Is there an entrance fee at Wrangell - St Elias?

NPS lists it as a fee-free park with no entrance fee. Confirm on the official park page before you go.

When is the busiest month?

In 2025, the busiest month was July with 37,120 recreation visits. The quietest was January with 25.

Are the visitor centers open year round?

NPS says the park itself stays open all year, while visitor facilities run on limited seasons. The Headquarters Visitor Center is listed as closed from mid-September through April.

All parks › Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve

Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve: fees, hours, camping and when to visit

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on National Park Service data. Published by Humblebee.

Entrance fee: None^[1]
Busiest month (2025): July^[2]
Recreation visits, 2025: 108,840^[3]
Campgrounds: 1^[4]

Wrangell - St Elias is a National Park & Preserve in Alaska, part of the U.S. National Park System^[5]. NPS lists it as a fee-free park, so there is no entrance fee^[1].

Entrance fees and passes

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve^[1]. Some tours, campgrounds or permits inside a park can still have their own fees.

When to visit and hours

NPS says the park itself stays open all year, while visitor facilities run on limited seasons and are open in summer^[6]. The Headquarters Visitor Center in Copper Center is listed as closed from mid-September through April, with summer hours of 2027-05-20 to 2027-09-20^[6]. The Kennecott Visitor Center is listed as closed from the beginning of September through April^[7]. In 2025, the busiest month was July with 37,120 recreation visits and the quietest was January with 25^[2]. NPS describes weather as varying widely by location in the park and time of year^[8]. Call ahead for hours, since the NPS listing says to do so^[6].

Recreation visits counted by the National Park Service in each month of 2025. The busiest month, July, is highlighted^[2].

Show visits by month

Month, 2025	Recreation visits
January	25
February	95
March	230
April	520
May	6,352
June	26,461
July	37,120
August	30,887
September	6,525
October	530
November	60
December	35

Show visits by year

Year	Recreation visits
2021^[3]	50,189
2022^[3]	65,236
2023^[3]	78,305
2024^[3]	81,670
2025^[3]	108,840

Camping

NPS and Recreation.gov list one campground here, Kendesnii Campground, with 10 sites^[4]. NPS also lists camping activities such as backcountry camping, RV camping and canoe or kayak camping^[9]. Check the official park page for details before you go.

Kendesnii Campground, 10 sites^[4]

Pets and dogs

Under the NPS pet rule, a pet in a place that allows pets must be in a crate or cage, or on a leash of six feet or less, throughout the visit^[10]. The rule bars pets from public buildings, public transportation and designated swimming beaches, with an exception for service animals^[10]. NPS lists pets as permitted on 9 of its 10 things to do, and each park can close more areas to pets^[11]^[10].

Before you go

NPS lists no entrance fee, but fees and hours change, so confirm on the official park page before a trip^[1].
Visitor facilities have limited seasons, so call ahead^[6].
NPS lists 5 visitor centers, including Copper Center, Kennecott, Slana, Chitina and Yakutat^[12].
NPS says 2 of its 10 listed things to do require a reservation^[11].

Questions people ask

Is there an entrance fee at Wrangell - St Elias?: NPS lists it as a fee-free park with no entrance fee^[1]. Confirm on the official park page before you go.
When is the busiest month?: In 2025, the busiest month was July with 37,120 recreation visits^[2]. The quietest was January with 25^[2].
Are dogs allowed?: In places that allow pets, they must be in a crate or cage, or on a leash of six feet or less, throughout the visit^[10]. Each park can close more areas to pets^[10].
Are the visitor centers open year round?: NPS says the park itself stays open all year, while visitor facilities run on limited seasons^[6]. The Headquarters Visitor Center is listed as closed from mid-September through April^[6].

Facts and sources

NPS lists Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve as a fee-free park: there is no entrance fee. National Park Service
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 50,189, 2022: 65,236, 2023: 78,305, 2024: 81,670, 2025: 108,840. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
Campgrounds in Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve (list on this page). National Park Service
Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Park & Preserve) in Alaska. National Park Service
Operating hours, Headquarters Visitor Center - Copper Center, AK: The park and public lands are always open but visitor facilities have limited seasons: Open in Summer. Call ahead for hours: Copper Center (907) 822-7250, Slana (907) 822-7401, Chitina (907)... National Park Service
Operating hours, Kennecott Visitor Center - Kennecott, AK: The park and public lands are always open but visitor facilities have limited seasons: Open in Summer. Call ahead for hours: Kennecott (907) 205-7106 and Slana (907) 822-7401, Copper Center (907)... National Park Service
NPS weather and seasons overview for Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve. National Park Service
Activities NPS lists for Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve: Arts and Culture, Auto and ATV, ATV Off-Roading, Auto Off-Roading, Scenic Driving, Biking, Mountain Biking, Boating, Camping, Backcountry Camping, Canoe or Kayak Camping, Car or Front... National Park Service
National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15
NPS lists 10 things to do at Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve: Fishing at Wrangell-St. Elias, Ghost Towns, Front country Hiking Trails, Backpacking in Wrangell-St Elias, Webcams, Virtual Tours, McCarthy Road -- Drive, Hike, Bike, View Wildlife,... National Park Service
Visitor centers listed by NPS: 5 (Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center in Copper Center, Kennecott Visitor Center, Slana Ranger Station, Chitina Ranger Station, Yakutat). National Park Service

Fees and hours are what NPS lists in its data at the snapshot date. They change: tell readers to confirm on the official park page before a trip. Visits are NPS recreation visits (counted entries, not unique people). Use them only for this park's own months and years, never to rank parks. Campground list and site counts come from NPS and Recreation.gov records. Count fields can differ slightly between the two. The pet rule is the national baseline (36 CFR 2.15). The park may close more areas to pets. Do not claim specific trails allow dogs unless a fact says so.