Getting to Ketchikan
No road reaches Ketchikan: you arrive by ship, plane or ferry.
By Greg Peters, editor · Updated October 2026
New to Ketchikan? Our cruise port guide covers the docks, walking times, the town bus and getting back on time.
Cruise ships in port
No road in
Ketchikan isn't on the road system: visitors arrive by sea or by air, and the island's roads run only north and south of town. Travel Alaska
By cruise ship
Most ships tie up at the four city berths on the downtown waterfront, numbered 1 to 4 from south to north, a short flat walk from Creek Street. Some calls use the private dock at Ward Cove, about eight miles north, where buses and a water shuttle run into town. In 2026 Ketchikan expected more than 1.6 million cruise passengers. Our cruise port guide covers each berth.
By air
Ketchikan International Airport is on Gravina Island across Tongass Narrows, with no bridge. The borough's airport ferry crosses in about five minutes, leaving the town side at :15 and :45; one-way fares are $6 for adults and $7 for a car. Alaska Airlines flies to Seattle in about 90 minutes and to Juneau, Sitka and Wrangell. Visit Ketchikan
By ferry
Alaska Marine Highway ferries use the terminal at 3501 Tongass Avenue, about 2 miles north of downtown. Ketchikan is the first Alaska stop on the route from Bellingham, Washington (about 36 hours) and Prince Rupert, British Columbia (about 6 hours). Take a city bus or taxi into town.
Weather
Bring a rain jacket. The airport averages about 150 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals), with October the wettest month and June the driest. Summer highs average the low 60s °F. See weather for your dates.
Walking map: the berths and downtown Ketchikan
The four city berths run along Front Street, numbered 1 to 4 from south to north. Creek Street, the Tongass Historical Museum and the salmon ladder are a short walk south and east, and the Totem Heritage Center is about 15 to 20 minutes on foot or a free summer shuttle ride.
Map: USGS elevation; streets and buildings © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Ketchikan headlines
Local reporters cover the cruise season, city council decisions and weather on Revillagigedo Island. Check them a day or two before your ship calls.
- Ketchikan Daily News: the town's daily newspaper.
- KRBD: public radio for Ketchikan and southern Southeast Alaska, with an evening news report.
Questions visitors ask
Which berth is my ship at?
Your ship’s daily program names it. The four city berths, numbered 1 to 4 from south to north, line the downtown waterfront, and some ships use The Mill at Ward Cove, a private dock about eight miles north. A ship that anchors sends tenders to the floats at Berths 3 and 4. In Port Today will show berths once the 2027 schedule is published.
Is downtown walkable from the berths?
From Berths 1 to 3 it is a short, level walk, and Berth 4 is the longest walk of the four. Ward Cove is not walkable: take a tour bus, a borough bus or Allen Marine’s water shuttle, which takes about an hour.
Is there a free shuttle?
From May to September the borough runs a free loop between the cruise berths and Deermount Street, stopping at the Discovery Center, near the library and at the Totem Heritage Center. In early 2025 it came about every 15 minutes.
Where are the restrooms?
The Visitors Bureau centers at Berth 2 (open all year) and Berth 3 (summer ship days) have public restrooms and free maps. Creek Street had no public restroom as of spring 2026, so stop before you go.
Where does the ship schedule come from?
From the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska schedule for Ketchikan, which we add once the 2027 edition is out. Until then your cruise line has your berth and times.