Travel by air to Mccarthy, Alaska
Access the wilderness of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Photo by passenger and photographer, Mitchell Clark.
Scheduled Flights to McCarthy, Alaska
After a six-hour drive from Anchorage, visitors arrive at the little town of Chitina - the origin of the 60 mile McCarthy Road that is an old railroad bed converted to dirt road. Wrangell Mountain Air offers flights three times daily (mid-May through mid-September) between Chitina and McCarthy. These flights are approximately 30 minutes duration with spectacular views of the Kennicott Valley upon arrival in McCarthy. Driving the McCarthy Road is a great option for many visitors, but most rental car agencies do not allow their vehicles to travel the road. Depending on weather, road maintenance, and road usage, visitors can drive the 60 miles in as little as 1.5 hours or as much as 6 hours, or on rare occasions the road may close due to formations of road glaciers or mudslides.
McCarthy Departures
8:30a* - 2:00p - 5:00p
Chitina Departures
9:05a* - 2:45p - 5:45p
Prices include excise tax: one-way $215/person; round-trip $430/person. Baggage allowance is 25lbs (11kg) per passenger, soft luggage only. Additional luggage requires purchase of extra seat. Children under 2 years are free in lap. Weather permitting, a scenic flight over the glaciers of our beautiful Kennicott Valley is included with flights from Chitina to McCarthy. Please see additional notes on reservations below.
*September 1 until closing day, morning flights take off one hour later, due to later sunrise.
Charter Flights to McCarthy, Alaska
The quickest and most stunning method of arrival to the Kennicott Valley is by flying directly to McCarthy. For the traveler on a tight itinerary, chartering is a convenient and enjoyable way to get around the state. We commonly fly visitors to and from Anchorage, Glennallen, Cordova, Valdez, Denali National Park, and Fairbanks. These are not scheduled routes and visitors who prefer this method of transportation charter a plane; prices vary by aircraft and location.
Photo by passenger and photographer, Lucas Moore.
Reservations
Full payment is required for each reservation. You will receive a confirmation letter via e-mail after your payment has been received. Reservations made through our online portal will receive a payment request which must be met within 3 days to maintain confirmed status. Flights to/from Chitina are subject to a 7.5% federal excise tax which is included in the rates above.
All flights include ground transportation from the McCarthy airstrip to and from your accommodations in Kennicott or McCarthy, or to and from the footbridge, if your accommodation is located on the westside of the Kennicott River. Wrangell Mountain Air does not provide scheduled transportation to and from Kennicott.
Weight Considerations
If a passenger weight exceeds 300lbs and/or the average body weight of a party of two or more people exceeds 250lbs, an additional seat must be purchased.
Cancellation Policy
All flights cancelled by Wrangell Mountain Air due to weather will receive a full refund. Cancellations received up until 24 hours prior to a flight result in a 10% cancellation fee of total flight cost. No refunds will be issued for a cancellation made within 24 hours of the flight.
Fuel Surcharge
Due to the fluctuating cost of fuel recently, all flights may be subject to a fuel surcharge.
Photo by Lisa Bousquet.
Drive times to McCarthy, Alaska
Taking a roadtrip through Alaska can be a thrilling undertaking. Given wildlife sightings, construction delays, poor road conditions, and RV traffic, it can be a real challenge estimating drive times in Alaska. The following provides common drive times for many visitors.
