Alaska: Discover the Hidden Wonders Just Beyond Your Reach

Alaska’s magnificent glaciers, immense wilderness, soaring mountains, and astounding wildlife give it the appearance of a distant extraordinary journey. However, the reality is it has become more accessible than ever to explore the Great Land. With new non-stop flights from the contiguous United States being introduced yearly, you can reach Alaska from various points in the country in under a day, with many locations needing merely a few hours of air travel.

Envision waking in your own bed in the morning and being whisked away to another world in just half a day. By late afternoon, you could find yourself trekking in the mountains, admiring a moose, hitting the slopes, checking in at a secluded wilderness lodge, enjoying freshly caught Alaska seafood from that same day, and much more. Add to that an extended cruise season, novel tours, and accommodations, along with increased accessibility upon your arrival, and you’ll discover a plethora of adventures awaiting you in this diverse and stunning state.

Non-Stop Flights to Alaska

Multiple regions in Alaska can be reached via non-stop flights from the contiguous United States. Anchorage serves as Alaska’s primary transportation center, and direct flights are also available to Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka.

Important Notice: Some non-stop flights are limited to certain seasons, and routes may fluctuate from year to year, so make sure to verify current flight itineraries for the latest offerings while planning your journey.

Non-Stop Flights to Anchorage

Anchorage presents the most flight options and connections to other areas of the state. As the largest city in Alaska, it serves as an excellent basecamp for adventure and offers convenient access by road and rail throughout the Southcentral and Interior regions. Non-stop flights to Anchorage are available from:

• Seattle, WA
• Portland, OR
• San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, CA
• Phoenix, AZ
• Las Vegas, NV
• Honolulu (Oahu), Kailua-Kona (Big Island), and Kahului (Maui), HI
• Salt Lake City, UT
• Denver, CO
• Dallas and Houston, TX
• Minneapolis, MN
• Chicago, IL
• Detroit, MI
• Atlanta, GA
• Washington, D.C.
• New York, NY

Flying from Seattle and Portland can get you to Alaska in less than 4 hours. Non-stop flights from Denver, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Los Angeles reach Alaska within 5 to 6 hours. If departing from the east coast, Alaska can be accessed in under 8 hours from New York and in under 7 hours from Washington, D.C.

Additionally, Alaska can be reached via non-stop flights from numerous international locations, including Vancouver, B.C., Canada; Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and Frankfurt, Germany.

Non-Stop Flights to Fairbanks

Travelers aiming directly for Alaska’s Interior can discover several non-stop flight choices to Fairbanks, the Golden Heart City of Alaska. Renowned for the midnight sun in summer and the northern lights during winter, Fairbanks acts as a gateway to various adventures in Denali National Park to the south and the Arctic region to the north. Non-stop flights to Fairbanks are offered from:

• Seattle, WA
• Salt Lake City, UT
• Denver, CO
• Minneapolis, MN
• Chicago, IL

Non-Stop Flights to the Inside Passage

The Inside Passage region of Alaska is also reachable by direct flights from Seattle, facilitating an easy link to other destinations in the contiguous United States. The cities of Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchikan can all be accessed in three hours or less from Seattle. From these locations, you can immerse yourself in the glaciers, marine and terrestrial wildlife, scenic beauty, history, and rich culture of this spectacular coastal area.

Once You’re in Alaska

While planning an independent adventure in Alaska may seem daunting, once you arrive, navigating and enjoying some of the state’s premier destinations and secluded retreats is quite straightforward. Renting a vehicle or motorhome and embarking on an Alaskan road trip proves to be an ideal method to travel at your own rhythm and discover both mainstream and hidden gems. Nevertheless, if you prefer to let someone else handle the navigation, consider arranging an Alaska Railroad train journey, motorcoach package, or multi-day excursion. These itineraries generally encompass accommodations, activities, meals, and local guides, allowing you to fully engage with Alaska without worrying about logistics or planning.

With a myriad of flightseeing excursions, regional flights, air taxis, and water taxis available, it’s simple to venture off-the-grid to more isolated wilderness areas. Secluded lodges, fishing resorts, rustic public use cabins, luxurious wellness retreats, specialty accommodations for viewing the northern lights, and much more are accessible from many Alaskan towns. In just a few days, you could transition from your urban home to a luxurious resort amidst endless wilderness – the perfect sanctuary to disconnect, relax, engage with nature, and absorb the majesty of Alaska.

Cruising to Alaska

Setting off on a multi-day cruise to Alaska remains the most favored way to explore the state during the summer, and it has become increasingly easier thanks to new sailings and extended seasons. The peak cruise season in Alaska spans from May through September, although many cruise companies are broadening their seasons into April and October. Coupled with new itineraries, more sailings, and additional ships, you will encounter more options than ever to cruise to Alaska.

Cruise operators are providing increased sailings for the most sought-after routes like 7-10 day journeys through the Inside Passage and are introducing longer itineraries of 3-4 weeks to lesser-known destinations like Kodiak, the Aleutian Islands, Nome, and Alaska’s Arctic coastline. There are cruise alternatives to suit every traveler, ranging from family-friendly voyages on large cruise liners to small vessel adventure cruises emphasizing luxury and sustainability.

The experiences awaiting you in Alaska will whisk you away to another realm, yet the 49th State is closer than you might perceive. Whether you opt for flying or cruising, reveling under the midnight sun or the northern lights, or embarking on an independent or guided journey, planning your Alaskan adventure has never been simpler – and you’ll likely find yourself returning year after year.