Region

Southeastern Alaska

Pick 2–3 towns and travel by ferry or plane; there is no road along the panhandle.

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Key facts · United States

Best months: May–Aug
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: US dollar (USD, $)
Language: English
Plugs: A · B · 120 V
Time zone: Six zones: UTC−5 to UTC−10

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 9Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…

North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
Alaska ↗Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka and most of the Arctic and Southwest are not reachable by road. Air or ferry only.
Alaska ↗Many rental companies ban the Dalton, Denali, Steese and McCarthy roads; damage there may void your insurance. Check before booking.

Southeastern Alaska is the panhandle: a strip of mainland, islands and fjords between British Columbia and the open Pacific, threaded by the Inside Passage. Almost nothing is connected by road, so you move by ferry, plane or boat and sleep in a handful of towns. Juneau is the hub; Ketchikan, Sitka, Petersburg, Wrangell, Haines and Skagway each reward a night or two. Pick two or three, not all of them — the distances are long and the sailings are not daily.

Where to sleep

8 places in this region

Sleep base

JuneauCity guide
State capital, no road in, ferry and air hub, Mendenhall Glacier.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Juneau →
KetchikanCity guide
Southern gateway, totem poles, Misty Fjords access.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Ketchikan →
SitkaCity guide
Russian-era history on Baranof Island; air or ferry only.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Sitka →

Day trip

PetersburgCity guide
Fishing town on Mitkof Island; ferry and air.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Petersburg →
HainesCity guide
Road link to the Yukon; ferry to Skagway.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Haines →
SkagwayCity guide
Gold-rush town; Klondike Highway and White Pass rail.
Best Jun–Aug
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Skagway →
GustavusCity guide
Gateway to Glacier Bay; air or ferry.
Best Jun–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Gustavus →
HyderCity guide
Remote; reached via Stewart, BC.
Best Jul–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Hyder →

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

5 nights: Juneau 3 + Ketchikan 2, fly between
7 nights: Juneau 3 + Sitka 2 + Ketchikan 2, ferry or fly the legs
10 nights: Juneau 3 + Gustavus 2 + Haines or Skagway 2 + Ketchikan 3

Do not plan a road trip along the panhandle: there is no continuous highway, only short local roads and segments of AK-7.
Summer ferry and flight seats sell out; winter service drops to a few sailings a month on some routes.
Weather is wet and cool year-round; rain gear matters more than an umbrella.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Mendenhall Glacier	Juneau	30 min	check	City bus and tours from downtown; visitor centre charges a small entry fee.
Misty Fjords National Monument	Ketchikan	120 min	check	Floatplane or boat tour; weather can cancel flights.
Glacier Bay	Gustavus	60 min	check	Day boats and tours from Gustavus; book ahead in summer.
Skagway	Haines	45 min	check	Passenger-only fast ferry across Taiya Inlet; not part of the state ferry system.

Bags between cities

Luggage moves with you: ferries and planes have limited baggage space, so pack light and check each operator's limits.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
Juneau	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×
Ketchikan	×	×	×	×	go	go	go	go	go	×	×	×
Sitka	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go	go	go	ok	×	×
Petersburg	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go	go	go	×	×	×
Haines	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	×
Skagway	×	×	×	ok	ok	go	go	go	ok	ok	×	×
Gustavus	×	×	×	×	×	go	go	go	go	×	×	×
Hyder	×	×	×	×	×	ok	go	go	go	×	×	×
Alaska (country-wide)	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	go	go	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Southeastern AlaskaInside Passage coast and islands	cold	cold	cool	ok	best	best	best	best	ok	cool	cold	cold

best: dry, mildok: workablecool: jacket, grey

Southeastern Alaska: Maritime climate: mild winters, cool wet summers, rain any month. May–September is the travel window; July and August are warmest and busiest.

Rain is the norm — Ketchikan and the outer coast are among the wettest places in North America. Pack layers and waterproofs.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
Seattle (SEA)	Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka	Alaska Airlines and seasonal Delta flights	2 h 30 SEA–JNU	The main air gateway; some routes run as the multi-stop 'milk run'.
Anchorage (ANC)	Juneau and panhandle towns	Alaska Airlines 'milk run'	check	Point-to-point stops; not every town is on the same schedule.
Bellingham, WA	Ketchikan and north	Alaska Marine Highway ferry	check	Twice a month in winter, about three times in summer; reserve early.
Prince Rupert, BC	Ketchikan and Juneau	Alaska Marine Highway ferry	check	About three sailings a week; passport needed to cross Canada.
Whitehorse, YT	Skagway	Klondike Highway by car	~175 km	The one road entry into the panhandle; winter conditions can close it.
Haines Junction, YT	Haines	Haines Road by car	~240 km	Links the panhandle to the Alaska Highway and Interior.

Regional passes

Verdict first

Alaska Marine Highway

check

The state ferry is the backbone; fares vary by route and season, so price your legs and reserve summer sailings early.

Air passes

skip

No useful multi-town air pass; book point-to-point flights or use the ferry.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works

Dish	Where	Timing / trap
Fresh salmon and halibut	Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka	Summer is the season; many places close or cut hours in winter.
King crab	Ketchikan and Juneau	Tourist-season prices; check the day's catch.
Brewery taprooms	Juneau	Local breweries run tours and tastings in summer.

Go next

Alaska

Fly or ferry to Anchorage and the Interior

The panhandle is one part of a much larger state.

Interior Alaska

planned

Fly Juneau–Anchorage, then road or rail

Denali and Fairbanks need their own trip.

Juneau

Air or ferry hub

The natural first base in the region.

Ketchikan

planned

Ferry or flight

Southern gateway and Misty Fjords base.

Sitka

Ferry or flight

Russian history and a walkable centre.

Petersburg

planned

Ferry or flight

Working fishing town.

Haines

planned

Ferry or road via the Yukon

Quiet base with road access.

Skagway

planned

Ferry or road

Gold-rush history and the White Pass rail.

Hyder

planned

Road via Stewart, BC

Remote; check border and access.

Gustavus

planned

Air or ferry

Gateway to Glacier Bay.

Show all 10 placesShow fewer

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep: 3 bases
Day trips: 4, 30 min to 2 h
Nights suggested: 5–10 nights
Ways in: 6 listed
Best months: May–Aug

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

Open Alaska Up to Alaska

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources

Sources

officialAlaska Marine Highway System
officialAlaska Airlines
officialTravel Alaska (state tourism)
officialWhite Pass & Yukon Route
officialInter-Island Ferry Authority
secondaryWikivoyage: Southeastern Alaska, revision 5322125 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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