All guides
Every guide we publish, grouped by where you are in the move. Each is sourced, dated and reviewed by the Life After Alaska Editorial Team.
Destination guides: cities and states
- Moving From Alaska to WashingtonWhat actually changes when you trade Alaska for Washington — the weather and daylight, the taxes and costs, the work and the culture — and how to get there.
- Moving From Alaska to ColoradoWhat actually changes when you trade Alaska for Colorado — the weather and daylight, the taxes and costs, the work and the culture — and how to get there.
- Moving From Alaska to OregonWhat actually changes when you trade Alaska for Oregon — the weather and daylight, the taxes and costs, the work and the culture — and how to get there.
- Moving From Alaska to TexasWhat actually changes when you trade Alaska for Texas — the weather and daylight, the taxes and costs, the work and the culture — and how to get there.
- Moving From Alaska to ArizonaWhat actually changes when you trade Alaska for Arizona — the weather and daylight, the taxes and costs, the work and the culture — and how to get there.
- Moving From Alaska to HawaiiWhat actually changes when you trade Alaska for Hawaii — the weather and daylight, the taxes and costs, the work and the culture — and how to get there.
- Moving From Alaska to SeattleWhat to know before you trade Alaska for Seattle, Washington: the outdoors, the costs, the weather and how to get yourself and your things there.
- Moving From Alaska to Tacoma and the JBLM areaWhat to know before you trade Alaska for Tacoma and the JBLM area, Washington: the outdoors, the costs, the weather and how to get yourself and your things there.
- Moving From Alaska to SpokaneWhat to know before you trade Alaska for Spokane, Washington: the outdoors, the costs, the weather and how to get yourself and your things there.
- Moving From Alaska to BoiseWhat to know before you trade Alaska for Boise, Idaho: the outdoors, the costs, the weather and how to get yourself and your things there.
- Moving From Alaska to PortlandWhat to know before you trade Alaska for Portland, Oregon: the outdoors, the costs, the weather and how to get yourself and your things there.
- Moving From Alaska to PhoenixWhat to know before you trade Alaska for Phoenix, Arizona: the outdoors, the costs, the weather and how to get yourself and your things there.
- Moving From Alaska to DenverWhat to know before you trade Alaska for Denver, Colorado: the outdoors, the costs, the weather and how to get yourself and your things there.
- Moving From Alaska to Dallas–Fort WorthWhat to know before you trade Alaska for Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas: the outdoors, the costs, the weather and how to get yourself and your things there.
- Moving From Alaska to Las VegasWhat Alaskans should know before trading Anchorage or Fairbanks for the Mojave Desert: the route, the heat, Nevada's tax and DMV rules, the job market and where people actually live.
- Moving From Alaska to Salt Lake CityWhat Alaskans should know before moving to the Wasatch Front: getting there, the four-season climate, Utah's taxes and DMV rules, a growing job market and the housing you'll find.
- Moving From Alaska to HoustonHouston is where many Alaska oil and gas careers lead next. Here's what to know about getting there, the Gulf Coast climate, Texas taxes and DMV deadlines, jobs and housing.
- Moving From Alaska to AtlantaWhat Alaskans should know before moving to metro Atlanta: a cross-country route, the Southern climate, Georgia's taxes and DMV rules, a large job market and suburban housing.
- Moving From Alaska to ChicagoWhat Alaskans should know about moving to the Chicago area: the route east, Midwest winters, Illinois taxes and DMV rules, one of the country's biggest job markets, and city versus suburban housing.
- Moving From Alaska to Los AngelesWhat Alaskans should know before moving to Southern California: the route down the West Coast, a mild climate, California's taxes and tight DMV deadlines, a huge job market and housing realities.
Decide
- Should I Leave Alaska?A calm, balanced way to think through one of the biggest decisions an Alaskan can make — including the reasons to stay.
- Pros and Cons of Leaving AlaskaWhat you may gain and what you'll likely give up when you leave Alaska, laid out plainly so you can weigh them for your own life.
- Cost of Living in AlaskaWhat it really costs to live in Alaska, region by region, and where to find current official numbers before you weigh a move.
- Is Alaska a Good Place to Live? Honest Pros and ConsA balanced look at what makes Alaska wonderful, what makes it hard, and how to tell which side outweighs the other for you.
- Moving From Alaska to WashingtonWhat actually changes when you trade Alaska for Washington — the weather and daylight, the taxes and costs, the work and the culture — and how to get there.
- Moving From Alaska to ColoradoWhat actually changes when you trade Alaska for Colorado — the weather and daylight, the taxes and costs, the work and the culture — and how to get there.
