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 provides daily service between Hollis on Prince of Wales Island and Ketchikan.
  • Cruise Ships: About one million passengers travel Southeast Alaska by cruise ship each summer. Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Sitka and Hoonah (Icy Strait Point) are port stops for large cruise ships. Small cruise vessels include other SEAtrails communities on their itineraries. Cruise ships generally spend from a few hours to a day in each port.
  • Other ways to get around by sea: In the summer you can travel between Skagway and Haines on the Haines-Skagway Water Taxi or the Chilkat Cruises catamaran.

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 summer 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, Alaska Seaplane Services 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: Haines and Skagway are linked with the Alaska Highway. Train-bus service between Whitehorse, Yukon Territory and Skagway is available seasonally, three days per week, from May through September on the White Pass & Yukon Route.