How to Get Around Alaska

Alaska is huge, so getting between places is no small feat or minor consideration. There are lots of options – and they vary depending on your itinerary and travel style.

In Southcentral and Interior Alaska, your primary modes of transport are land-based:

• Rental car/RV – Book these as soon as you know your dates. Yes, they're expensive; no, I don't have a magic solution for that. One-way rentals are possible (i.e. pick-up in Anchorage, drop off in Fairbanks) but can often double the cost of the rental.

• The Alaska Railroad – Connecting Seward, Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, and Fairbanks, this is a great way to travel between communities if you don't want/need a car for other activities and have the budget for it.

• Park Connection Bus – Connecting Seward, Anchorage, Talkeetna, and Denali; another great option for travel between these places if you don't want to drive or car rentals are prohibitively expensive for your travel dates.

• Flying – Alaska Airlines operates multiple daily flights between Anchorage and Fairbanks.

• Ferry – You might look into the Alaska Marine Highway System (aka the ferry) if you want to travel between Valdez and Whittier. Days and schedules are limited and vary each year, so check the schedule before counting on it.

When choosing which form of transport, you'll want to consider your budget, your desire for freedom/flexbility, and the schedule(s) of the modes you're considering.

If you're feeling stuck on how to connect the dots, this is where an itinerary consultation can help a ton!