Have just two days to see Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, and want to know the best way to spend your time? Even though this is the largest and wildest national park in the United States, you can hit the highlights in just two days with the right game plan! Having explored the park ourselves, we’ve mapped out the perfect 2-Day Itinerary to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park to maximize your time, without leaving you feeling rushed.
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ℹ️ About Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve
Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve, in south central Alaska, is the largest national park in the U.S. at over 13 million acres. It’s a land of towering mountains, massive glaciers, and true wilderness, yet there are still accessible areas for the average traveler. The park’s two main car-accessible areas are the McCarthy/Kennicott region and the Nabesna region.
McCarthy/Kennicott, the heart of the park, is accessible via the 60-mile (96-km) McCarthy Road, which features the old copper mine, some of the park’s most popular trails, and the famous Root Glacier. Nabesna in the north is accessible via the 42-mile (68-km) Nabesna Road, a popular destination for backpacking trips and increased wildlife viewing. This article focuses on the McCarthy/Kennicott region, as it is the more popular area among visitors.
Please respect the outdoors and Leave No Trace! Before embarking on your outdoor adventure, review the seven principles of Leave No Trace, which include planning ahead and preparing, traveling and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly (pack out what you pack in), leaving what you find, minimizing campfire impacts, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of others. Abiding by these principles helps keep these places beautiful so others can enjoy them for years to come!
📝 2-Day Wrangell-St. Elias Itinerary
Here’s how we’d spend 2 days in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, with suggested times to help you plan. If you end up with extra time in the park or want to swap out any activities, we’ve listed even more things to do after the itinerary!
Day 1 Wrangell-St. Elias Itinerary
1. Stop by Copper Center Visitor Center from 9 am to 10 am
2. Drive McCarthy Road from 11 am to 2 pm
3. Cross the Footbridge and Shuttle to McCarthy
4. Tour the Kennecott Mines 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
5. Grab Dinner at The Potato 6 pm
1. Stop by Copper Center Visitor Center
Copper Center Visitor Center is the best place to kick off your trip as it’s conveniently located just outside the park, and is the park’s largest visitor center. Here, rangers can update you on the current conditions of McCarthy Road and any special events going on during your visit.
Inside, you’ll also find educational exhibits that provide context on the history, geology, and current challenges of Wrangell–St. Elias, which we found to be a great way to kick off our trip. If you have questions about hiking, camping, shuttles, or glaciers, this is the place to ask.
💚 Become a Junior Ranger! Kids and adults alike can pick up a booklet in this center and participate in the Junior Ranger Program. If you fill out and return the booklet during your visit, you can be sworn in and given a special badge!
After visiting the Copper Center Visitor Center, drive 1 hour to Chitina. There is the Chitina Ranger Station at the beginning of McCarthy Road, but it’s not open every day.
An alternative plan would be to stay overnight in Chitina at Gilpatrick’s Hotel Chitina and start down McCarthy Road early the next day. There are two restaurants in town, Koya Cup Expresso or Grubstake Grill, that you can grab breakfast at before driving on McCarthy Road.
2. Drive McCarthy Road
McCarthy Road is a 60-mile (96-km) gravel road that will take you into the most popular area of the park, and driving it yourself allows you to stop as often as you’d like! You’ll be driving along the same path of the historic Copper River and Northwestern Railway, where ore was once hauled from the Kennecott Mines—pretty cool if you ask us!
During your drive, watch for pull-offs at landmarks like the Kuskulana Bridge and Gilahina Trestle, and keep an eye out for wildlife along the Crystalline Hills. We recommend enjoying a picnic lunch in the car or at one of the stops along McCarthy Road. You’ll get to stretch your legs and enjoy the views during lunch.
Plan to take at least 3 hours one way, and remember that there’s no cell service for most of the route. Because of this, we recommend downloading offline Google Maps before starting down McCarthy Road.
While the road is notorious for being rough in sections, it’s improved in recent years. Overall, we found it to be quite manageable. For more information on how to safely drive this backcountry road, refer to our related article—How to Drive McCarthy Road to Wrangell-St. Elias: Step-by-Step.
