Railroad to Alaska

Can You Take the Train to Alaska?

No, unfortunately not. The Alaska Railroad operates only within Alaska from Seward and Whittier to Fairbanks. There is no connection to the rail system in Canada. You may hear about another railway in Alaska called the White Pass and Yukon Route. This service offers scenic tours out of Skagway to the Canadian Yukon. It is a popular shore excursion for cruise passengers visiting Skagway, but not connected to the Alaska Railroad.

Sometimes people who ask about this are looking for ways to get to Alaska other than by air. Here are a few ways to get to Alaska without flying:

Drive. It is about 2300 miles from Seattle to Anchorage and for the most part the roads are in pretty good shape. If you opt to roadtrip, bring along The Milepost, a handy guide.

Take a cruise ship. Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, and Royal Caribbean Cruises offer seven-day cruise between either Seward or Whittier and Vancouver, British Columbia. We can help if you want to book an Alaska cruise or need more information on cruises.

Take the ferry. Visit the Alaska Marine Highway for more information.  You can take a passenger ferry from Bellingham, Washington, to several coastal destinations in Alaska including Juneau, Haines, Valdez, and Whittier.

Picking the right railroad service most scenic railroad trip