Traveling Around Alaska

By Air, By Cruise Ship, By Rail and Road

You have arrived in Alaska, most likely by airplane or boat or possibly behind the wheel. Now that you are here, there is so much to see and so many unique places to visit as you travel around. But how do you get from one place to another when travel distances within Alaska are so far-reaching?

Cars, trucks, and RVs are all available for rent in most major towns and allow you to travel the state at your own pace. Alaska’s road system makes driving easy; no big highways or rush hours exist. The road system offers the opportunity to see more places and highlights of Alaska than traveling by rail or bus. Have the complete freedom to stop wherever you like and travel at your own pace.

Tour buses travel the state all summer and are often operated by charming drivers and staff who seemingly know it all and are happy to share an area’s history and travel tips. Escorted bus group tours are a great way to see Alaska. Every aspect of the tour is organized, all you do is enjoy the journey! A tour leader will provide inside knowledge about our destination, you just sit back and relax. If you are a single traveler and/or enjoy traveling with different people in a group, you can explore Alaska in safety and comfort on a bus tour. Alaska areas that have scheduled and comfortable bus service include Anchorage, Seward with Kenai Fjords National Park, Talkeetna and Denali with Denali National Park.

The Alaska Railroad has a number of popular destinations spanning from Seward to Fairbanks, including Denali Park, Spencer Glacier and countless breathtaking landscapes along the way. Traveling by train is a relaxing and comfortable way to see Alaska.

Train service in Alaska is scenic sightseeing as we do not have high speed trains. The Alaska highlights to see on the rail route are Anchorage, Seward with Kenai Fjords National Park, Western part of Prince William Sound, Talkeetna, Denali with Denali National Park, and Fairbanks.

All summer, cruise ships and ferries take large groups to popular ports and quiet destinations while smaller ships and water taxis are perfect transportation for fishing charters and wildlife viewing. In the Interior, riverboats are still used to retrace the tracks of gold rush dreamers. Get aboard a tour boat, water taxi or kayak and you can float so close to a glacier that you can hear it crack or so close to a whale that you can smell its fishy breath. Traveling by cruise will give you a great opportunity to see the coastal areas of Alaska. All cruises we offer are 8 days / 7 nights long.

See our Map of Alaska with Mileage Distances and Travel Times for specific mileage between Alaska cities and travel times.

You can also find more unconventional travel options to access some of Alaska’s remote destinations and adventures. A long snow machine or short plane ride can get you to backcountry lodges that offer seclusion, fantastic summer fishing, spectacular winter skiing, and the best in Alaska hospitality year-round. There are also helicopter tours, four-wheeler rides, and even dog sleds pulled by Iditarod champions and contenders.

No matter how you travel through Alaska, the best pace is a patient one – to take your time and absorb every aspect of your visit with all five senses, the landscapes, the wildlife, the communities, and the friendliness of the 49th state.