How to get to King Salmon From Anchorage!
Map of King Salmon & Anchorage Alaska
If you are reading this I can imagine you are probably looking for information on getting to King Salmon or Katmai National Park. We will cover what air carrier options exist, who we fly with, and the approximate costs.
So let’s get right into it, after living in King Salmon since 2017 we get it Traveling to King Salmon is hard. We have seen new airlines come and go, months with no scheduled service and exorbitant prices trust me we have seen it all.
The truth is there really is only one option to get to the town of King Salmon & the Katmai Area and it is to fly. There are no roads or ferries that lead to King Salmon & Katmai from the Alaskan road system that connects Anchorage and Fairbanks. King Salmon sits about 280 miles southwest of Anchorage and is the closest town to the world-famous Brooks falls in Katmai National park. King Salmon is about 100 or so miles from the Island of Kodiak and about 180 miles from the town of Homer.
Who flies to King Salmon.
There are several options for flying to King Salmon from Anchorage. Including Alaska Airlines, Ravn Alaska, & Katmai Air.
Alaska Airlines, & their partner Horizon Air, between the two of them they satisfy most of the demand for flying in and out of King Salmon. Round-trip flights on Alaska Air typically are around $400 per person round trip depending on when you book. You can check the price of the flights on google flights here or directly on Alaska air.
Bonus tips for Alaska Air - If you sign up for the Alaska Air credit card there is a mileage bonus which is typically enough or almost enough for a round trip to King Salmon from the lower 48 states. Additionally, when you reach the spending requirement you will receive your first companion fare which Alaska Air advertises as $99 + Taxes and fees when used when traveling with a paying ticket holder. You can read all the details on Alaska Airlines here.
Ravn Alaska is a regional carrier in Alaska that serves many of the small towns that are on the Kenai Peninsula and the Aleutian Peninsula including the town of King Salmon. The service from Ravn to King Salmon is seasonal typically beginning in June and ending sometime in August depending on customer demand. You can check their prices directly on Ravns’ booking page. The price as of (March 2023 was $289 per person one way)
Katmai Air is a small Charter company that can be hired to fly to just about anywhere in southwest Alaska. They primarily serve the town of King Salmon and Katmai national park using their small fleet of float planes making trips back and forth to Brooks camp but more on that later. Katmai air also has two PC-12s that they sell seat fares on from Anchorage to King Salmon. You can check out their pricing and flight schedule here. The price as of (March 2023 was $900 per person round trip)
My family and I have done this journey many times and we have flown with all of the carriers, while they all provide the best service that they can, they all have their pros and cons. We would have to say that we would choose to fly Alaska Air every time, It is good to have options and we really appreciate that they exist but after numerous trips back and forth to Anchorage for work and pleasure Alaska Air makes the travel very convenient and affordable.
All that being said King Salmon for most of our guests is only part of the journey, traveling on to Brooks Camp or fishing in Katmai National park is the main objective read on to see our recommendations for when to visit as locals of King Salmon.
When to visit King Salmon
Visual on when the best times to Visit King Salmon
If you are thinking of visiting King Salmon you are likely coming for either the Fishing or Brooks Falls, so let’s cover the best time to visit to make the most of your trip to King Salmon.
Fishing season for much of the Bristol Bay region begins June 8th with salmon beginning to arrive shortly thereafter, Once the sockeye salmon begin to arrive in Late June into early July the bears are close behind. Check out our chart on the best months for fishing and bear viewing.
If you do happen to be traveling to King Salmon in winter, be aware that many of the services are closed beyond what is essential for a town of about 350 people.
I hope this information helps you on your journey to King Salmon if you would like to read our complete guide to King Salmon, Alaska with all the inside info from a local you can do so here!
Thank you for stopping by and I’ll see you soon!
Tight lines,
Steven J. Benjamin
About the Author
Steven J. Benjamin is a highly regarded, Fishing guide, USCG Capitan, Save Bristol Bay Guide Ambassador, Fly Fishing Instructor, and Rainbow trout and Arctic grayling record holder. He has successfully guided guests from around the world helping them catch wild salmon & trophy Rainbow trout. Together with his wife Tiara, all of their guests’ expectations are met.
