Travel Basics:

Traveling To and Around Southeast Alaska

Photo by Klas Stolpe

SEAtrails communities are spread throughout the breathtaking Inside Passage and most are accessible only by air or water. Part of the adventure in visiting Southeast Alaska is the many methods of travel you can use to travel to and around the region. Take advantage of seeing the Inside Passage, a destination all its own, as you travel around the region. Here are some tips for making the most of your journey.

Traveling By Sea

Photo by Klas Stolpe
  • Alaska Marine Highway System: Because travel by water is such an important element in Southeast Alaska, the state ferry is an official state highway route and an official scenic byway route. You can bring your vehicle, bicycle or kayak with you, or travel as a foot passenger. Depending on the time of year, the ferry makes regular stops in Angoon, Juneau, Haines, Hoonah, Kake, Ketchikan, Sitka, Pelican, Petersburg, Skagway, Wrangell and Yakutat.
  • Inter Island Ferry Authority: Travelers exploring Southeast Alaska communities can access smaller island communities by using the Inter-Island Ferry Authority (IFA). The IFA links Prince of Wales communities to Ketchikan, Wrangell and Petersburg.
  • Cruise Ships: Southeast Alaska is one of the most popular cruising destinations in the world. Most major cruise lines visit Southeast Alaska in the summer. Both large and small cruise ships make calls in the communities of Sitka, Juneau, Petersburg, Skagway, Haines, Ketchikan and Wrangell. Larger cruise ships visit Hoonah. While many cruise ships visit Glacier Bay National Park, they do not visit the community of Gustavus.
  • Other ways to get around by sea: You can travel between Skagway and Haines on the Haines-Skagway Water Taxi or the Chilkat Cruises fast ferry.

Traveling By Air

  • Jet service: Alaska Airlines provides the only jet service to Southeast Alaska. It connects the region directly with Seattle and Anchorage. Alaska Airlines serves Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell, Yakutat, and seasonal service to Gustavus/Glacier Bay.
  • Plane service: Several small airline companies provide scheduled and charter service to SEAtrails communities in small, fixed-wing aircraft and float planes.
    • You can reach Haines, Skagway, Gustavus, Hoonah, Kake and Pelican by taking a small plane from Juneau. Airlines that provide regular service include Wings of Alaska, Fjord Flying, Ward Air, Air Excursions, LAB Flying Service and Tal Air.
    • You can reach Kake from Sitka on Air Sitka or Harris Aviation. From Petersburg, use Kupreanof Air or Pacific Wing. From Ketchikan, use Misty Fjords Air.
    • You can reach Pelican from Sitka on Air Sitka or Harris Aviation.
    • You can get to the Prince of Wales Island communities of Craig, Coffman Cove, Thorne Bay, Naukati and Hydaburg by using one of several airlines located in Ketchikan: Taquan Air, Pacific Airways, Promech Air, Family Air Tours or Southeast Aviation.

Traveling By Land

  • Car and Train: You can reach a few SEAtrails communities by land. Both Haines and Skagway are connected to the Alaska Highway. You can reach Skagway by train seasonally from May through September on the White Pass & Yukon Route.