Anchorage Transport

Anchorage is a fairly small, compact city and transport around the city tends to be focused on the roads, with buses and taxis offering alternatives to self-drive. In addition, there are a number of air-taxi companies providing scenic trips of the city and its surrounds.

By bus

The municipal Anchorage People Mover covers the entire Anchorage area and is a good way to get around. Information and schedules are available from the central bus station at 6th Avenue and G Street. There is a fixed one-way price for all trips, with discounts available for children and students.

The Municipality of Anchorage also organises a car sharing system, whereby you can register and find other people travelling a similar route. This service is most useful for people living in the city or people travelling the same route every day for a period of time.

Taxis

There are plenty of taxis available in Anchorage, but hailing one on the street is not common. It is more usual to phone for a taxi in advance, allowing at least 20 minutes for the taxi to arrive during the morning and evening rush hours. Hotels or restaurants will usually be happy to arrange a taxi for you. Alaska Cab company have facilities for passengers in wheelchairs and Borealis Shuttle has lower rates for shared taxis.

By air

Due to its size, Alaska has six times more pilots per capita than the rest of the United States therefore flight tours for tourists are quite popular here. There are a number of air-taxi companies based in Anchorage who can organise scenic flights over Anchorage and its surrounding area. Costs vary according to the length of time in the air and the type of plane.

It is also possible to take a helicopter tour, and ERA Helicopters offer a 50-minute trip over Anchorage and the Chugach Mountains. Some of the air-tour companies can organise trips to remote lake cabins for short stays and fishing trips.

Tourist services

There are a number of companies that provide bus tours of the Anchorage area for tourists. The City Trolley Tour is a good introduction and lasts just 1 hour, taking you from downtown Anchorage to Earthquake Park and Cook Inlet. There are also longer tours available such as Gray Line’s city tour, which last about 3 hours and includes a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Centre.

From the airport

The airport is located just four miles outside of the city, therefore transport between the city and the air hub is simple and quick to use. The city’s bus service has regular buses to and from the airport, running from 06:00 to 23:00, and there are also plenty of taxis available for the ride. For taxis to the airport from the city, you will need to reserve one in advance, as hailing taxis on the street is not common practice in Anchorage. The airport is a short drive from the city and there are plenty of parking spaces available at the airport for those who wish to drive.