Map showing campground location near Chitina, Alaska

Camper submitted image from McCarthy Road Camp

McCarthy Road Camp

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Getting to McCarthy Road Camp requires navigating the notoriously rough McCarthy Road, which one camper described as bad enough that hauling a camper nearly prompted a turnaround. The dispersed sites sit within striking distance of Kennicott mine and the Copper River raft put-in, making it a functional base for activity-focused trips. No water, no electric hookups, and no trash service are standard here. Firewood and picnic tables are available on-site. Campers exploring campgrounds near Chitina will find nearby alternatives like Chitina Dispersed Camping if the $35 nightly rate feels steep for the amenity level. Bring your own water and pack out all trash.

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Map & DirectionsMcCarthy Road Camp is located in Alaska near Chitina

Dispersed Camping

Coordinates

61.52853189 N
144.4036589 W

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Connectivity

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Verizon
No Coverage
Verified by 2 users
Last on 8/6/26
AT&T
No Coverage

Connectivity

Presented by

T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More

T-Mobile
No Coverage
Verizon
No Coverage
Verified by 2 users
Last on 8/6/26
AT&T
No Coverage

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Dispersed

Features

For Campers

Picnic Table
Firewood Available
Alcohol
Pets

For Vehicles

Pull-Through Sites
Big Rig Friendly

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.

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Drive Time

6 hrs 51 min from Fairbanks, AK

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Reviews1 Camper Review - McCarthy Road Camp

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

3.0

out of 5

1 Review

Kristi D.

Legend

Reviewed Aug. 17, 2023

Beautiful spot

You can not beat your surroundings and the view!! I would give it 5/5 stars for that..

I asked the guy at the counter if the Basecamp is private. He said yes. It's unfortunate that you have to drive down the terrible, McCarty road. It was bad. They just grated it and if we didn't have a raff adventure booked my husband would have turned around since we are hauling a camper. I'm surprised nothing broke but we still need to get back :(

Considering we are in the park, I wish they had more camping options. I gave it 3/5 stars as I'm comparing to other campgrounds...$35 for NO amenities is a lot.....if it was going to the national park to pay for the footbridge maybe my opinion would be different. You get a spot with no electric or water, no bathrooms, no trash. I asked the guy at the counter and he said "no trash is our biggest complaint". So $35 is a bit much for where we are, but since this is a once in a lifetime trip for us, I get it. We enjoyed the remoteness of the town and the idea of this small community. Usually when you end up in areas this remote, you end up with free camping or cheap camping via the national park service....

We biked five miles to Kennicott mine, we got picked up at footbridge for our raft adventure and it wasn't far to eat at "the potato" for lunch.

Sitesecond site on left

Month of VisitAugust

(13) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

Does McCarthy Road Camp have wifi?

No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, McCarthy Road Camp does not have wifi.

Is there cell phone reception at McCarthy Road Camp?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, there is no coverage for AT&T, no coverage for T-Mobile, and no coverage for Verizon.

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