When planning an ultimate Alaska road trip, a voyage on the Alaska Marine Highway, also known as the Alaska State Ferry, is a must! This impressive “highway” stretches 3,500 miles of coastline from Bellingham, Washington, up through Alaska’s Inside Passage to Skagway. Then heads west across the Gulf of Alaska and follows the southern coastline out to the Aleutian Islands. Our trek on the ferry system was an exciting and unique experience and a highlight of our Alaska road trip. This post will help you prepare for your voyage and make sure you have everything you need for your Alaska Marine Highway adventure.

“Roads. Where we’re going we don’t need roads.” – Dr. Emmett Brown, 1985.

Why the Alaska Marine Highway

The Alaska Marine Highway is a less expensive and less touristy way to experience the same waters, wildlife, and scenery that draws 1.8 million Alaska cruise ship passengers a year. So, if you’re looking for an Alaska cruise alternative, the Alaska Marine Highway is the obvious choice.

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In contrast to an Alaska cruise, with the Alaska State Ferry you have the option to bring your vehicle onboard. This gives you freedom to hit the open road at your destinations or continue north on your Alaska road trip. No vehicle? No problem. You can also travel as a walk-on passenger and plan a cheaper, personalized Alaska cruise to popular destinations as well as the less traveled regions of Alaska coastline.

We took five ferries for a total of 65 hours onboard and we learned a few tips and tricks about the Alaska Marine Highway along the way. Our ferry route extended from Prince Rupert, BC, up through the Inside Passage to Skagway, Alaska. During our time on the Alaska Ferry System we had a one week stop in Sitka, Alaska to visit friends. We then sailed to Juneau for a few days of camping with glacier views. From Juneau we ferried to Gustavus where we spent 5 days camping in Glacier Bay National Park. We then sailed back to Juneau before our final ferry to Skagway. This is where we hit the road with Stan the Tan Van and continued north on our Alaska road trip through the Yukon to the Alaskan interior.

Planning your Trip on the Alaska Marine Highway

As you plan your voyage, we suggest you make reservations ahead of time (ideally, at least three months early will get you better prices than waiting until right before your trip). If taking a vehicle, you’ll need information such as make, model, and length of your vehicle when you book. Note that the larger your vehicle the more it will cost. We saw some pretty big rigs get on, so they should be able to handle any sized vehicle. We were even parked behind a boat at one point. That’s right, it was a boat on a boat!

Mainline vessels may only embark or disembark from a destination once a week. Some of the day boat ferries are more frequent, and it is possible to buy tickets the day of, but you don’t want to be left on shore if your ferry fills up. To make reservations call 1 (800) 642-0066 or go to the Alaska Marine Highway website.

Getting to the Alaska Marine Highway

You can embark on the Alaska Marine Highway by vehicle or by foot in any of its service ports. The most southern stop—and only stop in the lower 48—is Bellingham, Washington, 90 minutes north of Seattle. It is important to know you cannot drive to all ports. Many ports are on islands and the only way to get to them is by sea or air. We drove through British Columbia to Prince Rupert to start our 800 mile sailing route.

Once you get to an Alaska State Ferry terminal, you’ll check in at the office or with the commissary. Then you’ll get your ticket and be asked to line up your vehicle in a specific row for boarding. Remember to declare any propane, firearms, or bear spray (they will most likely ask you all of this when you check in). Note that ports are of varied size and therefore have varied degrees of formality. For example, in Gustavus there was no office, just one guy at port to check us in.

What to Bring on the Alaska Marine Highway

While on the Alaska State Ferry, you cannot access your vehicle while the ship is sailing. Prince Rupert to Sitka is a 36 hour trip, so we knew it was important to pack everything we would need. If you do forget something, you can access the car deck when the ship is docked in port. However, depending on your itinerary these could be few and far between.

The Alaska Marine Highway does allow pets. However, they must stay inside your vehicle, not on deck or in a cabin. This means you will have to lock your furry friend in your vehicle for many long hours. When your ship is in port you can go down and take them for a short walk on shore. Be aware, sometimes you’re in port late at night or early morning, so review your ferry schedule so you know when you can visit your lonely pet.

If your trip takes you through Canada (like most Alaska road trips) you will need your passport to go through customs. However, if you get on the ferry in Washington and get off in Alaska or vice versa you won’t need to go through customs. You’ll technically be in the United States the entire time.

If you have an overnight ferry, there are plenty of cozy places on board to catch some Zzzz’s! If you don’t have a cabin you may want to bring a tent (that’s right, a tent), sleeping mat, pillow, and sleeping bag. I’ll explain more in the next section.

Sleeping & Showering on the Alaska Marine Highway

Mainline ferries service the main stops on the Alaska Marine Highway sailing routes. Makes sense right? These larger vessels have sleeping cabins you can rent for the duration of your trip. The smaller day boat and shuttle ferries won’t have cabins. When you book your ticket, you’ll be able to see what ferry you’ll be on and find the ferry amenities here.

