Alaska Local Expert
Mackenzie Schultz
“She's spent years learning how to type with her toes, but still not sure why.”
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Leaving Alaska for Tennessee: The Truth Nobody Tells You
Trading the Last Frontier for the Volunteer State is one of the more dramatic relocations a person can make, and the contrast goes far beyond the distance on a map. Alaska offers untamed wilderness, permanent fund dividends, and a lifestyle built around self-reliance and open space, while Tennessee pulls newcomers in with rolling green hills, a lower cost of living, and a warmer culture in every sense of the word. The two states share an independent spirit, but just about everything else works differently once you settle in. Our Snappy Scout team (Mackenzie & Mike) dug into the costs, logistics, and lifestyle adjustments you should expect before loading up the moving truck and heading south.
Who's Behind This Guide
Driving Your Own Move from Alaska to Tennessee
Average distance
4,150miles
Typical route
A drive from Alaska to Tennessee typically routes through the Alaska Highway (AK-2) into Canada, then through British Columbia and Alberta via the Trans-Canada Highway, crossing into the United States at Montana and connecting to I-15 S, then picking up I-90 E or I-80 E across the northern US, before heading south on I-65 S or I-24 E into Tennessee.
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Anchorage, AK → Nashville, TN
~4150 miles
Fairbanks, AK → Memphis, TN
~4400 miles
Juneau, AK → Knoxville, TN
~3900 miles
Anchorage, AK → Chattanooga, TN
~4200 miles
Wasilla, AK → Clarksville, TN
~4100 miles
Should You Move From Alaska to Tennessee Quiz
Take this 10 question quiz to find out if the move to Tennessee from Alaska is the right call for your lifestyle and preferences.
Progress1 of 10 questions
Question 1 of 10
What kind of weather makes you happiest?
0/10answered
Live score
Collecting your answers and forming an opinion. Answer another question to see the results.
The Honest Cost of Moving to Tennessee from Alaska
Moving 4,150 miles from Alaska to Tennessee will typically cost between $2,500.00 and $4,500.00 to hire full service movers. See the breakdown below by home size.
Expected Range
$2,500.00–$4,500.00
Expected Time
5–12days
Cost by home size
Studio
$1,260.00
1 Bedroom
$1,860.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,070.00
3 Bedrooms
$4,450.00
4 Bedrooms
$6,400.00
5+ Bedrooms
$7,110.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,260.00 | 300 | $4.2 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,860.00 | 450 | $4.13 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,070.00 | 750 | $4.09 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $4,450.00 | 1,100 | $4.05 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $6,400.00 | 1,600 | $4 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $7,110.00 | 1,800 | $3.95 |
How we calculated these numbers: We reached out to the owners and operators of more than a dozen nationwide moving companies to figure out how they factor in mileage, weight, volume, timing, origin & termination locations, and approximate home sizes to determine a moving estimate. The results above are what the data nerds at Snappy Scout created based on that info.
Who Thrives After Moving from Alaska to Tennessee?
Well, it depends. If you're a Tech Bro, Stay at Home Mom, or Binge Shopper, you'll thrive in your move to Tennessee. But if you're more of a Beach Bum, Homesteader, or Retired Military, settling into your new home state may be a bit of a challenge. We scored a variety of different “personalities” on a 10-point scale to show you what to expect from a lifestyle perspective with a relocation from Alaska to Tennessee.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from AK to TN
Tech Scene
Alaska
2
/10
Tennessee
7.5
/10
Alaska
Giving up
No Silicon Valley vibes, limited startup scene struggles here
Tennessee
Gaining
Chattanooga gig internet, Oracle's Nashville campus, Oak Ridge brains
Recommended TN cities/areas for Tech Bros
Alaska
2
/10
Tennessee
7.5
/10
Stay At Home Moms
Alaska
4
/10
Tennessee
7.5
/10
Alaska
Giving up
Tight-knit suburbs exist but isolation is real
Tennessee
Gaining
Murfreesboro playdates, Memphis Zoo memberships, Nashville library storytime
Recommended TN cities/areas for Stay at Home Moms
MurfreesboroFranklinGermantown
Alaska
4
/10
Tennessee
7.5
/10
Shopping
Alaska
3.5
/10
Tennessee
6
/10
Alaska
Giving up
Shopping malls, local boutiques, artist galleries, outdoor gear, Alaska-made goods, gift shops, brick and mortar shopping
Tennessee
Gaining
Opry Mills marathons, Tanger Sevierville runs, wallet cries happy, the Pinnacle
Recommended TN cities/areas for Binge Shoppers
Opry MillsSeviervilleBristol
Alaska
3.5
/10
Tennessee
6
/10
Beach Culture
Alaska
8
/10
Tennessee
4
/10
Alaska
Giving up
Beaches absolutely exist but think tide-pooling, rocky shores, and maybe a wetsuit
Tennessee
Gaining
Norris Lake shores and Percy Priest are not Gulf waves
Recommended TN cities/areas for Beach Bums
Norris LakePercy Priest Lake
Alaska
8
/10
Tennessee
4
/10
Homesteading
Alaska
9
/10
Tennessee
7.5
/10
Alaska
Giving up
Think brassicas, DIY greenhouses, and chopping wood
Tennessee
Gaining
Cumberland Plateau acreage, farm coops, Tractor Supply everywhere
Recommended TN cities/areas for Homesteaders
Cumberland PlateauCookevilleGreeneville
Alaska
9
/10
Tennessee
7.5
/10
Military Culture
Alaska
9
/10
Tennessee
8
/10
Alaska
Giving up
Elmendorf and Fort Wainwright offer strong community
Tennessee
Gaining
Clarksville near Fort Campbell, VA care in Murfreesboro, Mountain Home VA Medical Center in Johnson City
Recommended TN cities/areas for Retired Militaries
Alaska
9
/10
Tennessee
8
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of Tennessee?
