When does Denali Park Road open?
Typically open buses begin about May 20; the road is plowed to Savage River (Mile 15) by mid-April to mid-to-late September, with snow. Plowing usually begins in April; the opening date depends entirely on snowpack and can swing several weeks.
Private vehicles may drive only the first 15 miles, to Savage River; beyond that the road is served by park buses. A 2021 landslide at Pretty Rocks (Mile 43) severed the road there. The new 475-ft Pretty Rocks Bridge was completed in September 2026; for the rest of the 2026 season buses turn around at East Fork (Mile 43) and only hikers and cyclists continue west across the bridge. Full bus service to Kantishna is expected to resume in 2027. The road is plowed to Savage River by about mid-April; bus service runs roughly from mid-May until snow closes the road in September.
Year-by-year opening dates are being verified — for now, use the official status link above.