Southeast Alaska
Your marine highway companion
Ferries, flights & more
Build your itinerary
Communities
Multi-day travel through communities that welcome visitors who stay, explore, and spend locally. The ferry is just the beginning.
The independent traveler
Why take the ferry?
Over 1.6 million cruise passengers visit Southeast Alaska every year. They spend a few hours in each town. Independent travelers who take the ferry stay for days, not hours. They eat at local restaurants, book with local guides, and sleep in local lodges. Every dollar goes directly into the community economy.
Quick facts
3,500 mi
of ferry routes
30+
communities
150+
USFS cabins
Every way to move between communities
⚓ Alaska Marine Highway System
Juneau → Hoonah
8:00a
JNU
3h 30m
11:30a
HNH
Bellingham, WA → Ketchikan → Juneau
Mainline vessel · Cabins available · Full cafeteria · Solarium deck
Juneau → Haines → Skagway
7:15a
JNU
4h 30m
11:45a
HNS
⛽ Fast ferries & private operators
Juneau ↔ Haines ↔ Skagway
65’ high-speed catamaran through Lynn Canal, North America’s longest and deepest fjord. Wildlife cruise with whale watching included. Continental breakfast and salmon chowder dinner served on board. Family-owned and operated for 30+ years.
Haines ↔ Skagway
45-minute scenic ride through Taiya Inlet and the Lynn Canal. Multiple daily departures. Passengers only — no vehicles. The fastest way between Haines and Skagway (350 miles by road, two border crossings, or 45 minutes by water).
Ketchikan ↔ Hollis (Prince of Wales Island)
Daily vehicle and passenger ferry. Year-round service aboard the MV Prince of Wales and MV Stikine. Onboard food service. Your gateway to one of Southeast Alaska’s most remote and rewarding destinations.
✈ Airlines & air service
Jet service · Seattle & Anchorage hubs
737 jet service to Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell, Gustavus, and Yakutat. Year-round daily flights. The backbone of Southeast Alaska’s connection to the rest of the world. Essential Air Service carrier for the region.
Floatplane & commuter · Juneau hub · 13 communities
Southeast Alaska’s commuter airline. Daily scheduled flights from Juneau to Haines, Skagway, Gustavus, Hoonah, Sitka, Kake, Klawock, Angoon, Tenakee Springs, Pelican, Elfin Cove, and Excursion Inlet. Seasonal Whitehorse, Yukon service. Charters available throughout Alaska.
Seasonal jet service to Juneau
Seasonal nonstop flights connecting Juneau to major U.S. hubs during peak summer travel season.
🚢 Other options
Water taxis, charter boats, and other local operators also provide transportation between communities and to remote areas. See their full listings in the directory.
💡 Planning tipThe Alaska Marine Highway is the backbone, but mixing in fast ferries and regional flights saves days and opens up routes the state ferry doesn’t cover. Alaska Seaplanes is especially useful for reaching smaller communities like Tenakee, Pelican, and Elfin Cove.
Local businesses & operators
Your Southeast Alaska itinerary
10-day Inside Passage
Jun 10 – Jun 20, 2026
Jun 10 · Day 1
MV Kennicott · 38h to Ketchikan
Jun 12–14 · 3 nights
Totem Heritage Center, Misty Fjords, Creek Street
2 activities savedJun 14 · Day 5
MV Matanuska · stops in Wrangell, Petersburg
Jun 15–18 · 3 nights
Mendenhall Glacier, whale watching, hiking
3 activities savedJun 18 · Day 9
Alaska Fjordlines · whale watching en route
Jun 18–20
Chilkat Eagle Preserve, Gold Rush NHP, White Pass Railroad
💡 Trip tipThis sample itinerary mixes AMHS state ferries with Alaska Fjordlines for the Juneau-to-Haines leg, saving a day over the state ferry schedule. The Haines-Skagway Fast Ferry (45 min, multiple daily) makes it easy to visit both towns from one base.