The South Klondike Highway runs about 158 km (98 mi) from tidewater at Skagway, Alaska, over White Pass and through northern British Columbia to Carcross and the Alaska Highway, about 20 km south of Whitehorse. In a short drive it climbs from sea level to about 1,000 m, crosses an international border and passes some of the best mountain and lake scenery in the North: Tutshi Lake, Windy Arm of Tagish Lake, the Carcross Desert and Emerald Lake. It is paved the whole way and open all year.
The road follows the route of the 1897–98 Klondike Gold Rush stampeders and the White Pass and Yukon Route railway. You need a passport or other accepted document to cross the border, and neither customs post is open 24 hours. Below are planning tips, a kilometre-by-kilometre road log, campgrounds, history and FAQs.
| Length | About 158 km (98 mi) from Skagway to the Alaska Highway, or about 176 km (109 mi) from Skagway to downtown Whitehorse |
|---|---|
| Start | Skagway, Alaska, at km 0 |
| End | Junction with the Alaska Highway at km 157.8, at about Alaska Highway km 1404, about 20 km south of downtown Whitehorse |
| Kilometre posts | Count from Skagway. The same numbering continues on the North Klondike Highway, which starts at km 192 north of Whitehorse. |
| Route | Alaska (km 0 to 24), British Columbia (km 24 to 80) and Yukon (km 80 to 158). Alaska Route 98 in the US and Highway 2 in Canada. |
| Border crossings | US customs near Skagway (km 11) and Canada customs at Fraser, B.C. (km 36.5). Neither is open 24 hours. |
| Highest point | White Pass summit, 1,003 m (3,292 ft), at about km 23 |
| Surface | Paved all the way, mostly chipseal (BST) |
| Season | Open all year. Snow, fog and avalanches can close the pass for hours or days. |
| Fuel | Skagway · Carcross (km 106) · Whitehorse |
| Time zones | Skagway is on Alaska time. Yukon and British Columbia are 1 hour ahead in summer and 2 hours ahead in winter. |
| Driving time | About 2.5 hours from Skagway to Whitehorse, plus time at the border |
| Connecting roads | Tagish Road (km 106.4) · Annie Lake Road (km 139.8) · Alaska Highway (km 157.8) |
| Road conditions | 511 Yukon (Canadian section) · Alaska 511 (Skagway to the border) |
Kilometres are approximate. In Canada they follow Government of Yukon kilometre posts. Last updated: October 2026.
Skagway to Carcross is about 106 km, and Skagway to downtown Whitehorse is about 176 km, or about 2.5 hours without stops. Add time for customs, which can mean a wait on busy summer days, and for photo stops on White Pass and above the lakes. Most people take half a day or more. From Whitehorse, drive south on the Alaska Highway about 20 km and turn south at the junction.
Everyone in the vehicle needs a valid passport or another accepted travel document, such as a NEXUS card, a U.S. passport card or an enhanced driver’s licence. Citizens of other countries may also need a visa. Check the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection before you go. Declare all goods, and don’t bring cannabis across the border in either direction.
The two customs posts are not side by side. Southbound travellers clear US customs at km 11, about 13 km below the border. Northbound travellers clear Canada customs at Fraser, B.C., at km 36.5. The US port is open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Alaska time, every day. In summer, Fraser is open 8 a.m. to midnight Yukon time. From November 1, 2026, to March 14, 2027, Fraser is open 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Yukon time, which lines up with the US port’s hours. Plan to reach the border well before closing.
Skagway is on Alaska time. Yukon stays on Pacific time (UTC−7) all year, and British Columbia does the same from November 2026. That means Fraser, Carcross and Whitehorse are 1 hour ahead of Skagway in summer and 2 hours ahead in winter. Check border hours in the right time zone.
Fill up in Skagway or Whitehorse. The only fuel on the highway is in Carcross, at Montana Services (listed here as Carcross Grocery and RV Park), which has gas, diesel, groceries and a laundromat and is open all year.
| Fuel stop | Km | Distance from previous fuel |
|---|---|---|
| Skagway | 0 | Start |
| Carcross | 106 | About 106 km |
| Whitehorse | After km 157.8 | About 70 km to downtown |
The whole highway is paved. Most of the Canadian section is chipseal (bituminous surface treatment, or BST), with asphalt through Carcross. The Alaska side climbs from sea level to the White Pass summit at 1,003 m (3,292 ft) in about 23 km, with long, steep grades. Use a lower gear on the way down instead of riding your brakes. The summit is often in cloud, and thick fog, strong wind and heavy snow can come in fast, even when it is clear in Skagway or Carcross. Check 511 Yukon and Alaska 511 for closures, construction and highway cameras.
June to August is the main season, with long days and every service open. The Carcross visitor centre is open from May 1 to September 30. Conrad Campground is serviced from mid-May to October 1. Late August and September bring fall colours and fewer people. Snow is possible on White Pass from about October to May.
