When Would I Need to Leave Girdwood to Make a Flight at ANC

Question

Hi,

I am planning an 11-day trip to Alaska, my first, for this summer. We will be starting our stay at the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood. We want to go from Girdwood to Haines. I tentatively planned the following itinerary:

1. Check out Alyeska and drive to Anchorage Airport

2. Return rental car and catch 10:50 am flight to Juneau (lands 12:30 pm)

3. Spend our 3+ hours of free time at the ferry port getting lunch and possibly visit the Glacier Gardens Rain Forrest

4. Catch Fjord Express ferry to Haines departing at 4:30 and arriving at 7:30 pm

My wife and I hope to be traveling without any checked bags. We both have TSA precheck. I have no idea how long it takes to return rental cars and get through security at Anchorage. When would we need to leave Alyeska to get to the airport in time to make our flight? If we cannot make the 10:20 flight, the next flight arrives in Juneau too late to make the ferry boat to Haines. We would need to have a one night stay-over in Juneau, which I am trying to avoid.

Thank you

We want toin I have never been to Alaska so I am not sure how much time

Answer

Traveling from Girdwood to Anchorage Airport (ANC) for a morning flight to Juneau requires careful planning, especially to make a tight connection for your ferry to Haines. Here’s a detailed breakdown to help you decide when to leave Alyeska Resort.

Drive Time

The drive from Alyeska Resort in Girdwood to ANC is approximately 45–60 minutes under normal traffic conditions. Summer can bring occasional slowdowns near Anchorage, but early morning typically has lighter traffic.

Rental Car Return

Returning a rental car at ANC generally takes 15–25 minutes. Some counters are faster than others, and if you have no checked bags and a quick shuttle, this can be on the lower end.

Security Check

With TSA PreCheck and no checked bags, getting through security can be quite fast, often 5–15 minutes. However, allow for 20–30 minutes in case of lines or additional screening.

Recommended Timing

Airlines recommend arriving 60 minutes prior for domestic flights if you have no bags. Considering the drive, rental return, and security, you will want a buffer for unexpected delays.
To catch a 10:50 am flight, a conservative timeline would be:

Leave Alyeska by 8:15 am – allows 45 minutes for the drive, arriving ~9:00 am at ANC
Return rental and get through TSA PreCheck – 9:00–9:30 am
Gate arrival – 9:30–10:00 am, giving 50–80 minutes buffer before the 10:50 am departure

Additional Considerations

Summer weather in Alaska is usually good, but be aware of rain or fog that could slightly slow travel on the Seward Highway.
Check with your rental company if they have an express return option for faster drop-off.
If you prefer extra peace of mind, leaving Alyeska around 8:00 am would give you a 1.5-hour buffer.

In summary, to comfortably make the 10:50 am flight to Juneau without risking missing your ferry, plan to leave Alyeska Resort between 8:00 and 8:15 am. This allows for drive time, rental car return, TSA PreCheck security, and a small cushion for unexpected delays.

When Would I Need to Leave Girdwood to Make a Flight at ANC

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