Getting Around Alaska
Alaska is roughly a fifth the size of the entire Lower 48 - and most of it isn't connected by road. How you get from place to place is as much a part of planning the trip as where you go.
Five Ways to Move Around the State
Most Alaska trips combine more than one of these - a cruise or flight to get into the state, then a train, ferry, or drive to see more of it.
Get in TouchBy Cruise
Most visitors' first taste of Alaska is a cruise into one of two southcentral ports - see our guide to Whittier vs. Seward to know which one your ship will use.
By Train
The Alaska Railroad's scenic routes, including the Aurora Winter Train and the Glacier Discovery route, connect Anchorage, Denali, Fairbanks, and Seward or Whittier.
By Road
A handful of named highways connect Alaska's road-accessible towns - drive them yourself or rent an RV. Not everywhere in the state is reachable this way.
By Ferry
The Alaska Marine Highway System connects coastal communities the road system doesn't reach, sailing from Bellingham, WA through the Inside Passage.
By Air
Regional and bush carriers reach towns with no road or ferry access at all, and flightseeing tours get you close to Denali and its glaciers.