Driving the McCarthy Road - Is it worth it?
The McCarthy Road
The McCarthy Road is a 59-mile-long road connecting Chitina (Chit-Na) with the historic town of McCarthy. It’s a gravel road that follows the historic Copper River & Northwestern Railway route created to connect Kennecott Copper Mine with the town of Cordova.
The road is seasonal and usually opens in mid-May and is maintained until mid-September.
It is a famous drive among Alaskans and a great adventure for travelers seeking an extraordinary experience. You won’t find big buses with tourists or large RVs on McCarthy Road.
The McCarthy Road is one of the two roads entering Wrangell - St. Elias National Park, the largest national park in the United States.
Highlights of the McCarthy Road
Fascinating history of the Athabascans and pioneers,
Beautiful nature in Wrangell - St. Elias National Park,
Possible wildlife sightings, including black bears, moose, foxes, etc.
Historic towns of Chitina and McCarthy
Famous Copper River and Chitina River,
Historic, impressive bridges,
Views of the Wrangell Mountains, including Mount Drum and Mount Blackburn,
Glaciers.
Moose spotted near Chitina, Alaska
Main Information
McCarthy Road is a seasonal road opened only during the summer months,
plan for a minimum of 2.5 hours one way,
have a (full-size) spare tire, and make sure you know how to change it,
there are no services on the road,
do not expect phone and Internet service. (Verizon has some signal there. Take a satellite phone with you if you have one),
take some emergency food, water, a first-aid kit, and clothing,
have The Milepost, paper route map from the Chitina Ranger Station, and Audio Guide,
fill up your tank in Glennallen, Kenny Lake (Mile 7.1 Edgerton Hwy), or Chitina (self-service as of 2019),
most of the rental car companies in Alaska do not allow rental cars on this road (more below),
plan at least one night in McCarthy.
McCarthy Road, August 2019
Driving to McCarthy from Anchorage
You will have more than 300 miles from Anchorage to drive to get to McCarthy. Remember that the Glenn Highway, connecting Anchorage with Glennallen, is a beautiful road. We regularly spend 1-2 nights in this area. Ideally, try to spend the night in the Glennallen area or Chitina before heading to McCarthy.
Visiting McCarthy and driving the McCarthy Road is an adventure worth your time and proper planning.
Even though the McCarthy route is less than 60 miles, you should allow a minimum (!) of 2 hours one way. We suggest taking your time - it’s the only way to drive safely and enjoy the beauty and incredible history.
Our Drive on McCarthy Road
McCarthy is a legendary route among the locals in Alaska. After hearing so many stories (mainly from the ’80s and 90’s), we finally decided to try it ourselves.
We drove our 2012 Highlander Toyota, which handled the route without problems. The road, especially after the first few miles, is relatively flat. We didn’t feel like a 4x4 car was necessary here in early August.
You should drive slowly and carefully and remember the stones or railway remnants that stick out of the road in some parts. Keep your speed lower on the more narrow and sketchy stretches. Be prepared for this drive but don’t avoid taking McCarthy Road. The NPS website says:
“Under normal summer conditions, most passenger vehicles can make the trip.”
We fully agree with this statement.
The road from Chitina to McCarthy took us about three and a half hours one way, with numerous stops along the road for short walks and photos.
We saw a moose in the first few miles and two black bears closer to the end of the road.
We don’t recommend driving RVs, especially the ones bigger than most European apartments, although we saw a few parked at the local campsite.
Chitina, Alaska
The McCarthy Road starts from the little town of Chitina (population of about 120 people), around 30 miles off the Richardson Highway. The stretch leading to Chitina is paved and easily accessible for all vehicles. The town is located on the banks of the Copper River and the boundary of Wrangell - St. Elias National Park.
For thousands of years, the area was home to the Athabascans (the Ahtna Athabascan name for the area is Tsedi Na’, meaning “Copper River”), but with the copper ore discovery around 1900, everything changed. Learn more about the Ahtna history in the area.
While you are here, visit the local Ranger Station to learn more about the area's history. Be sure to pick up a free CD Audio Guide here, making your drive even more enjoyable. The audio guide can also be downloaded on your phone in advance.
Highlights of the McCarthy Road
We truly enjoyed our drive and are very excited to do it again as soon as possible.
We highly recommend the free Audio Guide from Chitina Ranger Station for this drive. With the guide, you won’t miss anything on McCarthy Road, including a few of our favorite stops:
Copper River Bridge (Mile 1) Watch for dip netters catching fish on this legendary Alaskan river. The run here includes Copper River King and silver salmon.
Kuskulana Bridge (Mile 17) This former railroad bridge from 1910 is located almost 250 feet above the river. It’s a narrow, single-lane, very impressive bridge.
Mount Blackburn (Mile 25) Beautiful views of the famous mountain from the Chokosna Lake area.
Gilahina Trestle (Mile 29) Take a short break and wander around the old trestle.
Crystalline Hills area (Mile 34) Great mountain views and possible wildlife viewing.
Long Lake (Mile 46) Beautiful stop for lunch by the lake.
Single lane Kuskulana Bridge on the McCarthy Road
End of the McCarthy Road
At the end of the road - Mile 59 - it’s time to park your car and start the adventure.
There is no vehicle access for travelers from this point, so you will need to continue by crossing the footbridge and then walking to McCarthy or taking a shuttle. Before the bridge is a parking lot where you can pay (bring cash!) to park your car for the day.
If you have booked your accommodation in McCarthy or Kennicott, make sure to arrange transportation for you and your luggage in advance.
You can leave your car at the parking lot for a fee. There is also camping available at the Glacier View Campground.
We strongly suggest planning at least one night in the McCarthy area. There is something special about this place, and you really need a few days to take it all in. Ideally, try to spend two or even three nights there - you won’t regret it.
Read our article about visiting McCarthy and Kennicott to learn what to do, where to eat, and where to stay in McCarthy.
Root Glacier seen from the end of the McCarthy Road
Renting a Car for McCarthy Road
Most car rental companies in Alaska do not allow you to drive the McCarthy Road. If you plan to do so, your choices are limited to just a few local, Alaskan-owned businesses (which is great!).
GoNorth offers a wide range of vehicles, from SUVs to large campers. They have a number of cars that are suitable for making the drive on the McCarthy Road.
Alaska 4x4 has a great fleet of cars, including some nice 4x4s. They are conveniently located at the Ted Stevens International Airport. They also allow you to drive roads like the Denali, Dalton, and Top of the World Highway. Keep that in mind while planning your adventures in Alaska.
Midnight Sun Rentals is located in Anchorage and offers a large fleet of cars and competitive prices. They have a small section on their website about driving the road. Make sure you understand their insurance policy.
Alaskan Car Rental allows customers to drive to McCarthy with their SUV vehicles. However, their free roadside assistance does not extend to unpaved roads (aka the McCarthy Road).
Alternatives
If you don’t want to rent from the companies listed above or don’t feel like taking any additional risks, you have a few other options to consider.
Shuttle to Kennicott- It might be the easiest and most economical way to go if you are a single traveler. There is one Alaskan-owned business offering shuttle service to McCarthy:
Kennicott Shuttle - daily rides from Glennallen to McCarthy (departure on a different day than arrival).
Flights - Flying above the Wrangell St. Elias National Park to McCarthy must be very impressive and saves you some time to use in McCarthy. We haven’t tried this, but two local businesses offer this service:
If you would like assistance planning your trip to McCarthy, please contact us!
Learn more about visiting with our Guide to McCarthy and Kennicott.
