Ketchikan

Question

Am I correct you can only get to Ketchikan by boat or air? Where can I board the Alaska Marine highway with our vehicle beside Bellingham, Washington? What port can we board to go to Ketchikan coming from Alaska? Then, we don’t want to traverse the entire way to Washington by ferry. Would we return to a port in Alaska or Canada to return on land to the lower 48? We found the port web site, but not the answers we need. Thank you

Answer

You are correct that Ketchikan is only accessible by air or by boat. There are no roads connecting it to the rest of Alaska or the continental U.S., so your options are limited to flights or ferries, including the Alaska Marine Highway (AMHS) system.

Here’s a detailed breakdown regarding traveling with a vehicle and planning your route:

Boarding the Alaska Marine Highway with your vehicle:
Besides Bellingham, Washington, you can embark on AMHS ferries with a vehicle from several ports in Southeast Alaska and British Columbia, though Bellingham is the main southern port that directly serves the route from the lower 48. Within Alaska, you can also board from ports such as:
- Haines, AK
- Homer, AK (for Gulf of Alaska routes, not direct to Ketchikan)
- Juneau, AK
These are mostly for internal Alaska travel or if connecting from other ferry routes.
Ports in Alaska to reach Ketchikan:
If you’re already in Alaska, the main AMHS ports that serve Ketchikan include:
- Prince Rupert, BC (Canada) – some itineraries start here
- Wrangell, AK
- Petersburg, AK
- Juneau, AK
- Other Southeast Alaska communities on the Inside Passage, depending on the ferry schedule
Most ferries serving Ketchikan come up the Inside Passage from southern ports (Bellingham or Prince Rupert) or down from other Southeast Alaska communities.
Returning without going all the way to Washington:
You do not need to take the ferry all the way back to Bellingham. Options include:
- Return to a larger Alaska port, such as Juneau or Haines, and then drive or fly back to the lower 48.
- Some itineraries allow disembarking at Prince Rupert, BC, from which you can drive south through Canada to the U.S.
This way, you can enjoy the ferry trip through Southeast Alaska without committing to the full multi-day ferry ride back to Washington.

Practical tips:

Book vehicle space well in advance; AMHS ferries fill up, especially for vehicles.
Check the ferry schedule carefully—some routes operate only a few times a week, particularly in fall and winter.
Consider whether you want a direct route or a scenic journey with multiple stops along the Inside Passage. The latter is slower but highly scenic.
If returning via Canada, make sure your documentation is in order for border crossings with your vehicle.

In summary, you can fly or ferry to Ketchikan. With a vehicle, your main southern boarding port is Bellingham, WA. Within Alaska, you can board ferries in Juneau or other Southeast ports to reach Ketchikan. For the return, you can disembark in a Southeast Alaska port or Prince Rupert, BC, and continue your journey overland without going all the way back to Washington.

Ketchikan

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