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The Copper Whale is the small downtown inn for a Whittier trip without a car. It's a 1939 house with views of Cook Inlet from its patios, a free continental breakfast from 6 to 9 AM in summer, and locked bag storage at $5 a bag a day.
That bag storage is the useful part for cruisers: a day in Anchorage before or after the ship without dragging luggage around.
There's no parking on site, only public lots nearby and the Captain Cook garage a block away. Check-out is 10 AM, and late check-out is $50 if there's room. No pets of any kind; the fine is $500.
Book it if you're on the train or a coach, not behind the wheel.
Book it if
- Car-free travelers riding to Whittier
- A day in Anchorage with the bags held
Look elsewhere if
- You're driving and need parking.
- You travel with a pet.
Your night before, from here
A Whittier sail morning from the Copper Whale, step by step, from what the hotel publishes and our road estimates.
A downtown inn in a 1939 house, with views of Cook Inlet and the mountains from its patios, a $12 guest laundry and bag storage.
No ride to Whittier, about 60 road miles away by our estimate; downtown puts you a short cab from the depot and the Dena'ina Civic Center.
A free continental breakfast, 6 to 9 AM in summer.
Copper Whale Inn is about 60 road miles from the Whittier terminal on our estimate. That’s roughly 1 hour 23 minutes without traffic — and without the tunnel, which opens toward Whittier once an hour. From the Copper Whale that’s about 1 hour 23 minutes of driving on our estimate — plus the tunnel’s schedule.
No parking on site: public lots nearby and the Captain Cook garage a block away, per the inn, which warns that its rear lot tows.
The Copper Whale, scored for Whittier: 20 of 100
The Copper Whale’s 20 comes only from what it publishes, scored for a Whittier sailing — how the score works.
Getting here, and on to the ship
The Copper Whale is an Anchorage stop — about 60 road miles to the Whittier terminal by our estimate, tunnel not counted. Question marks are legs you arrange.
Copper Whale Inn doesn't mention an airport ride, and ANC is the far end of the trip from Whittier.
No ride to Whittier, about 60 road miles away by our estimate; downtown puts you a short cab from the depot and the Dena'ina Civic Center.
Copper Whale Inn is about 60 road miles from the Whittier terminal on our estimate. That’s roughly 1 hour 23 minutes without traffic — and without the tunnel, which opens toward Whittier once an hour.
From ANC without a hotel shuttle
From ANC to the Copper Whale, it’s your own ride. Times and fares: the airport page.
No parking on site: public lots nearby and the Captain Cook garage a block away, per the inn, which warns that its rear lot tows.
Parking at the Copper Whale on a Whittier trip, for the nights you stay: None on site; public lots and the Captain Cook garage a block away.
No ride to Whittier, about 60 road miles away by our estimate; downtown puts you a short cab from the depot and the Dena'ina Civic Center.
Copper Whale Inn is about 60 road miles from the Whittier terminal on our estimate. That’s roughly 1 hour 23 minutes without traffic — and without the tunnel, which opens toward Whittier once an hour.
Landing on sail morning instead? Skip the Copper Whale and go straight from ANC to Whittier — the airport page checks your timing, and a car from the airport prices the drive.
Which terminal
Check your documentsPrincess and Holland America use Terminal 1 on West Camp Road, about 60 road miles from the Copper Whale by our estimate. The other berth burned in September, so check your line’s instructions before you leave the Copper Whale — the port explained on the hub.
Source: cruisehive.comDistance
About 60 mi by road to WhittierCopper Whale Inn is about 60 road miles from the Whittier terminal on our estimate. That’s roughly 1 hour 23 minutes without traffic — and without the tunnel, which opens toward Whittier once an hour.
Source: router.project-osrm.orgShuttle departures
No shuttleThe Copper Whale runs nothing to Whittier. Time the morning around the 9:45 AM Glacier Discovery or your line’s transfer. Set an alarm.
Source: copperwhale.comParking while you sail
Cruise parking
Cruise parking unconfirmedNo parking on site: public lots nearby and the Captain Cook garage a block away, per the inn, which warns that its rear lot tows.
Source: copperwhale.comParking in Whittier
$11 harbor lotThere’s no public parking at the Whittier pier, per Holland America. The city harbor lot is $11 a day, midnight to midnight, checked Oct 2, 2026 — weigh that against the Copper Whale’s own terms. Back at ANC, a short ride from the Copper Whale, the long-term lot is $13 a day with a $78 weekly cap. Ask before you book.
Beyond the Copper Whale: where the car goes while you sail · Whittier cruise parking, compared.
Source: whittieralaska.govThe evening and the morning
The evening
Not statedA downtown inn in a 1939 house, with views of Cook Inlet and the mountains from its patios, a $12 guest laundry and bag storage.
Breakfast
FreeA free continental breakfast, 6 to 9 AM in summer.
Address
L Street, downtown440 L Street, Anchorage, AK 99501
The Copper Whale website
The fine print, in one place
The small print the Copper Whale publishes — read for a Whittier cruise night, not a vacation week. The gaps are airport rides and whether you can park while you cruise — one call to the Copper Whale settles both.
Check-in and check-out
Minimum age
The Copper Whale doesn’t state one.
Resort fee
None stated
Wi-Fi
Not stated
Parking for your stay
None on site; public lots and the Captain Cook garage a block away
Breakfast
Free continental, 6–9 AM in summer
Pool
No pool
Pets
No pets of any kind; a $500 fine.
Rooms
The Copper Whale doesn’t list room types on the pages we read.
Accessibility
The Copper Whale’s pages we read don’t detail accessible rooms, so call before you book one.
On site
- EV chargingNot stated
- Guest laundryYes
- Fitness centerNot stated
- Pets allowedNo
Also worth knowing
- Bag storage $5 a bag a day.
- Guest laundry $12 a load, 5 to 10 PM.
- Late check-out $50 if available.
Before you book
Worth knowing
- Check-in 3 PM, check-out 10 AM; late check-out $50 if there's room.
- No parking on site: public lots nearby and the Captain Cook garage a block away.
- Bags held for $5 each a day.
What we couldn’t confirm
- Airport rides
- Whether you can park while you cruise
Facts for the Copper Whale come from its own pages, read September 26, 2026, with the shuttle, parking and airport-ride lines re-read October 2, 2026 where it published them. Before a Whittier sailing, confirm the cancellation window for your month — before the deposit, not after.
Worth a look alongside it
Around the Copper Whale: the Whittier cruise guide, the splurge list and renting a car for Whittier.
Wake up in a 1939 house over Cook Inlet.
Send us your Whittier sail date and we’ll check the Copper Whale for the night before, with no payment on the form.
Copper Whale Inn FAQ
Does the Copper Whale Inn store luggage?
Yes, locked storage at $5 a bag a day, per the inn.
Is there parking at the Copper Whale Inn?
No parking on site. The inn points to public lots nearby and the Captain Cook garage a block away, and warns that the rear lot tows.
How far is Copper Whale Inn from the Whittier cruise terminal?
About 60 miles by road to Terminal 1 on West Camp Road, by our estimate — the Copper Whale doesn’t give one. The 1 hour 23 minutes we estimate from the Copper Whale leaves out the tunnel, which opens toward Whittier once an hour. No traffic is a big assumption.
What time is breakfast at the Copper Whale Inn?
6 to 9 AM in summer and 7 to 9 AM in winter, free and continental, per the inn.
What's the Copper Whale Inn cancellation policy?
From May to September, cancel in writing at least 7 days before check-in; from October to April, 24 hours, per the inn.
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