Whittier to Anchorage by car?

[antmintj]

We'll be renting a car in Anchorage & want to do a PWS tour from 1:00 to 5:30 out of Whittier & then return in Anchorage. Rental car needs to be returned no later than 8pm in Anchorage. So...

 

1. Does anyone know how long the drive is from Whittier to Anchorage?

 

2. Are there any really great places to eat breakfast/lunch/dinner along this route?

 

Thanks to all on these boards who give invaluable help to us independent travelers!!

[fti]

1. Does anyone know how long the drive is from Whittier to Anchorage?

 

Tunnel is only open on the top of the hour so you need to take the 6pm tunnel. You will barely get back to Anchorage by 8pm. Downtown or airport return?

 

2. Are there any really great places to eat breakfast/lunch/dinner along this route?

 

Forget dinner - you will be on a race to get back to Anchorage by 8pm. Eat once you get there.

 

Lunch can be in Whittier - there are a couple of places in town. If you take the 11.30am tunnel you are there by 11.45am or maybe noon if there are some delays. So that gives you 1 hour. Don't expect anything special - it is a very small town.

 

On your way to Whittier, a stop at the Begich Boggs (Portage Glacier) visitor center is worthwhile. Allow 1 hour or more with the visitor center and stopping on the road between the visitor center and the tunnel for photos of the glacier.

[Kerry&LuAnn]

Is the tunnel open one way on the top of the hour from Whittier to Anchorage and the half hour from Anchorage to Whittier? And for how long is the tunnel open... 15 minutes?

[ARRTrain]

Is the tunnel open one way on the top of the hour from Whittier to Anchorage and the half hour from Anchorage to Whittier? And for how long is the tunnel open... 15 minutes?

 

Correct - but is Whittier to Bear Valley and Bear Valley to Whittier.

 

The drive from Whittier to Anch. is about 1 hour.