Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Anchorage Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
Avoid C concourse on Wednesday nights as it is full of oilfield workers travelling to Prudhoe Bay on Thursday. You are safe there, but the snoring is truly world class! – Kris
ANC Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Anchorage Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.
What to Expect
Anchorage Airport (code: ANC) consists of two terminals: North and South. The South Terminal serves domestic airlines and has three concourses (A, B and C). The North Terminal has one concourse (N) and caters to international airlines and cargo/charter operations. A landside shuttle bus connects the two terminals.
The airport is smaller, so amenities are a bit limited, but you will fine free WiFi, an art gallery, and a handful of good restaurants including sushi and a microbrewery. For added comfort, economy class passengers can pay to use one of the first class lounges. See our Airport Lounges section for locations and rates.
Sleeping in Anchorage Airport
Reviewers have described ANC Airport clean, quiet and safe but they’ve also noted that it’s very cold, especially the floors, and that there are very few seats without armrests. Have a sleeping bag or travel mattress and blanket handy, as it is likely that you will be sleeping on the floor.
In terms of specific sleep-friendly spots, Concourse C has row upon row of armrest-free seating. A small observation area just before Gate C1 is quieter than the rest of the airport, and a reviewer strongly suggests the area at C9, under the hanging airplane, for a nice place to sleep. There is also an area near the Ravn Alaska ticketing/check-in desks that is supposed to be quiet and has armrest-free seating. Otherwise, a pair of earplugs or noise cancelling headphones will help block out overhead announcements that happen frequently and well into the night. Explore our guide to sleeping in Anchorage Airport or read some traveller airport reviews for more tips.
If you’re looking for uninterrupted sleep, it’s worth checking out nearby hotels with free airport shuttles. See Airport Hotels in the guide below.
Covid-19 Update
Some airport reviews and tips in this guide and elsewhere on the site were written before March 2020 and may no longer be valid. To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. You can also visit the airport’s web site for current information.
For more airport information continue scrolling down to explore more in our Anchorage Airport Guide.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security. For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there is a lounge that you can enter by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass or through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and to also find out how you can gain lounge access with just an economy class ticket!
- Alaska Lounge – Location: Concourse C, Airside, near Gate C1. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
- Delta Sky Club Pop Up – Location: South Terminal. Lounge Access: Lounge membership programs.
Military Lounge
- Atwood Military Lounge – Open to military personnel and their families only. Snacks, beverages and a playroom are available. Location: South Terminal, Level 1, behind the escalators. Hours: open 24 hours.
Related Pages: Anchorage Airport Lounges
Airport Hotels
If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Anchorage Airport that provide free airport shuttles:
With Covid restrictions constantly changing, we recommend that you confirm shuttle availability prior to booking and/or prior to your arrival.
- Coast Inn at Lake Hood » Check Rates
- Comfort Suites Anchorage International Airport » Check Rates
- Courtyard Anchorage Airport » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Anchorage Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.
Airport WiFi / Internet
Free WiFi is available at Anchorage Airport. Connect to the “ANC Free WIFI” network.
More Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover At The Airport
Airport Art – Explore one of the finest collections of Alaska Native Art at the “Art in Public Places” art gallery. Locations: Mezzanine Level, Concourse C, above the passenger exit lane and the “Northern Lights Corridor”, which connects the train and car rental facilities.
Alaska Sports Hall of Fame – Location: South Terminal, adjacent to the parking garage, access from Level 1 across from Baggage Claim # 5.
ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Fees may apply, so be sure to check your bank’s fee schedule and your daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: in the North and South Terminals.
Baby Care Facilities – Baby changing facilities are located throughout the airport. A nursery can be found across from the restrooms at the start of Concourse B.
Barber Shop – Time for a trim? Head to the Bush Pilot’s Barber Shop. Location: Landside. Hours: 9:00AM – 6:00PM.
Currency Exchange – Currency exchange counters are not available.
Duty Free & Shopping – Duty Free shopping is available as well as a small variety of shops. There are six Hudson News & Gift shops available, open from 9:00AM – 12:00AM.
