Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center
Copper Center, AK
The main visitor center for the largest national park in the United States, with views of Mount Drum and the Wrangell volcanoes on clear days.
The Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center in Copper Center, Alaska, is the main visitor center of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. It stands at mile 106.8 of the Richardson Highway, about 10 miles (16 km) south of Glennallen. The park is considered the largest national park in the United States: according to Travel Alaska it covers more than 13 million acres (about 5.3 million hectares) and is larger than Switzerland, although the exact area is given as anywhere from 13 to 13.8 million acres depending on the page.
The center offers an exhibit hall, a theater, a park store, picnic tables, an amphitheater, short walking trails and viewpoints. Right next door, the Ahtna Cultural Center, run by Ahtna, Incorporated, shows exhibits and a hand-built fish wheel. Its hours vary, so call ahead.
If you want to go deeper into the park, there are two unpaved access roads: the 42-mile (about 68 km) Nabesna Road and the 60-mile (about 97 km) McCarthy Road. Many rental companies exclude unpaved roads, so check your contract beforehand. Hours change with the season (as of October 2026: check ahead). The parking lot gate is locked at 5 pm in summer, and overnight parking is not allowed.
- Nearest town
- Copper Center, AK
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 61.9770, -145.3250
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually June–August. Cold, short days in November–April. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
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FAQs
Where is Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center?
Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center is in Copper Center, AK, at GPS 61.9770, -145.3250. It is about 12 mi from Glennallen.
Which road trips pass Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center?
Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Alaska’s Richardson and Denali highways.
What is there to see near Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center?
Places worth a stop nearby: Worthington Glacier (58 mi), Matanuska Glacier (82 mi) and Maclaren Summit (89 mi).
When is the best time to visit Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center?
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually June–August. Cold, short days in November–April. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)