Airports / Alaska / MCL
Denali National Park Airport.
Denali Park, Alaska · 1,720 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.9/5
Google rating
14 ratings
0
Operators based
1,720
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
#39 / 225
Alaska airports by Google rating
4.9★ across 14 Google ratings , ranked against 225 rated AK fields.
34 nm
To the nearest alternate
Clear Airport (PACL), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Located in Denali Park, Alaska, Denali National Park Airport (PAIN / MCL) operates as a general aviation field. The airport sits 1,720 feet above sea level. With no scheduled airline service, it caters to private, charter, and general aviation traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into MCL for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Clear Airport (PACL, 34 nm), Nenana Municipal Airport (ENN, 49 nm), and Fairbanks International Airport (FAI, 71 nm). With a single 3,000-foot unpaved runway, MCL can typically accommodate aircraft as large as turboprops.
Charter pricing from MCL depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. In directories and search listings it also appears under 5MK and McKinley National Park Airport. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Denali Park.
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Field capability
ICAO
PAIN
IATA
MCL
FAA / Local
INR
Elevation
1,720 ft
Coordinates
63.7325° N · 148.9113° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Small
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs AK fields
state range 2–3,318 ft
At 1,720 ft, MCL sits higher than 95% of the 285 Alaska fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 3,000 ft
- 16/343,000 ft × 68 ftGravelUnlit
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest runway 3,000 ft
MCL's 3,000 ft runway typically supports charter aircraft up to turboprops.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 34nmPACLClear AirportClear
- 49nmENNNenana Municipal AirportNenana
- 71nmFAIFairbanks International AirportFairbanks
- 73nmEILEielson Air Force BaseFairbanks
- 74nmFBKLadd Army AirfieldFairbanks
- 86nmBIGAllen Army AirfieldDelta Junction Ft Greely
Location
Open the full mapPAIN · Denali National Park Airport · Denali Park, AK
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from MCL on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage (ANC) | 156 nm | 46m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 1,312 nm | 3h 27m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 1,771 nm | 4h 31m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 1,835 nm | 4h 40m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 1,885 nm | 4h 47m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 2,063 nm | 5h 12m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 2,064 nm | 5h 12m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 2,086 nm | 5h 15m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use MCL?
- Denali National Park Airport's longest runway is 3,000 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to turboprops. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at MCL?
- Denali National Park Airport has one runway; the longest measures 3,000 ft.
- What is the nearest major airport to MCL?
- The closest alternate is Clear Airport (PACL), about 34 nm away, followed by Nenana Municipal Airport (ENN) at 49 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from MCL to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Seattle about 3h 27m (1,312 nm), Jackson Hole about 4h 31m (1,771 nm), San Francisco about 4h 40m (1,835 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.