“USA 🇺🇸 Alaska ~Scenic Drive From Valdez to Chitina, and at the Wrangell View RV Park”

• July 26, 2023
• By Pen
• 0 Comment

What would normally take a few hours to drive, took over four hours. We knew that was going to be the case, though, leaving Valdez, since it happened on our way TO Valdez.

We also planned on getting fuel-up in Valdez, when we left the KOA, but were unable to make a right turn, onto the highway, since there was a wreck of some kind. So, we hoped for the best, and when we did find a place to fuel-up, it took about 30 minutes to fill our half empty tank. The nozzle had a small stream of diesel, so it took awhile. This is the difference between truck stop fueling stops, where the diesel flow is very fast.

Also, by this time in the summer, road construction is in full swing, so there are delays. It is to be expected. Personally I am grateful to these workers who are trying to make the roads, better.

These are all perfect examples of how one must give extra time to get from point A to B, and not to keep your schedule so tight, there is little wiggle room to be had, when Rv-ing in Alaska.  

As we departed Valdez, we headed out of the low clouds, and into a pretty nice day, over all.
On this drive, we reversed our route from the southern part of the Richardson Highway, and made our way, back up North.

Our destination on this day, was Chitina and making it to the Wrangell View RV Park, where we stayed overnight, and parked in overflow parking for a second night.

This is a very small RV Park with limited big-rig spots. We did have electric and water on our first night, but there was no sewer hookup in our particular spot. We could use their dump station, but would have to unhook Jonah to get down to it, safely.

There is no camp office and one must pay online or by envelope, and deposit the money in a locked red pipe. We did the online option and it worked fine. We also had included wifi, which was a bonus we did not expect. We have no cell service here, without it.

Chitina is not exactly a destination location, but rather a great place to get as close to the Wrangell-St Elias National Park as we could get, for our trip to McCarthy.

The next morning, we left Jonah and The Whale behind, to make our way to the Historic town of McCarthy, to spend a really fun afternoon, overnight and another half-day in this old mining location. We will also tour an equally old area of Kennicott, nearby, and its Historic Mill town Mine, Wrangell-St Elias National Park.

The road to McCarthy is mostly all dirt, and it can be rough, especially if it rains. In addition, since it used to be a train route, every now and again an old railroad spike works its way up through the gravel and will destroy tires.

The National Park Service does not recommend RV’s be driven on this road. I originally thought that was because of a long and narrow bridge (old train trestle), but getting more information, it is the road itself; not the bridge.
I would later see photos on Facebook, of someone who shared a photo of a big-rig with a jeep tow vehicle, laying sideways in the ditch, off this road. There is no shoulder, and the edges of the dirt road are very soft.
Not only had we never considered taking The Whale, but I later re-thought about even taking Jonah.

Fortunately, I learned about a shuttle service that is available for this round-trip to McCarthy and back, and I got us two tickets. Now, we can both relax, and not have any worries about the McCarthy road.
Letting somebody else drive, was totally worth the extra money. $139 pp for five hours of shuttle road time.

So, starting that next morning, we began a very busy few days, when we got picked up at our RV Park, and shuttled to the end of McCarthy Road, (2 plus hours) where we then crossed a footbridge, and got picked up on the other side by a McCarthy (free) town shuttle, which run every 15 minutes, to take guests into town.
After dropping our bags off at the Ma Johnson, we checked out McCarthy with a walkabout, and then we had lunch at the “Potato.” It was good.

Next, we were able to check into our room a little early, then we headed for our flight tour over Wrangell-St Elias National Park. We had all blue skies and it was breathtaking!!!

We then spent the night at the Ma Johnson Historic Hotel, and enjoyed a lovely dinner across the way at the “Salmon and Bear.”

Next day, we got another (free) shuttle up to Kennicott, where we went on a guided tour of the Mill, there.
Tours are not required to view the outside, but for those who want access, inside, a tour is required at $32 pp

After the Kennicott Mill Tour, we got back on another (free)  shuttle, to go back down to McCarthy, where we gathered our bags from he hotel, and got on another (free) shuttle to the footbridge, in time to catch our return shuttle back to Chitina.

It’s a lot of shuttles for sure!

With no time to delay, after we returned to the RV Park, we fired up The Whale, with Jonah in tow, and made our way to our next stop, (by 10 pm that evening), of Christochina, where we got to have a fun three nights of total relaxation in a cute rustic cabin, with Jonah and The Whale close by, too.

Next blog, I will give all the details, with lots lots of pictures from our exciting time in McCarthy and Kennicott!

For now ⬇️

Enjoy the Photos From Our Drive From Valdez to Chitina ⬇️

Driving through Keystone Canyon is very pretty

Then up and over a pass, where foggy conditions are normal

Once over the pass, we had sunshine and blue skies. We also got to drive on brand new pavement. (Richardson Highway)  It was so great!!!!

⬆️ A little glimpse of the Alaska Pipeline 

This road to Chitina (pronounced Chitna)  is Alaska Route 10. It is narrow, but paved. There are some bad spots for sure, so speed is everything.
Slow it down, and you will be fine.

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