Alaska: Getting there & around

Flights to Alaska can deposit you in Anchorage, Juneau, Ketchikan or Fairbanks. If driving, you'll find yourself motoring up the Alcan (aka the Alaska Hwy) and, if arriving by boat, it'll be a trip along the Inside Passage waterway. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), 11km (7mi) west of the city center, is Alaska's largest airport and is serviced by major airlines. Most travelers from Asia or Europe will need to touch down in Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis or Vancouver first and catch a connecting flight to Anchorage. You can drive or take a combination of buses along the Alcan into Alaska. Good tires are essential on this road. Ferries run from Bellingham, Washington; they take 2 to 3.5 days to reach Juneau (depending on the route) and are a scenic and hassle-free way to get to Alaska.

Alaska Airlines is the major domestic airline - it services the most towns and cities. Bush planes can be chartered to access remote villages or drop you into the middle of pristine wilderness. Regular bus services are available between the larger towns and cities, but if there are three or more of you, it's probably cheaper to rent a car. The Alaska Railroad provides a good, scenic means of transport, though rarely the most affordable. Marine ferries service Southeast, Southcentral and Southwest Alaska and are often the dominant mode of transport in these road-unfriendly areas. Car rental agencies are located in major cities and towns. Cycling is a good way to get around, and can be economically combined with ferry trips if your bike doesn't convert into a pedal-steamer.