Can you do this cruise port on your own?
Skagway
DIY Score
Easy DIY
Book the White Pass train directly; it costs much less than the ship's version.
Tender or Docked?
Usually docked, right in the heart of town. You step off the gangway and Broadway Street is a 2-5 minute walk.
How to Get Into Town
Ships dock right downtown; the walk to Broadway Street takes 2-5 minutes. No transfer or taxi needed.
Main Attractions
The White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad is the signature experience: a historic narrow-gauge train climbing through cliffs and trestles to the mountain summit. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in town is free and excellent.
How Much Time You Need
7+ hours works well for the train plus the town. A 5-6 hour call is still worth it if you focus on the historic district and skip the train.
Keep in Mind
White Pass train tickets sell out months in advance. Book directly at wpyr.com well before your cruise, not the morning you dock.
Safety & Comfort
Skagway is very safe. It is a small National Historical Park town with a significant tourist infrastructure and negligible street crime.
Tips from Cruisers
"We rented a car and drove to Carcross in the Yukon. Passport required and there is a border crossing. Carcross itself is tiny but…" — by Tony R.
Sources
- White Pass & Yukon Route Railway
- White Pass & Yukon Route (all excursions)
- Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
- SMART Shuttle (City of Skagway)
- Skagway Affordable Car Rental
- Drive About Car Rental
- The Points Guy - Skagway Guide
- The Points Guy - White Pass Railroad
- Alaska Trippers - Skagway Guide
We rented a car and drove to Carcross in the Yukon. Passport required and there is a border crossing. Carcross itself is tiny but has the world's smallest desert (actually a dune field) and a small First Nations cultural centre. The drive through the mountains is spectacular. Left 90 minutes before all-aboard and had plenty of time.
The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park rangers are genuinely excellent. We did the free walking tour at 9 AM — about 90 minutes through the historic district with a ranger who knew the individual stories of the buildings. Far more interesting than reading plaques. Starts at the visitor center on Broadway.
We booked the train directly on the WP&YR website back in January and paid $155 each. A woman at our dinner table that night had paid $229 through the cruise line for the exact same train, same seats. We didn't feel smug, but maybe a little.