Seward & Kenai Fjords

Sandwiched between the Kenai mountains and the waters of Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward is one of Alaska's oldest and most scenic communities, with Mt. Marathon rising steeply behind the town.

A spectacular 2.5 hour drive south from Anchorage brings you to this seaside village, which offers a bustling harbor, quaint shops and galleries, and many different ways to tour Kenai Fjords National Park.

Beside the influx of visitors every summer, Seward becomes a big magnet for two annual events during the high season. Every July 4, runners race to the summit of Mt Marathon, in America's second- oldest footrace. The town's population also balloons during the August Silver Salmon derby, the state’s largest. You can get out on the water and cast your line for several-hundred-pound halibut or salmon so numerous they bump into your boat.

Favorite Activities

• Cruising Kenai Fjords National Park: This is one of Alaska's best wildlife spectacles and some of its most beautiful fjords and glaciers. Humpback and killer whales, sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, and puffins crowd the park's waters. You can choose from a variety of Kenai Fjords boat tours as a day tour, or opt for an overnight or multi-day adventure on a sailboat or private yacht.
• Exploring Resurrection Bay: You can also get water-taxi drop-offs at secluded coves around the bay where you can beachcomb, rent a private yurt, or kayak to sea lion haul-outs, bird rookeries, and tidewater caves. From Seward's Lowell Point, you can slice through the glassy waters, past sea otters, harbor seals, and eagles.
• Getting Hands-On at Exit Glacier: Alaska's most accessible glacier lies just 10-15 minutes from town, and a gentle half-mile trail leads you to up-close views of Exit Glacier. Or, go with a guide and walk on the ice!

Getting There

Car / Motorcoach: It's a 2.5 hour drive from Anchorage along the scenic Seward Highway. If you don't want to drive, a motorcoach will get you there in about the same amount of time.

Train: It's a 4.5 hour train ride from Anchorage on the Alaska Railroad's Coastal Classic train. You can also pick the train up in Girdwood.

Cruise: It’s the first or final port for many cross-gulf cruise ships seeing the Inside Passage between Alaska and Vancouver.

Private Transfer: AK Tripping offers private transportation with an experienced local driver to and from Seward for groups of up to 4 in a comfortable Toyota Highlander.