Not sure which parking passes you need to use for Alaska’s trailheads? Whether it’s in one of Alaska’s eight national parks, an Alaska State Park, or a private recreational area, you’ll want to know which daily passes and annual passes you need to avoid getting a parking ticket during your outdoor recreation!
In this post, I’m going to share what you need to know about parking passes for Alaska’s state parks and national parks.
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Alaska State Parks Parking Pass
Daily Fee: $5-$10; Annual Fee: $60
The Alaska State Parks parking pass covers parking fees at most state parks and state recreation areas around Alaska, including Chugach State Park, Eklutna Lake, and Denali State Park.
Daily parking remains $5 in 2025. Annual boat launch passes are available for $150. You can check the site fees here.
State park passes can’t be used in federal, municipal, private or other state agency campgrounds or related facilities, including the Pillars Boat Launch, Arctic Valley, Eagle Rock Boat Launch and Eagle River Nature Center.
Alaska State Parks also offers Annual Parking Passes for $60 per calendar year, which you can purchase online from the Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation or in person at state park offices and most campgrounds. You can also find it in-store at many locations and can see the list of locations here.
If you’re staying overnight at a public use cabin, keep in mind that parking is usually included in the cost for the cabin.
Arctic Valley Parking Pass
Daily Fee: $5; Annual Fee: $35
Arctic Valley Ski Area is run by volunteers and staff from the Anchorage Ski Club, a 501(c)3 Non-Profit, which is why the Alaska State Park passes are NOT VALID here.
Arctic Valley offers a Day Parking Fee pass, which you can buy at the fee station in the parking lot or buy online ahead of time. The parking fee is $5 and helps to maintain the road, parking lots, and outhouses in the area.
If you spend a lot of time in Arctic Valley, you can purchase an annual Basic Membership pass for $35, which includes a trailhead parking pass.
Eagle River Nature Center Parking Pass
Daily Fee: $5
Eagle River Nature Center is run by Friends of Eagle River Nature Center, and it’s another site where Alaska State Park parking passes are NOT VALID.
Day use fees are $5 per vehicle for 24 hours. Parking for 15-passenger vans cost $15 and buses are $30.
You can find a fee station located by the front door of the Eagle River Nature Center Visitor Center and pay by credit card or cash (no change given).
The main parking lot has limited parking area for RV’s and vehicles with trailers, and the lower parking lot and overflow parking lots are NOT suitable for RV’s or trailers.
DO NOT park along Eagle River Road or streets where “NO PARKING” is indicated as you will receive a ticket. You can park further down Eagle River Road where there are no signs.
Alaska National Parks Parking Pass
Alaska has eight national parks:
- Denali National Park
- Kenai Fjords National Park
- Wrangell St. Elias National Park
- Glacier Bay National Park
- Katmai National Park
- Gates of the Arctic National Park
- Lake Clark National Park
- Kobuk Valley National Park
But, there’s only one Alaska National Park that has an entrance fee… it’s Denali National Park.
Denali National Park
7-Day Pass: $15 (per adult); Annual Vehicle Pass: $45
Denali National Park is Alaska’s most iconic national park and home to Denali, the tallest mountain in the United States and North America.
Park visitors can purchase an individual entrance fee of $15 or purchase a Denali Annual Pass for $45, which covers up to 4 adults.
If you love visiting National Parks, an Interagency Annual Pass, such as an America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, may be your best value if you plan to visit other national parks, federal lands and federal recreation sites across the US.
Fees are waived at Denali National Park in 2025 on the following days:
- January 9 — National Day of Mourning for President James Earl Carter Jr.
- January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- April 19 First day of National Park Week
- August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
- September 27: National Public Lands Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
Read More
How to Reserve Public Use Cabins in Alaska
Everything You Need to Know to Visit Denali National Park
Southcentral Alaska 100 Hikes Challenge
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Do you have any questions about Alaska parks parking pass? Leave them in comments.
We have multiple vehicles, and we never know which one we will drive to, say, Glen Alps above Anchorage. Do we need 3 passes for 3 vehicles?
Nope! Just try to find a way to easily transfer your pass to another vehicle (i.e. don’t stick it on completely)