Denali National Park with Kids: The Ultimate 3–4 Day Family Itinerary

Denali might seem like a tough destination to tackle with kids, but it turned out to be one of our favorite parts of Alaska. Between the epic views, the chance to see wild animals, and fun activities that are surprisingly kid-friendly, Denali has a lot going for it. Denali National Park with kids is completely doable.

We visited with our then 9-year-old daughter and found a rhythm that balanced adventure with downtime. With 3 to 4 days, you can hit the highlights without feeling rushed—and make some seriously cool family memories in the process.

Here’s how we made the most of our trip to Denali National Park.

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Day 1: Settle In and Explore the Park Entrance Area

Stop at the Denali Visitor Center

This is your first stop for a reason. The Denali Visitor Center has great exhibits, a short intro film, and a Junior Ranger Program that our daughter loved. Rangers are on hand to answer questions and help plan your time in the park. It’s also a good place to get maps and trail recommendations.

There are some pretty impressive taxidermy displays. That moose is huge!

Overall, I thought the visitor center was very well done. It was informative and definitely worth a stop. You won’t need to spend a long time here, but it definitely gives tons of details about the wildlife and ecosystem.

Take a Short Hike: Horseshoe Lake Trail

Right near the Visitor Center, Horseshoe Lake Trail is one of the best starter hikes. It’s a 2-mile loop with forest paths, a peaceful lake view, and chances to spot beavers and ducks. Our daughter rated it as her favorite hike because it was short, scenic, and had plenty of spots to rest.

Catch a Sled Dog Demonstration at the Denali Kennels

The sled dog kennels are a quick shuttle ride away and a hit with kids. You can meet the dogs, pet a few, and watch a demonstration of how they train and work. It’s fascinating to see just how important sled dogs are in Denali.

The way this works is you take the free bus shuttle to the kennels about 40 minutes prior to each sled dog demonstration. During the summer months, the demonstrations are a 10am, 2pm, and 4pm. Keep in mind the shuttle time because during the summer months you can drive to the kennels but parking is very limited and it’s unlikely you will find a spot.

Once you arrive you can visit the dogs at their homes. Some of the dogs come right over and let you pet them. Some are a bit more standoff-ish. Still, you can get pretty close to them.

At the designated time, grab a seat in the bleacher area. Or, you can stand to the side. We stood because it was a better view for us. The demonstration is not super long but they put the dogs through some agility type demonstrations, talk about their role in Denali National Park, and show the dogs in action with a sled.

And the cutest part? There is a better than average chance you will get to see the puppies!

Dinner Option: Black Diamond Grill

Casual but tasty, with pizza, burgers, and salads. Great for a low-key dinner after a travel day. Note: Black Diamond Grill is open late! That is a huge bonus if your touring keeps you out. When we dined here, it was 10pm, but they still served us a delicious dinner.

And… it was 10pm and perfectly light outside. Welcome to the land of the midnight sun!

Drive into the park after dinner!

I would recommend driving as far as you can into the park any day (or evening). During the summer months you can drive to Mile 15 (Savage River). Even if you are planning a Denali bus trip, I would recommend exploring on your own.

We visited at night. Honestly, these photos of the sunset are from 11pm at night! It’s crazy how much light there was this close to midnight! If your kids can handle being up that late, I would highly recommend driving into the park at night.

The sunset colors on the mountains are just spectacular!

And the more times you enter the park, the more chances you have to actually see Denali. Even in summer when the weather is drier and less cloudy, you have a 30-40% chance of actually seeing Denali (or Mount McKinley).

The other reason to drive into the park at night is you might have a better chance of seeing wildlife. Why?

There are two big reasons. Firstly, there will be a lot less traffic at 10/11pm than at 11am. Secondly, animals tend to come out to eat and move around is the early morning and dusk hours.

We got to see this huge moose grazing away!

Day 2: Take the Tundra Wilderness Tour

Bus Tour into the Park: Tundra Wilderness Tour

Private cars aren’t allowed deep into Denali, so the Tundra Wilderness Tour is the best way to experience the park’s interior.

Due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide that happened in August 2021, the only road into the heart of Denali National Park has been closed at mile 43. When the Denali Park Road opens up (hopefully summer 2027), you will be able to take this tour all the way to the Kantishna (mile 92). When that happens, the Tundra Wilderness Tour will definitely be a 12 hour, full day tour.

However, due to the road closure, the tour is currently a 7+ hour tour. Honestly, for kids… even when the entire road opens up, I would go with the 1/2 day tour option. My husband and I did the full tour in 2004 (see below) and it was awesome. But it was a bit much and we didn’t have kids.

The half day tour is still long (about 7-8 hours), but our daughter handled it well, especially with snacks, water, and a pair of binoculars.

The bus stops often for potty breaks or wildlife. And everyone gets a snack pack. This is a decent amount of food, but you will want to bring your own water and maybe a few extra snacks, just in case.

The main two reasons to take the bus tour are 1) see Denali as close as your can, and 2) see wildlife. Everyone on the bus becomes a wildlife scavenger hunt expert. And there are TV’s that are hooked to the scope of the bus driver so you can see animals in the distance, even if your eyes or your own camera don’t cut it.

