9 Best Places to Stay in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (A Local's Guide)

If you're planning a trip to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park this summer, then chances are you'll need a place to stay. Because this area of Alaska is fairly remote, you'll want to book your stay as far in advance as you can, especially during summer months when stays and resorts can book out months ahead of time. If you're wanting to go camping, you don't need to worry as much except during peak weekends, like the Fourth of July or Memorial Day, when even campsites can book out and many are first come first serve so you'll want to arrive early.

​​My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to Alaska. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

For flights, I recommend using Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use Expedia's easy-to-use platform to compare the best rates.
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To keep cell service if you're traveling internationally, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required), and NordVPN to stay safe while connecting to different wifi.

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours in the area.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier.

Getting to the National Park (McCarthy Area)

Getting to Wrangell St. Elias National Park is pretty straight forward. Getting to the McCarthy area of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is about a 6-7 hour drive from Anchorage. Once you make the left turn from Chitina, the remainder of the 60ish miles on this road becomes much less managed, and you can expect gravel roads with lots of bumps. If you're renting a car, you'll want to double check that you're allowed to drive on the road since many car rental companies prohibit it or require you to get special approval. You'll want to make sure you have plenty of gas (fill up in Glennallen), a few tire patches just in case, and you'll want to look out for wildlife - plus the views along the way are absolutely beautiful.

Stays in this area are going to be a bit more rustic, and not as modern as other parts of Alaska, with a majority of them only being open during the summer months. If for some reason, all these stays are booked, you can always try camping at Base Camp Kennicott located at the end of the road, which is a first come first serve campsite. The facilities here are pretty limited, but the views are good, and since they don't have designated campsites, you can just pull in anywhere there's space. If you need to camp, prices begin at $35 per day, and if you just need to park your car, then rates begin at $12 per 24 hours of parking. If you want to explore all the best things to do in the National Park, then you'll want to stay at at least a couple days.

​​My Favorite Tours in Wrangell St. Elias NP :
- Kennecott Mill Town Tour
- Half Day Root Glacier Guided Hike

9 Best Places to Stay near Wrangell St. Elias

1. Kennicott Glacier Lodge (Best Overall)
My number one recommendation for where to stay in Wrangell St. Elias National Park is at the Kennicott Glacier Lodge. You'll notice this picturesque stay in the old mining town of Kennecott, and even though it's past the pedestrian bridge where the main road ends,  they include free parking at Base Camp Kennicott for lodge guests. They have two different types of rooms, one with bathrooms in the room and one with shared bathrooms, and their stays are going to be the most "updated" compared to other stays in the area. The best part is they have packages that include all your meals, so if you don't want to worry about bringing your own food then this is the place to be.

2. McCarthy Lodge Resort (Best Historical)
The McCarthy Lodge Resort has two different options, depending on the kind of room you're looking for. Their Ma Johnson's Hotel room offers private, historically themed rooms and shared bathrooms, whereas their Lancasters Backpack Hotel has smaller, simpler rooms for travelers on a budget. Both options include a shuttle pass and wifi!

3. Currant Ridge Cabins (Best Log Cabin)
These cozy log cabins are one of the only lodging options in the Wrangell St. Elias National Park area that you can drive to yourself. They have private bathrooms and a full kitchen, plus a grill and a deck to enjoy the outdoors, so if you're looking for a homey stay then this is definitely the one for you. 

4. Fireweed Mountain Lodge (Best Off Grid)
If you're looking for a stay that adds to your National Park adventures, then Fireweed Mountain Lodge might be a good option. They have two cabins onsite, their Erie Cabin and their Bonzana Cabin, both which are fully off grid and fully furnished. This means you'll need to schedule your showers, use an outhouse, and you won't have access to electricity in the cabins. It's a unique stay, but it'll definitely be memorable.

5. Headwaters Tents (Best Tenting)
These glamping style tents are pretty basic on the inside, but if you're wanting a tenting experience then this will be your best bet without having to bring all the camping supplies yourself. Located at the end of the road before the pedestrian bridge to McCarthy, you'll be able to park nearby and enjoy the tents that are situated right at the river's edge. These tents are run in conjunction with Base Camp Kennicott.

6. Blackburn Cabins (Best Tiny Stay)
These small, rustic log cabins are good for any solo or a couple travelers (although they also allow kids to stay free). The cabins are fairly simple, with shared outhouses, and an in room sink.

7. Wrangell Mountain Lodge ("Closer to the Main Road")
The Wrangell Mountain Lodge is the only stay on our list that is closer to the main road, and is located about halfway in between Chitina and McCarthy. This means you'll have a space to park and you'll be able to drive right up to the lodge, unlike most of the other stays on our list. They have a number of different cabins available, but all are rustically themed and have Wi-Fi access. 

8. Nabesna Road (North Entrance & Year Round)
If you're wanting to visit the north end of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, then driving down Nabesna Road and camping is one of your only options. There are multiple pull-offs where you can camp on the side of the road, otherwise the only designated campground in this area of the national park is Kendesnii Campground, which is first-come first-served. You can expect each campsite to hold a vehicle or small RV and they each have a picnic table and fire pit. The best part is that these campsites are free and open year-round.

9. Avens Alaska (North Entrance)
The only lodge on the north end of the park is the Avens Alaska Lodge, formerly the Wrangell Mountains Wilderness Lodge. They have small cabins and yurts available for rent, both which are fully furnished and have kitchens inside. If you're wanting to explore the north end of the park for a few days then this is your best option (unless you want to camp), and personally, this area is typically where I see the most amount of wildlife.

​Watch my Wrangell-St. Elias Adventures Here!

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Other Wrangell-St. Elias Blog Posts : 
-> 48 Hours in Wrangell-St. Elias
-> Hiking Root Glacier in Wrangell St. Elias
-> 10 Best Things to Do in Wrangell St. Elias

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