Food & Drinks – There are many food concessions in the South Terminal that operate with varying schedules. At the time of this post-Covid update there were no 24-hour food or drinks concessions. In the past McDonalds and Starbucks had 24 hours, so you may want to check to see if they are open.
Information Desk – Locations: North Terminal, landside, Lobby. Hours: Open for all flight arrivals • South Terminal, landside, Level 1 baggage claim level, in “C” Concourse, behind the escalators. Hours: 9:00AM – 4:00PM • South Terminal, in “A” Concourse, Level 1. Hours: staffed as necessary.
Luggage Carts – Available for free in the North/International Terminal and for a fee in the South Terminal.
Luggage Storage & Lockers – There are two companies that can store luggage for you. You will need to present an airline ticket or boarding pass. Huntleigh USA – Location: Level 1, next to Bag Claim # 4 • Alaska Baggage and Seafood Shipping – Location: Level 2, across from Security.
Mobile Charging – A reader tells us that mobile charging is available. One station was spotted in Concourse C.
Pet Relief Areas – Two pet relief areas are available curbside outside the baggage claim areas. Look for signs with directions on the Arrivals Level. There is one Airside location in the South Terminal, across from Gate C1.
Rest Zones – There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
Showers – Not available.
SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
Smoking – Smoking is permitted in designated smoking areas outside the terminals.
Airport Hours
The airport is open 24 hours.
Keep in mind that TSA, airline check-in and baggage drop hours vary according to the flight schedule. Check these hours with your airline. If you are in the public area of the terminal (landside) you will not be able to get through to the secure area of the terminal (airside) until the morning.
Airlines
Anchorage airport is served by the following airlines: Air Canada • Alaska Airlines • American Airlines • Condor • Delta Air Lines • Grant Aviation • Icelandair • Korean Air • Omni Air International • Ravn Alaska • Sun Country Airlines • United Airlines • Yakutia Airlines.
Airport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport
Bus
The People Mover Bus provides a connection between Dimond Transit Center and downtown Anchorage. Route 40 stops at various points at the airport (every 30 minutes) between 6:00AM and 11:00PM. For more information, visit the Municipality of Anchorage website.
Car Rentals
The following car rental agencies operate onsite at the airport Rental Car Center: Alaska 4×4 Rentals •Alamo • Avis • Budget • Dollar • Enterprise • Hertz • Thrifty. The Rental Car Center is located across from the South Terminal. Free shuttles run between both terminals and the Rental Car Center every 15 minutes.
Hotel Shuttles
Several area hotels provide airport shuttle service: Alex Hotel & Suites • Coast Inn at Lake Hood • Coast International Inn • Comfort Suites Anchorage International Airport • Courtyard Anchorage Airport • Crowne Plaza Anchorage-Midtown, an IHG Hotel / Fairfield Inn & Suites Anchorage Midtown • Hampton Inn Anchorage • Hilton Garden Inn Anchorage • Holiday Inn Express Anchorage • Inlet Tower Hotel & Suites • The Lakefront Anchorage • Lakeshore Inn & Suites • La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Anchorage Airport • Motel 6 Anchorage Midtown • Puffin Inn Of Anchorage • SpringHill Suites Anchorage Midtown.
Shuttles depart from outside the Baggage Claim. Some of these hotels can be reached using the Telephone Information Boards located in the baggage claim areas of either terminal. Contact your hotel for shuttle service availability and details.
See also Airport Hotels above.
Inter-Terminal Shuttle
The airport provides free shuttle service, which runs between the South Terminal, Employee Parking Lot and Rental Car Center every 15 minutes. Service from the North Terminal and the Park & Fly Lot (extended parking) is available on demand only, and can be requested by using the designated phone on the wall curbside near the southeast end exit door.
Ride Share
Rideshare services, such as Uber and Lyft, pick-up on Level 2, Ticketing.
Taxi
Taxis are readily available. Pick-up locations: South Terminal (Level 1, Baggage Claim, across from Door 3) and North Terminal (across from Door 2). The ride to downtown Anchorage takes from 15 – 20 minutes.
Last updated: 2022-10-31
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, are subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers and their web sites. We are not representatives of any of the above mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.
