Traveling to Skagway by Air, Sea or Land
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
2025 DATES: May 26-June 2 (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 27 – The Hubbard leaves Juneau at 7 am and arrives in Skagway at 1:45 pm, includes stop in Haines. Sorry, the ferry originally scheduled for May 28 is no longer coming.
• Sunday, June 1 – The Hubbard departs Skagway at 2:45 pm and arrives in Haines at 3:45 pm, and Juneau at 9 pm.
See schedule and book at ferryalaska.com or 800-642-0066.
2) ALASKA FJORDLINES (Lynn Canal excursion boat between Juneau and Skagway)
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 2025 dates: May 18, 19, 21, 26, 29, 31, June 2.
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: $157.50, 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 $297, 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 28. See schedule and book online at https://www.hainesskagwayfastferry.com .
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.