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Getting To & Around Girdwood |
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| Perhaps the easiest way to get to Girdwood is to rent a car at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport when you arrive. There are no rental cars available in Girdwood. Check out our comparison of Anchorage car rental agencies and RV rentals. |
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Driving Directions |
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Follow International Airport Road to the Minnesota Exit. Take Minnesota south (right) and follow Minnesota around a large curve to the east. After crossing an intersection with Old Seward, take a right (south) onto the New Seward Highway. Follow the New Seward for about 37 miles. The steep Chugach Mountains of Chugach State Park and Chugach National Forest will be on your left. The north shore of Turnagain arm will be on your right. You'll see the Kenai Mountains across the arm. You might also see sheep in the Chugach Mountains (or on the road-be careful!) and beluga whales in the arm. This is among the most scenic roads in Alaska and there are plenty of turn-offs for photos; keep your camera handy. Be aware that lineups of more than five cars are illegal; please use the pull-outs to let faster vehicles pass you, if necessary. Be extra-careful if you pass other vehicles; the road in places is narrow and winding and is known for its high number of traffic accidents.
The New Seward Highway is open year-round. It does get closed on occasion by huge avalanches. If you look closely, you might notice avalanche run-out zones on the left (look for steep slopes without trees), or even large patches of snow along the roadside; they last well into the summer.
After passing Bird Point on your right, you are getting close to Girdwood. You'll see a "Welcome to Girdwood" sign on the left, just before a large Tesoro gas station. (This is the last gas station between Anchorage and Seward, about 90 miles south of Girdwood.) Take the left onto Alyeska Highway just before the gas station. Alyeska Highway is about 3 miles long and ends in a T-intersection with Arlberg Road, at the base of Alyeska Mountain and Alyeska Resort. You'll see the chairlifts for skiers and other resort facilities.
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Transportation Alternatives |
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If you don't want to rent a car, there are a few other options. Individuals and smaller parties will probably want to take a taxi; from the Anchorage airport to Girdwood costs about $65 one-way. A limo, which can be arranged through guest services at Alyeska Resort (907-754-2108, www.alyeskaresort.com), costs $100.
For groups of five or more (some exceptions may apply), check out The Magic Bus. It's $40 from the airport to Girdwood one-way, or roundtrip within the same day. They also do a run during cruise season (May through September) that enables you to daytrip in Whittier: Departs Anchorage 11am, departs from Girdwood Tesoro 12pm, and through Whittier Tunnel 12:30pm. Return through tunnel 6pm, stop at Girdwood 6:30pm, and arrive in Anchorage 7:30pm. Contact them at www.themagicbus.com or at 907-268-6311.
It's also possible to take the train from the airport to Girdwood:
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The Coastal Classic leaves Anchorage at 6:45am and arrives at 8:05am; the return trip departs Girdwood at 8:55pm and arrives in Anchorage at 10:15pm. |
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The Glacier Discovery leaves at 10am and arrives at 11:20am; the first return trip departs Girdwood at 5:45pm and arrives in Anchorage at 6:45pm, while a second departs at 7:40pm and arrives at 9:15pm. |
Contact the Alaska Railroad at www.alaskarailroad.com or at 800-544-0552 or 907-265-2494. One-way fares from Anchorage to Girdwood will run about $49. Keep your I.D. handy for boarding; remember that these days, many of the regulations for train travel are similar to those for airplane travel.
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In-Town Transportation |
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Alyeska Resort offers a courtesy shuttle from the train station to The Hotel Alyeska and to other spots around town (call guest services to reserve). The shuttle runs approximately every 15 minutes. There are no taxis in Girdwood, so getting around town by foot may require walking some healthy distances (a mile plus). Most activity operators will provide transportation to and from the tour. |
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