Getting Around Anchorage
Anchorage is the most populous city in Alaska and the main gateway for most visitors to the state. The developed part of the municipality is fairly spread out, and while the compact downtown core is easy to explore on foot, most visitors rely on a mix of buses, rental cars, taxis, and ride-hailing to get around. This guide covers the practical options for moving through the city and reaching it from the airport.
Orientation and Walkability
Anchorage's street layout follows a grid system originally laid out by the railroad. Numbered streets run east–west, beginning at First Avenue in the extreme north near the port and train depot and continuing into the mid-hundreds at the south edge of town. Lettered streets run north–south, starting at A Street in the middle of downtown and going west. East of A Street, streets are named after Alaskan cities and towns in sequential letters. This makes navigating with a map relatively straightforward, though the grid becomes less coherent outside the downtown area.
Downtown Anchorage is the historic core at the northwestern tip of the city, roughly north of 10th Avenue and west of Gambell Street. It is compact and walkable, and it is where you will find most tourist activities, gift stores, hotels, and the railroad depot. Beyond downtown, however, the city is not very walkable. Midtown, the commercial area south of downtown between roughly 15th Avenue and Tudor Road, and South Anchorage further out are spread out and generally require a vehicle or public transport. West Anchorage includes the airport and residential areas, while East Anchorage is mostly residential with little of interest to visitors except the universities, hospitals, and the Alaska Native Heritage Center at the northeastern corner. The Hillside area of South Anchorage is entirely residential and sits below the immense Chugach State Park, which offers easily accessible hiking.
Public Buses: The People Mover
Anchorage's public bus system is called the People Mover. It connects the airport with the downtown Transit Center, which is located on 6th Avenue between H and G Streets. Route #40 serves both the North and South terminals of the airport, running roughly every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on evenings and weekends. The downtown Transit Center is the hub of the network and a useful starting point for reaching other parts of the city.
For visitors relying on the bus, the People Mover is the primary form of public transport in Anchorage. Tickets and passes can be purchased, and the system is a practical option for getting between the airport, downtown, and other served areas. Because the city is spread out, it is worth checking routes and schedules in advance to make sure your destination is served.
Rail: The Alaska Railroad
Anchorage has no metro, tram, or light rail network. The rail service in the city is the Alaska Railroad, which runs from Seward through Anchorage, Denali, and Fairbanks to North Pole, with spurs to Whittier and formerly Palmer. The railroad is famous for its summertime passenger services and also plays a vital role in moving Alaska's natural resources, primarily coal, to ports in Anchorage, Whittier, and Seward. There are no passenger connections to Canada via Via Rail or to the lower 48 via Amtrak.
The Alaska Railroad Depot is located downtown at 411 West 1st Avenue. For visitors, the railroad is primarily a way to travel between Alaskan destinations rather than a means of getting around within Anchorage itself.
Taxis, Shuttles, and Ride-Hailing
Taxis, shuttles, and rental cars are available for reaching the city from the airport. Ride-hailing services also operate in Anchorage, though the source material specifically notes taxis, shuttles, and rental cars as the airport options. For getting around the city more generally, taxis and ride-hailing are useful for trips that are not well served by the bus network or for times when walking is impractical.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) is the main airport serving the city. It has two terminals: the South Terminal, which handles domestic flights and most major airlines including Alaska Airlines, and the North Terminal, which handles international arrivals and departures. A shuttle bus runs approximately every 15 minutes between the North and South terminals. There are visitor information centers in both terminals, and the main visitor center is downtown at 4th Avenue and F Street.
To get from the airport into the city, visitors have several options. Route #40 of the People Mover bus system serves both the North and South terminals and connects to the downtown Transit Center. Taxis, shuttles, and rental cars are also available. The airport is located southwest of downtown, so the trip into the city is relatively short by vehicle.
Arriving by Train, Bus, or Boat
For those arriving in Anchorage by other means, the Alaska Railroad Depot is downtown at 411 West 1st Avenue. Interior Alaska Bus Line provides year-round service on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between Tok and Anchorage, with stops along the way including Glennallen and Palmer. Trips depart from Tok in the morning and return in the afternoon, and reservations are recommended in advance with some flexibility in your schedule, as buses may be rescheduled based on demand.
By boat, the Port of Anchorage is mainly a cargo port, and because of shallow inlet conditions and powerful tides, only one large cruise ship regularly calls there in summer. Cruise passengers are shuttled from the dock to the downtown mall rather than walking through the port. The vast majority of large cruise ships instead stop at Seward or Whittier, both further from Anchorage, and many cruise lines provide transportation from those terminals to Anchorage.
Practical Tips
- Downtown Anchorage is compact and walkable; most other areas of the city are spread out and better reached by bus, taxi, or car.
- The People Mover bus system connects the airport to the downtown Transit Center via Route #40, with frequent weekday service and less frequent evening and weekend service.
- Tickets and passes for the People Mover can be purchased for travel around the city.
- Taxis, shuttles, and rental cars are available for direct trips into the city.
- The Alaska Railroad Depot is downtown and serves the Alaska Railroad's passenger routes, but there is no metro, tram, or light rail in Anchorage.
- If you plan to drive around the state after flying in, The Milepost is a widely regarded road guide for western Canada and Alaska, and it can often be found at local Costcos or Wal-Marts for about half the list price.