The best times to visit Denali National Park for ideal weather are

June 4th to August 26th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Denali National Park Travel Info

Weather in Denali National Park

Temperature

Average temperatures in Denali National Park vary an incredible amount. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for most of the year with a very low chance of rain or snow throughout the year. The area is somewhat temperate — in the 45th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Denali National Park, the hottest months are July, June, and then August. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally early July where highs are regularly around 72°F (22.2°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 52.9°F (11.6°C) at night.

Denali National Park Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Denali National Park Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Denali National Park Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Denali National Park Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Denali National Park Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 2.3 -4.4 -11.5
Feb 10.7 1.8 -6.7
Mar 19.9 9.5 -0.8
Apr 41.3 30.9 19.4
May 59.4 48.4 37.3
Jun 68.5 57.8 48.8
Jul 69.6 60 52.3
Aug 64 55 47.9
Sep 53.6 45 38.6
Oct 32.7 26.8 21.6
Nov 14.2 7.7 1.2
Dec 6 -0.3 -7.4

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan -16.5 -20.2 -24.2
Feb -11.8 -16.8 -21.5
Mar -6.7 -12.5 -18.2
Apr 5.2 -0.6 -7
May 15.2 9.1 2.9
Jun 20.3 14.3 9.3
Jul 20.9 15.6 11.3
Aug 17.8 12.8 8.8
Sep 12 7.2 3.7
Oct 0.4 -2.9 -5.8
Nov -9.9 -13.5 -17.1
Dec -14.4 -17.9 -21.9

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Denali National Park are February, March, and then April. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early January. For example, on the week of January 1st there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in mid to late August with an average of 1 days of significant precipitation the week of August 20th.

When can you find snow in Denali National Park? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Denali National Park.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Denali National Park (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 0% 0 0.1
Feb 0% 0 0
Mar 0% 0 0
Apr 0% 0 0
May 3% 0 0.2
Jun 4% 0 0.5
Jul 7% 0 0.7
Aug 5% 0 0.5
Sep 5% 0 0.4
Oct 1% 0 0.2
Nov 1% 0 0.1
Dec 0% 0 0

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 0 0 0.3
Feb 0 0 0
Mar 0 0 0
Apr 0 0 0
May 3 0 0.5
Jun 4 0 1.3
Jul 7 0 1.8
Aug 5 0 1.3
Sep 5 0 1
Oct 1 0 0.5
Nov 1 0 0.3
Dec 0 0 0

 

Humidity and Wind

Denali National Park has some very humid months, and slightly dry months in the opposite season. The least humid month is May (34.2% relative humidity), and the most humid month is November (72.6%).

Wind in Denali National Park is usually extremely calm. The windiest month is May, followed by July and June. May’s average wind speed of around 2 knots (2.3 MPH or 3.7 KPH) is considered “light air.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early December where average top sustained speeds reach 9.5 knots, which is considered a gentle breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Denali National Park.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 1.1 Barely noticeable 7.8 Gentle breeze
Feb 0.9 Still 6.1 Light breeze
Mar 1.8 Barely noticeable 6.4 Gentle breeze
Apr 1.7 Barely noticeable 6.9 Light breeze
May 2 Barely noticeable 7.9 Gentle breeze
Jun 1.9 Barely noticeable 7.9 Gentle breeze
Jul 2 Barely noticeable 7.5 Gentle breeze
Aug 1.3 Barely noticeable 6.4 Light breeze
Sep 1.2 Barely noticeable 5.8 Gentle breeze
Oct 0.9 Still 5.5 Light breeze
Nov 1 Barely noticeable 6.3 Gentle breeze
Dec 1.1 Barely noticeable 7.7 Gentle breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 62.1%
Feb 64%
Mar 47.1%
Apr 44.3%
May 34.2%
Jun 45.8%
Jul 55.8%
Aug 63.8%
Sep 62.8%
Oct 72.4%
Nov 72.6%
Dec 70.1%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Denali National Park?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for the United States; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Denali National Park, AK, US is July, followed by August and June. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Denali National Park in November. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 35 in November means 35% of the tourists vs. July.

 

 

Overall Denali National Park Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel very cold. Highs range from 67.1°F (19.5°C) and 14.4°F (-9.8°C) with far warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is extremely rare with 0 to 1 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have comfortably cool weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see the most precipitation with 1 to 2 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Denali National Park, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 59.7°F (15.4°C) and 9.4°F (-12.6°C), which will feel very chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a barely noticeable amount: 0 to 1 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is far too cold this time of year in Denali National Park to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 15.9°F (-8.9°C) and -0.4°F (-18°C). On average, it rains or snows a insignificant amount: consistently 0 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› the United States › Denali National Park, AK, US