National Parks in Alaska
Alaska has 8 national parks: Denali National Park, Gates of the Arctic National Park, Glacier Bay National Park, Katmai National Park, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kobuk Valley National Park, Lake Clark National Park, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Katmai requires a reservation in season.
Fees and rules checked against NPS.gov · Updated October 6, 2026
Denali
Six million acres of tundra, grizzlies and North America's tallest peak along one road
Gates of the Arctic
Roadless Brooks Range wilderness above the Arctic Circle, reached only by air or on foot
Glacier Bay
A roadless bay of tidewater glaciers, rainforest and whales, reached only by air or sea
Katmai
Brown bears fishing for salmon at Brooks Falls and a valley buried by a 1912 eruption
Kenai Fjords
Glacier-carved fjords spilling from the Harding Icefield, next to the town of Seward
Kobuk Valley
Arctic sand dunes, a wide wild river and one of the great caribou migrations on Earth
Lake Clark
Volcanoes, turquoise lakes, coastal bears and Dick Proenneke's handmade cabin
Wrangell-St. Elias
The largest US national park, with huge glaciers, high peaks and a copper mill town
Compare the parks
| Park | Entry | Reservation | Best time to go | How long to stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denali | Free entry | Not required | Late June through mid-August brings the full bus season and long days, while late August and early September add fall color and fewer bugs. | Plan two to three days in summer; one day covers the front country in fall or winter. |
| Gates of the Arctic | Free entry | Not required | Mid-June to late August brings snow-free tundra and nearly round-the-clock daylight, while late August and early September offer fall color and fewer bugs before freeze-up. | Plan at least 5 to 7 days in the backcountry, plus weather days, or a single day for a flightseeing trip. |
| Glacier Bay | Free entry | Not required | June through August bring the long days, open lodge, daily boat tours and the best odds of seeing whales. | Plan two to three nights at Bartlett Cove, or one day if you visit by cruise ship. |
| Katmai | Free entry | Required in season | July brings the most bears at Brooks Falls, and September offers fat bears, fall color and smaller crowds before services close. | A day trip is possible, but one to three nights gives you much better bear viewing. |
| Kenai Fjords | Free entry | Not required | June through August, when the road is open, boat tours run daily, wildlife is active and days are very long. | Two days covers Exit Glacier, the icefield hike and a full-day boat tour. |
| Kobuk Valley | Free entry | Not required | July through early September is best for floating the river and seeing the dunes, with late August and September for caribou and fewer mosquitoes. | Plan 3 to 7 days for a camping or float trip, or a few hours for a flightseeing trip. |
| Lake Clark | Free entry | Not required | June through mid-September brings open lodges, regular flights and the best bear viewing, with fall color in late August and September. | Plan at least two to three nights, plus a spare day for weather delays. |
| Wrangell-St. Elias | Free entry | Not required | Mid-June through August, when the roads are maintained, the visitor centers and shuttles are running and days are long. | Plan at least two to three days, since the drive to McCarthy alone takes most of a day. |
Nearby parks in other states
- Olympic National ParkWashington · about 884 miles as the crow flies
- North Cascades National ParkWashington · about 901 miles as the crow flies
- Mount Rainier National ParkWashington · about 997 miles as the crow flies
- Glacier National ParkMontana · about 1,122 miles as the crow flies
- Crater Lake National ParkOregon · about 1,226 miles as the crow flies
See the full list of U.S. national parks · Open the park map · Compare park passes