Flying to Ketchikan is not difficult, but it does work a little differently than many first-time visitors expect. That is part of what makes it helpful to think through your travel day before you book. A few details that might seem small at first can have a real impact on how smooth your arrival and departure feel, especially if this is your first trip to Southeast Alaska.
For travelers planning their first visit, here are some of the most useful things to know before booking flights, mapping out arrival day, or deciding where to stay.
This is one of the first things that surprises visitors. Ketchikan International Airport is not in town itself, which means getting to your hotel includes one extra step after your flight lands.
That does not make the process difficult, but it does make Ketchikan feel a little different from destinations where you simply land, grab your bags, and drive straight into town. It is worth knowing that ahead of time so your arrival day feels straightforward rather than confusing.
The good news is that the Ketchikan airport ferry is easy to use once you understand the timing. On the quarter hour, at :15 and :45, the ferry departs Ketchikan for the airport. On the half hour, at :00 and :30, it departs the airport for Ketchikan. That gives travelers a predictable schedule to work around, which makes arrival and departure feel much more straightforward once you know how it works.
Even though the crossing itself is short, it is still an important part of the trip to keep in mind when planning your travel day. Guests staying at The Landing Hotel also have the added convenience of a courtesy shuttle to help with airport ferry drop-off and pick-up, which can make the process even easier.
This is one of those small details that is easy to overlook, but it can save you money if you know it ahead of time. Passenger fare on the airport ferry is $6.00 per person, and tickets can be purchased on the airport side just after exiting the ferry or while boarding. The important part is that if you pay for a one-way passenger fare and keep your receipt, you do not have to pay again for your same-day return trip.
This detail doesn’t matter for every traveler, but it is a useful thing to know if your plans include going back across later that same day. It is a simple detail, but the kind that makes Ketchikan travel days feel easier when you already understand how the system works.
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For many travelers, the main route into Ketchikan is a direct flight from Seattle. The flight is relatively short, at about 1 hour and 45 minutes, which often surprises people who assume getting to Southeast Alaska is a bigger travel day than it really is.
On clear days, that flight can feel like a value-add to the trip itself. The views on the way in can be incredibly scenic, with the kind of landscape that makes Southeast Alaska feel different right from the start. Mountains, coastline, and water all come together in a way that can make the flight feel a little like a preview of the destination before you even land.
In many destinations, hotel location is mostly about what you want to be near during the trip. In Ketchikan, it also affects how easy your arrival and departure days feel.
That is one reason The Landing makes so much sense as a base. Its location near the airport ferry area and ferry terminals helps cut down on extra movement at the start and end of the trip. For travelers arriving in a place that already works a little differently than expected, that kind of convenience can make a noticeable difference.
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Flying to Ketchikan is not hard, but it is the kind of destination where a little planning goes a long way. Understanding how arrival works, thinking a bit more carefully about flight timing, and choosing a hotel location that makes the logistics easier can all help the trip start and end more smoothly.
If you are planning a stay in Ketchikan, The Landing is a particularly convenient choice. Its location near the ferry terminals and airport ferry area makes travel days simpler, while still giving guests an easy base for the rest of their time in town.
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