Whittier….car rental help and excursion suggestions please - for Sept 2023.

[squeezles1]

In Sep 2023 we are doing a B2B Alaskan cruise, that gives us a long stay in Whittier (on the turnaround day). 

The ship only offers “transfer excursions” to Anchorage without a return ride back to Whittier, (probably because there are very few intransit passengers).

Looking for info on car rental possibilities in Whittier, as our first choice. Second choice would be any sightseeing land excursion opportunities that go up to Anchorage and back to Whittier.

Thanks for your input!

[cw2go]

Was there anything in particular that you wanted in Anchorage?

 

A fantastic way to spend your day is The 26 Glacier Cruise w/Philips 

 

 

Patty 

[AKStafford]

Avis is the only car rental in Whittier: https://www.avisalaska.com/locations/whittier/

 

Other options would be spending the day on a 26 Glacier cruise with Phillips Cruises: https://phillipscruises.com/26-glacier-cruise/  

Here's our pictures from our last time:  http://akstafford.blogspot.com/2021/08/glaciers-7-31-2021.html

 

Or joining the Alaska Railroad on their Glacier Discovery train to either Spencer or Grandview:

http://akstafford.blogspot.com/2019/07/grandview-on-alaska-railroad.html

http://akstafford.blogspot.com/2017/08/spencer-glacier-via-alaska-railroad.html

https://www.alaskarailroad.com/ride-a-train/our-trains/glacier-discovery

[squeezles1]

Thank you…all good options.

[Glaciers]

We did a b2b on the Royal last year and the ship was only about ½ full with 700 doing a b2b. Seems they could throw an excursion out there for those folks in Whittier. There’s certainly enough.

 

Both the 26 Glacier Cruise and the Glacier Discover are great options. You can also do a rafting excursion as part of the Spencer Whistle Stop. 

https://alaskanrafting.com/product/spencer-iceberg-placer-river-float/

 

If you end of staying in Whittier you could also do the Portage Pass Trail hike. You don’t need to go all the way to Portage Glacier. Just going to the top of the pass gives you spectacular views of the glacier on one side and Whittier and Passage Canal on the other.  Lunch at the Swiftwater Café.

[squeezles1]

2 hours ago, AKStafford said:

Avis is the only car rental in Whittier: https://www.avisalaska.com/locations/whittier/

 

Other options would be spending the day on a 26 Glacier cruise with Phillips Cruises: https://phillipscruises.com/26-glacier-cruise/  

Here's our pictures from our last time:  http://akstafford.blogspot.com/2021/08/glaciers-7-31-2021.html

 

Or joining the Alaska Railroad on their Glacier Discovery train to either Spencer or Grandview:

http://akstafford.blogspot.com/2019/07/grandview-on-alaska-railroad.html

http://akstafford.blogspot.com/2017/08/spencer-glacier-via-alaska-railroad.html

https://www.alaskarailroad.com/ride-a-train/our-trains/glacier-discovery

I really enjoyed your blogs! Very well done. Thx for sharing.

 

I do need to research further…from your experience - does the Alaska Railway - Glacier Discovery train offer a one day round trip - Whittier to Whittier? 
We do have a very long port stay in Whittier.

Thanks!!

[squeezles1]

I did research the Alaska Railroad - Glacier Discovery train route online, but the only departure time from Whittier is early evening (6:45 pm) so that time does not work, as does not allow for a return day.
I’m not quite giving up, I will call the company tomorrow (closed now) and see if they have a suggestion.

 

A car rental or the 26 Glacier Boat trip may be our other options, if the train is not possible.

 

Thx everyone….these suggestions are super helpful!! Any other suggestions…?

[Glaciers]

1 hour ago, squeezles1 said:

I did research the Alaska Railroad - Glacier Discovery train route online, but the only departure time from Whittier is early evening (6:45 pm) so that time does not work, as does not allow for a return day.
I’m not quite giving up, I will call the company tomorrow (closed now) and see if they have a suggestion.

You are late in the season but it looks like the last day of the full route of the Glacier Discovery Train is September 17. The Glacier Discovery train departs Whittier at 12:45pm and returns at 6:05pm.

https://www.alaskarailroad.com/ride-a-train/schedules

[GTJ]

2 hours ago, squeezles1 said:

I did research the Alaska Railroad - Glacier Discovery train route online, but the only departure time from Whittier is early evening (6:45 pm) so that time does not work, as does not allow for a return day.

