Anchorage (ANC) is an International airport and is a 1-hour drive from Girdwood. Alaska Airlines/Horizon, American Airlines, United Airlines, SouthWest, Delta, Virgin, Condor, Iceland Air, Korean Air, JetBlue and more all have flights into Anchorage, Alaska. There are many direct flights world-wide, to and from Anchorage.
Our tours are accessible in a day from Whittier, Seward and Anchorage. We intentionally do not maintain reservation relationships with cruise ships – though some cruise ships are in these ports long enough for guests to join onto an AP trip.
Interested in seeing Alaska your way, but want to take a ship from Washington or Canada to travel to Alaska? Consider the less fancy, local transportation of the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry. You can bring your car, RV and pets aboard. The Ferry ports in Whittier and Seward are the closest port-of-calls to all of AP’s trips.
The drive from Anchorage to Girdwood is South on the Seward Highway, and it’s just spectacular. It typically takes 1-hour to make the scenic drive along Turnagain Arm, and we recommend adding more time to pull over and take in the views.
For those not wanting the stress of driving, or if you’d prefer to not bother with a rental car, the Alaska Railroad is the way to go! 2 morning train options exist: Coastal Classic and Glacier Discovery Trains. Spencer Glacier guests: While you are welcome to get off in Girdwood and skip Whittier, AP Guides typically meet clients on the Glacier Discovery train at the 2nd Portage Stop at 1:15pm.
There seasonally exists a variety of Shuttle options from Anchorage to Girdwood. This pages hosted by Hotel Alyeska is very helpful and most current: GETTING TO ALYESKA. For public transportation in and around the Resort and the town of Girdwood, learn more about the Glacier Valley Transit, Girdwood’s FREE Shuttle.
The following car rentals exist in Anchorage:
Alaska 4×4 Rentals 907-290-0064
Alamo 907-243-3255
Avis 907-249-8260
Budget 907-243-6492
Dollar Rent-a-Car 907-248-5338
Hertz Car Rental 907-243-4118
National Car Rental 907-248-0088
Payless Car Rentals 907-243-3616
Thrifty Rent-a-Car 907-276-2855
Enterprise Car Rental 907-248-5526
Check out trains, planes, helicopters, limos, RV’s, cruise ship’s, ferries, water taxis, buses, shuttles and car resources based in Anchorage.
Getting Around Alaska
Visit Anchorage
Alaska.org
Hotel Captain Cook
Anchorage Bed & Breakfast Association
Airbnb
VRBO
Anchorage Campgrounds and RV Parks
Camping In Chugach State Park, near Anchorage
Alyeska Hideaway Log Cabins
Visit Anchorage
Alaska.org
Alyeska Hotel
Girdwood Chamber of Commerce
Alyeska Girdwood Accomodations
Airbnb
VRBO
Crow Creek Mine
Girdwood Campground
Portage Valley RV Park
Willawaw Campround in Portage, Alaska
National Weather Service for Anchorage.
National Weather Service for Girdwood.
Please know that Alaska has very changeable weather patterns. The more prepared you are, the more comfortable you will be. Please see our suggested clothing list below.