Car shipping from Seattle, WA to Anchorage, AK
Alaska is a special case: most cars reach Alaska one of two ways: by ocean carrier from the Tacoma and Seattle area to Anchorage, or overland on the Alaska Highway through British Columbia and Yukon. Post the trip once and companies that handle Alaska shipments send written quotes that spell out each leg.
- Distance
- About 1,450 miles (2,300 km) by sea
- Typical transit
- Depends on sailings
- Usual route
- By ocean carrier from the Tacoma area, or overland on the Alaska Highway through British Columbia and Yukon
- Border
- None by sea; overland goes through Canada
Distance is our estimate from the two city centres. Transit times are typical ranges, not promises; each company writes its own in its quote.
About this route
Ocean shipping runs on sailing schedules, so the total time depends on when the next ship leaves and how far the car travels by truck before it reaches the port. Ask each company for its port cut-off date and expected arrival in writing.
Seattle, WA: Seattle and Tacoma move a lot of cars: the ports handle imports and the ocean link to Alaska and Hawaii, Joint Base Lewis-McChord brings military moves, and tech jobs draw people from California and Texas.
Alaska: Juneau has no road link to the rest of the state, so cars arrive there by barge or ferry. Ask each company which way it plans to move your car and where the hand-off points are.
Main highways in Alaska: the Alaska Highway (through British Columbia and Yukon) and the Glenn and Parks highways. In busy downtown areas, carriers often ask to meet at a wide street or parking lot nearby, since a full car carrier is about 75 feet (23 m) long.
When to ship from Seattle, WA to Anchorage, AK
Winter weather
Winters in Alaska bring snow and road salt, roughly December to March. Carriers keep running, but a storm can push pickup or delivery by a day or two. A car on an open carrier will arrive salty, so plan a wash.
Mountain passes
Routes through Washington can cross mountain passes where winter storms and chain laws slow trucks. Building a spare day or two into a winter pickup window takes the pressure off.
Sailing schedules
Ocean legs run on sailing schedules, with cut-off dates at the port. Ask each company for its port cut-off and expected arrival date in writing.
Peak moving season
June to August is the busiest moving season in North America: school-year moves, new jobs and military transfers all land in summer. Posting early gives you more quotes and more choice of dates.
Open or enclosed on this route?
Most cars on this route travel on open carriers, the multi-car trucks you see on every highway. It's the most common choice and the one most carriers on this lane run.
In winter an open car will pick up salt spray on the way; an enclosed trailer keeps it clean and covered.
On the ocean leg the car rides inside a roll-on/roll-off ship or a container; open or enclosed applies to the truck legs at each end.
For classic, exotic, lowered or brand-new cars, ask for enclosed quotes too: you can say in your notes that you'd like both and compare them side by side.
Moving to Alaska for good?
Once the car arrives, register it with the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles. Ask what it needs for a vehicle registered somewhere else (often a VIN check, an inspection or an emissions test) before your old plates or insurance run out.
How it works here
Same three steps on every route, and nobody gets your phone number unless you book them.
Post once
Vehicle, pickup and delivery cities, first available date, open or enclosed, and a few photos. About two minutes, free.
Verified companies quote in writing
Checked carriers and brokers (USDOT/MC or NSC/CVOR plus insurance) send a written price, pickup window and transit time to your private dashboard.
No spam calls
Message companies in-app. Your name, phone and street address go only to the company you book.
Questions about this route
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Ship your car from Seattle, WA to Anchorage, AK
Post once in about two minutes. Verified companies answer in writing; your phone stays private.