Whitehorse

Whitehorse the city — as opposed to just the downtown core — sprawls along both sides of the Yukon River in a way that surprises people who came expecting a frontier village. It's 28,000 people, a Walmart, a Canadian Tire, three Tim Hortons, and a proper hospital. The Alaska Highway (Two Mile Hill Road and the Alaska Highway strip) is where the box stores and highway motels sit; the older residential neighbourhoods climb the clay cliffs on the west side.

If you’re using Whitehorse as a base for aurora viewing, Kluane trips, or the Dempster, staying anywhere in the city works — you’ll be in a car most of the time anyway. If you want to walk to a restaurant, stay downtown proper. The airport hotels on the escarpment are convenient for early flights and useless for anything else. Winter here is dark and cold but functional — the city runs, buses run, restaurants stay open.

Where to stay

For a first Yukon trip, stay downtown between Front Street and Fourth Avenue. If you have kids or want more space, look at Riverdale — quieter, riverside, 10 minutes by car to Main Street. The Alaska Highway motels (Airport Chalet, Yukon Inn, Best Western Gold Rush) are fine if you have a rental car and don’t mind a 15-minute drive to any restaurant that isn’t Boston Pizza. Expect $120-180 in winter across the city, $200-300 in summer. B&Bs in Porter Creek run cheaper but you’ll need a car.

Getting there

Whitehorse Transit runs eight bus routes weekdays and a limited Saturday schedule; there is no Sunday service. Fares are $2.50 cash. In practice, if you’re doing anything beyond downtown you need a car. The airport is 4 km from downtown, taxis are around $22, no rideshare. For inter-city, Husky Bus runs Whitehorse-Dawson three times a week, and Yukon Rides does the Skagway-Whitehorse run seasonally.

Frequently asked questions

Where to stay

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