Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve — Visitor Info
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve is the largest unit in the entire National Park System — bigger than six US states — covering glaciers, volcanic peaks, and the historic Kennecott copper mines in south-central Alaska. Despite its size, there's no entrance gate: two gravel roads lead in, and everything beyond them is wilderness.
Page content last verified: July 2026
Getting There
The main Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center is on the paved Richardson Highway in Copper Center, about 200 miles northeast of Anchorage. From there, two gravel roads — both owned and maintained by the State of Alaska, not the NPS — lead into the park:
- Nabesna Road (Nabesna District, north): 42 miles of gravel with 3 stream crossings, starting near Slana. Usually fine for 2WD, but 4WD or high-clearance is recommended after rain.
- McCarthy Road (Kennecott District, south): 59 miles of gravel starting near Chitina, ending at the Kennicott River bridge near the town of McCarthy. Most rental car companies prohibit their vehicles on this road — check your rental agreement first.
The historic Kennecott Mines are 5 miles beyond McCarthy — all visitors must park at the Kennicott River bridge and either walk, bike, or take a private summer shuttle (fee-based) the rest of the way; there's no vehicle access to the mill town. The coastal Yakutat District has no road connection at all and is reached only by boat, ferry, or plane.
Entrance Fees
Wrangell-St. Elias does not charge an entrance fee, and because of that, the park does not sell or issue federal land passes (Interagency passes for other parks aren't sold here, though you may need one if you're touring multiple parks). The park is cashless — bring a card for any fee-based services. Note that private parking, camping, and shuttle services near McCarthy do charge their own fees.
Every Kid Outdoors — Free 4th Grade Pass
Wrangell-St. Elias doesn't charge an entrance fee, so an Every Kid Outdoors pass isn't needed here — but it's honored at other fee-charging national parks. Learn more at everykidoutdoors.gov.
Permits & Reservations
No permit is required for typical backcountry travel or camping. Shuttle bus services connecting Glennallen and McCarthy have limited schedules and require reservations.
Campgrounds & RV Options
There's no NPS-run campground network — camping options near the road corridors are privately operated, and the rest of the park is dispersed backcountry camping.
Private overnight parking and camping (fee-based) is available at mile 60 of McCarthy Road, at the Kennicott River Bridge just west of McCarthy town. Beyond the road corridors, camping is dispersed wilderness camping — Leave No Trace practices and bear safety awareness apply throughout.
Good to Know
- This is the largest national park in the US — over 13 million acres, bigger than Switzerland.
- Fill your tank before you go — there are no gas stations on either park road.
- The Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark is a former copper mining town and one of the park's most popular destinations, reachable only on foot/bike/shuttle beyond the McCarthy Road's end.
- Visitor centers close for winter (October–April) — the roads themselves stay open year-round, weather permitting, but services are minimal off-season.
More National Parks
See our other National Park visitor guides, or browse the full National Parks guide.
Fees and regulations change from year to year. This page is a starting point for trip planning — always confirm current details on the official Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve site before you go.
Sources: NPS – Fees & Passes · NPS – Directions · NPS – Alerts & Conditions
