SkagwayCruise Port Guide
A Gold Rush town you can walk off the ship into, with the Yukon an hour up the road. Pick your hours, see what the tours cost, and know what's free on foot.
Welcome to Skagway
Pro Picks
Yukon day trip · 4.5 hrsYukon, White Pass and Husky Puppy Camp
A guide drives the Klondike Highway up White Pass and across the border into the Yukon, then stops at a sled dog camp to meet husky puppies. You need a valid original passport, and you meet your guide at the end of your ship's dock 15 minutes before departure.
From $121/ person
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Scenic drive · 3 hrsBest of Skagway Small-Group Drive
A local guide takes a small group above town for a harbour view, then up the Klondike Highway toward White Pass for waterfalls and Gold Rush stories. It's three hours with light walking at the stops, and it stays on the Alaska side of the border.
From $99/ person
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Zipline · 4 hrsGrizzly Falls Zipline
Eleven zip lines through Tongass National Rainforest near Dyea, the longest 750 feet, reached by a van ride and an all-wheel-drive Unimog. Children from age 6 can join, and you meet your driver at the National Park Service visitor center at 2nd and Broadway.
From $272.99/ person
Book Now →Your time ashore
Count from leaving the ship to being back aboard.
Skagway in 3 hours
Scenic Town Drive
90-Minute Skagway Highlights Tour
A small-group drive through historic downtown and up to a scenic overlook, with an optional short hike to Reid Falls. It's the shortest tour on the list, so it suits a call where you want most of the day on foot.
From$58.80
Time required1.5 hours
City & Summit Drive
Skagway City and White Pass Summit Bus Tour
A guided bus tour through town, past Pitchfork Falls and Bridal Veil Falls to the Welcome to Alaska sign and Captain William Moore Bridge. Pickup and drop-off are included; the listing doesn't name the pickup point.
From$76
Time required2.5 hours
Skagway in 5 hours
Sled Dog Camp
Dyea Musher's Camp with S'Mores
A guided drive through town and along the coast to a camp in Dyea, where a musher talks about sled dogs and you spend time with the dogs and puppies. It ends with s'mores, and it has no ratings yet.
From$149.99
Time required3 hours
Yukon & Sled Dog Camp
Yukon Dog Musher Camp Van Tour
A small group rides a van up the Klondike Highway toward White Pass, then visits a working musher training camp across the border. Every guest, children included, needs a passport at the meeting point.
From$175
Time required4 hours
Skagway in 7 hours
Yukon & Sled Dogs
Yukon Sled Dog Mushing and White Pass Combo
A city tour with photo stops, the Klondike Highway into Canada and a summer dog cart ride at the Tutshi dog sledding camp. You're met at the end of your ship's dock 15 minutes before departure, and a valid original passport is required.
From$194
Time required4.5 hours
Yukon Day Trip
Wild Adventure Yukon Day Trip with BBQ Lunch
The longest tour on the list: the highway into the Yukon, a stop at the British Columbia and Yukon signs, then entry and a family-style barbecue lunch at Wild Adventure Yukon. Bring your original passport, and check the 6.5 hours against your all-aboard time.
From$169
Time required6.5 hours
Within a stroll of the boat
Five stops within a 15-minute walk of the Broadway Dock, at the foot of Broadway, Skagway's main street. Ships at the Railroad or Ore docks are also under a mile from downtown. There's no beach to walk to; Yakutania Point is the nearest shoreline.
Eat · 0.2 mi · ~6 min
Skagway Fish Company
A seafood restaurant on Congress Way by the small boat harbor, open daily 11:00 to 20:00 with outdoor seating, according to its map listing.
Museum · 0.3 mi · ~8 min
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park visitor center
The National Park Service's visitor center and museum on 2nd Avenue at Broadway. It's free, with a 25-minute film and 30-minute ranger talks each day in summer.
Drinks · 0.3 mi · ~8 min
Red Onion Saloon
A saloon at 205 Broadway in a building mapped as historic, dated 1898. Cruise Hive puts it at an 11-minute walk from the port.
Shore · 0.4 mi · ~9 min
Yakutania Point
A rocky point on the harbour's west edge that cruise guides list for birding. It's the nearest shoreline on foot, not a swimming beach.
Museum · 0.5 mi · ~13 min
City of Skagway Museum
The city's museum on Spring Street. It's seasonal and charges a fee, according to its map listing.
Handy Helpers
Small things that make a port day easier.
Private Driver, Waiting at the Dock
A pre-booked driver meets you at the dock for a fixed price. No haggling, no waiting for a taxi to fill.
Bike rental
Cover more ground than on foot. Book ahead and return it well before all-aboard.
Travel eSIM
Install it on ship WiFi and your maps and ride apps work the moment you land in Skagway.
Quick answers
Facts last checked .
How we checked these answers
Every answer is built from facts we checked against the sources below and cross-checked with recent port guides. Where sources disagreed, the answer says so instead of guessing a number.
- White Pass & Yukon Route — Dock information
- National Park Service — Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
- National Park Service — Klondike Gold Rush fees
- National Park Service — Klondike Gold Rush visitor centers
- Skagway Convention & Visitors Bureau — Getting around
- White Pass & Yukon Route — White Pass Summit Excursion
- National Park Service — Klondike Gold Rush hours
Getting ashore
Where do cruise ships dock in Skagway?
