Getting to Sitka
There is no road to Sitka: everyone arrives by ship, plane or state ferry.
By Greg Peters, editor · Updated October 2026
New to Sitka? Our cruise port guide covers the docks, walking times, the town bus and getting back on time.
Cruise ships in port
No road in
No highway reaches Sitka. It sits on the outer coast of Baranof Island, and everyone arrives by ship, by plane or on the state ferry. Visit Sitka
By cruise ship
Most big ships tie up at the privately owned Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal at 4513 Halibut Point Road, 5 to 6 miles north of downtown. A free shuttle runs into town every 10 to 15 minutes and stops at Harrigan Centennial Hall; since 2025 you reserve a seat at reservation.sitkadock.com. When a ship anchors instead, tenders land downtown at Crescent Harbor, beside Harrigan Hall, or by the O'Connell Bridge. For 2026 the city forecast 594,355 passengers on 326 calls. Our cruise port guide has the details.
By air
Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport is on Japonski Island, across the O'Connell Bridge and about a mile from downtown in a straight line. Alaska Airlines flies jets to Juneau, Ketchikan and, in season, Seattle; Alaska Seaplanes and Harbor Air fly smaller planes. Several hotels run airport shuttles, and there are taxis and rental cars. Visit Sitka
By ferry
Alaska Marine Highway ferries dock at 5307 Halibut Point Road, about 7 miles north of town, close to Old Sitka State Historical Park. Sitka Tours runs a shuttle to meet the ferry, and taxis wait too. Check the current sailings with the Alaska Marine Highway.
Weather
Pack a rain jacket. The airport averages about 84 inches of precipitation a year (1991-2020 normals); June is the driest month, and September and October are the wettest. Summer highs reach about 60°F. See weather for your dates.
Walking map: the shuttle stop and downtown Sitka
The free shuttle from the cruise terminal stops at Harrigan Centennial Hall on Harbor Drive, and tenders land at Crescent Harbor beside it. St. Michael's Cathedral and Castle Hill are a few minutes west along Lincoln Street, the Russian Bishop's House is a few minutes east, and the totem trail in Sitka National Historical Park is about 15 to 20 minutes on foot at the east end of the street.
Map: USGS elevation; streets and buildings © OpenStreetMap contributors.
What Sitka is talking about
Two local newsrooms keep track of Sitka: the weekday paper and the community radio station. Both are good for event listings and cruise-day changes.
- Daily Sitka Sentinel: an independent, family-owned paper published on weekdays.
- KCAW Raven Radio: Sitka's public radio station and its Raven News reports.
Questions visitors ask
Where will my ship dock?
Most large ships tie up at the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal, 5 to 6 miles north of town. When a ship anchors instead, tenders land downtown at Crescent Harbor or the O’Connell Bridge. Your ship’s daily program says which. In Port Today will show it once the 2027 schedule is out.
Can I walk to town from the cruise terminal?
Not sensibly. Take the free shuttle: buses loop every 10 to 15 minutes to Harrigan Centennial Hall downtown, and the ride takes about as long.
Do I need to reserve the shuttle?
Yes. Since 2025 a seat has to be booked at reservation.sitkadock.com. Riders without a booking wait on standby and board after reserved guests.
Is there a cap on cruise visitors?
No. In May 2025 voters rejected a ballot measure to cap cruise traffic, by about 73 percent. The city’s tourism manager forecast 594,355 passengers on 326 calls for 2026.
Where does the ship schedule come from?
From the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska schedule for Sitka. We add the 2027 edition when it is published; until then, your cruise line has your landing and times.