|
11-02-2009, 03:58 PM
|
|
Junior Member
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2009
Reputation: 10
|
|
Can one Travel from Seattle to Anchorage via ferries in late December/Early January?
My friend and I currently are going to school in Dallas, Texas and have decided to travel to Anchorage Alaska. We were thinking of Driving there from here, stopping at various places along the way, and taking the Western Access Route and then Alaskan Highway to get from Seattle to Anchorage. However the thought occured to me "would it be easier (cheaper) to do this by ferry?" i'm just thinking that with all the stuff we have to buy to keep the car from getting destroyed by the cold (oil pan warmer, block heater, tire cables and gas and hotels along the Alaskan highway) would it be cheaper to leave the car in Seattle (my parents live there) and just travel as a foot passenger on ferries all the way to anchorage? Do the ferries even operate in late December/Early January? Any advice is of great use. Thank you so much for any imput
|
|
11-02-2009, 04:14 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Alaska
1,856 posts, read 944,468 times
Reputation: 615
|
|
|
There is one gulf crossing in January for the Juneau to Whittier run. The next one is scheduled in March. I believe there is one run from Bellingham to Juneau each week. For the most part, it's not practical to take the ferry from Bellingham to Whittier and back. Your better bet would be to fly if your schedule is short. Driving would be the cheapest, even with the prep work, gas and hotels.
|
|
11-02-2009, 04:18 PM
|
|
VBAC goddess
Status:
"Living the Dream"
(set 16 days ago)
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Anchorage
255 posts, read 54,910 times
Reputation: 98
|
|
|
I think it would be great to use the Ferry system but pretty darn cold in the winter. ANd it only runs once a week so your timing will have to be great.
I would probably fly up here (for time sake) or drive (for the love of adventure)
|
|
11-02-2009, 07:44 PM
|
|
I am downright amazed at what I can destroy
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Bethel, Alaska
14,522 posts, read 5,693,643 times
Reputation: 5691
|
|
|
By all means drive! You won't regret it! Winter drives are a lot of fun if you know what you are doing. NO RV's!
|
|
11-02-2009, 08:11 PM
|
|
VBAC goddess
Status:
"Living the Dream"
(set 16 days ago)
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Anchorage
255 posts, read 54,910 times
Reputation: 98
|
|
and make sure you fill up at every gas station!  |
|
11-03-2009, 12:14 AM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Colorado
113 posts, read 31,747 times
Reputation: 22
|
|
|
I agree with the other posts. When I was checking into the ferry system to move up here recently, it costs more than what I anticipated. I was told that most of the ferries would only run at certain times. There was the possibility that I could get one to Haines area, if I remember correctly, but would still have to drive through Canada to get to Anchorage, even from there. Rental cars aren't that bad though if you wanted to fly from Seattle.
|
|
11-03-2009, 09:31 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
88 posts, read 47,267 times
Reputation: 61
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by TL551
I was told that most of the ferries would only run at certain times. There was the possibility that I could get one to Haines area, if I remember correctly, but would still have to drive through Canada to get to Anchorage, even from there.
|
Yes, it is about a 700 mile drive from Haines to Anchorage. |
|
11-16-2009, 12:27 AM
|
|
Member
Status:
"Reading Posts"
(set 4 days ago)
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2009
30 posts, read 7,427 times
Reputation: 36
|
|
|
We took the ferry from Bellingham to Whittier last September and it was an enjoyable trip. I drove from NC to Washington State so I wasn't anxious to drive through Canada. The cost was comparable to shipping the pickup truck with a twenty foot enclosed trailer with household goods for our condo from Seattle to Alaska. We brought two cats, some house plants, and enough to furnish the condo as soon as we got here. We left Bellingham at mid day on the 11th and arrived in Juneau on the morning of the 15th. We spent the night in Juneau and left for Whittier at mid day on the 16th. We arrived in Anchorage after driving from Whittier before noon on the 17th and got moved in that day. We had cabins on both legs of the trip so figuring in the cost of motels, airfare for the two of us, and the cost of shipping a pickup, trailer with the house hold things and rental of a car on both ends I think we broke even. Plus the trip through the inside passage was equal to the scenery through Canada which I have already seen in Alaska over the past twenty years of visiting here. I'd vote for the ferry except it doesn't run all winter. The September trip from Juneau was the last until January and then the next one is in May.
|
|
Welcome to City-Data.com forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with 700,000 other registered members. User profiles and some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your free account you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 15,000 posts/day about local topics and you will see fewer ads. 
Linear Mode
