Ferry's from Seattle to Anchorage... (Fairbanks, Ketchikan: sales, construction, high school)

[DannyL]

The Bellingham WA terminal has been shut down?
I know the Columbia is in for an engine repair, but didn't know AMHS has shut down completely from there to here.

[earls]

The last Alaska Marine Highway (that is what it is called) Ferry leaves Juneau in September going north. The originating point for all ferries from the outside is Bellingham Washington. You might want to consider the railway. Call and get a quote. But anyway moving to Anchorage in December (WHY?) especially coming from the south. You need time to get adapted. You wont have the right clothes and more than likely if you buy winter clothing you will get the wrong stuff but will be just fine for climbing Mt. Denali or living in Barrow. Beginning about mid September most all roads will have a layer or ice on them just about all the time. That is what you drive on and 4WD and/or studded tires are required. December?

[niclh]

Do you happen to know the website or phone number for the railway or barge system that runs? If I could somehow stick my car on a barge on the west coast and get a discounted price it might be worth driving it over there, if its less than $700 or so... I got a quote from the website ArcticKitten posted and she was right on $3000 door - to - door which doesn't sound to bad...

Really don't want to have to buy another Subaru, since I already have one that is working well and doesn't need repairs.. So I guess that will be my only problem.. I would rather fly personally and we probably will, but I would like to find somewhere cheaper than $2300 to ship my car..

Why December? Why not? If I'm going to move to Alaska I might as well experience first hand in some of the worst winter months, then after being there for 4-5 months I'll get a chance to watch everything melt and let Summer begin... I guess we can only see when things get closer to December, but if you read I'm finishing up school and will be graduating in December, hence the move date..

[Marylandkitten]

If you can find a railroad that will take you, let me know. I tried researching for it... and when you' get done weeding through all of the "Alaskan Railroad TOURS" ..there's nothing left but Amtrak, and they won't go past the Canada border. lol.

I feel you, OP, my vehicle is the one biggest hitch in my comfortable relocation process as well. ..but it's not 4WD, and I don't know how to change a flat... so maybe it's better that way. I hear you can buy cars cheap up there. cause they all have a ton of miles on them anyways.. and it's almost worth looking into, because you can skip the whole "adding thousands of miles onto your well-seasoned vechile just to get it up there as it is... then turn around and repair it to pair with Alaska's scary 10 - days on the road and you better be registered by now - rule... just my 2 cents.

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by DannyL

The Bellingham WA terminal has been shut down?
I know the Columbia is in for an engine repair, but didn't know AMHS has shut down completely from there to here.

I highly doubt it. I just took a JNU-SIT ferry about a month ago and no one said anything about Bellingham being closed. There were no signs in the main office when I bought my tickets, etc. You'd think that would be something they'd mention.

Another option for you-
You can take AMHS from Bellingham (n. of Seattle) to Skagway, then drive the rest of the way. That route is open all year round (I've taken it in December, it's fine) and you skip most of the worst part of the Alcan. You still have to deal with CA customs though.

[niclh]

does the AMHS run in December?

[Xa'at]

Part of it does. AMHS splits their voyages into several main routes, namely: Southeast, Cross Gulf, and Prince William Sound. Southeast routes run in December, but Cross Gulf and PWS don't. Thus, you could make it as far as Skagway, but you'd have to get off after that.
The schedules can be found here: Main Schedule Menu for the Alaska Marine Highway System (broken link)

[pw72]

I was wrong about Bellingham. I thought I had read they were shutting down that port, but evidently not.

The ferry system runs year-round.

All this was found here:

Alaska Marine Highway System :: Alaska DOT&PF

If it is indeed update...

[Fortaz]

I drove down from AK in the middle of winter. The roads are fine. The roads can be snow covered, but it's usually packed snow and not bad to drive on.

[cobolt]

I like Xa'at's suggestion of taking the ferry to Skagway and then driving. That is what I would do.

And the Bellingham terminal is very much operational, year round.

Cobolt