ℹ️ Alternative to Driving: If you prefer not to drive McCarthy Road, but still want to reach McCarthy and Kennicott, you can take the Kennicott Shuttle from Chitina, or even fly from Chitina to McCarthy Airport.
3. Cross the Footbridge and Shuttle to McCarthy
At the end of McCarthy Road, park in the designated lot—full-day parking is $12 and can be paid inside the Visitor Information building. Once you’re parked, grab everything you’ll need for the day and walk across the McCarthy Footbridge. Carts are available if you’re hauling gear or staying overnight in McCarthy or at the Kennecott Glacier Lodge. Keep reading for more information on where to stay near Wrangell-St. Elias below!
After crossing the bridge, catch the first shuttle you see into McCarthy. You can walk into town if you prefer, but since you’ll likely be heading to Kennecott this afternoon (and again on Day 2), an all-day pass would include this leg of the trip as well. You can buy a shuttle pass at the visitor information center near the parking area or in McCarthy at the McCarthy Center Store. If you’re feeling a bit peckish, you can pick up a snack at the McCarthy Center Store as well.
4. Tour the Kennecott Mines
Touring the historic Kennecott Mines is one of the most popular and worthwhile things to do in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park! Located in the old copper mining town of Kennicott, just north of McCarthy, you’ll need to hop back on the shuttle to reach it.
We joined the 2-hour Kennecott Mine Tour with St. Elias Alpine Guides, which took us from the very top of the mill down through its 14 stories. We were given hard hats to wear, which, beyond ensuring our safety, really made us feel like miners! Our guide shared stories and photos of the immigrant workers who built this place and the innovations that made Kennecott a billion-dollar copper empire.
You can freely explore much of the Kennecott townsite on your own, but access inside the 14-story mill building is only allowed on a guided tour. That’s why we decided to go on the tour, and it was well worth it in our experience!
5. Grab Dinner at The Potato
The Potato is one of the most popular spots to eat in McCarthy! Expect sandwiches, burgers, and (as the name suggests) great potato dishes. We ordered the bangers & mash, salmon roll, and rosemary garlic curly fries.
The fries were hands-down our favorite and an absolute must-order. Jen loved her salmon roll, while Elliot would skip the bangers & mash next time in favor of the Potato Head Burrito, which we heard locals rave about.
Day 2 Wrangell-St. Elias Itinerary
1. Hike the Root Glacier Trail from 9 am to 1 pm
2. Picnic lunch on the glacier
3. Go on a Flightseeing Tour by 3 pm
4. Drive back on McCarthy Road by 5 pm
1. Hike the Root Glacier Trail
Within walking distance from the town of Kennicott, the Root Glacier Trail is one of the most popular hikes in all of Wrangell–St. Elias National Park. This 5.7-mile (9.2-km) out-and-back takes about 2.5–3 hours in total, making it a moderate-level trail overall.
This trail departs from Kennecott Mill and, as the name suggests, takes you all the way up to Root Glacier. Once you reach the ice, you’re free to walk across the glacier, peer into its crevasses, and soak in the mountain views. The microspikes we bought were game changers for traction on the ice, but you can also rent similar gear through St. Elias Alpine Guides.
Dogs are allowed, but we recommend dog booties, as the ice was a bit tough on our pup Ollie’s paws. And although some people opt to do this trail as a guided hike, we didn’t find the trail or glacier too intimidating. As long as you take it slowly, trust your instincts, and avoid stepping in puddles (you can’t always tell how deep the cravases are), you’ll do great.
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2. Picnic lunch on the glacier
Packing a lunch and enjoying it before hiking back is a simple way to slow down and take in the fact that you’re on an actual glacier! On clear days, you’ll be able to enjoy panoramic views of Mount Blackburn and the surrounding peaks in front of you. Just be sure to leave no trace and keep food stored securely if you’re stepping away from your pack.
3. Go on a Flightseeing Tour
Seeing Wrangell-St. Elias on a flightseeing tour puts the park into perspective in a way that exploring by foot simply can’t. If there’s one big-ticket experience in Alaska we’d recommend, a flightseeing tour in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and the Boat Tour of Kenai Fjords National Park. We took the 3-Hour Bagley Icefield Tour with Wrangell Mountain Air, which departs from downtown McCarthy, and it was incredible!
