Frequently Asked Questions ABOUT TRAVEL TO KODIAK

Different members and families choose different ways depending on your situation. 

You can get to Kodiak by plane or ferry. Remember, the Coast Guard will ship one of your vehicles to Kodiak for free. 

Plane

This will be through Alaska Airlines. There are 2-3 flights to Kodiak a day depending on the time of year and the weather. Keep in mind that if you are traveling with pets, you will need to check with the airline for certain restrictions and paperwork that is needed. The flight from Anchorage to Kodiak is a little less than one hour. 

Car/Ferry

Many families drive to Kodiak through the Alaskan Highway. Make sure to check out the Milepost Book for all of the "must see" stops through Canada if you choose this route. You will drive to Homer, Alaska (about 4 hours south of Anchorage) to catch the ferry to Kodiak. The Ferry takes anywhere from 9 hours to 13 hours depending on the weather. We would recommend getting a state room to make your trip more comfortable. This is the ideal option if you have more than one car that you are bringing to the island. You may bring pets on the ferry; however, they must stay in your vehicle. The ferry schedule can be found at https://dot.alaska.gov/amhs/index.shtml. We would recommend booking your ferry ticket first, as they tend to book up fast, and then plan your trip backwards from there. 

Some families who are previously stationed on the West Coast prior to their arrival will take the Cassiar Highway. 

We recommend purchasing any large items prior to arriving on the island. This includes furniture, etc as these items may not ship to Kodiak or are very expensive to ship. We also recommend getting some rain gear before you head to the island, but there are regular sales at our local outdoor store, Big Rays, and there are also lots of hand-me-downs on Facebook marketplace. 

If you have pets, you will need a health certificate and verification of rabies vaccine and microchip for them to go through Canada and back into the United States. Make sure you have a copy of your hard orders during travel along with necessary paperwork (passports, birth certificates, real IDs). Please see important resources for more information.