Whittier and the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel
Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel (Alaska DOT&PF); City Of Whittier · Whittier, Alaska
The only road into the port town of Whittier on Prince William Sound runs through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, which at about 2.5 miles is the longest highway tunnel in North America. Built in 1941-43 as a secret railway tunnel for a World War II military port, it was converted in 2000 to carry cars and trains on a single shared lane, so traffic takes turns on a timed schedule. Whittier itself is a tiny, rainy town where most residents live in the 14-storey Begich Towers, and the abandoned Army Buckner Building still looms nearby. It is the launch point for glacier cruises into Prince William Sound, kayaking, fishing charters and the Portage Pass Trail. In summer 2026 the tunnel opened about 5:30 AM-11:15 PM; cars entering Whittier went through on the half-hour and cars leaving on the hour, and the $13 toll for a standard vehicle was paid only on the way in.
Bear Valley Staging Area, Portage Glacier Road (tunnel entrance), Whittier, Alaska, 99693, United States
Summer 2026: tunnel open about 5:30 AM-11:15 PM; traffic into Whittier on the half-hour, out on the hour. Shorter hours in winter and shoulder seasons (check dot.alaska.gov/creg/whittiertunnel).
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