Personal blog about states
GETTING TO ALASKA You can get to Alaska by land, by air or by sea. However, most people will arrive via flight at Anchorage International Airport. BY AIR: Commercial flights to Anchorage are the most common way to enter Alaska , followed by flights to Fairbanks.
Do An Independent Land Tour Fly into Anchorage and travel by railroad, or rent a car or motorhome and drive our highways. Another option: take the marine highway or fly into an Inside Passage town. Visit off-the-beaten-path destinations. Stay at smaller hotels and roadside adventure lodges.
The Cheapest Way to Alaska — Flying remains the cheapest and by far the simplest way to get to Alaska . Take other means only for the adventure, not for the savings. Round-trip train, ferry, and bus fare between Seattle and Anchorage costs considerably more than a good airfare between the same cities.
The Alaska Marine Highway is the only ferry liner that lets you take your Car or RV to Alaska , giving you the freedom of cruising one way and the option to drive the other way if you prefer to do so.
A typical 7-day Alaska vacation costs around $3000 per person—a little over $400 per day.
When is the best month to visit Alaska? You can’t go wrong visiting Alaska anytime between May 10 and September 15. The days are long, nature is in full bloom, and the air is alive with energy. But, for the absolute best time to visit Alaska, shoot for June 15 to July 15.
That depends on where in Alaska you live. The farther north you go, the longer the day. Just north of Fairbanks, the day is 24 hours long. In Fairbanks, there are nearly 22 hours of daylight, about 19.5 hours in Anchorage and 18.2 hours in Juneau.
How many days do you need for an Alaska vacation? The sweet spot for an Alaska vacation is seven to 10 days . If you’re traveling on a land tour only, in seven days you can go all the way from Kenai Fjords National Park to Denali National Park with plenty of time for day-long guided excursions along the way.
July
The narrowest distance between mainland Russia and mainland Alaska is approximately 55 miles. The stretch of water between these two islands is only about 2.5 miles wide and actually freezes over during the winter so you could technically walk from the US to Russia on this seasonal sea ice.
August
As the 49th State, U.S. residents don’t need a passport to go to Alaska , but as of October 1, 2020, you will need a REAL ID. REAL ID compliant identification includes a state-issued REAL ID, U.S. Passport , military ID, or other form of compliant ID.
You can sleep anywhere except the dining room, bar, main thoroughfares, and the car deck. A final note: If you’re hauling a car with you on your Alaska ferry adventure, you won’t be able to sleep there. It’s tempting, but they’re pretty serious about safety and security. I’ve seen some pretty excellent setups inside.
Sailing time: nearly 3 hours on the first leg, nearly 10 hours on the second leg.
Alaska Ferry System Costs As an example, two people traveling one-way from Bellingham , WA to Ketchikan is approx $500 (in the middle of the summer). Add a vehicle (like the VW Westfalia) and you’ll add another $500. Add a cabin for another approx $250-350.