Can you get to Alaska without crossing the border?

Due to Alaska's location on the western side of Canada's Yukon and British Columbia territories, it is not possible to drive to Alaska without going through Canada. Alaska is the westernmost state in the U.S. and it can only be reached by land via a few crossings with Canada.



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Alaska is most certainly American, but it's more than 2,000 miles away from the nearest state, Washington. Getting there with a vehicle requires either driving through Canada or taking a ferry.

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U.S. citizens flying between another state and Alaska do not need a passport. However, those driving through Canada or traveling on a ferry or cruise ship with stops in Canada are required to carry one. All non U.S. citizens will need a passport and possibly other documents to enter.

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How do I get to Alaska? There are several ways to get to Alaska, including flying, taking the ferry, or driving. Of these, by far the quickest and most popular is flying into Anchorage.

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The primary airlines flying to Anchorage are Alaska Airlines, Delta, United, American, and Sun Country (summer only). International airlines include Air Canada, Condor, and Icelandair. Direct flights are available from Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Chicago, and Minneapolis.

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The best driving conditions, most hours of daylight, and most visitor services can be found on the Alaska Highway from May through September. However, visitors can have a fun and safe drive along the Alaska Highway year-round with a little extra caution and advance planning.

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Under Alaska State Statutes: You are not required to obtain an Alaska driver's license or learners' permit if you have a driver's license from another U.S. state, country or an international driver's license, since you are deemed to be here on a temporary or non-permanent basis.

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One of the most popular routes to get to Alaska from the mainland United States is along the Alaska-Canada Highway, also referred to as the Alaska Highway or the Alcan Highway, which starts in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and ends in Delta Junction, Alaska.

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Alaska is an ever-popular destination with more people than ever visiting the 49th state. In fact, visitation records have been set year-after-year with an estimated 2.26 million visitors traveling to Alaska between May and September 2019. More than half of all visitors coming to Alaska arrive by cruise ship.

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While you can make the drive in as little as 3 days, we recommend planning for a week of driving so you can take your time and fully experience the stunning scenery, campgrounds, lodges, and wildlife along the way. Ready to start planning your journey North to Alaska?

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Even at 30,000 feet, flying over the Rockies can be bumpy because of the mountain effect. At Juneau, the mountains are right there and the wind is channeled. JAWS keeps pilots updated. The weather phenomenon changes not from minute to minute so much as over a longer period of time.

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