Not many Tennesseeans grow tobacco anymore, but old tobacco barns still stand everywhere. The sight and smell of them take me back to early Saturday mornings heading to the field, loading wagons, and pulling into the barn to hang tobacco stalks for drying. It was hard work, but Tennesseeans neve shy away from challenges. That's why we are the Volunteer State.
– Mike Stover
Tennessee Local
Lifestyle differences between living in Alaska and living in Tennessee
AlaskaTennessee
How Food Culture Looks Different When You Move from Alaska to Tennessee
Eating Like a Local in Alaska
Beer Battered Fish and Chips (Try the Halibut or Rockfish!), Local Alaskan Oysters, King Crab Legs, PelMeni's, Fish Tacos, and Grilled Salmon. Friends Don't Let Friends Eat Farmed Salmon!
Mackenzie SchultzAlaska Local ExpertEating Like a Local in Tennessee
Locals from Memphis to Roan Mountain know that REAL barbeque comes wet, sweet, and sticky. Vinegar is a cleaning agent, not an ingredient in BBQ.
Mike StoverTennessee Local ExpertThe Tax Reality When Moving to Tennessee from Alaska
Alaska
Tennessee
AlaskavsTennessee
State Income Tax
State Income TaxNone, plus you get a Permanent Fund Dividend check annually
No tax on wages, Hall tax on dividends repealed 2021
Alaska
None, plus you get a Permanent Fund Dividend check annually
VS
Tennessee
No tax on wages, Hall tax on dividends repealed 2021
Property Taxes
Property TaxesAmong the lowest nationwide, no statewide levy
Lower statewide, higher in Shelby and Davidson, Knox and Hamilton moderate, rural low
Alaska
Among the lowest nationwide, no statewide levy
VS
Tennessee
Lower statewide, higher in Shelby and Davidson, Knox and Hamilton moderate, rural low
The Values, Beliefs, & Politics Landscape of Alaska vs Tennessee
Alaska
Tennessee
AlaskavsTennessee
People
PeopleRugged, self-reliant, welcoming and happy to help
Polite, Volunteer State helpful, porch chat friendly, bless your heart energy
Alaska
Rugged, self-reliant, welcoming and happy to help
VS
Tennessee
Polite, Volunteer State helpful, porch chat friendly, bless your heart energy
Politics
Libertarian-leaning red with fierce independent streak, ranked choice voting
Solid Republican statewide, Nashville and Memphis blue, Chattanooga and Knoxville cores competitive
Alaska
Libertarian-leaning red with fierce independent streak, ranked choice voting
VS
Tennessee
Solid Republican statewide, Nashville and Memphis blue, Chattanooga and Knoxville cores competitive
Religion
ReligionMajority Christian including Protestants, Russian Orthodox, and Catholics, significant Native spiritual traditions, alongside Church of Latter-day Saints, as well as non-religious
Predominantly Christian, strong evangelical Baptist, growing unaffiliated, Muslim and Hindu communities in Nashville
Alaska
Majority Christian including Protestants, Russian Orthodox, and Catholics, significant Native spiritual traditions, alongside Church of Latter-day Saints, as well as non-religious
VS
Tennessee
Predominantly Christian, strong evangelical Baptist, growing unaffiliated, Muslim and Hindu communities in Nashville
From Alaska to Tennessee: How the Weather Compare
SUMMER
Alaska
Can be shockingly pleasant sweater weather (mostly 60s, sometimes 70s-80s inland)
Tennessee
sweet tea sauna vibes (Memphis bakes, Nashville steams, Smokies cool off at dusk). The lowlands are just plain hot; the mountains are where you want to be.
WINTER
Alaska
Frostbite mode (Interior hits minus 40, Coasts are windy and rainy mild). Dark!
Tennessee
light jacket roulette (Nashville slush, Memphis rain, Gatlinburg steals the snow). Natives say if you don't like Tennessee weather, wait a while; it'll change.
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in Tennessee
Fall mornings in Tennessee combine mild but pleasant temperatures with an explosion of natural color. You don't go far to find cascading leaves and peaceful vibes.
Mike StoverTennessee Local ExpertNext Steps
Learn More About Moving to Tennessee
By now, you're hopefully fully aware that at Snappy Scout, our moving guides aren't like the rest! Now that you've compared the aspects of leaving behind Alaska, take a deeper dive into the specifics of moving to Tennessee. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from Tennessee local experts.
Moving toChattanooga
Pack Your Climbing Gear and Gig Dreams
Moving toGatlinburg
Pack Hiking Boots and Traffic Patience
Moving toJackson
Pack the Sweet Tea and Low Expectations