Cruise ships in Skagway dock at one of three cruise docks: the Broadway Dock, the Railroad Dock or the Ore Dock, all described on White Pass & Yukon Route's dock page. Guides say most ships use the Broadway Dock, at the foot of Broadway, and your ship's daily program names yours. All three are under a mile from downtown, and the stroll map starts from the Broadway Dock.
Is Skagway a tender port?
No: Skagway is not a tender port, because cruise ships tie up at one of three docks rather than anchoring offshore. White Pass & Yukon Route's dock page describes the Broadway, Railroad and Ore docks, and Cruise Hive says most ships use the Broadway Dock. Your ship's daily program shows which one you are on.
Which dock does Carnival, Princess or Royal Caribbean use in Skagway?
No guide or official page we could read ties a cruise line to a particular Skagway dock. Cruise Hive says Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Celebrity and Carnival all call, and that most ships use the Broadway Dock, with the Railroad and Ore docks used as well. Your ship's daily program or app names your dock, and all three are a short walk from downtown.
Is it worth getting off the ship in Skagway?
Yes for most people: the docks put you a short walk from Broadway, and the town's main sights cost nothing. From the Broadway Dock the National Park Service visitor center is about 0.3 miles away, entry to the park is free, and it shows a 25-minute film and gives ranger talks each day in summer. The port itself has restrooms and vending machines, so the point is to walk into town. See the stroll map.
Can you walk into Skagway from a cruise ship?
Yes: downtown Skagway is under a mile from every cruise dock, roughly a 10 to 18 minute walk depending on the dock. From the Broadway Dock the National Park Service visitor center on Broadway is about 0.3 miles, around 8 minutes, and every dock has a path into town. The stroll map shows what is in reach.
Beaches & water
Is there a beach near the Skagway cruise port?
No: cruise guides name no swimming beach near the Skagway docks. The nearest shoreline on foot is Yakutania Point, about 0.4 miles from the Broadway Dock, which one guide lists for birding rather than swimming. The stroll map marks it with the other stops within a short walk.
Getting around
Is there a shuttle from the Skagway cruise port to town?
Yes: the SMART bus runs a Dock to Downtown service from 7 am to 9 pm daily when cruise ships are in port, according to the Skagway visitor bureau. Fares are paid to the driver, $5 for an all-day pass or $3 each way. A year-round on-demand shuttle also runs by phone, with the dock to the Skagway River Bridge listed at $5. Cruise Hive says not to expect Uber or Lyft.
Can you rent a car near the Skagway cruise terminal?
Two local companies rent cars in Skagway, according to the visitor bureau: Affordable Car Rentals at 648 Broadway, open year-round, and Drive About Car Rental at 202 9th Avenue. The listing does not say whether either meets ships at the docks, so confirm pickup when you book. The on-demand shuttle lists $15 per person to Dyea if you would rather not drive.
Excursions & time
What are the best excursions in Skagway?
The most-reviewed Skagway excursions we could open in October 2026 are the Yukon, White Pass and husky puppy camp combo (144 reviews, 4.7 stars on GetYourGuide) and the Yukon sled dog mushing combo (135 reviews, 4.8 stars). Tours range from a 90-minute highlights drive to a 6.5-hour Yukon day trip, and most of the Yukon ones take 4 to 4.5 hours. See the favorite tours.
Can you take the White Pass train from the cruise dock in Skagway?
Yes: White Pass & Yukon Route says cruise passengers booked through the ship's shore excursion desk can board the train on the pier alongside the ship. Its Summit Excursion takes 2.5 to 2.75 hours, covers 40 miles round trip, needs no passport, and cost $155 for adults in 2026, when it ran from April 30 to October 7. The railway also says the Railroad Dock has rail service on the dock and the Broadway Dock's rail begins at the end of the dock.
How long do cruise ships stay in Skagway, and what fits in the time?
Skagway calls are long: the two Norwegian calls CruiseMapper lists for 6 and 7 October 2026 ran from 06:00 to 20:00, about 14 hours, though your ship's all-aboard time is the one that counts. Tours here run from 90 minutes to 6.5 hours, and the Yukon ones cross the border, so check the return time against it. The 3, 5 and 7-hour plans sort the options.
What are some free things to do in Skagway?
Plenty of Skagway's best sights are free and on foot. The National Park Service says there is no fee for Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, and its ranger programs and museums are free. Guides also list the historic main street, birding at Yakutania Point and the Lower Dewey Lake hike. Jeff. Smith's Parlor Museum tours use free timed tickets from the visitor center, and the park's museums close from late September through April. See the stroll map.
Money, documents & safety
What currency does Skagway use?
Skagway uses the US dollar, and businesses accept cash and credit or debit cards. Cruise Hive adds that most vendors will take Canadian dollars at a flat exchange rate, which matters if your tour crosses into the Yukon. You do not need to change money for a day in town.
Do I need a passport for excursions in Skagway?
It depends on the excursion: tours that cross into Canada's Yukon need a valid original passport, while the White Pass train summit excursion needs none. The Skagway tours we checked say no photocopies, and US and Canadian citizens may bring an original birth certificate with a photo ID instead; at least one says children need documents too. White Pass & Yukon Route says its Summit Excursion needs no passport.