Alaska Motorcycle Shipping

Ship a Motorcycle to Alaska: Sea, Barge or the Long Way Through Canada

Almost every bike that goes to Alaska leaves the Lower 48 in one of two ways, and neither is a plain door-to-door haul. The usual way is a truck to a Washington port, where the bike is handed to a ship bound for Anchorage. Matson and TOTE run those ships from Tacoma. If the truck starts near Seattle, that leg is short. The other is a trailer all the way up the Alaska Highway, which is about 1,387 miles from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to Delta Junction. It is fully paved now, but frost heaves still hit some stretches in the Yukon.

The road route crosses the border into Canada, so ask the carrier what paperwork it needs for the bike and the driver. Ask any carrier you talk to whether they run it, because some only handle the sea leg.

Most quotes you see will be for the Washington port route, and the prices are not tidy. One broker site puts an open bike to Anchorage at about $1,000. Another says $2,315 open and $4,058 enclosed. Treat any number you read as soft, and compare the real quotes.

The main lane is Washington to Alaska, followed by California to Alaska. Both start on a West Coast truck and finish on the water. From the other direction, Alaska to California works the same way in reverse.

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Alaska Motorcycle Shipping Rates and Transit Times

Last updated: October 2026

Alaska does not follow the per-mile rule of a normal lane, so the usual mileage bands do not apply. Published estimates for an open bike to Anchorage run from about $1,000 to $2,315, and one site lists enclosed at $4,058. Part of the spread is that these moves combine a truck leg and a sea leg.

Crating adds about $150 to $400, a trike or sidecar adds $150 to $300, and a heavy touring bike adds $50 to $100. Ask the carrier what prep a crated or container move needs. The table shows common Alaska lanes. Where a firm price is not available, the table says to ask for a quote.

*Estimates for a standard motorcycle, updated October 2026. Distances are approximate road miles. Real prices depend on your bike, the pickup and delivery locations, open or enclosed transport, and the time of year. Complete the form at the top of this page or call 1-800-590-6492 for free, no-obligation quotes so you can compare prices for your exact route before you book.

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How Getting Quotes Works

You don't have to call company after company. One request goes out to the carriers that run Alaska lanes, and the offers come back to you.

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Shipping a Motorcycle From Alaska to the Lower 48

Going south, the order flips. A bike in Anchorage goes onto a ship to Washington and picks up a truck at the other end. Alaska to Washington is the shortest of these lanes, and broker estimates put it at 7 to 10 days.

Longer lanes add a truck leg after the ship, and transit times vary, so ask the carrier for the full door-to-door number. Winter storms and a missed sailing can both add days.

Southeast Alaska is a special case. Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka have no road to the rest of the state. Vehicles reach Juneau and Sitka by ferry or barge, and Ketchikan sits on Revillagigedo Island. A bike there needs its own sea leg before it reaches a truck. Tell the dispatcher your town, not just "Alaska."

Moving to Texas? The Alaska to Texas lane, such as Anchorage to Houston, takes 10 to 15 days by one broker's estimate, so start early.

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Alaska Motorcycle Transport: Anchorage, Fairbanks and the Parks Highway

The George Parks Highway ties the two big cities together. It runs 323 miles from the Glenn Highway at Gateway, near Wasilla and about 35 miles north of Anchorage, to the Richardson Highway in Fairbanks, and it is the main road to Denali National Park. Wasilla sits on it.

Anchorage is where most bikes land. The Alaska Highway ends at Delta Junction, which feeds into the Richardson Highway toward Fairbanks, so a bike coming over the border arrives there first.

A carrier will usually deliver in the city and not up a dirt road. If you live outside Wasilla, Palmer or Fairbanks, plan to meet at a lot near the highway. Alaska's road system is thin, and a tractor-trailer has few ways around a closure.

Coming up the other way? A rider who takes the Alaska Marine Highway ferry north from Bellingham, Washington, spends a few days on the water. The Alaska Marine Highway is passenger and vehicle transport, not a bike shipping service. Service thins out a lot in winter.

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Motorcycle Shipping to Alaska by Season

Riding season is short, so shipping follows it. Many bikes head north in spring, around the time riders gather in Anchorage in May. Others head south in late summer and fall, when owners leave the state or park the bike for winter.

Winter is slower. Ferry service drops off, ships have storm delays, and the Canadian road is harder. If you ship between November and March, add several days to the quoted time and allow for a missed sailing.

Fall and winter are often cheaper outside snowbird lanes in the Lower 48. Whether that holds for the sea leg is a question for the carrier, so ask. If you can ship in a quiet window and wait, you may save money.

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The Anchorage Bike Blessing and Other Spring Rides

The Anchorage Bike Blessing is held each May. ABATE of Anchorage (Alaska Bikers Advocating Training and Education) organizes it to open the riding season and Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Christian riding groups bless the bikes, and riders do a Rolling Thunder loop, revving their engines in front of the crowd.

If you want your bike in Anchorage before May, start asking for quotes in March. Transit alone can run 7 to 14 days, and spring is the stretch when most owners get impatient.

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Military Moves to and From Alaska

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks and Eielson Air Force Base outside Fairbanks all bring a steady flow of orders. Alaska is a long way from anywhere, so start early. Ask each carrier whether it offers a military discount and how it handles the sea leg.

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Alaska Shipping Challenges and Tips

Three things make Alaska harder than a normal lane. Three habits help.

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Motorcycle Shipping Routes From and To Alaska

Pick the route that matches your trip to see estimated rates, mileage and transit time for that lane.

Ship a Motorcycle From Alaska

Ship a Motorcycle To Alaska

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Motorcycle Shipping in Nearby States

• Washington Motorcycle Shipping

Related Guides

• How to Ship a MotorcycleThe full process from quote to delivery.
• How to Prepare a Motorcycle for TransportA checklist for the day before pickup.
• Money-Saving Tips for Motorcycle ShippingWays to lower the price of a quote.

Helpful Links for Your Alaska Shipment

• FMCSA SAFER System - Carrier Safety CheckVerify any carrier's safety record, licensing, and insurance status before you book.
• Alaska 511 - Road Conditions and TrafficRoad conditions, traffic events and cameras from Alaska DOT&PF, useful for the Parks and Glenn Highway legs of a delivery.
• Alaska Marine Highway System - Ferry SchedulesFerry sailings by date and port, relevant if your bike or your trip involves Southeast Alaska.
• Alaska DMV - Transfer a Vehicle From Another StateHow to transfer an out-of-state title and register your motorcycle in Alaska after a move.

Call now, 24 hours a day, at 1-800-590-6492 or complete the quote form on this page to find the best Alaska motorcycle shipping rates and when a truck will be in your area.