Car Hire Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport

Car Hire

Officially known as the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport, this Canadian airport is located less than four miles from Whitehorse. It is the gateway into the entire territory, giving passengers access to Yukon’s stunning landscapes and natural scenery. There is no public transportation here, with the majority of passengers accessing the city with car rental in Whitehorse Airport.

Who to Book With
Car hire agents with presence at Whitehorse Airport include worldwide suppliers Budget and National and local supplier Norcan. Car rental counters are found in the terminal building and vehicles can be picked up onsite. Vehicles should be pre-booked before landing to ensure availability.

Need to Know Essentials
You will need to show the agent’s representative the following documents when collecting your vehicle:

- A valid UK driver’s licence
- The credit card used to make the reservation
- An additional piece of identification
- Booking conformation

For more info read our FAQs.

Driving
The Alaska Highway skirts the airport and connects it to the city as well as the rest of the Yukon. Once in the city it is best to park your car and tour around by public transit or bicycle. Still, Whitehorse is very easy to navigate by car using the Yukon River as a guide, though it is prone to traffic during common rush hours. Parking is quite easy to find and there are even designated tourist only car parks to make things a little bit easier. There are a few petrol stations in the city as well as near the airport and they accept both credit cards and cash for payment. Those travelling from the UK should check first that their UK-issued card will be accepted.

For more information on driving here visit our Guide to Canada.

Transport

Most passengers find that self-drive is the best way to access the city from Whitehorse Airport. Taxis can be found on site but do not come cheap, while shuttle buses also make the 10-minute journey, but these need to be booked in advance. Whitehorse is also a very bicycle friendly city.

Trains
There are no train services at the airport or in Whitehorse. The closest railway station is just north of the city, connecting it to Skagway, Alaska along the narrow gauge White Pass and Yukon Route. This is an extremely scenic journey that passes through mountains and along Lake Bennett before stopping at the Skagway port. The entire journey takes approximately 10 hours and costs around £120 one-way and £210 for a return ticket.

Taxis
The airport has official, licensed taxi operators and taxis can be found outside of the terminal building.

Taxi prices:
Whitehorse Airport to Whitehorse city centre is around £8

Buses
There is no bus service at the airport, though some hotels provide shuttle bus services to their guests. Whitehorse Transit buses operate within the city itself and there are six routes. Each route has its own schedule, though buses generally stop running by 19:30. A single bus trip costs less than £2 and a strip of 10 tickets goes for less than £15.

Facilities

Terminals
This small public airport has just one terminal building that caters to nearly 300,000 passengers per year. Aircraft travel between here and other cities in western Canada. There are also seasonal flights between here and Fairbanks (Alaska) and Frankfurt (Germany).

Parking
There is one car park that uses a pay and display system. Ticket dispensing machines are located at the entrance of the car park as well as in the terminal building’s waiting area. Parking is very cheap at less than £1 per day and the first hour of parking is free.

Wi-Fi
There is no information as to whether or not there is wireless internet access at Whitehorse Airport.

Information Services
Information can be received from airport security, which is on duty 24 hours a day.

Useful Numbers
General Information: +1 867 667 8440

Accessibility
The entire airport is barrier-free and allows the use of service dogs. Assistance is provided directly through the airline, though escort passes are given to caregivers to aid passengers with reduced mobility. All taxis and shuttle buses are wheelchair friendly and the car park has designated spaces close to the terminal building.

Restaurants and Bars
There is one restaurant at the airport that serves up hot meals and snacks. It is open from 05:30 to 16:30 and can be found in the public area of the terminal building.

VIP Lounges
Whitehorse Airport does not currently have any VIP lounges.

Money and ATMs
One ATM is situated in the terminal building and it dispenses Canadian dollars.

Shopping
There is a lovely gift shop in the airport that also sells travel necessities and snacks.