Directions to McCarthy Road & Kennecott

Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark is located approximately 8 hours (by car) from Anchorage.
From Anchorage, visitors must drive:

• East on the Glenn Highway (Hwy 1), then
• South on the Richardson Highway (Hwy 4), then
• East on the Edgerton Highway (Hwy 10).
• Continue east on the McCarthy Road for 59 miles, until the road ends.

Parking

There are two private parking areas near the Kennicott River Footbridge (fee required for day or overnight parking). Free day parking only is at the State Wayside (mile 55) or the McCarthy Road Information Station (mile 58.6). There is no public vehicle access to Kennecott Mill town, which is located 5 miles away from McCarthy. During the summer, there are two private shuttle companies that transport visitors from the east side of the footbridge to McCarthy and Kennecott for a fee.

 

Gravel section of the McCarthy Road

NPS Photo

The McCarthy Road is a narrow, gravel road that is 59 miles to the Kennicott River Bridge. The town of McCarthy is located 1/2 mile east and Kennecott is 5 miles east of the Kennicott River Bridge.

CAUTION: Drive slow. Be aware of soft road edges, potholes, and railroad ties and possible spikes. Dusting is a hazard on dry summer days.

Since the McCarthy Road is a gravel road, most rental car companies do not allow their cars on this road. Please check with your rental company to find out their regulations. The McCarthy Road is NOT owned by the National Park Service. It is owned and operated by the State of Alaska. You can find out more about the McCarthy Road and rental car options on the Driving Park Roads page.

If you don't want to drive, there are other options. There are two companies that provide a daily shuttle to Kennecott/McCarthy during the summer and air taxis provide daily flights during the summer.

Check out the park newspaper and trip-planning guide, the K'elt'aeni for more information about the drive.

 

Winter Access

During the winter, the only access to Kennecott is by hiking or skiing the 5 miles from the end of the McCarthy Road. The shuttle does not operate during the winter. The McCarthy Road is technically open during the winter but it is not maintained regularly. There are no services available in McCarthy or Kennecott during the winter.