Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) is Alaska’s largest airport and a crucial gateway for travelers exploring the state. Its geographic position makes it the fifth busiest cargo airport globally and second in North America, moving goods between North America and Asia.
Alaska Airlines operates a hub here (though Seattle/Tacoma remains their biggest hub), connecting Alaska’s cities with the lower 48. The facility continues to modernize to handle growing traffic, and the result is an airport that’s genuinely enjoyable to use, with interesting art installations and restaurants offering panoramic mountain views.
And if you’re wondering about the name, the airport was renamed to honor longtime U.S. Senator Ted Stevens. Now you know.
How to get to and from Anchorage airport
Getting to ANC is straightforward with taxis, hotel shuttles, and rideshare services all readily available. For budget-conscious travelers, People Mover Route 40 connects downtown to the airport, with buses arriving every 15 minutes during peak weekday hours and stopping near hotels like The Lakefront, Marriott Downtown, and Hilton Anchorage. I use it when traveling light, though door-to-door rideshare is faster.
The airport also has an Alaska Railroad station (Bill Sheffield Depot), but it only opens during summer months for cruise passengers with land tour packages and doesn’t serve the general public. If your hotel isn’t in the downtown core, you’ll still need a taxi or rideshare regardless of which option you choose.
Two terminals with modern amenities
ANC has two main terminals: the North terminal (designated as the International Terminal) handles international arrivals, while the South terminal (divided into three concourses) serves most airlines including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and regional carriers. Alaska Airlines operates from Concourse C, which was rebuilt and features extensive exterior glass that floods the space with natural light. Getting between terminals is straightforward: you can walk between all South terminal concourses, and a free shuttle bus or pedestrian walkway connects North and South terminals outside security.
From late spring to early fall, Anchorage sees a huge jump in passenger numbers. This is the best time to visit national parks in the state or hop on a cruise. Just be prepared for longer lines at shops and restaurants during the summer.
Keep an eye out for ongoing upgrades at the airport, including the installation of 110 audio and visual monitors throughout the terminal to help travelers with disabilities, funded by a $1.5 million FAA grant.
Keep in mind that Alaska Airlines has remodeled its lobby at ANC, eliminating kiosk check-in capability for boarding passes. You’ll need to print your boarding pass beforehand or use the app, as the new stations are used only for printing bag tags. While this reduces paper waste, it catches travelers off guard, especially those without smartphones or printer access. Each time I pass through, I watch staff explaining this unusual setup to surprised passengers.
Dining and shopping options
I love spending a few hours here before a flight, especially when snow is falling outside. It’s a great spot to watch planes on the apron with the Chugach mountain range in the background.
ANC offers both fast-food and full-service restaurants throughout the terminals. Post-security, my favorites are Humpy’s Great Alaskan Alehouse (approximately 20 Alaska craft beers on tap, don’t miss the fish tacos) and Silver Gulch Brewing & Bottling Co. in Concourse C, the northernmost brewery on the continent.
Before security, Norton Sound Seafood House serves fresh seafood, with numerous Alaskan salmon dishes and excellent king crab. The Upper One lounge has a dive bar vibe but remains popular with travelers grabbing one last drink with non-flying friends.
For souvenirs, Alaska Mercantile sells authentic Alaskan art, jewelry, locally made chocolate bars and snacks. You can also find local gifts like reindeer sausage and smoked salmon at retailers like AK&CO and Alaska Wild Berry Products. There’s a lot to check out within the South terminal’s three concourses, and the walk between them isn’t too far.
Here’s a pro tip: even if I don’t check a bag, I like to pass through the baggage claim area. The stuff people check is pretty unique, from fishing gear and insulated fish coolers to rafts. There’s also a Starbucks here near Baggage Claim six with shorter lines than the one past security, perfect for grabbing a coffee after a long flight.
Airlines and destinations
Alaska Airlines is the leader in seats from Anchorage to the Lower 48, offering a wide network of flights to the rest of the U.S. and around the state. The busiest route for all airlines is to Seattle/Tacoma, with over one million annual passengers.
One well-known flight from Anchorage is the “milk run,” which connects the airport with Seattle by making stops along the southeastern coast. Flights like Alaska Airlines Flight 64 and Flight 65 serve as lifelines for cities like Juneau, Petersburg, Wrangell and Ketchikan, and many aviation geeks take this flight just for the novelty and the rugged views of the Alaskan coastline.
Most major U.S. airlines fly here, including Delta with nonstop service to Atlanta, and United with seasonal summer service to Washington Dulles and Newark. Alaska Airlines also operates seasonal daily nonstop service to New York JFK during the summer months. For international travelers, Condor and Discover fly nonstop to Frankfurt. Like cities in the western U.S., ANC has numerous red-eye flights departing in late evening or early-morning hours. This makes late evening a surprisingly busy time at the airport, so don’t assume you’ll breeze through security just before an 11pm flight.
Ravn Alaska also maintains a hub here, connecting smaller communities across the state with De Havilland Dash 8 turboprop aircraft. Their flights use the same South Terminal as other airlines, utilizing Baggage Claims 7 & 8, making connections easy.
Lounge
Alaska Airlines has the only lounge at the airport, and it has great views of the passing planes. I find the buffet of fresh foods, including oatmeal and yogurt bars in the morning and salad and soup in the afternoon and evening, to be decent enough to pass the time. It also has a bar serving microbrews, West Coast wines, and cocktails.
Recent renovations have added 2,600 square feet of space, doubling the seating capacity to 140 seats and upgrading to more comfortable lounge chairs, most of which have a power outlet nearby. If you’re traveling on Alaska or American with a lounge membership, or have a paid first-class ticket over 2,000 miles on Alaska, you can use the lounge (subject to capacity).
Art, design and entertainment
The airport is filled with Alaskan art and sculpture. The Alaska Native art collection is a highlight, featuring traditional dolls, glass sculptures, and wood carvings. There’s also an Alaska sports hall of fame honoring accomplished athletes from the state, from famous dog mushers to Olympic medalists.
If you have a long layover, check out the Alaska Aviation Museum located at Lake Hood, about a half-mile from the airport. My recommendation: give them a call and see if they can send their shuttle to pick you up. Chances are, they will. The museum has all kinds of aviation memorabilia, including a 1928 Stearman C2B and a retired Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-200 Combi that you can go inside.
Top 5 global cargo hub
I love watching the massive Boeing 747 and MD-11 planes unloading their cargo. With all the international freight traffic here, ANC is a great place to plane spot.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
