Traveling to Skagway by Air, Sea or Land
NOTE: 2024 TRAVEL UPDATE (5/26/24) – The Tuesday, May 28 ferry was cancelled due to a mechanical issue with the Leconte. For those who were planning to catch that ferry, you will need to cancel that portion of your trip and then do the following. Remember to use the discount codes when booking:
1) Wednesday – Take the excursion boat Alaska Fjordlines, which has discounted fares, from Juneau, see below. The boat will arrive in time for you to catch the opening reception and we will have your registration packet there.
2) Tuesday or Wednesday – Fly to Skagway on Alaska Seaplanes using the promo discount outlined below.
Participants from Haines may get here using the Haines-Skagway Fast Ferry, which has multiple trips daily. A state ferry is still on the schedule for Sunday, June 2 after the conference ends.
No matter how you get here, we advise that you carry your PASSPORT (you also will need it for our Saturday train-trail write excursion – see schedule).
Getting to Skagway by Plane
Two Major Airline Connections
1) Juneau, Alaska – the state capital, is served by Alaska and Delta Airlines, and regional air carrier Alaska Seaplanes offers several flights daily between Juneau and Skagway (see info and promo code below). It’s a 45-minute flight.
2) Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada – the territorial capital, is also a convenient point of entry for air arrivals from Canada and the Lower 48. You may rent a car and drive to Skagway in 2.5 hours (see land option below). Passports required.
ALASKA SEAPLANES SPECIAL
Alaska Seaplanes will offer North Words Writers Symposium attendees a reduced rate for travel between Skagway & Juneau.
Save 10% off web bookings when using the promo code below for travel dates:
Juneau-Skagway and/or Skagway-Juneau
2024 DATES: May 27-June 3 (5-7 flights daily)
To get the discount, the bookings need to be made through our website – www.flyalaskaseaplanes.com using northwords in the promo code box. BOOK EARLY!
Thank you Alaska Seaplanes!
Getting to Skagway by Boat – 3 options
1) ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY (state ferry service)
• Tuesday, May 28 – The LeConte leaves Juneau at 7 am and arrives in Skagway at 1:15 pm. (sorry, no Wed. ferry; see Alaska Fjordlines option for Juneau-Skagway service on May 29 or Haines-Skagway Fast Ferry for Haines-Skagway service)
• Sunday, June 2 – The LeConte departs Skagway at 1:45 pm and arrives in Haines at 2:45 pm, and Juneau at 8 pm.
See schedule and book at ferryalaska.com or 800-642-0066.
2) ALASKA FJORDLINES (Lynn Canal excursion boat between Juneau and Skagway, available Wed. May 29 and other dates )
Famous for its wildlife stops, this great excursion boat operates most days in the summer between Juneau and Skagway, arriving in the early evening. They are offering our participants and faculty a 10% Discount for Online Bookings!
Go to alaskafjordlines.com and enter NORTHWORDS for these available 2024 dates: May 24, 27, 29 and June 1, 3, 5.
Juneau to Skagway: Depart Auke Bay/Statter at 4:30 pm (bus departs Marine Park downtown at 4 pm), arrives Skagway at 8:15 pm (note: if there are enough Skagway-bound folks, they will come to Skagway first before stopping in Haines, arriving at approximately 7:45 pm – we are adjusting our opening reception hours so we can get you fed and get you your conference packets). One-way cost including 10% discount: $148.50, plus tax
Skagway to Juneau: Departs Skagway small boat harbor at 8 am, arrives Haines at 8:30 and Juneau at 11:15 am (bus to airport or downtown). Roundtrip cost including 10% discount is $279, plus tax.
Thank you Alaska Fjordlines!
3) HAINES-SKAGWAY FAST FERRY (Haines-Skagway only)
If you are coming from Haines, there are several departures on Wednesday May 29. See schedule and book online at https://www.hainesskagwayfastferry.com . Cost is $43 one-way.
Getting to Skagway by Land
The SOUTH KLONDIKE HIGHWAY connects Skagway to the rest of the continent. The Klondike meets up with the Alaska Highway just outside of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada. Take S. Klondike Highway #2 (changes to #98 once you cross the border into Alaska). From the junction, it’s about a two-hour drive to Skagway. The border stations are open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Alaska time). Passports mandatory.