May through early September.

About

Riley Creek Campground serves as Denali National Park's most accessible camping option, situated just a quarter-mile from the park entrance at Mile 237 of the George Parks Highway. The campground features 142 sites spread across multiple loops in a fairly wooded setting that provides some screening between sites. Most sites accommodate either tent campers or RVs and trailers up to 40 feet in length, though no hookups are available. The campground's location at the park entrance provides convenient access to the Denali Visitor Center via connecting trails, making it an ideal base for exploring the entrance area trail system. While the proximity to Highway 3 means some traffic noise, it also offers easy access to park amenities and businesses just outside the park boundary. Summer amenities include hot showers, laundry facilities, flush toilets, potable water, a camp store, and food storage lockers for wildlife safety. Riley Creek is the only Denali campground open year-round. During the winter season (roughly mid-September through early May), the Bear Loop remains open for free camping on a first-come, first-served basis with vault toilets and water available at the nearby Murie Science and Learning Center. Summer operations offer reservable sites alongside first-come, first-served tent sites, with campfire programs and ranger-led activities available seasonally.

Directions

Take Highway 3 from Fairbanks or Anchorage to reach the park. At Mile 237 on the highway, turn west into Denali. Drive a quarter-mile and look for signs on your left for Riley Creek Campground.

Nearby Campgrounds