Contents
Alaska Marine Highway | Introduction
Alaska Marine Highway is Alaska's marine ferry system. Looking at a map of Alaska, you can see that the terrain is quite fragmented. Driving on land often requires taking a long detour to travel from one city to another, whereas taking a boat is much faster. In some areas, which consist of chains of scattered islands, taking a ferry is even essential. Thus, the frequently utilized Alaska Marine Highway system was established.
If you drive entirely on land, it takes 357 miles from Whittier to Valdez, but only 90 miles by sea. Although driving offers great scenic views, the round trip takes a long time. Therefore, many tourists heading to Valdez choose to drive there and take the ferry back. The benefits of taking the ferry for tourists include saving travel time and sightseeing along the way, such as seeing glaciers and marine life. The ferry route between Valdez and Whittier is particularly popular.
However, if you want to take the ferry, careful planning is essential. When we booked our tickets, we originally planned to take the ferry from Valdez to Whittier. But shortly before our trip, we discovered that there was no ferry available on our planned date. So, we had to change our plans last minute to take the ferry from Whittier to Valdez first and then drive back, making our earlier schedule more rushed. You can check the schedule in advance on the Alaska Marine Highway website.
There are different types of ferries, and newer ones are faster. When we took the ferry, Mr. Chenega only took a little over two hours. The ferry was large with plenty of seating, but it had fewer trips. Most trips use older ferries, taking about four hours to travel from Whittier to Valdez.
Important Notes | Whittier Tunnel
The Whittier tunnel is the only tunnel in the U.S. that is used by both trains and automobiles, and it is the only one in the U.S. that is used by both trains and automobiles. Because it is used by trains and automobiles alternately, there is a limit to the time it can be opened to automobiles, so you should pay attention to the opening time, otherwise you may miss your trip. the official websiteCheck the opening hours. You need to pay a toll to enter in Whittier direction, but not in the opposite direction, that is to say, if we follow our original arrangement to take a boat to Valdez to go back to Whittier first, and then go back to Anchorage by land through this tunnel, we can save a small amount of money.
When we arrived, it wasn't yet the time for cars to pass, so we waited in line outside. When the tunnel opened, we drove closer and saw that the entrance could only fit one vehicle at a time. Inside the tunnel, you could see train tracks on the ground.
Whittier
Once out of the tunnel, you enter Whittier. If you have time after picking up your ferry tickets, you can stroll around. Whittier is a simple town with its economic focus on the port. The port itself has tranquil and beautiful scenery with a few small shops, mostly gift shops or galleries, all in a quaint cottage style. Besides some snorkeling and fishing tours, there doesn't seem to be much tourist activity, making it a perfect getaway. A tunnel from the port leads to the town center, but when we visited, the town center only had one hotel and no apparent shops or restaurants.
Breakfast Cafe | Lazy Otter
We stayed in Whittier for a brief time in the morning, and Lazy Otter was the only café offering breakfast. We didn't have high expectations, but the coffee was surprisingly good, and the sandwiches with soup warmed us up. Paired with the view of the harbor through the window, it felt quite cozy and relaxing in the rainy weather of Whittier.
Alaska Marine Highway | Ferry Rides
When it was time to board the ferry, we first had to drive our car onto the ferry, waiting in line at the gate until it opened. We took the Mr. Chenega ferry, which had plenty of seating and was very stable.
Onboard, we could leisurely enjoy the glacier and ocean views. The sea route between Whittier and Valdez offers many glacier sightings, and if you're lucky, you might even spot whales.
Two hours later, after crossing a railway bridge and driving onto the dock, we arrived at our destination, Valdez.
Further reading
- Exploring Alaska: A 9-Day Self-Drive Adventure
- Alaska Road Trip: Discovering History and Art at the Anchorage Museum
- Alaska Road Trip: One-Day Guide to Denali National Park
- Alaska Road Trip: Scenic Ferry Ride on the Alaska Marine Highway to Whittier
- Discover Valdez: Two-Day Road Trip Including Worthington Glacier and Wrangell St Elias National Park
- Matanuska Glacier: The Easiest Glacier to Traverse in Alaska
- Exploring Kenai Fjords National Park: A Day Trip from Seward
- Experience the Excitement: Dog Sledding with Ididaride in Seward
- Alaska Road Trip: Exploring Homer, the Halibut Capital
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