GEORGE
PARKS HIGHWAY: North
CANTWELL,
DENALI NP, HEALY, ANDERSON, NENANA, ALASKA
RV PARKS
AND CAMPGROUNDS
These listings begin at mile 137 from Anchorage. For listings to the south, visit the Anchorage/Mat-Su section. Mileages are given from Anchorage/Fairbanks. The Parks Highway north of Broad Pass is likely to contain frequent frost heaves and pavement breaks. There are several sharp curves. Adjust your speed accordingly. Be alert for moose crossing the road.
Some of the campgrounds listed below have paid to advertise on this site and in our book and maps. Please visit them, and tell them you heard about their business from KARO Enterprises.
Mile 136/222: Denali South Viewpoint and campground
Mile 137.3/220.7: Lower Troublesome Creek State Recreation Site
Mile 147/211: Byers Lake State Campground and Alaska Veterans Memorial
Mile 162.7/195.3: Denali View North State Campground
Mile 185.6/172.4: East Fork Rest Area (RV parking, new facilities).
(Above) Denali Highway near Paxson. The east 20 miles are paved, but note how the pavement in the turnout (above) has broken from frost. The state has agreed to pave the entire highway, but no money is presently available for the project. Paving will result in increased tour bus traffic.
Mile 209.9/148.1: Junction with DENALI HIGHWAY, a 134-mile mostly gravel road linking Cantwell and Paxson, on the Richardson Highway. The road winds through the Alaska Range, and offers spectacular scenery and excellent fishing. The road is in good condition when maintained. Closed in winter. Expect pot holes, washboard, mud or dust. See our 2005 NOTES for details. We give miles from Cantwell to Paxson. The east twenty miles is paved with blacktop, but prone to severe frost heave damage. Ask about road conditions before setting out. Services are few and scattered. See note at mile 248 below.
Denali Highway Log, west to east:
Mile 0: Cantwell; see RV parks listed below at mile 209.9, Parks Highway.
Mile 2: Junction, Parks Highway. From here to about mile 15 look west for views of Mt. McKinley.
Mile 31: Brushkana Creek BLM Campground
Mile 53: GRACIOUS HOUSE LODGE & FLYING SERVICE
(907)
259-1111 (allow ten rings). (907) 333-3148
FAX (907)
333-3148 Located on the scenic Denail Highway, the most direct route
to the Park. Denali National Park entrance is just 90 minutes away.
We offer the finest rooms on the Denali Highway at affordable rates
and a variety of packages to suit individuals, families, or groups.
Cafe, bar, large den. Gas, towing, repairs, hiking, guided &
unguided hunts, fishing, biking, photo treks, air taxi, scenic
flights. Icecream and home baked pies. Winter activities. Our RV park
offers lake-side parking (view, below), tenting, pull-throughs,
showers, and laundry facilities.
In business
with same owners since 1957. E-mail
Butch and
Carol Gratias, Box 88, Cantwell, AK 99729 For Sale
Susitna River Bridge (right) is a mile east of the Gracious House Campground.
Mile 114: Tangle River and Lakes BLM Campgrounds
Mile 134: Junction, Richardson Highway. Delta Junction and Fairbanks to north; Glennallen and Valdez to south. Click here to jump to Richardson Highway listings: Paxson Lodge
PARKS HIGHWAY LISTINGS CONTINUE
Mile 209.9/148.1: Cantwell RV Park (3/10 mile west) 768-2210 (800) 940-2210 Partial hookups, pull-throughs, showers, laundry, sanidump. Tour reservations, walk to fishing
Mile 223.9/134.1: CARLO CREEK LODGE 683-2576
Rustic,
affordable and beautiful accommodations for all of your Denali Park
travels. Carlo Creek Lodge has existed since territorial days, when
the area was homesteaded by the Stoepler Family. Some of the cabins
in use today served then as trapper's cabins. Since homestead days
the Stoeplers have refurbished the cabins and added running water and
electricity without compromising the historical aspects. For families
planning to stay in the area more than a few days we have a family
cabin with a full kitchen. Located on the banks of beautiful Carlo
Creek, with access to many hiking trails. Area restaurants are also a
short walk away. The RV park features partial hookups and tent sites,
showers, laundry, and a dump station. Just 12 miles from Denali N.P.
