Holland America Denali Lodge
Holland America’s own 60-acre riverside lodge at the doorstep of Denali National Park, and a stop on every one of its Alaska cruisetours. Here’s how the rooms, dining and park tours work.
Your base camp for Denali
Holland America has run this lodge in the Denali Canyon for decades, and in 2025 it dropped the old McKinley Chalet Resort name for one that says exactly where you are. Chalet-style guest buildings are linked by boardwalks through the spruce, some right along the Nenana River, with Mt. Healy rising behind. The heart of it all is Denali Square, with fire pits, a covered amphitheater for ranger and wildlife talks, sled dog puppies and little shop cabins.
The lodge is mid-way through a multi-year upgrade: remodeled rooms and public spaces, new menus with a local Alaska and Pacific Northwest focus, and two new guest buildings planned for 2027. The park itself is the main event, though. Stay two or three nights and Holland America includes the Tundra Wilderness Tour deep into the park; one-night stays include the Denali Natural History Tour.
Formerly McKinley Chalet Resort.
Inside the stay
Rooms & suites
Standard rooms come with a coffee maker, Wi-Fi and access to everything on site. Two upgrades are worth a look. Deluxe Guest Rooms sit close to Denali Square and add robes, Pendleton blankets, a Keurig and a s’mores kit. Denali Suites add a private balcony with park views and an in-suite refrigerator. Upgrades are limited, so ask your advisor early.
Where to eat
Canyon Ridge Grill is the sit-down choice, a steakhouse overlooking the Nenana River with dry-aged steaks, Alaska seafood and local beer. Karstens Public House in Denali Square does Alaska comfort food like halibut fish and chips with indoor and outdoor seating. For mornings, The Outpost: Provisions & Coffee has local brews and grab-and-go sandwiches, and there’s fresh pizza delivery to your room after a long park day.
Evenings in Denali Square
After the park tour, this is where everyone ends up: fire pits for s’mores, the amphitheater for National Park Service ranger talks and live local music, an artist-in-residence cabin and sled dog puppies to meet. Music of Denali, a family-style Alaska dinner with a musical comedy about the first Denali summit, plays nightly at the Gold Nugget Saloon. Reserve it at the tour desk, as it books up in peak season.
Into the park
On 2- and 3-night stays, Holland America includes the Tundra Wilderness Tour, the long ride on the park road in search of bears, moose, caribou and Dall sheep (subject to National Park Service capacity). One-night stays include the shorter Denali Natural History Tour. Park buses are run by the park concessionaire, not the lodge. A lodge shuttle runs to the park visitor center, and the tour desk handles extras like rafting and flightseeing, booked with Holland America.
Tours that stay here
- Holland America 2027 cruisetours
- How long. 1 to 3 nights here, most often 2 nights.
- Want more time here? Some tours add an extra night. Tell your advisor and we’ll find the version that fits.
From our founderInside the lodge
You are literally at the footstep of Denali, and there’s so many tour options, some are included, some are additional, that take you into the park itself.
Before you go
- Pack a Denali bag. On Denali cruisetours, Holland America delivers only one bag per person to your room here; the rest travels ahead to your next hotel. Keep layers, rain gear and binoculars in the bag that stays with you.
- Ship packages stay on the ship. Ship dining and beverage packages don’t apply on the land portion, for any brand. Meals and drinks at the lodge are paid as you go unless your tour includes them. Holland America also offers a separate Cruisetour Dining Package that covers select breakfasts and dinners at its own lodges, so ask your advisor whether it’s part of your booking.
- Guests often ask about the upgrade. It’s one of the most common questions we get about this lodge. If a balcony and park view matter to you, ask your advisor to add a Denali Suite when you book, since they’re limited. Plan to eat on property, too: the lodge restaurants are the dining scene out here.
- Expect early park mornings. Park tours often leave early in the day. Set out warm layers the night before, because the weather can change fast. Traveling with mobility needs? Tell your advisor; our accessibility specialist can help arrange it.
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