Is Whittier Worth Visiting? 7 Reasons to Go
Whittier is one of the strangest towns we visited in Alaska and absolutely worth a stop. We almost skipped it in favor of Seward, but since we decided against kayaking in Kenai Fjords National Park, we made the drive to Whittier and kayaked in Prince William Sound instead.
Whittier is not a destination where you’ll spend several days, but it makes for a great day trip from Anchorage or a great addition to an Alaska road trip.
Why Visit Whittier
When I was putting together our Alaska itinerary, I went back and forth on whether to add a stop in Whittier. Now I’m glad we did, but at the time I kept asking myself: what is there to do in Whittier and is it actually worth it?
Well, not only is Whittier one of the most unusual towns in Alaska but it’s also a very unique road trip stop and one that many skip entirely.
The only way to reach Whittier by land is through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, a one-lane tunnel that literally cuts through the Chugach Mountains to connect Whittier with the rest of Alaska. The tunnel operates on a timed schedule and requires a toll, but once you emerge on the other side, it feels like you’ve entered a completely different corner of Alaska.
Despite being a small town, Whittier is surrounded by glaciers, fjords and waterfalls. The most fascinating fact about Whittier is that most of its residents live in a single building called Begich Towers.
Whittier felt a lot more authentic than anywhere else we visited in Alaska. Whether you’re planning a day trip from Anchorage or stopping here on an Alaska road trip, I’d strongly recommend finding time to visit Whittier.
How to Get to Whittier
Getting to Whittier is part of the reason you should visit it. Unlike most Alaska towns, Whittier can only be reached by boat or through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel.
By Car, RV or Train
We drove our RV through the one-lane tunnel, which cuts through the Chugach Mountains between Portage Valley and Prince William Sound. If you’re driving from Anchorage to Whittier, expect to be on the road for about 1.5 to 2 hours. You’ll drive along the Seward Highway, following Turnagain Arm before reaching the tunnel.
The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel operates on a timed schedule and is shared by both cars and trains. So if you don’t want to wait long before you can drive through, you should check the tunnel schedule in advance.
Fun fact, the tunnel is the longest highway tunnel in North America despite it only being 4 km (2.5 miles) long.
In summer, you can also visit Whittier by train via the Alaska Railroad. If you’re visiting Alaska without a car the train ride is a great alternative.
By Boat
You can also access Whittier by boat. We initially considered this route from Valdez, but the high costs of boarding an RV made it impractical. That said, getting to Whittier by boat is worth considering if you’re driving an SUV or travelling light.
How Much Time to Spend in Whittier
Whittier is a very small town in Alaska. You could walk from one end to the other in under 30 minutes. But planning a full day gives you the opportunity to check out some local wildlife, go on a short hike or stop at local restaurants.
We spent a full day in Whittier and decided to kayak in Prince William Sound. This alone was one of the highlights on our Alaska road trip. But you can also choose a glacier cruise or a fishing trip.
Personally, I think that for most visitors 1 day in Whittier is more than enough. But if you’d rather have more time to relax and do multiple activities, staying overnight in Whittier is worth considering.
7 Reasons to Visit Whittier
1. Gateway to Prince William Sound
One of the main reasons to visit Whittier is that it’s the main gateway to Prince William Sound, which gives access to fjords, glaciers and remote areas of Alaska.
In Whittier, you can experience Prince William Sound either on a boat tour or kayaking trip.
2. Great for Kayaking
In Whittier, there are multiple guided sea kayaking tours ranging from a few hours to multi-day trips. We booked a full-day trip with Alaska Sea Kayakers and it ended up being one of the best decisions of our entire Alaska trip.
It’s less visited than kayaking in Kenai Fjords National Park, but wildlife sightings are just as breathtaking. On our September paddle, we spotted several sea otters, a group of four Steller sea lions and salmon pushing upstream to spawn. Not a bad day on the water.
The waters of Prince William Sound are calm and sheltered from the open Gulf of Alaska, making it an ideal kayaking destination for beginners.
For anyone visiting Whittier, kayaking in Prince William Sound is the one activity I’d recommend above everything else.
3. Tunnel Drive is an Experience on its Own
The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel is one of the key attractions in Whittier. It’s the longest vehicle and railroad tunnel in North America and the only way to reach Whittier by land.
When you emerge on the other side of the tunnel, you’re suddenly facing the ocean, the glacier and fjords.
4. See Glaciers & Wildlife Close
If you take a boat tour or go on a kayaking trip in Whittier, on a clear day you’ll get the chance to see the Blackstone Glacier. This is the best-known glacier in Prince William Sound and watching it peak over the ocean was one of the highlights of our trip in Alaska.
We also happened to be there during salmon spawning season in September. On top of it, four sea lions swam right past our kayaks, we spotted several sea otters and eagles flew overhead the entire time.
5. The Building Where Everyone Lives
Not only is Whittier one of the most remote towns in Alaska but most of its residents live under the same roof, the Begich Towers. The building actually functions as a small city itself, housing Whittier’s post office, grocery store, police station and various local shops.
6. Less Crowded than Other Parts of Alaska
Compared to other famous attractions in Alaska such as Denali National Park or Kenai Fjords National Park, Whittier is a lot quieter.
The only time you can expect to find more crowds in Whittier is when cruise ships arrive. But generally it’s not a heavily visited area, making it ideal for a relaxed Alaska trip.
7. Perfect Stop on an Alaska Road Trip
Whittier turned out to be one of the best additions to our Alaska road trip itinerary. It was one of the few days we drove the least. Instead of covering miles, we spent the day on the water.
We drove to Whittier after a boat tour in Kenai Fjords National Park, then continued north toward Anchorage. It fit naturally into our route and never felt like a detour.
Is Whittier better than Seward?
It’s hard to compare two towns that are equally worth a visit in Alaska. But if you only have time for one place, the decision comes down to what you want to experience.
Seward is the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park and can offer a complete experience of boat tour, glacier hikes and wildlife sightings. Whittier, on the other hand is better as a day trip and unusual stop in Alaska.
You should choose Seward if your goal is to visit Kenai Fjords and its scenic landscapes. But if you’ve already done so, Whittier is a lot more remote and unique as you can only access the town through the Anton Anderson Tunnel.
We decided to visit both Seward and Whittier, mainly because the kayaking trip in Kenai Fjords was not available at the time of our visit. Luckily so, I’d like to add. This way we had the perfect excuse to drive to Whittier and experience the glaciers from Prince William Sound.
So, Should You Visit Whittier?
Whittier is worth visiting as a day trip. In the broad scheme of things, the town itself is nothing special but getting to Whittier through the Anton Anderson Tunnel is very unique. What I liked especially was the sudden transition into a coastal community where most of the people live in one single building.
I strongly recommend taking a kayaking trip in Whittier to see the glaciers and the mountains from the water. When we did it in September, we happened to witness the Prince William Sound salmon migration. Around this time of the year, salmon return from the ocean to their freshwater spawning grounds where they lay down eggs and eventually die. For as sad as it sounds, it’s part of their natural life cycle and is a key important aspect of our ecosystem.
As salmon swim upstream, you can often spot bears feed on them. Unfortunately, we were quite late in the season and didn’t spot any.
