The Savage River Campground is a great spot to camp in Denali National Park.
You will be conveniently located for easy access to great hiking, easy shuttle bus access, and spending your free time in the breathtaking savage river area!
Savage River Campground - Denali National Park
The Savage River Campground is one of six incredible Denali campgrounds.
Three of these campgrounds are tent-only sites and require taking the camper transit bus.
This means that these tent campers must park their private vehicles at the Denali Bus Depot and ride the camper bus to their campsite.
These campgrounds are Igloo Creek Campground, Wonder Lake Campground, and Sanctuary Campground.
Two campgrounds you can drive your vehicle to and leave when you desire without restrictions; Riley Creek Campground and Savage River Campground.
Teklanika Campground is located at mile marker 29 on Denali Park Road and the Denali Park Road is restricted to shuttle bus traffic only when the paved road turns to an old gravel road at milepost 15 just past the Savage River day use areas.
Campers here are allowed to drive to their campsite for setup and drive back out once they leave.
There are restrictions though, you can't drive to and from your site at your leisure and will be required to get a bus pass and use the busses once parked at your campsite.
You also have a 3-night minimum at Teklanika Campground. Make sure that you also purchase a Tek Pass when you make your campsite reservation (You can't purchase them at the park).
The TEK Pass is a special bus ticket allowing you to use the park transit buses throughout your stay at Teklanika campground and you need to purchase a ticket for each member of your party.
Park Ranger John Pro Tip
When selecting a campsite, you will notice a letter after the campsite number. This will tell you the type of equipment will fit into that campsite:
A Sites) These sites can accommodate an RV up to 40 feet in length.
B sites) These sites can accommodate an RV less than 30 feet in length. These sites can also accommodate tent campers with one vehicle in their site.
C sites) Are walk-in sites and for those without a vehicle.
I think one of the best perks of camping at Savage River Campground is that on clear days, you can see Denali by taking a short walk from the trail at the rear of the campground.
You can expect to see great open views of Denali's landscape, lots of wildlife, and a couple of great hiking trails including the Savage Alpine Trail and the Savage River Loop Trail.
Number of Sites: 32
Location in the park: located at Mile 13 on Denali Park Road
Campsite Cost:
Large RV Sites >$45.00
Small RV / Tent Sites - $35.25
Group Site - $49
Senior/Access Camping Fee:
Large RV Sites $22.50
Small RV / Tent Sites - $ 17.75
Group Site - N/A
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Reservations: Reservations are strongly recommended
Campground Address:
Mile 14 Denali Park Rd.
Denali Park , AK 99755
Latitude/Longitude:
63° 42' 55.0944" N 149° 15' 41.9580" W
Accessible Sites:
Several restrooms are wheelchair accessible. Paths throughout the campground are free of barriers, and are generally composed of well-compacted gravel. In times of heavy rain, the roads in the campground may develop potholes. There are no electric hookups anywhere in the campground, nor is there cell or data service.
Pets Allowed:
Pets are welcome at Savage. Dispose of pet feces in garbage cans. Secure pet food in your vehicle or a food locker.
Campground Reservations
Are Campground Reservations Available? Yes (online, phone, and in-person)
Phone Number? 800-622-7275
Online? http://www.reservedenali.com
Campground Amenities
Dump Station: No
Bear Boxes: Yes, Savage River Campground has several food storage lockers available for use
Flush Toilets: Yes, seasonally
Is Wi-Fi available? No
Is Cellular Phone Service Available? No
Is camp host available on-site? Yes, seasonally
Amenities at each campsite:
Fire pit in the site? Fires are allowed only in established grates
Picnic Table in the site? Yes, there is a fire ring in the campsite for open fires
Potable Water? Yes, Seasonally
Don't forget to pack
Insect repellent is always a great idea outdoors, especially around any body of water.
We use Permethrin Spray on our clothes before our park trips. Please read my article on preventing biting insects while enjoying the outdoors.
Sunscreen - I buy environmentally friendly sunscreen whenever possible because you inevitably pull it out at the beach.
Bring your water bottle and plenty of water with you. Plastic water bottles are not sold in the park.
Sunglasses - I always bring sunglasses with me. I personally love Goodr sunglasses because they are lightweight, durable, and have awesome National Park Designs from several National Parks like Joshua Tree, Yellowstone, Hawaii Volcanoes, Acadia, Denali, and more!
Click here to get your National Parks Edition of Goodr Sunglasses!
Binoculars/Spotting Scope - These will help spot birds and wildlife and make them easier to identify. We tend to see waterfowl in the distance, and they are always just a bit too far to identify them without binoculars.
RV Camping at Savage River Campground
RV Length: RV Max Length - 40 Feet
Generators: 8 am to 10 am, and 4 pm to 8 pm
How to get to Campground
Once inside the park, continue driving along the Denali Park Road for a distance of fourteen miles and keep an eye out for signs that will guide you to the campground.
Please be aware that prior to proceeding to the campground, it is essential to check in at the Wilderness Access Center.
Campground Regulations
The maximum number of people in a campsite: 8 people per site
The number of cars per campsite: 1
Checkout time: 11 am
Quiet Hours: 10 pm to 6 am
More information about Denali National Park
Denali National Park Guide - A complete guide to plan your next trip to Denali National Park!
Riley Creek Campground - Complete guide to plan your stay at Riley Creek Campground including amenities, and photos.
Information on other Great Alaska National Parks
Wrangell St Elias Guide - Complete Guide to planning your next trip to Wrangell St Elias National Park
Things to do in Wrangell St Elias National Park - List of the most popular activities and attractions in Wrangell St Elias National Park!
Kendesnii Campground - Complete guide to planning a camping trip to Wrangell St Elias only developed campground inside the park.
Kenai Fjords National Park Guide - A complete guide to plan your next trip to Kenai Fjords National Park
Exit Glacier Campground - Complete guide to plan your stay at Exit Glacier Campground
Glacier Bay National Park Guide - Complete guide to planning your next trip to Glacier Bay National Park
Glacier Bay Boat Tour - Complete guide to plan your next trip onboard the Glacier Bay Boat Tour
Glacier Bay Lodge - Complete guide to plan your next trip to the Denali Park Lodge
Bartlett Cove Campground - Complete guide to plan your next trip to Bartlett Cove Campground
Photos of Savage River Campground
Where to stay when visiting Denali National Park
There are no National Park Lodges within the park. If you decide to not camp in the park but want to be close or within the park check out these options.
There are a few privately owned and operated lodges within the park. These lodges include Camp Denali / Denali North Face Lodge; the Kantishna Roadhouse; Denali Backcountry Lodge; and Skyline Lodge.
Denali Crow's Nest Cabins - At Denali Crow's Nest Cabins, you can look forward to a free daily manager's reception, a terrace, and a library. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi, and guests can find other amenities such as a bar.
Denali Park Hotel - Denali Park Hotel provides a snack bar/deli and more. Guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.
Aurora Denali Lodge - At Aurora Denali Lodge, you can look forward to 9 holes of golf, a terrace, and a library. Get out on the links at this motel and enjoy amenities such as a golf clubhouse and golf caddies. In addition to a business center and a snack bar/deli, guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.
Click on the map below to see current rates for vacation rentals and lodging near Denali NP!
Check out all of the Alaska National Parks along with National Parks in Washington, California National Parks, and National Parks in Hawaii
Make sure to follow Park Ranger John on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok
Leave a Reply