Alaska Marine Highway Guide: Sailing the Inside Passage in 2026
What the Alaska Marine Highway Actually Is
The Alaska Marine Highway System is the state-operated ferry network that connects Southeast Alaska, Southcentral Alaska, and the Alaska Panhandle to each other and to Bellingham, Washington. It's not a cruise — it's public transportation for Alaska communities that have no road access. People bring their cars, their trucks, their fishing gear, and their dogs. The ships carry a genuinely mixed population of Alaska residents, backpackers, and independent travelers who discovered this is one of the most scenic and cost-effective ways to move through the Inside Passage.
The mainline Southeast route runs from Bellingham, Washington north through Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka (on most sailings), Juneau, Haines, and Skagway. The route then connects to Southcentral Alaska via vessels serving Valdez, Cordova, Kodiak, and the Kenai Peninsula. Total sailing time from Bellingham to Skagway is approximately 60-68 hours depending on stops.
The Main Vessels
The fleet includes the MV Matanuska, the MV Kennicott, and several smaller vessels. The Kennicott is the largest mainline ship, running the full Bellingham-to-Southcentral route in summer. Vessels vary in age and amenity level — some have cabins with private berths; smaller vessels have recliner lounges and outdoor deck space but no cabins. The Bellingham to Juneau mainline trip is about 38 hours; bringing a sleeping bag and a foam pad is completely normal on cabin-less vessels.
Cabins and Accommodations
On vessels that carry them, cabins range from inside two-berth rooms ($80-120 per night equivalent) to outside four-berth cabins with windows ($120-180 per night equivalent). These aren't hotel rooms — they're ship berths — but they're functional and private. Book cabins well in advance for summer sailings; they sell out early.
Without a cabin, options include recliner seats (usually available without reservation), the solarium (an outdoor deck with plastic chairs under a cover, popular with backpackers who camp out in sleeping bags), and various lounges. Bringing a tent and setting it up in the solarium is common practice and generally allowed.
Bringing a Vehicle
One of the Alaska Marine Highway's major uses is transporting vehicles to and from road-inaccessible communities. Driving your car onto the ferry, riding 38 hours to Juneau, and then having a car in a city with no road connections is a real option — many Alaska residents do it. Vehicle fares are substantial: a standard car from Bellingham to Juneau runs $400-600 each way. But if you want to drive around Juneau, Haines, and Skagway, and eventually exit to the Alaska Highway through the Yukon, this route makes it possible.
The Scenic Route: What You'll See
The Inside Passage between Bellingham and Southeast Alaska is consistently beautiful: the Gulf Islands, the BC Inside Passage, Dixon Entrance, and then the Southeast Alaska fjord system. Wrangell Narrows (22 miles of narrow channel between Petersburg and Frederick Sound) is navigated slowly and in daylight — arriving or departing Petersburg through the narrows is one of the best free scenic experiences on the route. Humpback whales are frequently seen in Frederick Sound and Chatham Strait. The Sitka Sound approach is dramatic in any weather.
What It Actually Costs
- Bellingham to Ketchikan (passenger, no vehicle) — approximately $190-220
- Bellingham to Juneau (passenger, no vehicle) — approximately $280-340
- Cabin add-on (per night equivalent) — $80-180 depending on vessel and cabin type
- Meals on board — The cafeteria runs $10-18 per meal; bringing your own food is common and practical
- Full Bellingham-to-Haines trip (passenger only) — approximately $350-420 plus cabin cost
Booking and Planning
Book at dot.alaska.gov/amhs or by phone. Summer reservations — especially for cabins and vehicles — should be made months in advance, particularly for July and August. The system publishes schedules seasonally; winter and shoulder season sailings are less frequent and some routes are suspended. The ferry reservation system is old and occasionally maddening; have patience and call if the website gives you trouble. Alaska residents get discounted fares.
Alaska Marine Highway Guide: Sailing the Inside Passage in 2026
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