- Moving From Alaska to OregonWhat actually changes when you trade Alaska for Oregon — the weather and daylight, the taxes and costs, the work and the culture — and how to get there.
- Moving From Alaska to TexasWhat actually changes when you trade Alaska for Texas — the weather and daylight, the taxes and costs, the work and the culture — and how to get there.
- Moving From Alaska to ArizonaWhat actually changes when you trade Alaska for Arizona — the weather and daylight, the taxes and costs, the work and the culture — and how to get there.
- Moving From Alaska to HawaiiWhat actually changes when you trade Alaska for Hawaii — the weather and daylight, the taxes and costs, the work and the culture — and how to get there.
- Cost of Living in Alaska vs. TexasA sourced, honest comparison of what changes in your budget when you trade Alaska for Texas, line by line.
- Cost of Living in Alaska vs. WashingtonA sourced, honest comparison of what changes in your budget when you trade Alaska for Washington, line by line.
- Cost of Living in Alaska vs. ArizonaA sourced, honest comparison of what changes in your budget when you trade Alaska for Arizona, line by line.
- Cost of Living in Alaska vs. FloridaA sourced, honest comparison of what changes in your budget when you trade Alaska for Florida, line by line.
- Cost of Living in Alaska vs. IdahoA sourced, honest comparison of what changes in your budget when you trade Alaska for Idaho, line by line.
- Moving From Alaska to SeattleWhat to know before you trade Alaska for Seattle, Washington: the outdoors, the costs, the weather and how to get yourself and your things there.
- Moving From Alaska to Tacoma and the JBLM areaWhat to know before you trade Alaska for Tacoma and the JBLM area, Washington: the outdoors, the costs, the weather and how to get yourself and your things there.
- Moving From Alaska to SpokaneWhat to know before you trade Alaska for Spokane, Washington: the outdoors, the costs, the weather and how to get yourself and your things there.
- Moving From Alaska to BoiseWhat to know before you trade Alaska for Boise, Idaho: the outdoors, the costs, the weather and how to get yourself and your things there.
- Moving From Alaska to PortlandWhat to know before you trade Alaska for Portland, Oregon: the outdoors, the costs, the weather and how to get yourself and your things there.
- Moving From Alaska to PhoenixWhat to know before you trade Alaska for Phoenix, Arizona: the outdoors, the costs, the weather and how to get yourself and your things there.
- Moving From Alaska to DenverWhat to know before you trade Alaska for Denver, Colorado: the outdoors, the costs, the weather and how to get yourself and your things there.
- Moving From Alaska to Dallas–Fort WorthWhat to know before you trade Alaska for Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas: the outdoors, the costs, the weather and how to get yourself and your things there.
- Moving From Alaska to Las VegasWhat Alaskans should know before trading Anchorage or Fairbanks for the Mojave Desert: the route, the heat, Nevada's tax and DMV rules, the job market and where people actually live.
- Moving From Alaska to Salt Lake CityWhat Alaskans should know before moving to the Wasatch Front: getting there, the four-season climate, Utah's taxes and DMV rules, a growing job market and the housing you'll find.
- Moving From Alaska to HoustonHouston is where many Alaska oil and gas careers lead next. Here's what to know about getting there, the Gulf Coast climate, Texas taxes and DMV deadlines, jobs and housing.
- Moving From Alaska to AtlantaWhat Alaskans should know before moving to metro Atlanta: a cross-country route, the Southern climate, Georgia's taxes and DMV rules, a large job market and suburban housing.
- Moving From Alaska to ChicagoWhat Alaskans should know about moving to the Chicago area: the route east, Midwest winters, Illinois taxes and DMV rules, one of the country's biggest job markets, and city versus suburban housing.
- Moving From Alaska to Los AngelesWhat Alaskans should know before moving to Southern California: the route down the West Coast, a mild climate, California's taxes and tight DMV deadlines, a huge job market and housing realities.
- Where Alaskans Actually Move: Washington, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, Texas, Oregon, ColoradoChoosing a destination is less about finding a cheaper Alaska than deciding which parts of your life should stay familiar. These are commonly chosen destinations to consider, not a migration ranking. Compare actual communities, household budgets and routes rather than treating any state as a single housing market.
Plan
- Timeline: 12 Months Before You Leave AlaskaA month-by-month plan for leaving Alaska without the last-minute scramble, from the first conversation to the day you drive or fly out.
- Leaving Alaska and the PFD: Residency, Taxes and What ChangesLeaving Alaska creates several separate residency questions. The PFD, your new state tax return, vehicle documents, voter record and hunting or fishing privileges do not all use one test or one deadline. Start with the facts of your move, then check each agency rather than assuming an Alaska address settles everything.