We saw moose, caribou, beavers, and even a grizzly bear from the safety of the bus. I will saw, the wildlife is hit or miss. In 2004, we saw probably a dozen bears but no moose. In 2022, we saw one bear in the distance, but tons of moose up close (the moose walked next to our bus).

Pro Tip

Sit on the left side of the bus heading in for the best views.

And don’t be discouraged if you don’t get a great look at Denali. The rest of the mountains are thoroughly breathtaking too! Just take it all in! This is one of the most rugged places you will ever visit.

For the half day Tundra Wilderness Tour, you can choose to either leave in the morning or the afternoon. There are numerous staggered departure times you can choose from.

Note: You are basically riding in a school bus. The seats are decently comfortable, but it’s a school bus. There are no bathrooms. That being said, the bus does stop a lot for comfort breaks. Take advantage of all of them!

The road to Mile 92

In 2004, my husband and I did this tour and were able to make it to Mile 92. I will say, weather or not (see that pin there?), the closer you can get to Denali, the more likely it is you will be able to see Denali.

Consider these photos a preview of coming attractions for 2027 and beyond. I believe the photo above is Kantishna. The photo below is Wonder Lake at Mile 85.

And this photo is from the Eielson Visitor Center at Mile 64.

Dinner Option: Princess Lodge

We ate here twice because the food and views were great. There’s an on-site restaurant and a bar with a kid-friendly menu and a view overlooking the Nenana River. We ate at Lynx Creek one night for pizza. It was soooo good. And one night we ate at Fannie Q’s Saloon. Both meals were great and very kid friendly.

Day 3: Adventures and Local Flavor

Morning Float Trip: Wilderness Wave Rafting Tour

The Nenana River offers an easy float trip that’s great for families. We booked the Wilderness Wave tour with New Wave Adventures. This was scenic and gentle enough for younger kids but still fun. Our guide shared fun facts about the area and kept things light and interesting.

Afternoon: Husky Homestead Tour

This tour gives you a behind-the-scenes look at life with sled dogs. It’s run by Iditarod champion Jeff King, and the whole thing feels like part puppy playtime, part inspirational TED talk. It was a favorite stop for our daughter. You can read more about our visit in my full Husky Homestead review.

Dinner: 49th State Brewing Company

This place is popular for a reason. The vibe is fun, the food is hearty, and there are lawn games outside while you wait for a table. Try the yak burger if you’re feeling adventurous!

And don’t forget to check out the replica of the bus from Into the Wild. The actual bus in on display in Fairbanks at the Museum of the North. But this bus was used as a prop in the movie. You can go in and see how how Chris McCandless actually lived (or more to the point.. didn’t).

Day 4: Zipline and Final Moments

Morning: Denali Park Zipline Tour

If your kids are 8 or older and into a little adventure, this is a great add-on. You’ll zip through the trees with views of the Alaska Range. It was a confidence booster for our daughter and a fun bonding moment. You can read more about our experience in my full Denali Zipline review.

Brunch: Rose’s Cafe

Perfect for a casual meal before heading out. Their baked goods and sandwiches hit the spot. And of course I had to order the pancakes that were bigger than my head!

Optional Short Hike: Mountain Vista Trail

If you have time and energy before leaving, this short 0.6-mile loop offers great views and a peaceful ending to your trip.

Best Short Hikes for Kids in Denali

If you want to sprinkle in a few more hikes, here are our top kid-friendly picks:

Savage River Loop (2 miles, flat): Gorgeous valley views and a footbridge crossing the river.
McKinley Station Trail (1.6 miles): Wooded paths with some neat historic stops.
Morino Trail (0.3 miles): Super short walk from the Visitor Center, great if you’re short on time.

Where to Eat: Family-Friendly Restaurant Picks

Princess Lodge – Good variety and riverside views.
49th State Brewing Company – Great food, fun vibe, and space for kids to play.
Black Diamond Grill – Casual with kid-pleasers like pizza and burgers.
Rose’s Cafe – Affordable, fast, and tasty—plus the baked goods are excellent.

Bonus Ideas to Fill in the Gaps

If you find yourself with extra time or just want to switch up the pace:

Denali Visitor Center Bookstore – Great place to grab educational books or souvenirs.
Cabin Nite Dinner Theater – A kid-friendly show and dinner rolled into one.
Sled Dog Puppies at the Kennels – If you time it right, you might catch a litter!
Shop for souvenirs! – There is a row of shops and restaurants across the street from the Princess Lodge with all kinds of great souvenirs from Alaska.

Final Thoughts

Denali is a big, wild place—but with a little planning, it’s surprisingly doable with kids. Our family came home with stories we still talk about, and our daughter keeps asking when we can go back. From dogsled demos to ziplining through trees, there’s something here for every kind of kid (and grown-up too).

Whether you’re in it for the wildlife, the learning, or just the sheer Alaska-ness of it all, a 3- to 4-day trip to Denali will definitely deliver.

Denali National Park with Kids: The Ultimate 3–4 Day Family Itinerary