How to Travel to Alaska From Out of State
Eloping in Alaska
Why Elope in Alaska
Alaska is a beautiful state and a bucket list location for many. With endless adventures, Alaska allows you to pack a lot into your trip. And you’re gonna want to experience all that you can in this incredible state! Elope and then begin your honeymoon in the Final Frontier so you can soak it all in that you just married your best friend.
Getting to Alaska can be the tricky part. The 49th state is deceptively far away, but totally worth traveling to. Whether you get to Alaska by plane, boat, or car, you are gonna have a hell of an adventure.
When to Travel to Alaska
Alaska is wonderful in almost every season depending on the experience you want to have. Want to see the Northern Lights and go skiing? You’ll have better luck in March, but the lights can be seen anytime from August – April! Want to make the most of the longer days? Come visit in June and July, just know this is the peak of tourism. May and August are also great times to visit as tourism is just ramping up/slowing down, but they tend to be months with more rain. September and October can offer Fall colors and a chance to see the Northern Lights, but tend to be rainy months.
Determining which month is right for you really comes down to the adventures you want to have and the weather you are willing to accept!
Flying to Alaska
Alaska’s main airport is located in Anchorage. Grab a flight from your hometown, get to Alaska, and rent a car or take the train to your elopement destination! Alaska also has airports in Fairbanks and Juneau, which you can fly into if that is your elopement destination, or you can plan a road trip and fly out of one of those airports. Fun fact, Juneau is the only capital that you have to fly into!
Cruising to (and from) Alaska
There are two main cruise routes you can opt to take to get to (or from) Alaska, an Inside Passage Cruise or a Gulf of Alaska Cruise.
Inside Passage Cruises typically leave from Seattle or Vancouver and go north along the Alaska Coast. You’ll visit the iconic Glacier Bay and can go to ports such as Ketchikan, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Petersberg, Haines, Skagway, or Sitka. Depending on your route you can choose one of the ports to be your elopement destination! Each has their own beautiful landscapes and unique adventures. I can help ya choose what is right for you.
Another cruise option would be to sail to or from Seward which would pair with a flight to or from Anchorage. These cruises are similar to the Inside Passage, but includes the port town of Seward which is just three hours South of Anchorage. These week long cruises can take you to or from Seward and will begin/end in Vancouver. You’ll get to see the Inside Passage while also enjoying the entirety of Glacier Bay National Park as seen from the ocean.
You can opt to begin your adventure in Anchorage. Elope in a destination such as Glacier View, Denali, Girdwood, or Seward, and then board the cruise ship for your honeymoon!
Alternatively you could sail to Seward, elope along the way or once your ship docks, and then explore more of Alaska via train or car.
Popular cruise lines for either of these trips can be found here!
Road tripping to Alaska
Another option to getting to Alaska is to plan an epic road trip through Canada! I only recommend this route if you are going to make a whole road trip out of it and can take 3-4 weeks for your elopement + honeymoon. Driving to Alaska is no joke. It’s 2200 miles through Canada alone. The third time I drove through Canada I did it in just 5 days, and while it was just me driving the whole time, it was pretty tough. I would recommend at least giving yourself a minimum of 5 days to go through Canada, if not more. I also recommend driving through Banff and Jasper National Park! They are absolutely beautiful and have a ton of fun hikes, overlooks, and honestly the drive through the parks alone is just gorgeous.
I’ve driven through Canada four times now, so if you are considering this route we can chat further about the realities of it! I’ll also have a ton of rad stop ideas for ya so you can start to plan out the road trip of a lifetime.
Adventures to Have in Alaska
Alaska has a TON of adventures that you can go on. Whether you want to sight see from a helicopter, hike on a glacier, fish for salmon, try fine dining with several glaciers in view, or go dogsledding, Alaska can accommodate.
Ready to Elope in Alaska?
I can’t wait to help you plan your adventurous wedding day. Let’s take your love on a wild adventure!