Flying over glaciers, mountains, and ice fields gave us a sense of the scale and beauty of the park that’s impossible to get from the ground. For a full breakdown of all the flightseeing tour options, check out our article, How to Choose a Flightseeing Tour of Wrangell-St. Elias, Alaska, to see which one is right for you.
4. Drive Back on McCarthy Road
After your hike and flightseeing adventure, make sure you have enough time to drive the 3 hours back out on McCarthy Road. The lighting is often beautiful in the late afternoon and evening, and you’ll already know where your favorite stops are from the way in. Just be sure to give yourself enough daylight to finish the drive comfortably.
🔃 More Things to Do in Wrangell-St. Elias
If any of the above activities aren’t of interest to you, or you have some extra time on your hands, feel free to swap them out with any of the following activities.
- McCarthy–Kennicott Museum: Learn about the area’s mining history in this free museum, located in downtown McCarthy!
- Drive Nabesna Road: Drive up to the quieter, northern side of the park, known for some of the best backpacking trails and increased wildlife viewing!
- Guided Experiences: Whether you’re interested in kayaking trips, horse riding, or even multi-day backcountry hikes, the NPS maintains a full list of local and licensed guide companies here. If we had more time to explore, we would have definitely prioritized a rafting trip or backpacking trip.
📰 For more travel-planning inspo, check out our related article, 13 Best Things to Do in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park!
⛅ Best Time to Visit Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
The most popular time to visit Wrangell–St. Elias National Park is summer (June through August) when the days are long, most services are open, and roads and trails are fully accessible. This is the ideal time for hiking, glacier trekking, kayaking, flightseeing, and exploring McCarthy and Kennecott. Expect the warmest temperatures of the year and the most reliable conditions—but also the most visitors.
- Summer (June to August): The summer is the sweet spot for most travelers. This is when adventure opportunities are at their peak and the park is at its most welcoming.
- Shoulder Seasons (May & Sept): The last half of May and the first half of September experience fewer visitors, while still offering doable weather conditions. The other half of these months, there’s usually snow on the ground.
- Winter (October to April): Winter transforms the park into a remote, frozen, and mostly inaccessible place. Nearly all services are closed, and access to McCarthy and Kennecott requires careful planning.
🗓️ How Many Days in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park?
With its size and remoteness, Wrangell–St. Elias is not a quick stop. How long you stay will shape what you’re able to experience, so here’s a realistic breakdown based on different trip lengths:
- 2 Days: Perfect for first-timers who want to see the essentials. Spend Day 1 exploring McCarthy and Kennecott, touring the historic mill, and taking in the town sites. Use Day 2 to hike the Root Glacier Trail and go on a flightseeing tour.
- 3 to 4 Days: This is how long we stayed. You’ll experience the highlights without rushing. In addition to everything above, you’ll have time for more hikes, a guided experience, or even driving up to Nabesna Road.
- 5+ Days: Best for adventure-bound travelers. With this amount of time, you can take on multiple major hikes, backpacking trips, or combine both sides of the park (McCarthy/Kennecott + Nabesna Road) with ease.
🚗 How to Get to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Located in southeastern Alaska, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is massive and remote, spanning over 13 million acres. This massive size means there’s no single “main entrance.” Most visitors access the park via driving its two main roads (McCarthy and Nabesna), flying in from small regional airports, or coming in on guided tours. Here’s a breakdown of how to reach the park:
- Car: You can drive into the park via the McCarthy Road from Chitina or the Nabesna Road from Tok. Both are gravel roads offering scenic views, but conditions vary—check with park rangers before heading out. If you don’t have your own vehicle, consider renting a car.
- Shuttle to McCarthy: If you don’t want to drive McCarthy Road yourself, the Kennicott shuttle can take you from Glennallen, Chitina, and other nearby towns into McCarthy for $119-169 round-trip, depending on where you leave from.
- Plane: Wrangelll Mountain Air offers charter flights between McCarthy and Chitina 3 times a day and cost around $220 each way, per person.
- In-park shuttles: Once at the McCarthy footbridge, services like the Copper Town Shuttle and Blackburn Heritage Shuttle (907-406-9599) can bring you to downtown McCarthy and Kennicott.
