East Fork Chulitna Wayside (near Denali), AK
East Fork Chulitna Wayside is a small, free campground along the Parks Highway between Denali State Park and Denali National Park. It is located around Mile 186 and works well as a convenient overnight stop while traveling between Anchorage and Fairbanks.
GPS coordinates: 63.151421, -149.410651
Cost: Free
Reservations: None; first come, first served
Number of sites: Approximately 10
Hookups: None
The campground is located behind the main rest area and includes basic campsites with picnic tables and fire rings. Vault toilets and trash bins are available, but there is no potable water, dump station or electricity.
This is a primitive and lightly maintained camping area. Recent campers have reported that some of the tent sites and parts of the loop can become overgrown, while only a handful of the paved spaces may be practical for RVs. Larger rigs should walk the loop before pulling in and avoid relying on this as their only overnight option. Mosquitoes can also be intense during the summer.
The East Fork Chulitna River is nearby, although there is not always a clearly maintained trail from the campground. The area is quiet compared with developed campgrounds around Denali, but some highway noise is still possible.
Things to Do Near East Fork Chulitna Wayside
Hurricane Gulch Bridge
About 12 miles south of the wayside, the Parks Highway crosses Hurricane Gulch on a tall steel-arch bridge. A parking area north of the bridge provides a good place to stop for photos and look down into the gorge.
Explore the Denali Highway
The western end of the Denali Highway begins near Cantwell, approximately 25 miles north. The 135-mile road offers mountain scenery, wildlife viewing, fishing, hiking and primitive camping. Much of the highway is gravel, so road conditions should be checked before taking an RV or tow vehicle far beyond Cantwell.
Visit Denali National Park
The entrance to Denali National Park is roughly 50 miles north. Visitors can stop at the Denali Visitor Center, explore trails near the entrance, ride a park bus or visit the sled-dog kennels. The Denali Park Road remains closed beyond Mile 43 during summer 2026, but the entrance area and accessible portion of the road remain open.
Hike in Denali State Park
South of the wayside, K’esugi Ken Campground provides access to walking trails, an interpretive center and views of the Alaska Range. The campground complex also has picnic areas and more than two miles of paths that can be used by hikers and bicycles.
Overall
East Fork Chulitna Wayside is best for campers who are self-contained and need a simple, free place to stop along the Parks Highway. It is not a destination campground, but the location between Denali State Park, Cantwell and Denali National Park makes it useful for a night or two while traveling through Interior Alaska.
Additional References:
East Fork Chulitna Wayside — Alaska.org
https://www.alaska.org/detail/east-fork-chulitna-wayside
East Fork Chulitna Wayside camper reviews and photos — The Dyrt
https://thedyrt.com/camping/alaska/east-fork-chulitna-wayside
East Fork Chulitna Wayside camper reviews — Campendium
https://maps.campendium.com/us/cantwell-ak/camping-rv/east-fork-chulitna-wayside
Hurricane Gulch Bridge — Alaska.org
https://www.alaska.org/guide/alaskas-most-photo-worthy-bridges
Denali Highway visitor information — Bureau of Land Management
https://www.blm.gov/visit/denali-highway
Denali National Park visitor centers — National Park Service
https://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm
K’esugi Ken Campground and trails — Alaska State Parks
https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/matsu/kesugiken.htm
