Which national parks in Alaska need a reservation
Alaska has 8 national parks in this catalog: 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.
None of Alaska's national parks in this catalog require a timed-entry permit to drive in.
What people usually mean by a reservation in Alaska is a hike permit, a campground, or one road. Those bookings keep their own scope.
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.
What actually needs booking in Alaska
| Park | Drive-in reservation | Other bookings | Park page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denali National Park | Not required | 6 campgrounds | Timed entry and tours |
| Gates of the Arctic National Park | Not required | None in this catalog | Timed entry and tours |
| Glacier Bay National Park | Not required | Bartlett Cove campground | Timed entry and tours |
| Katmai National Park | Not required | Brooks Camp Camping Permit, Brooks River Corridor Group 7-Day Permits, and Fure's Cabin campground | Timed entry and tours |
| Kenai Fjords National Park | Not required | Kenai Fjords National Park Cabins campground | Timed entry and tours |
| Kobuk Valley National Park | Not required | None in this catalog | Timed entry and tours |
| Lake Clark National Park | Not required | 2 campgrounds | Timed entry and tours |
| Wrangell–St. Elias National Park | Not required | Esker Stream Cabin campground | Timed entry and tours |
Related lists
Common questions
Which national parks in Alaska need a reservation?
No sourced park in Alaska requires a timed-entry permit to drive in. Hike permits, campgrounds, and single-road bookings are a separate system.
Do you need a reservation to enter a national park in Alaska?
No timed-entry permit is required to drive into the Alaska national parks in this catalog.