Seward

Understand

Founded in 1903 as the ocean terminus of what is now the Alaska Railroad, Seward prides itself, not only on its natural beauty, but as Alaska's only deep-water, ice-free port with rail, highway and air transportation to Alaska's interior and major urban population centers.

Climate

Getting there

By car Seward is located 127 road miles south of Anchorage. The Seward Highway is a very scenic 2.5-hour drive from Anchorage to Seward, but can be slow in peak summer. In 2017, the Alaska Department of Transportation announced a Milepost 75-90 Rehabilitation Project to make major safety improvements to a busy crash-prone section of the Seward Highway from Girdwood to beyond the Portage curve toward Turnagain Pass. In July 2015 a tour bus crash at Milepost 79 (Portage Glacier Road and Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center) killed one man and critically injured several others, causing a 10-hour traffic jam. During the summer months, up to 15,000 vehicles use this 15-mile stretch of Seward Highway daily.

By train The Alaska Railroad offers daily rail passage between Anchorage and Seward in the summer, May 13 to Sept 14. The trip between Anchorage and Seward -- the Coastal Classic -- is arguably its most scenic section, and you can take the train one-way. The train parallels the Seward Highway along the Turnagain Arm, but also heads up into the mountains away from the road, pass glaciers and alpine meadows you won't be able to see by car. Adventure Class (with shared access to older vista dome railcar) Round Trip/One Way fare: $178/$105 adults, $89/$53 children (2-11); GoldStar Service (New Dome Railcar) Round Trip/One Way fare: $363/$213 adults, $215/$126 children. Passengers are required by TSA to check-in at the ticket window (an hour before at Anchorage, 30-45 minutes before at Seward) and show a government issued photo ID (for those age 18 and older) to receive boarding passes. If you have luggage (2 pieces max), it must be checked through to your destination. At depots, boarding for trains occurs 20-30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure. Southbound

6:45AM - Depart Anchorage Depot - 411 West 1st Avenue 11:05AM - Arrive Seward Depot - 410 Port Avenue (short walk to small boat harbor; about 1/2 mile to cruise ship dock) Northbound

6PM - Depart Seward

Getting around

Seward is a great place to walk around. For those needing a ride, here are some options.

Summer Shuttle Bus, +1 907-224-4020, is operated daily by the city of Seward during the summer months when the cruise ships are in town. The shuttle runs a loop starting at the cruise ship dock to the Alaska SeaLife Center, and circulates approximately every 15-30 minutes. Free (tips appreciated) Tidewater Taxi +1 907-727-1929. Water taxi servicing Resurrection Bay, Kayakers Cove, Alaska State Park Cabins and elsewhere. Hertz of Seward, 907-224-4378. Rentals for a day or longer with one-way drop off in Anchorage available. Seward Bike Shop, 411 Port Ave., 907-224-2448, sewardbikeshop.com. Rents bikes by the hour or day. There is a bike path along the water from the harbor to the front of town. PJ'S Taxis, 907-224-5555.

See

1 The Sealife Center, 301 Railway Ave, ☏ +1 907 224-6300, toll-free: +1-800 224-2525. Aquarium and research facility featuring marine life of the Gulf of Alaska. The Sealife Center is Alaska’s only public aquarium and ocean wildlife rescue center. Exhibits feature puffins, octopus, sea lions and other sealife. $20 adult, $15 student (12-17), $10 child (4-11), age 3 and under free. (updated Sep 2015) 2 Seward Museum, 239 6th Ave, ☏ +1 907 224-4082, [email protected]. Historical Museum of Seward. $5 adult. (updated Jun 2026) 3 Exit Glacier. Exit Glacier is the only part of Kenai Fjords National Park accessible by road. Here you can stroll the trails, walk very close to an active glacier or take a ranger-led walk. It is a place where you can witness up close how glaciers re-shape a landscape and learn how plant life reclaims the barren rocky land exposed by a glacier's retreat.

Do

Seward's highlights are the neighboring Kenai Fjords National Park, sport fishing (for salmon, halibut, ling cod and salmon shark), glacier and wildlife day cruises, kayaking, sailing, hiking and mountain biking, quaint and quirky townsfolk, 4th of July celebrations and the Silver Salmon Derby.

1 Stoney Creek Canopy Adventures. - located in Seward 4th of July Mount Marathon Race. Three miles up and down, complete with cliffs, waterfalls, and loose sharp rocks, a great Alaskan event Seavey's Ididaride, Exit Glacier Rd. Here you can see one of the family's 3 dog yards. Go for a ride on a buggy with a team of dogs, play with puppies, and get up close and personal with Mitch's gear and sled. You get a tour guide through the property and learn about the grueling ididarod race.

Kayaking 2 Adventure Sixty North (A60N), 31872 Herman Leirer Rd, ☏ +1 907-224-2600. 7 am to 6 pm. Year-round outfitter providing guided sea kayaking trips. Offers sea kayak rental and gear rentals. Explore glacier regions, heli kayak tours, heli kayak dog mushing tours, heli hike on Bear, Aialik & Holgate Glaciers, view sea life and wildlife. Ice/glacier hiking on Exit Glacier. 4hr trips, full day excursions, overnight sea kayaking adventures, call for water taxi information and local shuttle service. (updated Jun 2016) Exit Glacier Guides, ☏ +1 907-224-5569. Daily ice hiking tours on Exit Glacier, crampons and equipment provided.. Also offers a shuttle out to the glacier/Harding Icefield Trail for $20 round-trip. (updated Sep 2023) Liquid Adventures, 13990 Beach Dr, ☏ +1 907-224-9225. Professionally guided kayaking trips throughout Kenai Fjords National Park. Kayak Adventures Worldwide, 328 3rd Ave, ☏ +1 907-224-3960. Small, personal shop located right downtown and specializing in environmentally friendly and educational kayak trips. All abilities welcome. Trips to Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park. Everything from half-day adventures to week long expeditions. Sunny Co

Buy

Brown & Hawkins Mercantile, ☏ +1 907-224-3011. The local North Face, Mountain Hardware, Padagonia, Carhart outdoor wear store. Located on 4th St. in historic downtown Seward, Alaska Resurrect Art Coffee House Gallery, 320 3rd Ave, ☏ +1 907-224-7161. Historic Landmark. Local original art and gifts. Friendly baristas, excellent coffee. Live Jazz Tuesdays all summer. Kenai Fjords Tours Gift Shop, 1304 4th Ave, ☏ +1 907-224-3041. Good all weather gear for Alaskan travel. Sweet Darlings, ☏ +1 907-224-3011. Alaskan Confectioners Makers of Alaska's Finest Handmade Candies, Fudge, Chocolates, Berry Bark and Candy. Don't forget the gelato! Made on the premises fresh daily. The Fish House/True Value Hardware, ☏ +1 907-224-3674. Across from the small boat harbor. The place to go for local charter and fishing info, gear, tackle, etc. One giant building is split between the fish house and the hardware store. If it can be had in Seward, most likely you'll find it here.

Eat

There are a ton of great