McCarthy beckons RV travelers with its raw access to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, home to North America's largest glaciers and the ghost town vibes of Kennecott Mines. Seven RV parks cluster here, starting at $25 a night. Base your rig riverside to hike Root Glacier or cross the footbridge into mining history.
5 parks found
McCarthy hugs the Kennicott River beneath jagged peaks. Gold rush booms built it as a rowdy supply camp for the Kennecott copper mines, now restored as a National Historic Landmark. Trekkers strap crampons for Root Glacier icefalls. Pilots land on McCarthy airstrip for Chitina River floats. Locals host the Summer Solstice Music Festival amid wildflowers.
Base Camp Kennicott hooks budget explorers at $27 a night near trails. Currant Ridge opens meadows for families chasing quiet. Jumbo Creek Camping Area in Wrangell-St. Elias suits rugged vans dodging park fees. Root Glacier Primitive Backcountry Camping welcomes groups and pets with drinking water taps. Kennicott Riverside Campground delivers showers and crackling campfires on the riverbank.
McCarthy stands out for the historic Kennecott Mines and Root Glacier treks in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Prospectors flooded here in 1900 for copper riches, leaving a preserved ghost town across the footbridge. Today, visitors hike glacier crevasses or tour the 14-story mill. Summer festivals add live music to the remote outpost. This mix draws 10,000 adventurers yearly.
Find RV parks like Base Camp Kennicott, Currant Ridge, and Kennicott Riverside Campground right in McCarthy. Jumbo Creek Camping Area and Root Glacier Primitive Backcountry Camping hug Wrangell-St. Elias National Park boundaries. These spots line McCarthy Road or riverside, with rates from $25/night and basics like showers or water.
Yes, Root Glacier Primitive Backcountry Camping explicitly allows pets in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Bring leashes for group sites with drinking water nearby. Check individual rules at spots like Base Camp Kennicott, as wildlife roams free along the Kennicott River trails.