You did your research correctly. The railroad is practicable as a day excursion only if you're looking to do a sightseeing trip from Whittier to points south and return, and it simply does not work for a day in Anchorage. It is possible to travel from Whittier to Anchorage and return by bus, but because the bus schedule is sparse the practicability is borderline. The earliest bus from Whittier to Anchorage is operated by Alaska Cruise Transportation, departing Whittier on cruise vessel days at 8:45 a.m., and arriving in downtown Anchorage at 11:00 a.m. (stopping at several hotels between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.). The last return bus from Anchorage to Whittier is the Park Connection service, departing from the Dena'ina civic center in downtown Anchorage at 3:00 p.m., arriving back in Whittier at 4:45 p.m. Thus, this schedule would give you, at most, four hours in downtown Anchorage, less time required for logistics with the downtown Anchorage bus stops.

 

If you choose to use rental car, don't forget that you're also going to have to drive on a timetable. The tunnel out of, and back into, Whittier is open only for 15 minutes every hour, so you would need to plan your driving around the tunnel timetable.

[squeezles1]

Thank you for that very useful info! Appreciate your post…..very helpful indeed. And we are there on Sept 17th….looks like the last day of train service for the season.

[AKStafford]

As mentioned, the Glacier Discovery train will not get you to Anchorage. It will take you south of Whittier and return.

[squeezles1]

1 hour ago, Glaciers said:

You are late in the season but it looks like the last day of the full route of the Glacier Discovery Train is September 17. The Glacier Discovery train departs Whittier at 12:45pm and returns at 6:05pm.

https://www.alaskarailroad.com/ride-a-train/schedules

Yes, we are there on Sept 17th, the last day of full train service. The train times you mentioned do not allow much time to sightsee Anchorage…will likely go with plan B and rent a car. The route to Anchorage sounds very scenic.

We do have a very long stay in Whittier (arrive at 1 am and depart at 8 pm). Most passengers will be departing in Whittier (turnaround day). We will be intransit passengers.

We will keep in mind the tunnel waits re car rental.

Appreciate your post. Thank you kindly!

[squeezles1]

7 hours ago, cw2go said:

Was there anything in particular that you wanted in Anchorage?

 

A fantastic way to spend your day is The 26 Glacier Cruise w/Philips 

 

 

Patty 

Thx Patty. We have added this “26 Glacier Cruise”:to our Whittier excursion choices “list”. It looks like a really good tour! Thx for your post.

[Glaciers]

My bad. I was sending you south to the glacier rather than north to Anchorage.

[squeezles1]

4 hours ago, Glaciers said:

We did a b2b on the Royal last year and the ship was only about ½ full with 700 doing a b2b. Seems they could throw an excursion out there for those folks in Whittier. There’s certainly enough.

 

 

Both the 26 Glacier Cruise and the Glacier Discover are great options. You can also do a rafting excursion as part of the Spencer Whistle Stop. 

https://alaskanrafting.com/product/spencer-iceberg-placer-river-float/

 

 

If you end of staying in Whittier you could also do the Portage Pass Trail hike. You don’t need to go all the way to Portage Glacier. Just going to the top of the pass gives you spectacular views of the glacier on one side and Whittier and Passage Canal on the other.  Lunch at the Swiftwater Café.

Thx for your suggestions. Very helpful! 

[squeezles1]

Just now, Glaciers said:

My bad. I was sending you south to the glacier rather than north to Anchorage.

No worries!

[thistledoo]

9 hours ago, Glaciers said:

You are late in the season but it looks like the last day of the full route of the Glacier Discovery Train is September 17. The Glacier Discovery train departs Whittier at 12:45pm and returns at 6:05pm.

https://www.alaskarailroad.com/ride-a-train/schedules

We will be in Whittier on the 16th, and really like the look of that train trip.   The lunchtime departure would allow us to first have a look around Whittier in the morning.

[HalfWhit]

We didn't go to Whittier last year, but we did rent a car in Anchorage from Turo. Super easy and cheap and our renter was really helpful. They left great instructions and left the car in an easy place for us to get to. 

[squeezles1]

On 4/17/2023 at 8:44 AM, HalfWhit said:

We didn't go to Whittier last year, but we did rent a car in Anchorage from Turo. Super easy and cheap and our renter was really helpful. They left great instructions and left the car in an easy place for us to get to. 

Thx….Turo is an option….but zero Turo cars in Whittier…..a few in Anchorage. It is an extra $75 to bring a Turo car down to Whittier for us, and likely same charge for owner to take the car back.
So Avis, even at $275 a day US, is looking a smidge cheaper.

Also, unsure on insurance re Turo…we have not used them before.

Car rentals are EXPENSIVE in Alaska!
Thx for the tip!!

[AKJonesy]

Don't forget if you rent a car in Whittier, you have to pay to go through the tunnel as well.  The toll info is on the right hand side after you go to the DOT link for schedules and hours, and some other useful information on this page:  https://www.whittieralaska.gov/visiting/

https://dot.alaska.gov/creg/whittiertunnel/schedule.shtml