Best Time to Visit Denali National Park and Preserve
Crowds and weather by month · Alaska · NPS visitor counts through 2025
The short answer
Mild weather, fewer people: June — 92% as busy as July, about 4,351 visitors a day, average high 63°F (17°C).
Quietest month: January — about 65 visitors a day, average high 14°F (cold).
Busiest month: July — about 4,707 visitors a day.
Denali month by month
| Month | Crowds · visitors/day | High / low · precip. |
|---|---|---|
| JanuaryQuietest× Cold | Very quiet1% of peak · 65/day | 14° / -5°F-10° / -21°C · 0.8 in |
| February× Cold | Very quiet2% of peak · 112/day | 25° / 5°F-4° / -15°C · 0.7 in |
| March× Cold | Very quiet5% of peak · 228/day | 22° / 3°F-6° / -16°C · 1.2 in |
| April× Cold | Very quiet5% of peak · 234/day | 38° / 20°F4° / -7°C · 1.1 in |
| May× Cool | Quiet28% of peak · 1,340/day | 54° / 33°F12° / 0°C · 2.0 in |
| JuneBest○ Mild weather, busy | Peak92% of peak · 4,351/day | 63° / 44°F17° / 7°C · 2.9 in |
| July○ Mild weather, busy | Peak100% of peak · 4,707/day | 64° / 47°F18° / 8°C · 5.1 in |
| August○ Mild weather, busy | Peak97% of peak · 4,586/day | 60° / 43°F16° / 6°C · 3.9 in |
| September× Cool | Moderate38% of peak · 1,803/day | 50° / 33°F10° / 1°C · 2.2 in |
| October× Cold | Very quiet3% of peak · 155/day | 32° / 18°F0° / -8°C · 1.4 in |
| November× Cold | Very quiet2% of peak · 85/day | 20° / 2°F-7° / -17°C · 1.0 in |
| December× Cold | Very quiet2% of peak · 79/day | 15° / -6°F-10° / -21°C · 1.2 in |
Crowds = visitors per day as % of the busiest month: ●●●●● Peak (85–100) · ●●●●○ Busy (60–84) · ●●●○○ Moderate (35–59) · ●●○○○ Quiet (15–34) · ●○○○○ Very quiet (under 15). ◎ mild weather, fewer people · ○ mild but busy · △ very few visitors (often seasonal closures) · × cold or hot. Wet days = days with at least 0.1 in of rain or melted snow.
Visitors per year
| Year | Recreation visits | |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 560,757 | |
| 2016 | 587,412 | |
| 2017 | 642,809 | |
| 2018 | 594,660 | |
| 2019 | 601,152 | |
| 2020pandemic | 54,850 | |
| 2021pandemic | 229,521 | |
| 2022 | 427,562 | |
| 2023 | 498,722 | |
| 2024 | 466,227 | |
| 2025 | 543,300 |
Where the weather numbers come from
Temperatures and precipitation are 30-year averages (1991–2020) from the NOAA station DENALI 27 N — Nearest climate station with full normals (north of the park road), at 2,224 ft (678 m). Higher viewpoints and trails can be much colder and snowier than the station.
Months with very few visitors often have roads, campgrounds or visitor centers closed for the season. Check current conditions on the official Denali National Park and Preserve website before you go.
Other parks at their best in June
- Glacier
75% of peak · high 70°F
- Crater Lake
46% of peak · high 57°F
- Canyonlands
77% of peak · high 85°F
How “best” is chosen: the least crowded month with an average high between 55°F and 85°F (13–29°C), skipping months with under 30% of peak visitors because those are often seasonal closures. Crowds compare visitors per day, so short and long months are treated fairly.
Sources. Visitor counts: National Park Service, Visitor Use Statistics (recreation visits, final figures through 2025; typical months use 2022–2025). Weather: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station DENALI 27 N, USW00096408, 2,224 ft / 678 m). Both are U.S. Government works in the public domain. How we calculate.
Park Months is an independent site and is not affiliated with the National Park Service or NOAA.