The highway is plowed and open all winter, but White Pass gets heavy snow from about October to April or May, and there are avalanche paths above the road on the Alaska side. Storms and avalanche control can close the road for hours or days. Use winter tires, keep your tank close to full, and carry warm clothing, food, water and a shovel. Check road conditions and border hours before you leave, because a closed road or a closed port can leave you with a long wait.
Expect gaps in cell coverage over White Pass and between the border and Carcross. Your phone may switch between US and Canadian networks, so check your roaming plan. Tell someone your plans if you travel in winter or late in the day. In an emergency outside cell range in Yukon, call 867-668-9911 from a satellite phone.
Kilometres count from Skagway. In Canada they follow the Government of Yukon kilometre posts, which the Yukon government also uses for the B.C. section it maintains. On the Alaska side, the road is signed in miles.
| Campground | Km | Sites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pullen Creek RV Park and Garden City RV Park | 0 (Skagway) | Private | RV parks in town |
| Dyea Campground | Dyea Road, about 14 km from Skagway | National Park Service | Gravel access road; open when free of snow |
| Conrad | 90 | 35 | Yukon government; 2 pull-through, 6 walk-in; not reservable |
| Carcross Campground | 106 | Small | Run by Carcross/Tagish First Nation; basic sites near the beach |
| Carcross Grocery and RV Park | 106 | Private | RV sites beside the service station |
| Caribou RV Park | Alaska Highway, just south of km 157.8 | Private | Near the junction, about 15 minutes from Whitehorse |
Fees at Yukon government campgrounds apply from May 1 to September 30. You can pay cash at the campground or buy a camping permit online or from a vendor. Kookatsoon Lake (km 152) is for day use only.
Long before the gold rush, Tlingit traders from the coast used the passes to trade with the Tagish and Southern Tutchone people of the interior. Carcross, first called Caribou Crossing, was a meeting place on that route. Keish (Skookum Jim), Káa Goox (Dawson Charlie) and Shaaw Tláa (Kate Carmack), who were part of the 1896 gold discovery in the Klondike, had family ties to this area.
In 1897 and 1898, tens of thousands of stampeders landed at Skagway and Dyea and hauled their supplies over the White Pass and Chilkoot trails to Bennett Lake. The North-West Mounted Police posted officers on both summits in February 1898. The White Pass and Yukon Route railway reached Whitehorse in July 1900 and carried freight and passengers for more than 80 years. Full service ended in 1982, and it now runs summer excursions. Silver and gold finds on Montana Mountain and in the Wheaton River area brought short-lived mining towns such as Conrad City in the early 1900s.
Construction of the highway began in the early 1970s. The road opened for summer use in 1978 and was formally dedicated in 1981. It was improved for year-round traffic and opened all year in 1986. Today it is one of the few roads that link the Yukon to tidewater, and it carries visitors, residents and freight.
About 176 km (109 miles), or about 2.5 hours without stops. Add time for customs and photo stops. The South Klondike Highway itself is about 158 km long and ends at the Alaska Highway, about 20 km south of downtown Whitehorse.
Yes, if you cross the border. Everyone in the vehicle needs a valid passport or another accepted document, such as a NEXUS card, a U.S. passport card or an enhanced driver’s licence. Citizens of other countries may also need a visa.
No. The US port near Skagway is open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Alaska time. Canada customs at Fraser is open 8 a.m. to midnight Yukon time in summer, and 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Yukon time from November 1, 2026, to March 14, 2027. Hours can change, so check before you go.
Yes. Skagway is on Alaska time. Yukon and British Columbia are 1 hour ahead of Skagway in summer and 2 hours ahead in winter.
Only in Carcross, at km 106. Fill up in Skagway or Whitehorse. There is no fuel on the 106 km between Skagway and Carcross.
Yes. The whole highway is paved. The climb from Skagway to the White Pass summit is long and steep, and the summit is often foggy or windy.
Yes. It is plowed and open all year, but storms and avalanches can close White Pass for hours or days. Use winter tires, carry emergency gear and check road conditions and border hours before you leave.
Conrad Campground (km 90) is the Yukon government campground on the highway. There is a small First Nation campground and an RV park in Carcross, RV parks in Skagway, the National Park Service’s Dyea Campground near Skagway, and Caribou RV Park near the Alaska Highway junction.
The White Pass summit (km 23), Tutshi Lake (km 64 to 72), the Bove Island viewpoint (km 95), Carcross (km 106), the Carcross Desert (km 107.7) and Emerald Lake (km 117.5).
Use 511 Yukon (511yukon.ca) for the Canadian section and Alaska 511 (511.alaska.gov) for the road from Skagway to the border. Both show closures and highway cameras.
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