It depends on how you are traveling. Keep in mind you will not get to see the mountain unless you go in the park. I would say if by train a day. If you have your own car you could spend a few days exploring and hiking.
We took the train from Anchorage. It was a 9 hour ride around rivers, mountains and trees. A park ranger boarded the train along the way. Very educational. I saw tents and RV travellers. We toured and stayed at a lodge for 2 nights. The weather was over cast, cool and lite rain. Loved the trip. Would go camping next time.
We had 3 full days in Denali. We took a bus till one stop before last (Eielson visitor centre) if you come early enough you might get into small group for free hiking with a ranger( we took 7.30 bus for that) very nice hike, around 1 hour hike, great views. Another day we visited kennels. You can hike there and back, or take a bus one way and hike back.. informative and free. And one day we drove till the mile 15th left our car there and hiked Savage Alpine trail. To start from the parking is more difficult than finish with it. We didn't know that and still made it with 3 kids including baby in the carrier. We didn't meet bears(luckily) but other hikers spotted some not on the trail but on the other mountain. It was an excellent experience, we met a couple of moose few meters from the trail and other small animals. If you like hiking there are many other hiking trails.
Three minimum. Take the guided park bus tour to the end of the road one day, take a hike and visit the sled dog kennels another and visit Talketna on your way in. Worth the brief detour and take a flight with K2 around Denali and its glaciers.
It's a unique experience several days is recommended
It really just depends on what and how much you want to see. If Denali is your main focus of the trip, then you owe it to yourself to stick around for a few days. If not, give it a day and take what the weather gives you. By sheer trail number and volume of activities, there's a lifetime there
Definitely more than one day and if you want to see Mt.Mclinley for sure it might take few days because it's usually clouded in and if you don't have time to stay few days I reccomended taking a flight that circles it close enough to usually be able to see it most anytime cost approx 200.00 per person from the Healy or Denali National Park side which is about 100 miles from Mt.Mclinley. We stayed a week before it showed it's face. If you have time I reccomended trying to see it from South side near town called Talkeena that's closer to Denali and plane ride shorter and less expensive, I reccomend company name is K2 Aviation about 169.00 or less and Alaska train has a stop there and Talkeena Lodge is awesome place to stay and not bad rates and has awesome views of Mt.Mclinley. The town is a great place to experience also good eating places.
Im with Jonathan you can definitely spend several days. I spent 2 full days their and would recommend at least 3 days.
I believe there are two different toursyou can take.one for 4 hrs the other is 8hrs and you go farther into the park.
We took the 11 hour tour and then came back the next day for a bit but could have easily spent a lot more time there of we wanted to do any hiking or anything like that
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