Relax on one of our beautiful wooden swings and take in the
surrounding Alaska Range scenery. E-mail
Write to the
Stoeplers at HC2 Box 1530, Healy, AK 99743
Mile 231.1/126.9: Denali Grizzly Bear Cabins and Campground 683-2696 Partial hookups, tents, rooms, showers, sanidump. Groceries, gifts, propane, firewood, ice, phone, hike in N.P.
Mile 231.1/126.9: Denali River Cabins 800-230-7275 (Details unknown)
Mile 237.3/120.7: Entrance to DENALI NATIONAL PARK. Private vehicles cannot drive into the Park beyond mile 14 without a permit to access one of the NP campgrounds or Kantishna Roadhouse Resort. There are seven campgrounds in the Park; four are for tents only. Travelers should make reservations by calling 1-800-622-7275 after February. That number can also be used for bus tour reservations. Reservations are also recommended at area private campgrounds. Note that rest areas and turn outs in the Denali area are signed "NO CAMPING OR OVER-NIGHT PARKING."
A good way to see Mt. McKinley is by air from Talkeetna. The airplane lands on a glacier at the foot of the mountain.
Mile 239/119: Denali Rainbow Village & RV Park 683-7777 Partial hookups, pull-throughs, showers, laundry, sanidump, gas. Close to shopping and dining.
Mile 240.2/117.8: Denali Riverside RV Park 388-1848 Partial hookups, pull-throughs, dry sites, tents, showers, laundry, sanidump. Store, propane.
Mile 245.1/112.9: DENALI RV PARK AND MOTEL
683-1500 Best
value and most hookups in the Denali National Park area. Full and
partial hookups, 30 amp electric, dry sites, pull-throughs, rooms,
showers, laundry, sanidump. Gift shop, E-mail line, hiking, close to
golf. Cable TV at all sites. Fourteen motel units. Double rooms with
bath; kitchen units. Tours booked, hiking trails, beautiful mountain
views, gift shop.
Call toll
free; I-800-478-1501 Write: Box 155, Denali Park, AK 99755
Click name for
more info. Eimail: stay@denalirvpark.com
Mile 248.4/109.6: McKinley RV & Campground 683-2379 Full & partial hookups, pull-throughs, tents, showers, laundry, sanidump, gas. Groceries, gifts, movies, propane.
NOTE: Fairbanks is about 110 miles north of this point, but we recommend you take a day trip to Nenana, then consider backtracking south to Cantwell and driving across the Denali Highway to Paxton and then north to Delta Junction. From Delta, visit Fairbanks and the Interior as a side trip.
Mile 276/82 Tatlanika Trading Company 582-2341 Partial hookups, tents, pull-throughs, showers, sanidump. Alaskan gifts, info, hiking.
Mile 280.1/77.9: Rochester Lodge 582-2354 Parking and tenting, showers
Mile 283.5/74.5: Anderson Riverside Park City Campground. Partial hookups, showers, sanidump.
Mile 304.5/53.5: Nenana RV Park and Campground 832-5230 Partial hookups, dry sites, pull-throughs, tents, showers, laundry, sanidump. Close to fishing, museum, gifts, dining. New owner plans to reopen in 2007
Mile 305/52: Aspen Theme Park, north of bridge. Under development. Ask at visitors center.
Mile 328/29: Skinny Dick's Halfway Inn 488-5770 Parking, tent sites, rooms. Bar and grill.
Continues on FAIRBANKS/NORTH POLE PAGE