WHERE IS WHITTIER, ALASKA?
Prince William Sound
Located in South-Central Alaska, Whittier is the Gateway to Prince William Sound, connecting supplies through Whittier’s Port to Interior Alaska. Local Alaskans use Whittier as their basecamp to adventure on the calm waters of the Sound. With five species of salmon and more varieties of fresh seafood available, Whittier is where you’ll find the “catch of the day” down on the dock or in the restaurants all summer long. The Alaska Railroad is a major player in Whittier as the Port of Whittier serves as one of the main supply lines in South-Central Alaska, where goods arrive in Alaska on barges that transfer their containers to the Alaska Railroad, which carries everything to Anchorage, Fairbanks, and beyond.
Phillips Cruises and Tours operates glacier cruises from the Cliffside Marina in Whittier at 100 West Camp Road, Whittier, Alaska.
Getting to Whittier
Whether you travel by car, coach, or rail to Whittier, the views are spectacular as you head south of Anchorage along the scenic Seward Highway. Coach and rail services connect seamlessly from Anchorage and Girdwood to our cruises departing from Whittier.
Allow 1.5 hours to drive from Anchorage to Whittier on the Seward Highway. Near Milepost 79, you will pass the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center on your right. You will make a left turn onto the Whittier – Portage Glacier Road in a very short distance. Continue for approximately 10 minutes toward the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel.
Summer road construction may cause travel delays. Plan extra time, and please drive safely.
Driving Details To Whittier From | Drive Time | Distance |
Palmer / Wasilla | 2.25 hrs | 102 miles / 164 km |
Anchorage | 1.5 hrs | 63 miles / 97 km |
Alyeska Resort / Girdwood | 45 min | 24 miles / 38 km |
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center | 25 min | 12 miles / 19 km |
Cooper Landing | 1.5 hrs | 65 miles / 104 km |
Seward | 1.75 hrs | 89 miles / 143 km |
Kenai / Soldotna | 2.5 hrs | 121 miles / 194 km |
Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel
Every guest coming to Whittier will travel through North America’s longest shared rail and car tunnel, which operates on a timed schedule allowing one-way traffic through the tunnel. A round-trip fee is collected when vehicles go to Whittier. The tunnel to access Whittier is open 30 minutes past the hour. The tunnel is open on the hour when leaving Whittier. Details available online at www.dot.state.ak.us/creg/whittiertunnel.
- 10:30 AM Tunnel for 26 Glacier Cruise
- 11:30 AM Tunnel for Glacier Quest Cruise
Please note cell phone service is very limited once you turn off the Seward Highway at Mile 79 onto the Portage Glacier Road. We strongly recommend that you download our ”Know Before You Go” document so you have driving directions and details on where to find us once in Whittier.
Whittier Departure Location
Phillips Cruises & Tours, LLC ticket office and boarding area is located at Cliffside Marina, approximately one mile after exiting the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. Our ticket office is recognizable by the red roof with a big yellow triangle sign on it.
Summer Hours (May 3 – October 5, 2025)
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Open daily during cruise operations.
The office will be open for a short time after the cruise returns for guests to collect any checked luggage.
Reservations
Directions
Cliffside Marina100 West Camp Road
Whittier, Alaska 99693
Anchorage Reservations Office
Our cruise experts are here to help you book your glacier cruise. We looking forward to helping you finalize your reservation.
Summer Hours (May – October)
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM | Daily
Winter Hours (October – April)
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Monday – Friday
1-907-276-8023 – Local
1-800-544-0529 – Toll-Free
Anchorage, Alaska 99501