Frequently Asked Questions
What time is it up there?
Alaska is so big it has its own time zone: Alaska Standard Time (AST). Alaska Standard Time is one hour behind Pacific Standard Time and four hours behind Eastern Standard Time. So, if it’s 1:00 p.m. in California, and 4:00 p.m. in New York City, it’s Noon in Alaska.
Do I need a passport to get to Alaska?
To fly or cruise into Alaska, no passport is needed. Alaska is in the United States of America. Alaska was the 49th state to enter the union, earning statehood in 1959. We use U.S. currency, and electrical outlets are the same as everywhere else in the U.S. (110 volts, 60 AC)
If you plan to drive to Alaska from Canada or the lower 48 states a passport is required for entry into the state.
Is it really cold and dark all winter long?
No. The least amount of functional daylight we get during the winter is seven hours and 35 minutes, and that occurs on Winter Solstice, usually around December 21. Anchorage gains daylight rapidly until Summer Solstice, which occurs around June 21 and we have nearly 24 hours of functional daylight.
Temperatures range from an average low of 20 F /-7 C in the winter, to an average high of nearly 70 F/18 C during the summer. Click here for local climate information.
Is Alaska really, really far away?
By air, Anchorage, Alaska is nearly three hours from Seattle, five hours from Los Angeles or Chicago, and eight hours from Washington D.C. Click here for information on traveling to Anchorage by air.
Can you rent "regular" cars or do they have to be 4-wheel drive? Do you need chains in the winter?
Rental cars are available year round. You have the same options as in the Continental U.S. Four-wheel drive vehicles are not required in Anchorage, regardless of season and chains are not required in the winter. During the winter, Anchorage-area roads are plowed on a regular basis. Click here for information on getting around Anchorage.
How far away is Denali (Mt. McKinley)?
Mt. McKinley, or Denali, as it is called, is 237 road miles away (381km); about four hours by car, or you can board a small aircraft and head for McKinley, take a flightseeing trip around North America’s highest peak and be back in Anchorage in three hours. Click here for information on scenic drives.
Will I have to sleep in an igloo?
No. There aren’t any igloos in Anchorage. However, we have plenty of first class hotel rooms and suites, plus lodge and resort properties, and plenty of B&Bs. Click here for information about accommodations.
I know Alaska's beautiful, scenic, and has lots of wilderness but what's the nightlife like?
Part of the beauty of Anchorage is its easy access to Alaska’s wilderness and the access to some of the state’s best restaurants, brewpubs and nightclubs. You can spend the day trekking through a glacial valley and be back in time for a first class meal and a night out on the town. And don’t forget Anchorage’s art scene. There’s great public art, Native art, concerts, symphony and galleries. Looking for dining and nightlife? click here. For information on Alaska's Native culture click here. For a list of Anchorage events click here
How do I get to/from Whittier or Seward? (pronounced Sue*ward--A major port of call in Alaska)
Seward is about 2 1/2 hours south of Anchorage, and is a beautiful drive along the Seward Highway, which has been designated as an All-American Road, an Alaska Scenic Byway, and US Forest Service Byway. There are many transportation options to/from Seward including scheduled or chartered bus service, motorcoach, rental car (seasonal), and the Alaska Railroad. Click here on ways to get to Seward and Whittier.
I have heard that the black flies and mosquitoes are just awful up in Alaska!
We’ve heard the myth: the mosquito is Alaska’s official state bird. Well, it’s not true. In Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska, the large tidal changes (second largest in North America) don’t allow for a lot of standing water, and although there are lots of trees, there are also a lot of open areas, urban areas, and above-tree line tundra areas. We just don’t have a big problem. We still recommend you wear a bug repellent, but we promise a mythical, king-sized mosquito will not carry you away.
Can you see the northern lights from Anchorage?
Yes. The best time to see the northern lights, or “aurora borealis” is during a cold, clear winter night. Many of the area hotels have a “northern lights wake up call” and if you indicate that you want to be awakened, they will call your room if the lights are dancing in the night sky.
See the northern lights this summer at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts - Sydney Laurence Theatre. A must-see Alaska presentation.
Are there Transportation businesses with accessibility and lifts for wheel chairs?
- Alaska Explorer Motorcoach 907-272-2211
- Premier Alaska Tours 888-486-8725
- Princess Tours 800-426-0500
- Go Purple Shuttle Tour 877-477-6250
Please call these companies for more information.
