Spanning an extraordinary 3,500 miles along Alaska’s stunning coastline, the Alaska Marine Highway isn’t a road at all—it’s a legendary ferry voyage through some of North America’s most breathtaking wilderness. This All-American Road connects remote communities from Unalaska in the Aleutian Islands to Metlakatla in Southeast Alaska, with connections extending to Prince Rupert, BC and Bellingham, Washington.
Travelers aboard these blue-hulled ferries witness a constantly changing panorama of snow-capped peaks, ancient glaciers calving into sapphire waters, and dense temperate rainforests. Watch for breaching humpback whales, playful sea otters, and bald eagles soaring overhead. Stop in charming port towns like Ketchikan for world-class totem pole collections, Sitka for Russian heritage, or Juneau to explore Mendenhall Glacier.
The journey reveals Alaska’s soul—fishing villages accessible only by sea or air, volcanic landscapes of the Aleutians, and the misty fjords of the Inside Passage. Onboard naturalists help spot wildlife, while observation decks and solariums offer front-row seats to the spectacle.
Best time to travel: May through September offers longest daylight and calmest seas.
Duration: Allow 3-7 days minimum; many travelers spend weeks exploring port communities along the way.
Explore Nearby
- Clark Island Marine State Park — State Park in Washington
- Doe Island Marine State Park — State Park in Washington
- Burrows Island Light — Lighthouse in Washington
- Patos Island Light — Lighthouse in Washington
- Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest — National Forest in Washington