- How Much Does It Cost to Move from Alaska to the Lower 48?The cost of leaving Alaska is a chain of expenses, not one freight rate. Compare what you will ship, how it reaches the Lower 48, how you will travel, and what you will spend before your new home is ready. This guide uses budget structures rather than invented price totals.
- Winter vs Summer: When to Move Out of AlaskaThe best departure month depends on how you leave, not just the weather outside your door. Summer offers longer driving days but more competition for moving services. Winter can work for a ship-and-fly move, while a loaded drive through Canada requires a different margin for cold, darkness and delays.
Ship & Drive
- The ALCAN Highway (Alaska Highway)A reference guide to the road that links Alaska to the rest of North America: where it runs, what it's like in each season, and what to know before you drive it.
- Moving From Alaska to the Lower 48: The Complete GuideThree ways out — the ferry, the Alaska Highway through Canada, or freight by sea — and how to choose the one that fits your household, your season and your budget.
- Driving the Alaska Highway with Your Household Goods: A Practical Route GuideA loaded Alaska Highway trip is a moving day repeated across remote country, not simply a long commute. Plan around the vehicle's loaded range, safe stopping places, border requirements, and what happens if a tire or engine fails. This southbound guide follows Tok through Yukon to Dawson Creek, with room for shorter days and changed plans.
- Moving Pets, Firearms and Food Across Canada from AlaskaDriving from Alaska to the Lower 48 means entering Canada and then entering the United States again. Your belongings may be in transit, but that does not waive either country's rules. Prepare separate checks for people, pets, firearms and food before you pack the vehicle, not at the inspection booth.
- Alaska Marine Highway Ferry Guide: Routes, Bellingham and Moving by FerryThe Alaska Marine Highway System, the state's Alaska ferry network, links coastal communities and can carry you, your vehicle and your pets south to Bellingham, with no road needed.
- Moving Out of Rural and Bush AlaskaWhen there's no road, your move starts with a plane or a barge. Here's how to plan it.
- Shipping a Car from Alaska to the Lower 48: Barge vs Driving the Alaska HighwayShipping avoids the Canadian road crossing and puts fewer miles on your vehicle. Driving keeps the car, pets, and permitted essentials with you. Neither choice is automatically cheaper. Start with the actual Alaska receiving point, Washington pickup terminal, vehicle acceptance rules, and the time you can spare before comparing quotes with a realistic road budget.
- Moving Pets Out of AlaskaHow to get dogs, cats and other animals to the Lower 48 safely, whether you fly, drive or sail.
- Moving from Southeast Alaska (Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan): Ferry, Barge and Air OptionsJuneau, Sitka and Ketchikan have local roads, but no continuous road connection to the Lower 48. Moving out means putting people, vehicles or household goods on water or in the air first. The workable plan may use different methods for each, with separate reservations and a buffer between arrival dates.
Money & Legal
- Moving From a No-Income-Tax State: What Changes After AlaskaAlaska doesn't tax wages and doesn't have a statewide sales tax. Most destinations tax one or both, so your take-home pay and budget will shift.
- Ending Alaska Residency the Right WayResidency is a bundle of decisions, not one form. Closing Alaska ties cleanly protects you from PFD problems and makes your new state's paperwork easier.
- Driver's License and Vehicle Registration in Your New StateEach state sets its own deadline and paperwork. Gather documents before you leave Alaska and the DMV visit becomes one trip instead of three.
- Health Insurance and Healthcare Continuity When You Leave AlaskaA move is one of the most common times people end up uninsured by accident. A few calls before you leave keep coverage and prescriptions on track.
- Insurance After Moving From AlaskaInsurance is priced by location. Your auto rate, your home coverage and the risks you insure against will all change.
- Transferring Your Professional License Out of AlaskaNurses, teachers, electricians, real estate agents and many others need a new-state license. Start before you move so you can work when you arrive.
- Your First-Year Budget in the Lower 48Some things will cost less than in Alaska and some will cost more. The first year also carries one-time costs that are easy to forget.
Arrive & Settle
- Life After Alaska: What People Miss and What They Don'tCommon themes in how people describe life after leaving Alaska — not a survey, not quotes from named people, just the patterns that come up again and again.
- Your First 90 Days in the Lower 48The truck or container is only the start. The first three months are when the paperwork, the routines and the feeling of home all come together.
- Change-of-Address Checklist for Leaving AlaskaMail forwarding buys you time, not a fix. Work through this list in the two weeks before and after your move.
- Adjusting to Heat, Traffic, Daylight and CrowdsSome changes are welcome, like winter sun. Others take time: summer heat, steady traffic, and the feeling of being one person among many.