Anchorage / Soldotna Bus Service - Trip Details
| Drive Time: | 3 hrs 15 min |
| Number of stops: | 2 |
| Distance: | 145 miles |
Anchorage Pickup/Dropoff: Ted Stevens International Airport - South Terminal (bus parking outside Alaska Airlines baggage claim.)
Soldotna Pickup/Dropoff: Starbucks/Domino’s -
Schedule
Southbound (Anchorage to Soldotna)
| Anchorage Departure | 2:00pm |
| Soldotna Arrival | 5:15pm |
Northbound (Soldotna to Anchorage)
| Soldotna Departure | 9:45am |
| Anchorage Arrival | 1:00pm |
For additional travel details check our route and schedule page.
What to Expect
The drive between Anchorage and Soldotna is split into three legs; Anchorage/Girdwood, Girdwood/Cooper Landing, and Cooper Landing/Soldotna. There are two brief stops to allow passengers to stretch their legs; one in Girdwood and one in Cooper Landing.
Anchorage/Girdwood
The Anchorage/Girdwood leg takes about 45 minutes and you’ll be treated to fantastic views of the Turnagain Arm coastline and surrounding mountains. Keep your eyes peeled for Dall sheep, harbor seals, and the occasional beluga whale.
If you get lucky, you might get to see Turnagain Arm’s bore tide in action. A bore tide is the result of an extreme tidal exchange (Turnagain Arm has one of the most extreme exchanges in the world) and can create a wave upwards of 6 feet high.
Girdwood/Cooper Landing
The leg between Girdwood and Cooper Landing takes just over an hour and is primarily through mountain passes.
Moose and the occasional black bear can be spotted along this leg, particularly getting closer to Cooper Landing.
Cooper Landing/Soldotna
The drive between Cooper Landing and Soldotna takes about an hour. Near Cooper Landing, the road winds along the bank of the legendary Kenai River; highly regarded by fishermen for its world-class salmon runs.
During June and July, you’re all but guaranteed to see large numbers of fishermen trying their luck. Fishermen aren’t the only ones hoping to bring in some salmon, though. Keep an eye out for the occasional brown bear trying its own luck.