Alaska Official State Vacation Planner • 2024 • Plot Your Course

One of the exciting aspects of traveling to Alaska is deciding how you’re going to get here! However you plot your course, don’t forget your passport if traveling through Canada or from outside the U.S.

Air travel is the fastest and easiest way to get here. Major airline carriers offer frequent service year-round to/from gateway cities–including Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Ketchikan. Many Alaska-bound flight itineraries include a stop at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle, WA (the closest major airport to the state), while more direct flights are also becoming available.

With more coastline than the rest of the U.S. combined, Alaska is a cruiser’s paradise. Set sail on one of the many cruise operators and abundant tour options in well-established ports of call. Passengers travel in all-inclusive comfort on ships of all sizes, and from stunning locations on either one-way or round-trip itineraries of varying lengths. Cruises depart April through October from Seattle and Vancouver, and often explore the Inside Passage coastline or continue across the Gulf of Alaska and disembark in Southcentral.

Often considered “The Ultimate Road Trip,” driving North to Alaska remains high on the list for independent travelers. Hopping in the car or RV offers the freedom and opportunity to stop and linger at parks, vistas, or cultural attractions along the way. Take your time and savor the journey on one of the three main routes via Alberta, British Columbia, or the Yukon. Whether you choose the Inside Passage Route, Gold Rush Route, or Rockies Route, you are in for an adventure of a lifetime.

Walk on or bring your car along for a ride on the state’s ferry system, the Alaska Marine Highway System. The ferry offers scheduled service from Bellingham, WA and Prince Rupert, B.C. to over 35 port communities. Quick daytime connections between port communities are common, but some connections require an overnight stay onboard the ferry.

Ready to start planning your drive North to Alaska? Check out our detailed route descriptions, maps, and FAQs for driving through Canada at NorthtoAlaska.com.

Most itineraries throughout Alaska include more than one way of traveling–and that’s all part of the fun! Mix and match modes of transportation to see more of the state.

Don’t want to worry about the details? Local tour operators and travel agents can design your perfect trip. Available at all price ranges, book a package tour from rugged to luxurious, and everything in between.

Multi-day cruises remain one of the most popular ways to see Alaska, but it’s not the only way to explore the coastlines by water. Travel between communities by water taxi or the Alaska Marine Highway state ferry system for the day. You can also rent kayaks to explore the local waterways or take a day cruise/shore excursion to a neighboring port town.

Travel by train to enjoy the view without driving yourself. Alaska has two legendary railways: the iconic Alaska Railroad, traveling 470 miles from Seward to Fairbanks with stops along the way, and the 67.5-mile White Pass & Yukon Route, which leads from Skagway to the historic Yukon gold fields.

There are many ways to explore Alaska’s scenic highways and byways at your own leisure. Whether you road trip from the Lower 48 on the Alaska Highway, bring your vehicle onto the state ferry, or rent a car or RV once you arrive, there are miles of memories to be had. Alternatively, let someone else do the driving on a guided motorcoach tour.

With only 18% of Alaska’s communities accessible by the road system, it’s no wonder airplanes are considered public transit–with more pilots per capita than any other state. Take to the clouds in a regular-service regional air carrier to explore a new region, go on a helicopter ride, or fly in a floatplane or wheeled plane to one of the more remote locations, aka “the bush” in Alaska lingo.

Alaska Official State Vacation Planner - 2024

Plot Your Course

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