There is 1 wildlife park in Alaska where you can drive your own car past the animals, plus 1 national park road where you can watch wild moose and caribou from your vehicle.
- Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (Portage)
- Denali National Park – Park Road, Miles 0–15 (Denali Park)
ALASKA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION CENTER
Type: Non-profit wildlife sanctuary with a 1.5-mile loop you can drive in your own car, walk, or bike
Location: Mile 79 Seward Highway, 43520 Seward Hwy, Portage, AK 99587 (about 47 miles south of Anchorage, past Girdwood)
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 949, Girdwood, AK 99587
Phone: (907) 783-0058
Email: info@alaskawildlife.org
Website: alaskawildlife.org · Hours & Directions · Buy Tickets · Tours & Encounters
Social Media: Instagram (@akwildlife)
Size: 200+ acres of animal habitats along a 1.5-mile loop. The wood bison range alone covers 65 acres of tidal flats.
Setting: Portage Valley, surrounded by the Chugach Mountains, glaciers, and Turnagain Arm
Animals: Brown and black bears, moose, wood bison, caribou, musk ox, elk, Sitka deer, wolves, coyotes, arctic foxes, lynx, porcupines, martens, bald eagles, and more. Most are orphaned or injured animals that live there permanently.
Admission (per person):
- General (13+): $30
- Youth (4–12): $26
- Ages 3 & under: Free
- Active U.S. military with ID: $28
- Alaska residents with ID: $28 for adults, $24 for youth
Hours:
- Sept 16 – Oct 31: Daily 10 AM – 6 PM, last entry 5 PM
- November: Fri–Mon 10 AM – 5 PM, last entry 4 PM
- December: Fri–Mon 10 AM – 4 PM, last entry 3 PM. It’s also open Dec 22, 23, and 29–31.
- January: Fri–Mon 10 AM – 4 PM, last entry 3 PM
- February: Fri–Mon 10 AM – 5 PM, last entry 4 PM
- March–April: Daily 10 AM – 6 PM, last entry 5 PM
- May 1 – Sept 15: Daily 8:30 AM – 7 PM, last entry 6 PM
- Closed Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day
Getting Around:
- The best approach is to drive the loop first to get your bearings, then park by the gift shop and walk.
- In winter, the loop is open for kick-sledding, cross-country skiing, and fat biking.
Tours & Encounters:
- Walk on the Wild Side Tour: 90 minutes with a naturalist guide, year-round, up to 10 people. It includes a chance to feed an animal.
- Moose Encounters and Brown Bear Encounters: Seasonal, and they book up early.
- Free naturalist-led animal programs run daily.
Rules:
- Don’t touch or feed the animals, and keep children away from the fences.
- Pets must stay in your vehicle at all times.
- No smoking, vaping, or drones.
Getting There: There’s no Uber or Lyft pickup in Portage. If you arrive by rideshare or taxi, ask the driver to wait.
Other: Be Wild Gift Shop and on-site dining. Memberships are available, including a HiBEARnation winter pass for locals.
DENALI NATIONAL PARK – PARK ROAD, MILES 0–15
Type: National park scenic road. Private vehicles can drive the first 15 miles to look for wildlife from the car.
Location: Denali Park Road, Denali National Park, AK (Parks Highway Mile 237, about 240 miles north of Anchorage)
Phone: (907) 683-9532 (Denali visitor information)
Website: nps.gov/dena
Social Media:
Size: The park covers about 6 million acres. Private vehicles may drive only from the park entrance to the Savage River check station at Mile 15.
Animals: Moose, caribou, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, red foxes, snowshoe hares, and golden eagles. Moose are the most common sighting along the first 15 miles.
Admission: $15 per person (16 and older), valid for 7 days. America the Beautiful passes are accepted.
Season: The first 15 miles are paved and usually open to cars from about mid-April to mid-September, depending on weather. In winter, the road is plowed only partway.
Beyond Mile 15: The rest of the 92-mile road is open only by park shuttle or tour bus. Private cars aren’t allowed past Savage River.
Tips:
- Early morning and evening are the best times to see moose.
- On clear days, you can see Denali (the mountain) from about Mile 9.
- Stay in your car or keep at least 300 yards from bears and 25 yards from other wildlife.
Other: The Denali Visitor Center, the sled dog kennels (free ranger demos in summer), and the Riley Creek and Savage River campgrounds are all along this stretch.