Five-minute ferry ride stands between KTN and downtown Ketchikan
The airport ferry is the mandatory link from Ketchikan International Airport (KTN) on Gravina Island to town on Revillagigedo Island, and the ride itself takes about 5 minutes dock to dock. Every commercial passenger in or out of KTN has to cross the Tongass Narrows somehow, and this public ferry is the default option locals use daily. Figure your total door-to-door time airport-to-town at roughly 20–30 minutes once you add walking, loading, and driving on the town side.
The ferry runs as a standard public transit route, not an airport-branded shuttle, with departures every few minutes most of the day and evening. You board at the small terminal on the airport side, a short walk from baggage claim in T, then roll or carry your bags straight onto the boat. The crossing is short enough that most people stay standing near their luggage, and there’s basic indoor seating if you want to sit for the 5-minute hop.
Fares are pay-per-ride and priced like a city service, with a single adult ticket costing only a few dollars per crossing as of the latest schedules. You pay at the terminal or on board depending on current setup, so keep a card or small bills handy instead of locking everything into your checked luggage. The same boat carries foot passengers, locals with groceries, and sometimes service vehicles, all sharing the same 5-minute water commute.
On the town side, the ferry docks near the main shore terminal where local taxis and some pre-booked shuttles wait at peak flight times, especially around Alaska Airlines arrivals. If you’re heading toward downtown hotels along Tongass Avenue, you’re usually in a cab or car within 5–10 minutes of stepping off the boat. Build in more time late at night in case taxis thin out between the last scheduled flights.
Step-by-step from plane to town
- 1. Land at KTN and walk from gate in T to baggage claim, roughly 2–5 minutes in this small terminal.
- 2. Collect bags and follow signs to the airport ferry building; the walk is about 150–200 yards, all on level paths.
- 3. Buy your ferry ticket for a few dollars at the booth or on board, keeping ID and payment out of checked luggage.
- 4. Board the ferry with your suitcase or cart, then settle in for the 5-minute crossing of the Tongass Narrows.
- 5. Disembark at the town-side terminal and walk 1–3 minutes to the taxi area or meet any pre-booked ride.
One tip: for tight connections or early-morning flights, check the current ferry schedule the day before so your 5-minute water ride doesn’t become a 25-minute wait on the dock.