If you’re looking to save some money (like us) and are adventurous you can pitch your tent on the top deck or sleep under the solarium. We tried both throughout our five ferry rides. We actually preferred sleeping under the solarium. It was surprisingly comfy and heated! However, there was some major snoring (and it wasn’t me this time, I swear). Earplugs aren’t a bad idea. If you’d rather sleep inside there are lounges where you can find a comfortable sleeping corner—especially on the larger mainline vessels.

The Alaska Marine Highway mainline ferries will also have multiple hot showers. On our first ferry—the Malaspina—there was a bathroom on the upper deck with three shower stalls. This was a nice surprise—especially during a 36 hour trip. The smaller ferries had a shower, but it was a single stall in the main bathroom and wasn’t very private.

Eats and Drinks

Many of the ferries have cafeterias that serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We had a few dinners on board and found them to be quite good—burgers, fish and chips, pasta, steak—and reasonably priced. However, the smallest ferry we were on only had limited food service—meaning, frozen burritos, packaged sandwiches, ramen noodles, and beverages.

Budget Tip. Boiling water and a microwave are available for free 24/7. Instead of paying for coffee and tea, we brought our coffee mugs, instant coffee packets, and tea bags. Plan ahead and pack sandwiches, instant noodles, or freeze-dried dinners. You can easily forego any purchase on the ferry if you plan ahead.

WiFi/Cell Coverage

Want to disconnect from technology and the internet? Good! Because you don’t have a choice! The ferries do not have WiFi and there were numerous 5-8 hour stretches of absolutely no service while traveling up the Inside Passage. When we reached a port, we were sometimes able to connect, but in my experience service was limited even there. Books, playing cards, or other games can help fill the time when you’re not viewing, whales, porpoise, or eagles on deck or from the observatory.

Alaska Marine Highway Essentials

The Alaska Ferry System is not the fastest way to travel, but if you are comfy and prepared it is likely to be a highlight of your trip. To ensure you have everything you need for your Alaska Marine Highway voyage, here’s a list to help you pack for your voyage.

• Sleeping Bag—This mummy bag will keep you warm and not take up too much space.
• Travel Pillow—This is great for any adventure—not just nautical. This inflatable pillow packs down to almost nothing and provides a lot more neck support than a balled-up sweatshirt.
• Sleeping Mat—Whether you pick a lawn chair or ship deck to get some sleep, your back will thank you for getting this pack friendly mat.
• Water Bottle—Are we still buying bottled water? Seriously? If you don’t have a reusable water bottle yet, stop what you’re doing and buy one now.
• Coffee Mug—Between the hours of 7 AM and 11 AM you will probably see one of these attached to our hands. I love my Hydro Flask—it keeps your drink hot for hours. Liana swears by her GSI Outdoors mug.
• Toiletry Bag—This is a great bag to stock with all your grooming products without taking up a lot of precious packing space.
• Microfiber Towel—We travel everywhere with these packable, fast drying towels.
• Instant Coffee—When we get our coffee, we’re happy. When we don’t, we’re not. So, when we don’t have access to our French press, we rely on instant coffee to fill the void.
• Freeze-dried Meals—These prepackaged meals are super easy to prepare. All you need to do is add boiling water right into the bag, zip it up, and it’s ready to eat in about 20 minutes.
• Light My Fire Mess Kit—We’ve had our mess kits for years. Whether we’re riding a ferry for a day or going into the backcountry for a week it’s all the serving ware we need.
• Titanium Spork—It’s a spoon, it’s a fork, no it’s both! This virtually indestructible utensil is a staple on our backpacking trips.
• Playing Cards—We really don’t go anywhere without cards anymore. What’s your favorite game?
• Travel Catan—Yes, we are nerds, thus, we play nerd games. This is an awesome reimagination of the classic, and a must for any extended trip or camping adventure.
• Camera—Phone pics don’t always cut it. If you’re heading up the Alaska Marine Highway, you’re going to want to invest in a digital camera.
• Rain Jacket—Oh yeah, it’s the Pacific Northwest. That means you could (and probably will) experience some rain. As the scout in me always says, “Be prepared!”
• Ditty Sacks—Separate clothing, food, electronics, etc. with these handy sacks. We always have a bunch of these in our backpacks during our adventure.
• Easy to prepare food—instant noodles,sandwiches, etc.
• Kindle—I’ve traded in all my hardcover and paperback books for a Kindle. My slightly used Kindle has been working perfectly for over three years.
• Portable Charger—While there is not a lot of cell coverage, be ready when there is! This battery cell can charge my phone 5 times.

Why settle for a run of the mill road trip when you can embark on The Alaska Marine Highway? Add a voyage through Alaska’s Inside Passage or Aleutian Islands to your bucket list. This 56 year old American Scenic Byway can take you, your car, or your home on wheels where you never thought possible.

Have you ever taken the Alaska Marine Highway or another ferry system? What was your experience like?

Related Posts:

• Exploring Glacier Bay National Park by Land (and Sea Kayak)
• Our Favorite Things to do in Sitka, Alaska
• Complete Alaska Packing List for Spring and Summer
• How to Plan a Trip to Alaska

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