Getting to & Around Gustavus, Alaska

To get to Gustavus, Alaska, you have 2 basic choices of transportion: Plane or boat.

Air options include the only jet service that regularly schedules flights into town (during the summer months only) - Alaska Airlines- as well as a few year round air taxi services and of course the many Charter planes that service the area.

There are also a few options via Charter boat.

Since Gustavus is a peninsula, with Glacier Bay National Park surrounding the town from the landside, THERE ARE NO ROADS THAT WILL GET YOU HERE. That's part of the magic of this community...

There is, however, a small and simple "road system" in Gustavus- roughly 20 miles in total. It basically consists of one main road that goes from the airport to the lodge headquarters at Bartlett Cove in Glacier Bay park, with several smaller roads branching off. The main road is paved, and the rest of all the connecting roads dirt and gravel.

See our Gustavus map for details!

By Jet

The only large carrier (aka: jet) that flys to Gustavus DIRECT is Alaska Airlines.

They only fly their jets for a few select months during the summer, (roughly from early June to late August), so advance ticketing is suggested. You can get the best deals with a minimum of a two-week notice.

For information regarding Alaska Airlines reservations and information, call: (800) ALASKAAIR (1-800-252-7522), or visit their website: Alaskaair.com.

Gustavus.com highly recommends trying our Booking Wiz flight comparison tool to save money on your flight to Alaska!

Charter Plane Services

The choices of air charters and services that provide regularly scheduled year round flights to Gustavus and the surrounding area, are listed below.

Most operators are based out of Juneau, however some companies offer flights from various other Southeast Alaskan towns such as Ketchikan, Sitka, Haines, Skagway and Hoonah.

Many of these air charter companies also provide various other flight related services in the area such as FLIGHTSEEING TOURS around Glacier Bay National Park, float charters, freight transport, and various other adventure tour charters (for example: for skiers, rafters, climbers, and hunters), as well as making beach, lake, and/or glacial landings available upon request and where possible.

Fjord Flying Service

P.O. Box 48 - Gustavus, Alaska 99826
Phone: (907) 697-2377 in Gustavus,
or make reservations toll free: 1(877) 460-2377

E-Mail & Reservations

Comfortable, high wing Cessna 206, providing passenger service, charters and tours in Southeast Alaska. Local service, custom charters, and flightseeing tours of Glacier bay and Juneau icefield. Frequent flights to Juneau, Hoonah, Skagway, Sitka, and Haines.

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More Charter Flight Operators for the Area...

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By Boat

An interesting alternative to flying to Gustavus if you have the time (and money) is to travel by boat...

In addition to the ferry service running to Gustavus, (see details below), these boating alternatives come in the form of "custom charters".

Although Juneau is not a normal charter route for most of the boats in Gustavus, some of them may be willing to work out a custom deal with you.

See the following links for charter boat companies: sportfishing charters, or Glacier Bay sightseeing & "tour"- related charters.

Ferry Service

After years of sporadic ferry service by various companies both private and commercial, as of summer 2011, Gustavus finally has regularly scheduled, dependable ferry service via the Alaska Marine Highway System.

The Marine Highway offers ferry service to the community of Gustavus in southeast Alaska, twice-weekly.

The services connect you to travel opportunities in Glacier Bay National Park. In addition, the Kennicott provides new cross-gulf service every other week as it travels between Bellingham, Washington., and Whittier, with stops in Ketchikan and Juneau.

Make easy connections via Juneau aboard the MV LeConte and explore some of the most spectacular scenery in Alaska.

Click to learn more & make reservations, or call toll free 1-800-642-0066.

FYI:
This state ferry service had been a long time coming to Gustavus, and is finally a reality due to the fact that the new ferry dock was completed in November, 2010. (after a long fought battle between residents who wanted it and those that didn't) .

Gustavus Visitors Association

P.O. Box 167 - Gustavus, Alaska 99826
E-Mail & Reservations

Gustavus is the Alaska Marine Highway System's newest destination.

Visit the Gustavus Visitors Association for more community information, advice, and ideas for traveling around the amazing Gustavus area!

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Getting Around Gustavus

Once you arrive in Gustavus, you'll need to get from the airport to wherever it is you're staying... Most of the lodges and guest houses will provide shuttle services to pick you up, provided they know when to expect you.

In the event that you arrive without having made arrangements with your lodge, then you have a few simple choices to make: Walk, hitchhike, or call a taxi. Taxi services are friendly and courteous and quite knowledgeable about the community.

After you're situated at wherever it is you're staying, getting around Gustavus is easy and fun. If you're feeling energetic, walking or bike riding FROM anyplace TO any place in Gustavus is possible. (In fact, most bikers describe the road system here as "biker heaven".) Its only a matter of a few miles to just about any business, with the exception of some lodges and Glacier Bay park, which is approximately 9 miles away, and most local businesses can provide you with an area map for your explorations.

You could also rent a car here, or call a taxi, but most guests just prefer to borrow a bike to get around town.... or put out your thumb.

Even if you are just out for a walk someone will most likely ask you if you want a ride..... Just don't forget to wave at everyone you pass. If you don't, they will know you aren't from Gustavus!

Taxis & Rental Cars