Riley Creek Campground
NPS, Denali- Location
- Mile 0.25
- Max length
- 40 ft
- Hookups
- None
- Dump
- Riley Creek Mercantile
Best for: The easiest base with services.
Watch out: Fills early in spring; reservations from December 1.
The short version
Denali’s entrance is at mile 237 of the George Parks Highway, 240 miles north of Anchorage and 120 miles south of Fairbanks. In summer, private vehicles are limited to the Park Road as far as the Savage River crossing at mile 15. No campground has electrical or water hookups, and no campground can accommodate an RV over 40 feet.
South of Anchorage, Alaska State Parks lists campgrounds across the Kenai Peninsula and in Chugach State Park. Bird Creek, Eagle River, Eklutna Lake, Deep Creek, Johnson Lake and the three Ninilchik campgrounds are all $20 a night per the state fee schedule.
Best for
- A long Alaska drive with a clear campground plan
- Self-contained rigs 40 feet or shorter
- Travelers who can reserve Denali ahead
Think twice if
- You have a rig over 40 feet. No Denali campground can fit it
- You need hookups at Denali. There are none
- You plan to camp at Wonder Lake. It is closed through 2026
Rig fit
- Denali: 40 ft maximum, no hookups, generators 8–10 a.m. and 4–8 p.m.
- Riley Creek dump/fill station at the Riley Creek Mercantile
- Teklanika River: three-night minimum if you drive in; Tek Pass required
Trip at a glance
| Denali distances | 240 miles north of Anchorage; 120 miles south of Fairbanks |
|---|---|
| Private vehicles | Park Road to Savage River, mile 15, in summer |
| Denali fees | Roughly $25–$50 per night in summer; free in winter |
| Stay limit | 14 nights per summer season |
| State parks | $20 per site (Deep Creek, Ninilchik, Bird Creek, Eagle River, Eklutna Lake, Johnson Lake) |
Rig check
Denali is a hard cap at 40 feet with no hookups.
- Riley Creek
- Mile 0.25. RVs and tents up to 40 ft. Dump/fill at the Riley Creek Mercantile.
- Savage River
- Mile 14, mid-May to mid-September. You may drive a car or RV to the campground at any hour while it is open.
- Teklanika River
- Mile 29, 53 sites for RVs and tents up to 40 ft. Drive-in campers must stay three nights and buy Tek Passes.
- Generators
- 8–10 a.m. and 4–8 p.m. Quiet hours 10 p.m.–6 a.m.
When to go
Denali’s summer season is short.
| Time of year | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Mid-May | Riley Creek dump station and water spigots targeted for May 15; Savage River opens. |
| May 20 | Teklanika River, Sanctuary River and Igloo Creek open. |
| Mid-September | Most Denali campgrounds close. |
| Winter | Riley Creek open year-round; no fees. |
Where to stay with an RV
Denali details from NPS; state-park fees from Alaska State Parks.
Savage River and Teklanika River
NPS, Denali- Savage River
- Mile 14, mid-May to mid-Sept.
- Teklanika
- Mile 29, 53 sites, 3-night minimum
Best for: Deeper into the park.
Watch out: Tek requires Tek Passes and a stay of at least three nights.
Kenai and Chugach state-park campgrounds
Alaska State Parks- Fee
- $20 per site at Deep Creek, Ninilchik, Bird Creek, Eagle River, Eklutna Lake, Johnson Lake
- Dump
- Ninilchik SRA, $10
Best for: A south-of-Anchorage base.
Watch out: Johnson Lake is reservation-only online; a $4.50 booking fee applies. Eagle River is run by a private operator.
Kasilof River State Recreation Site lists no camping on the fee page. Bernice Lake was not listed.
Itineraries that work with a rig
Plans assume a Denali leg and a Kenai leg. The drive between them is long; check conditions first.
5 days: Denali only
A first Alaska RV trip.
- Day 1. Drive from Anchorage to Denali.
- Days 2–4. Base at Riley Creek; drive the Park Road to mile 15.
- Day 5. Dump at the Mercantile and return.
8 days: Denali plus Kenai
Both regions.
- Days 1–4. Denali.
- Day 5. Return to Anchorage.
- Days 6–7. Kenai Peninsula state-park campground.
- Day 8. Return.
10 days: Slow Alaska
Buffer days.
- Days 1–8. Follow the eight-day plan.
- Day 9. Chugach campground near Anchorage.
- Day 10. Buffer day.
What not to miss
Denali Park Road
Private vehicles drive to Savage River at mile 15 in summer.
Teklanika River
53 sites; three-night minimum if you drive in.
Kenai Peninsula
State-park campgrounds at $20 a night from Deep Creek to Johnson Lake.
Getting around with a big rig
Reserve Denali at reservedenali.com from December 1 of the year before.
Check generator hours. 8–10 a.m. and 4–8 p.m.
Keep the 14-night limit in mind. It applies per summer season at Denali.
Fuel, groceries, water and repairs
Riley Creek Mercantile has a dump and fill station. Fuel, groceries and repairs elsewhere were not covered by the pages we read.
Budget snapshot
From NPS and Alaska State Parks.
| Item | What we found | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Denali campsite | Roughly $25–$50 per night | Summer; free in winter. |
| State-park campsite | $20 per night | Deep Creek, Ninilchik, Bird Creek and others. |
| Ninilchik dump station | $10 | |
| Johnson Lake booking fee | $4.50 per reservation | Online only. |
Fees are the amounts listed by the managing agency when this guide was checked. Use the budget worksheet to add fuel, groceries and contingency.
Common questions
How long can my RV be at Denali?
No campground can accommodate an RV over 40 feet.
Does Denali have hookups?
No. No campground has electrical or water hookups for RVs.
How far can I drive the Park Road?
In summer, private vehicles can drive to the Savage River crossing at mile 15.
When can I run a generator?
8–10 a.m. and 4–8 p.m. at Denali.
Sources and what to recheck
Rules were checked October 20, 2026. Fees, closures and availability will change, so use the official pages below as the source of truth.
- Denali campgrounds — Locations, 40-ft limit, no hookups
- Riley Creek — Dump station, generators
- Teklanika River — Sites, minimum stay
- Denali directions — Distances and Park Road limit
- Alaska State Parks fees — $20 campground fees
- Kenai Peninsula campgrounds — Campground list