Denali Highway
- Admission
- Free
- Hours
- Open daily 24/7 (primarily accessible mid-May to mid-October; unmaintained in winter)
- Duration
- 4-6 hours
- Parking
- Pullouts and scenic overlooks available along the highway
- Access
- Accessible by vehicle; roadside pullouts are gravel but generally flat
This spectacular 135-mile gravel route connects Cantwell to Paxson, offering some of the most breathtaking, untouched wilderness views in Alaska. Once the only gateway to Denali National Park, it treats drivers to panoramic vistas of the Alaska Range and active glaciers! It remains one of the premier off-the-beaten-path road trips in North America.
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Opened in 1957, the Denali Highway was the original road access to Denali National Park before the Parks Highway was completed. Spanning 135 miles from Paxson to Cantwell, this mostly gravel route offers some of the most spectacular, uninterrupted wilderness views in Alaska.
Travelers can expect dramatic vistas of the Alaska Range, sweeping tundra valleys, and pristine glacial rivers. It remains a popular corridor for wildlife viewing, with frequent sightings of caribou, moose, and grizzly bears against a backdrop of towering peaks.
Today, the highway is celebrated as one of the world's premier road trips for those seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure. Its remote nature provides a rare sense of solitude and a glimpse of untouched northern wilderness that is increasingly hard to find.
Ratings
attractionVisitor Tips
- ◆ Ensure your vehicle has a full tank of gas before starting, as there are very limited services along the 135-mile route.
- ◆ Check your rental car agreement, as many traditional car rental companies prohibit driving on the unpaved Denali Highway.
- ◆ Carry at least one usable spare tire and the tools necessary to change it, as flat tires are common on the gravel surface.
- ◆ Plan for a slow journey and expect to spend at least four to five hours driving the highway to safely enjoy the scenery.
Heads Up
- ◆ The highway is mostly gravel, bumpy, and can be heavily potholed or washboarded depending on recent maintenance.
- ◆ Mobile phone service is virtually non-existent along most of the route, making emergency assistance difficult to contact.
- ◆ Winter weather can occur at any time of year, and the road is not maintained or plowed from October through mid-May.
Common questions
Are rental cars allowed on the Denali Highway?
Most national rental car agencies strictly prohibit driving their vehicles on the Denali Highway because the road is mostly unpaved gravel. To drive this route, you must rent from a specialty Alaskan rental agency that explicitly permits gravel road travel.
Is the Denali Highway paved?
Only the first 3 miles from Cantwell and the first 21 miles from Paxson are paved, leaving over 110 miles of rough gravel road. A high-clearance vehicle is highly recommended due to frequent potholes, washboards, and flying rocks.
Are there gas stations along the Denali Highway?
Gas is extremely limited and only available at a few remote wilderness lodges along the route, such as Maclaren River Lodge and Alpine Creek Lodge, often at premium prices. You should fill your gas tank completely in Cantwell or Paxson before starting the drive.
Is the Denali Highway open in the winter?
No, the state does not plow or maintain the Denali Highway from mid-October to mid-May. During the winter months, the road is closed to passenger vehicles and used primarily for snowmachines, dog sledding, and mushing.