By Mary R. Lee
Back to Wonder Lake and Kantishna: Your 2027 Denali Bus Tour Guide with Rates & Dates!
Denali's Park Road Reopens in 2027
Tuesday 03 November 2026
After six years, the entire Denali Park Road is about to open again. Here is how the 2027 bus tours, rates and dates work, and how to choose the right ride into the park.
Since 2021, one landslide has kept most visitors from the far end of Denali. That is over. In 2027, park buses will once again roll the full 92 miles to Kantishna, with Wonder Lake and some of the wildest scenery in Alaska along the way.
June 8
first bus service to Kantishna
92 miles
the full Park Road is open again
Dec 1
transit bus reservations open online and through CRES
4 tours
operate in 2027
From Landslide to Reopening
2021
The road is cut
In August, the Pretty Rocks landslide near mile 45 forced the National Park Service to close the road. Wonder Lake, Kantishna and the lodges there were off limits to road traffic.
2026
The bridge is finished
After five years of work, crews completed a roughly 475-foot steel bridge across the slide. The park is now repairing the road and facilities beyond it.
2027
Buses reach the end of the road
Kantishna service is expected to begin on June 8. The reopening happens in phases, so routes and timetables are still being finalized.
A Mile-by-Mile Guide to the Park Road
Distances in Denali are measured in road miles from the park entrance. These are the markers that matter for planning in 2027.
Mile
15
Private vehicle limit
Past this point you travel by park or tour bus.
Mile
17
Primrose Ridge
Turnaround of the Denali Natural History Tour.
Mile
30
Teklanika Rest Area
A transit bus destination. The Teklanika Wilderness Tour is not offered in 2027.
Mile
45
Pretty Rocks Bridge
The new crossing that makes the deep interior accessible again.
Mile
53
Toklat River
A transit bus destination, and the turnaround of the early-season Toklat Tundra Wilderness Tour.
Mile
62
Stony Hill Overlook
Turnaround of the full Tundra Wilderness Tour, with big mountain views.
Mile
63
Fish Creek
A transit bus stop in 2027, just before Eielson Visitor Center, with alpine tundra views and wildlife sightings.
Mile
66
Eielson Visitor Center
Stays closed in 2027, and the Eielson Excursion is not offered.
Mile
85
Wonder Lake
Famous for its reflections of Denali on clear days, and a transit bus destination again.
Mile
92
Kantishna
A transit bus destination: the old gold-mining district at the end of the road, home to Denali Backcountry Lodge, Kantishna Roadhouse and Camp Denali.
Beyond the road, the interior opens into long stretches of tundra and river valleys, and some of the park's best chances to spot grizzlies, caribou, Dall sheep and moose.
2027 Denali Bus Tours: Rates and Dates
The park's 2027 tour program is confirmed. All rates below include the park entrance fee for adults and were updated on October 9, 2026.
| Tour | Turnaround | Round trip | 2027 dates | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denali Natural History Tour | Mile 17, Primrose Ridge | 4.5–5 hrs | May 12 – Sept 16 | $124.75 | $55.00 |
| Toklat Tundra Wilderness Tour | Mile 53, Toklat River | 7–8 hrs | May 20 – May 31 | $191.25 | $88.25 |
| Tundra Wilderness Tour (Full) | Mile 62, Stony Hill Overlook | 7–8 hrs | June 1 – Sept 16 | $221.25 | $103.25 |
| Kantishna Experience | Mile 92, Kantishna | 13 hrs | June 8 – Sept 16 | $329.75 | $157.50 |
| Teklanika Wilderness Tour | Mile 30, Teklanika Rest Area | 4–5 hrs | Not offered in 2027 | ||
| Eielson Excursion | Mile 66, Eielson Visitor Center | 8–9 hrs | Not offered in 2027 | ||
Rate notes: children aged 15 and under pay the child rate. Adult prices already include the $15 per adult entrance fee, and visitors with a valid National Park Service pass can request a refund in person at the Denali Bus Depot. Wheelchair-accessible buses are available on request at booking, and every stop is wheelchair accessible.
Transit Buses in 2027
Prefer to set your own pace? The transit bus is the flexible way into the park, and in 2027 it serves five destinations along the Park Road.
TeklanikaToklatFish CreekWonder LakeKantishna
Fish Creek, at mile 63, is a Denali transit bus stop in 2027, just before Eielson Visitor Center.
Fares
$46.50 – $89.00
depending on the destination, plus the $15 NPS fee
Reservations
From December 1
online and through CRES
Which Ride Is Right for You?
Short on time
Denali Natural History Tour
Visiting in late May
Toklat Tundra Wilderness Tour
The classic wildlife and mountain day
Tundra Wilderness Tour (Full)
Wonder Lake and the end of the road
Kantishna Experience
Hop off to hike at your own pace
Transit bus, from $46.50 plus the $15 NPS fee
Two More Day Trips to Kantishna
If you want to reach the end of the road, two further guided tours cover the full 92 miles in a single day:
Denali Backcountry Adventure
$339 per person
A narrated day trip of 12 to 13 hours along the whole Park Road. Lunch is served at Denali Backcountry Lodge, and you have time to explore Kantishna on your own afterwards. It runs subject to park access, weather and operating conditions, and can sell out in peak season.
Kantishna Wilderness Trails
$259 per person
A narrated full-day tour to the end of the road with lunch at Kantishna Roadhouse. In past seasons the afternoon included a short hike along Moose Creek and a gold-panning demonstration.
The opening ceremony for the Pretty Rocks Bridge
Planning Checklist
✔ Reserve early. Transit bus reservations open online and through CRES on December 1, and the deep-interior options are likely to go first.
✔ Plan without Eielson. Buses will not stop at the visitor center for services in 2027.
✔ Camping at Wonder Lake. The campground is expected to reopen, but with no road access for private vehicles, campers also need to book bus transport.
✔ Budget for the bus. Transit fares range from $46.50 to $89.00 depending on the destination, plus the $15 NPS fee.
✔ Stay flexible. Routes and schedules can still change while the phased reopening is finalized.
Planning Denali for summer 2027?
Tell us your dates and we will match the right bus option to your trip, add the Alaska Railroad or a road trip, and build in some flexibility.
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