🏨 Where to Stay Near Wrangell-St. Elias
Wrangell-St. Elias offers a wide variety of accommodation options, from camping under the stars to cozying up in a cabin. Here’s a breakdown of where you can stay the night, with some specific recs after each:
- Hotels, Lodges, & Cabins: We’ve heard great things about Kennicott Glacier Lodge (Kennicott), Ma Johnson’s Hotel (McCarthy), McCarthy Guesthouse (McCarthy), and Blackburn Cabins (McCarthy). There are also plenty of options outside of the park, in and around Copper Center.
- Established Campgrounds: Kendesnii Campground (Free, on Nabesna road), Copper River Campground (Free, at the beginning of McCarthy Road), and Base Camp Kennicott (right at the footbridge into McCarthy – closest option to many of the popular activities in the park)
- Primitive Camping: You can also check for primitive camping spots on iOverlander, which we always refer to when looking for public land to stay on. Along Nabesna Road and McCarthy Road, there are tons of pull-outs where you can spend the night for free.
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💰 How Much Does a Trip to Wrangell-St. Elias Cost?
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park doesn’t charge an entrance fee, but you will likely spend money on tours, meals, souvenirs, and other activities during your visit. To give you a sense of what to budget, here’s a breakdown of the average costs for the main expenses in the park.
🎫 Consider investing in the America the Beautiful pass for $80 like we did if you’re planning on travelling to several parks within the year.
| Activity | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flightseeing Tour with Wrangell Mountain Air | $320 to $520 per person (50 minutes to 2 hours) | We tipped our flightseeing guide $20. |
| Copper Mill Tour | $36 per adult | We tipped our guide $20. |
| Parking at Pedestrian Bridge | $6 (0-4 hours) or $12 per day | We didn’t pay for parking as we “parked” as campers at their campground. |
| Shuttle to Kennecott | $10-$20/person for 1 day to a week | $1-5 tip to drivers per person |
| Dinner | $25-35 per person | We spent $72 for two people for dinner at The Potato, which included two entrees, fries, and a beer. |
| Hotels or Lodges | $250+ per night | This number is based off of average prices for a hotel or lodge in Kennicott. |
| Campgrounds | Free to $45 per night | This number is based on average prices for a hotel or lodge in Kennicott. |
🥾 Packing Essentials for Wrangell-St. Elias
Below, we’ve outlined all the gear that came in handy for us when visiting Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. In this first section, we’ve highlighted specific pieces that you might need to purchase or rent if it’s your first time visiting the area.
Essentials for Wrangell-St. Elias
- Tire Tools – If you plan on driving McCarthy and/or Nabesna Road, we recommend this deflator, this inflator, and a tire repair kit.
- Bear Spray – Become familiar with bear safety practices, among which include packing away food, minimizing bear disturbance, and carrying bear spray for emergency use.
- Microspikes – Microspikes can be attached to the bottom of your hiking shoes to improve traction when hiking over snow and/or ice. If you’re planning to hike in areas with ice and snow in the summer or at any point in the winter, microspikes will become your best friend.
- Hiking poles – Especially on long, high-elevation hikes, a solid pair of hiking poles really helps take the pressure off of joints.
Hiking Essentials
Read next: Hiking Gear for Beginners!
Sun Protection
Safety Essentials
🪧 Learn More: How to Help Wrangell-St. Elias
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is a spectacular region of rare wildlife, ancient icefields, and some of the last truly untouched wilderness in North America. As visitors, the best way to help conserve this park during your visit is by following Leave No Trace Guidelines, maintaining distance from all wildlife, and packing out all trash.
If you wish to financially support the park, consider donating directly at a visitor center or to their non-profit, tax-exempt partner, Alaska Geographic. You can also donate to the National Parks Conservation Association, who help fund conservation efforts throughout the entire US National Park system. 💚
📰 Related Articles
- How to Choose an Unforgettable Flightseeing Tour of Wrangell-St. Elias
- How to Drive McCarthy Road to Wrangell-St. Elias: Step-by-Step
- The 9 Best Hikes in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska
- Coming Soon!
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