Alaska Glacier Tours - Whittier Tunnel Tips

Whittier Tunnel Tips

Driving from Anchorage to Whittier to play in Prince William Sound? You’ll go through Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel—the longest (2.5 miles) highway tunnel in North America, and the first designed for -40 F and 150 mph winds!

The one-lane tunnel must be shared by cars and trains traveling in both directions, and it usually needs to be aired out in between trips (with jet turbine ventilation, another first!).

Summer Schedule

To Whittier: Cars leave on the half hour, from 5:30am to 10:30pm.

From Whittier: Cars leave on the hour, from 6am to 11pm.

Arrive at least 10 minutes prior to tunnel opening. (Arriving earlier isn’t a waste; park in line, then get out of your car and soak in the scenery.)

Give yourself another 20 - 30 minutes to get through the tunnel. The drive is only 10 minutes, but the opening can be delayed, or there can be a line before you enter.

Making a cruise departure?

Allow a minimum of one hour to drive from Anchorage to Bear Valley, the tunnel terminus (the fastest I’ve ever made it is 50 minutes).

For early morning cruises (e.g. 9:00am), use the 7:30 - 7:45am tunnel opening into Whittier. (For true early birds, there are openings at 5:30 and 6:30am as well.)

For early afternoon cruises (e.g. 1 - 1:30pm), go for the 10:30 - 10:45 or 11:30 - 11:45am tunnel openings into Whittier.

The one-way toll for a private vehicle starts at $12.

Department of Transportation Schedule:

Summer Schedule
Effective May 1 through September 30
Tunnel is open 7 days a week from 5:30 am until 11:15 pm
Time	Direction
5:30 - 5:45 am	Bear Valley to Whittier
6:00 - 6:15 am	Whittier to Bear Valley
6:30 - 6:45 am *	Bear Valley to Whittier
7:00 - 7:15 am	Whittier to Bear Valley
7:30 - 7:45 am	Bear Valley to Whittier
8:00 - 8:15 am *	Whittier to Bear Valley
8:30 - 8:45 am	Bear Valley to Whittier
9:00 - 9:15 am	Whittier to Bear Valley
9:30 - 9:45 am	Bear Valley to Whittier
10:00 - 10:15 am	Whittier to Bear Valley
10:30 - 10:45 am	Bear Valley to Whittier
11:00 - 11:15 am	Whittier to Bear Valley
11:30 - 11:45 am	Bear Valley to Whittier
12:00 - 12:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
12:30 - 12:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
1:00 - 1:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
1:30 - 1:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
2:00 - 2:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
2:30 - 2:45 pm *	Bear Valley to Whittier
3:00 - 3:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
3:30 - 3:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
4:00 - 4:15 pm *	Whittier to Bear Valley
4:30 - 4:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
5:00 - 5:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
5:30 - 5:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
6:00 - 6:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
6:30 - 6:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
7:00 - 7:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
7:30 - 7:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
8:00 - 8:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
8:30 - 8:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
8:55 - 9:00 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
9:00 - 9:45 pm	Maintenance Closure
9:45 - 9:50 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
10:00 - 10:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
10:30 - 10:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
11:00 - 11:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
Schedule Notes:
* Oversize vehicles will be allowed in the tunnel only at these times Monday through Thursday. Please check the web page at www.dot.state.ak.us/creg/whittiertunnel for more detail on size limits and other restrictions.
Every effort has been made to minimize the impact of trains on traffic, however from time to time scheduled and unscheduled trains use the tunnel and an occasional 15 to 30 minute delay can be expected. Please allow extra time in planning your trip.
Motorcycle helmets must be worn in the tunnel, and convertible vehicles must have the top in place.
It is recommended that tunnel users be in the staging area at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled opening to help us facilitate their passage.

Winter 2008 - 2009 Schedule
Effective October 1, 2008 through April 30, 2009
Tunnel is open 7 days a week from 7:00 am until 10:45 pm. The gates are locked at 11:00 pm.
Time	Direction
7:00 - 7:15 am	Whittier to Bear Valley
7:30 - 7:45 am	Bear Valley to Whittier
8:00 - 8:15 am	Whittier to Bear Valley
8:30 - 8:45 am	Bear Valley to Whittier
9:00 - 9:15 am	Whittier to Bear Valley
9:30 - 9:45 am	Bear Valley to Whittier
10:00 - 10:15 am	Whittier to Bear Valley
10:30 - 10:45 am	Bear Valley to Whittier
11:00 - 11:15 am	Whittier to Bear Valley
11:30 - 11:45 am	Bear Valley to Whittier
12:00 - 12:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
12:30 - 12:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
1:00 - 1:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
1:30 - 1:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
2:00 - 2:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
2:30 - 2:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
3:00 - 3:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
3:30 - 3:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
4:00 - 4:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
4:30 - 4:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
5:00 - 5:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
5:30 - 5:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
6:00 - 6:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
6:30 - 6:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
7:00 - 7:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
7:30 - 7:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
8:00 - 8:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
8:30 - 8:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
9:00 - 9:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
9:30 - 9:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
10:00 - 10:15 pm	Whittier to Bear Valley
10:30 - 10:45 pm	Bear Valley to Whittier
Schedule Notes:
Oversize vehicles will be allowed in the tunnel only Monday through Thursday. Please check the web page at www.dot.state.ak.us/creg/whittiertunnel for more detail on size limits and other restrictions.
Every effort has been made to minimize the impact of trains on traffic, however from time to time scheduled and unscheduled trains use the tunnel and an occasional 15 to 30 minute delay can be expected. Please allow extra time in planning your trip.
Motorcycle helmets must be worn in the tunnel, and convertible vehicles must have the top in place.
During periods of temperatures 32˚F or below, the tunnel will be opened for the last 5 minutes of the scheduled opening.
It is recommended that tunnel users be in the staging area at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled opening to help us facilitate their passage.

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