The YukonGetting around the Yukon
The Yukon is 483,000 km² with roughly 48,000 people. There are a handful of practical ways to move around, and knowing which to use where saves real time and frustration.
Author: Brand03 · License: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source: Wikimedia Commons: C-FANB@YXY 28Jan23.jpg
Rental cars: the default
You'll need a car for most trip types outside downtown Whitehorse.
Whitehorse Airport has several rental counters, including National, Budget, and Driving Force, plus Whitehorse Subaru and Whitehorse Kia in town and GoNorth for gravel-road-permitted vehicles if you're heading up the Dempster. Book well ahead for July, fleets are small and sell out. RV rentals run through dedicated companies like Fraserway and CanaDream rather than the standard car counters, and both operate seasonally, roughly May through September. Whichever company you book with, ask specifically about their policy on gravel highways like the Dempster before you commit, many standard rental agreements exclude them entirely.
Whitehorse Transit and taxis
Whitehorse Transit covers the basics within the city on a flat fare, with routes reaching most residential neighbourhoods; check the current route map for the specific stop nearest your destination, since coverage and schedules shift periodically. Service is limited in the evenings and sparser on weekends. Yellow Cab is a long-standing, reliable taxi option; confirm current fares directly when you book, since these change. Uber and Lyft do not operate anywhere in the Yukon, but Ucab Smart Ride, a locally built rideshare app, does.
Flights within Yukon
Air North, Yukon's Airline is the territory's own airline, connecting Whitehorse with Dawson City, Old Crow, and communities further afield, alongside its southern routes. Book as early as you can, fares climb sharply closer to departure. Charter floatplane operators like Alkan Air and Alpine Aviation reach remote lodges and backcountry drop-offs that no scheduled service covers. For short hops like Whitehorse to Haines Junction, driving is usually faster than flying once you factor in airport time, there's no scheduled air route between the two anyway.
Buses and shuttles
Klondike Experience (formerly Husky Bus) runs a Whitehorse-Dawson City route a few days a week through summer, with a meal stop along the way. Adventure Time runs a Whitehorse-Haines Junction shuttle on a similar seasonal schedule. A few local operators run targeted day-trip shuttles to spots like Takhini Hot Springs or Miles Canyon in summer; availability and operators change from year to year, so confirm current options with the Whitehorse Visitor Information Centre before counting on one. Greyhound stopped serving the Yukon in 2018 and hasn't returned. Hitchhiking happens and locals do it, but don't count on it for time-sensitive travel, waits on quieter highways can run long.
Questions, answered
Do I need a car in Whitehorse?
Not for downtown itself, it's walkable end to end in about 15 minutes. You'll need one for Miles Canyon, Takhini Hot Springs, the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, Carcross, or anywhere else outside the core.
Can I drive to Dawson City from Whitehorse in a day?
Yes, it's about 533 km on paved highway, roughly six and a half hours with stops. Leave early in the morning if you want to arrive with daylight to spare, and it's not a drive to attempt through winter darkness.
Are Yukon highways paved?
The Alaska Highway, Klondike Highway, Haines Road, and South Klondike Highway are all fully paved. The Dempster, Canol Road, and similar remote routes are gravel. The Silver Trail to Mayo is partly paved.
Is there a rideshare in Whitehorse?
No Uber or Lyft, but Ucab Smart Ride, a locally built app, operates in the city. Otherwise, taxis are the main on-demand option.
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