How to get from Talkeetna to Whittier

The trip from Talkeetna to Whittier is a popular option for travelers taking a land tour before cruising from Whittier to Vancouver with Princess Cruises. For independent travelers, the Park Connection Motorcoach is the way to go, as scheduled service from the Alaska Railroad requires an overnight in Anchorage.

6 hours by bus | 4 hours by car

Keep reading for additional details, or if you are ready to book online, feel free to try our Train & Bus Express Checkout.

Take the Bus

The Park Connection Motorcoach departs Talkeetna at 11:00 AM for the two-and-a-half-hour trip to Anchorage. Here you will have an hour or two for lunch and to explore downtown or the museum. You will depart Anchorage at 3:00 PM for the scenic ride to Whittier, dropping you off right at the cruise terminal around 5:00 PM.

Ride the Train

The cruise lines may offer chartered train service for their group tour packages, but same-day scheduled train service from Talkeetna to Whittier is not available.

Drive Yourself

You can't pick up a car in Talkeetna, and drop off options are limited in Whittier. However, if you are driving yourself, plan on about four hours. Consider a lunch stop in Anchorage or Girdwood, and be sure to check out the Whittier tunnel "opening" schedule. If you are looking for a one-way car rental ending in Whittier, check out this special on our Whittier Car Rental page. With Alaska Tour & Travel, you can pick up a premium 4x4 car rental in Anchorage or Fairbanks for exploring Alaska before your cruise. When you are done, drop the car in Anchorage and ride the Park Connection Motorcoach to Whittier for free.