How to get around Alaska by ferry, train or RV

28.03.2024 - 12:25 / lonelyplanet.com

Getting around Alaska can be challenging. However, with enough time and planning, it is possible to get off the beaten path and experience real adventure in North America’s “Last Frontier.”

Most people travel around Alaska by private vehicle – or on cruise ship – but in the high season this can also mean you're looking for a spot to park – or space at the ship's buffet – rather than having the holiday of your dreams.

If you can strap on a backpack, and soak up the spirit of adventure, it is very possible to meander around Alaska on different types of transportation. And the rewards are huge. Read on for how to navigate this vast US state. 

The biggest city in Alaska challenges the notion of where a city of a quarter million starts and ends and where it turns into a wilderness park. It’s not uncommon to see a moose wandering while you’re out walking downtown, or biking and skiing the hundreds of miles of trails that are part of the city’s heart. Many trails then connect to Chugach State Park, which encompasses nearly a half million acres just outside the city limits.

To get around Anchorage, your best options are taxis, ride-shares like Uber, and a well-timed bus system that serves the greater Mat-Su Valley.

The Alaska Marine Highway ferry can be an excellent option for those with time to spare on their initial voyage up from Bellingham, Washington. A walk-on ticket means just that: carrying only what you can.

You don’t necessarily have to book a cabin; instead, grab one of the first-come-first-served spaces on the top deck. Here tents are secured down and lawn chairs become valuable real estate. The deck is transformed into a makeshift campground for the three-to-four-day journey through the remote communities in southeast Alaska. Then onward to Whittier – a port that usually serves Anchorage and the Alaska railroad.

For those disinclined towards traditional cruise ships, the ferry is a moderately priced way to get around. Booking through the website requires advance planning, but you can bring bikes, kayaks and other large items on board, so it can be an extremely cost-effective way to get larger touring gear to Alaska compared to flying.

To reach more offbeat places not served by road without the cost of hiring a private plane, Alaska Air has larger aircraft that do the “milk run” – making multiple stops through southeast Alaska to serve local communities’ with cargo and groceries. It's a window-seat lover’s dream as you fly above the glaciers.

Always starting in Anchorage or Seattle, this journey can include the towns such as Cordova, Yakutat, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Wrangell and Petersburg, depending on the day. None of these towns are accessible by road: the communities are otherwise only reached by