National parks in Alaska
Alaska has 8 national parks: Denali, Gates of the Arctic, Glacier Bay, Katmai, Kenai Fjords, Kobuk Valley, Lake Clark, and Wrangell–St. Elias.
National parks in Alaska
- Denali National Park
A huge Alaska mountain and surrounding tundra. Most visitors see it from the park road; the peak is often in clouds.
- Gates of the Arctic National Park
Remote Brooks Range wilderness in Alaska with no roads or trails. Access is by bush plane; travel is self-reliant.
- Glacier Bay National Park
Tidewater glaciers and cold coastal waters in southeast Alaska. Most people visit by cruise or tour boat.
- Katmai National Park
Volcanic Alaska peninsula country famous for brown bears at Brooks Falls. Access is limited and often by plane.
- Kenai Fjords National Park
Glaciers and steep fjords near Seward, Alaska. Boat tours are how most people see the ice and marine life.
- Kobuk Valley National Park
Arctic dunes and river country in northwest Alaska. No roads; visits are rare and usually by air.
- Lake Clark National Park
Mountains, tundra, and coastline across Cook Inlet from Anchorage. Remote; mostly reached by small plane.
- Wrangell–St. Elias National Park
Huge mountain and glacier country in eastern Alaska. Remote roads and towns; scale is hard to grasp from one stop.
Other parks within reach of Alaska
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenai Fjords National Park | 109 mi (176 km) | 3 hr 2 min | Best as a weekend |
| Denali National Park | 149 mi (239 km) | 3 hr 58 min | Best as a weekend |
| Lake Clark National Park | 167 mi (269 km) | 4 hr 25 min | Best as a weekend |
| Wrangell–St. Elias National Park | 217 mi (349 km) | 5 hr 35 min | Best as a weekend |
| Katmai National Park | 301 mi (485 km) | 7 hr 35 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kluane National Park | 344 mi (553 km) | 8 hr 35 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Glacier Bay National Park | 444 mi (714 km) | 10 hr 57 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Gates of the Arctic National Park | 464 mi (746 km) | 11 hr 25 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kobuk Valley National Park | 519 mi (835 km) | 12 hr 44 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Vuntut National Park | 543 mi (874 km) | 13 hr 18 min | Worth a longer road trip |
Biggest towns and cities in Alaska
- Anchorage
- Fairbanks
- Juneau
- Badger
- Knik-Fairview
- College
- Wasilla
- Sitka
- Lakes
- Ketchikan
- Tanaina
- Kalifornsky
- Kenai
- Meadow Lakes
- Palmer
- Bethel
- Kodiak
- Sterling
- Gateway
- Homer
- Fishhook
- Soldotna
- Nikiski
- Utqiagvik
- Valdez
- Nome
- Kotzebue
- Butte
- Petersburg
- Seward
- Eielson Air Force Base
- Dillingham
- Wrangell
- Deltana
- Girdwood
- Cordova
- Prudhoe Bay
- Willow
- Bear Creek
- Fritz Creek
- Anchor Point
- Haines
- Susitna North
- Tok
- Craig
- Skagway
- Salcha
- Sand Point
- Healy
All counties in Alaska
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough
- Kenai Peninsula Borough
- Fairbanks North Star Borough
- Anchorage Municipality
- Chugach Census Area
- Kodiak Island Borough
- North Slope Borough
- Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area
- Southeast Fairbanks Census Area
- Aleutians East Borough
- Bethel Census Area
- Denali Borough
- Dillingham Census Area
- Haines Borough
- Juneau City and Borough
- Ketchikan Gateway Borough
- Nome Census Area
- Northwest Arctic Borough
- Petersburg Borough
- Sitka City and Borough
- Skagway Municipality
- City and Borough of Wrangell
Common questions
How many national parks are in Alaska?
8: 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, and Wrangell–St. Elias National Park.
What is the closest national park to Alaska?
Kenai Fjords National Park, roughly 109 mi (176 km) out and about 3 hr 2 min of driving from the centre of Alaska.