13 Stops On The Anchorage to Seward Alaska Highway (The Most Beautiful Scenic Drive EVER!)
Are you thinking about taking an Alaska road trip driving from Anchorage to Seward? Or maybe you are thinking of going in the opposite direction and doing a Seward to Anchorage drive.
No matter which direction you are going, this post will help you know exactly where to stop along the way on the Anchorage to Seward drive.
This route is the best scenic drive in Alaska. It is absolutely beautiful. You are going to have a fabulous time!
In this post, we will start in Anchorage and list the best places to stop along your route to Seward. If you are coming from Seward you can start at the bottom of the page and work your way up!
Let’s explore all the great stops on your Anchorage to Seward road trip! This route along the Seward Highway is one of the most beautiful scenic drives in Alaska and probably all of the USA!
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How Long is the Drive from Anchorage to Seward Alaska?
If you are wondering how far the drive from Anchorage to Seward is don’t be too worried. It is short!
Anchorage to Seward Drive Time
The drive from Anchorage to Seward is 2 hours and 20 minutes and the distance from Anchorage to Seward is 125 miles.
You can rent a car in Anchorage or you might want to rent an RV.
Hot Tip
As you drive on Alaska Seward Highway be aware. Wildlife can cross the road at any time, particularly moose.
How To Get From Anchorage to Seward?
If you are thinking about the best Anchorage to Seward transportation, I have you covered. Driving from Anchorage to Seward is probably your best option.
However, there are a few more options. If you do not want to rent a car you can always take the train, book a cruise itinerary that ports in Seward, or hire a private Anchorage to Seward shuttle.
Train from Anchorage to Seward
The Anchorage Alaska train to Seward follows a similar path to Seward as driving for the first 50 miles. The train stops in Girdwood and then continues on toward Seward.
You will then travel through the Chugach National Forest. Towards the end of the line, you will meet back up with the main highway.
Departure/Arrival:
Departs – 6:45 am
Arrives – 11:05 am
Duration:
4.5 hours
Price:
Adults $99 – $224
Children: $50-132
The prices depend on the day of the week. There are two classes of train tickets: Adventure and GoldStar Dome.
The GoldStar Dome offers passengers luxury rail service with reserved upper deck seating beneath large dome windows and all-inclusive meals.
The train operates from May 8th to September 20th. During the train ride, there is a narration by host guides.
The distance from Anchorage to Seward is not too bad. We are going to focus on the stops you can make as you are driving from Anchorage to Seward. (You can only make one of these stops if you take the train.)
1. Turnagain Arm - Beluga Point
Mile Marker: 110.5
Time for Stop: 10–30 Minutes
As you begin your drive from Anchorage to Seward the first major pull-off is called Beluga Point. It is only 6.5 miles south of the Anchorage City Limits or about 14 miles from downtown Anchorage. The pull-off is located on the right side of the road.
Beluga Point extends into the waters of Turnagain Arm. Beluga Whales often congregate in this area from mid-July-August.
Don’t worry if you are not traveling during those months this area is still a beautiful stop. The tides are always changing and it is fun to watch. You can grab a few amazing pictures and be on your way along the Alaska Seward highway.
Hikes and Recreation Areas Near Turnagain Arm
Mile Marker: 109
Windy Corner is a quick stop to see the Dall sheep. They tend to congregate in this area.
Mile Marker: 111
McHugh Creek Reservation Area is a pull-off that has a 20-foot waterfall to check out. There is a parking fee of $5. If you are up for a hike there is a 6.4-mile trail located here.
Mile Marker: 115
Potter Trailhead is a 9-mile beautiful trail run or hike.
2. Make a Stop in Girdwood
Mile Marker: 90
Time for Stop: 1-4 hours
Girdwood is a great stop on the Alaska Seward Highway. It has a few activities you may want to check out. It is a great place to stop on your Anchorage to Seward Drive.
3. Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center
Mile Marker: 79
Time at Center: 20 minutes – 2 hours
Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center is a sanctuary dedicated to preserving wildlife. It is located in Girdwood. There are over 200 acres of animals such as brown bears, moose, black bears, wood bison, caribou, muskox, bull elk, elk, reindeer, wolves, coyotes, and other animals native to Alaska.
Hours
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Admission
Adults: $17
Children: (7-17): $13
6 and under: Free
The conservation center is a drive or walk-through area. It is a 1.5 miles loop. You can also book tours that are an additional cost and explore with a guide. There are free educational programs throughout the day.
4. Portage Glacier
Mile Marker: At mile marker 79 you will exit on Portage Glacier Road.
Portage Glacier is located about one hour south of Anchorage along the Alaska Seward highway. It is near Girdwood. There are glacier tours that will take you on Portage Lake and out to the Portage Glacier. Most of the cruises originate from Anchorage.
However, there is a Portage Lake Cruise that originates at Portage Lake. It is a one-hour tour.
Time to Cruise: 1 hour
Admission:
Adults: $45
Children: $25
Departures: 10:30 am, 12:00 noon, 1:30 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:30 pm
5. Begich Boggs Visitor Center
If you don’t have time to take a boat tour you can still drive to the Begich Boggs Visitor Center in the Chugach National Forest. At the visitor center, there is a film and exhibits about the glacier. It does cost $5 to enter (free with the National Park Pass)
Hot Tip
You can not see the Portage Glacier from the visitor center. In the last century, the glacier has receded. However, you can see large chunks of ice floating in the lake. These pieces of ice have fallen off the glacier.
6. Hike Portage Pass
Miles: 4 round Trip
This hike has beautiful views of the glacier. However, it is a little tricky to get to the trailhead. You will have to pay a 13 dollar toll to drive through the Whittier Tunnel.
7. Alyeska Tram
Time at Alyeska Ski Resort: 45 minutes – 1 hour
Mile Marker: At Girdwood take the Alyeska Hwy to the Alyeska Ski Resort. The road ends at the hotel where the ticket office and tram are located.
The Alyeska Tram is a seven-minute ride to an observation deck with breathtaking views. You can see wildlife, glaciers, mountains, and beautiful spruce trees.
8. Enjoy Biking and Hiking Trails
Girdwood has some great hikes and bike trails and is hands down one of the best stops along the Seward Highway!
You can rent bikes and enjoy the following trails:
- Girdwood to Indian Bike Path (13 miles) Easy
- Trail of Blue Ice (10 miles) Moderate off-road
- Winner Creek Trail (3 miles) Easy
- Beaver Pond Trail (2.5 miles) Easy
- Trestles Trail (Mountain Biking) Beginner Trail
Great Hiking Trails include:
- Winner Creek Trail (3 miles) Easy
- North Face Trail (2 miles) Difficult
- Crow Pass (21 miles) Moderate
On Crow Pass, you do not have to hike the entire way to see breathtaking sites.
Girdwood is such a great stop while driving from Anchorage to Seward!
9. Stop at the Kenai Peninsula Sign
Mile Marker: 75
As you drive from Anchorage to Seward you will see the Alaska peninsula sign. This sign is your first indication that you have crossed onto the peninsula. It is a great place to get out and take a picture.
10. Hope Junction
Mile Marker: 53 – 56
This is a very beautiful stop along the Alaska Seward Highway. You can get out and stretch your legs and enjoy the beautiful scenery. If you want to explore the road less traveled you can pull off the Seward Highway and check out the historic town of Hope.
Things to Do in Hope Alaska
Hope is one of the original gold rush towns. It is 17 miles off the Seward Highway. Although Hope is a small town of only 200 residents it offers a variety of activities. You can pan for gold, fish in Resurrection Creek, or raft on class IV or V rapids.
There are also a lot of great hikes and camping spots in the area.
Hope is a great detour from the Anchorage to Seward drive but will add a significant amount of time to your trip.
11. Moose Pass
Mile Marker: 29
Moose Pass is a scenic mountain village along the Alaska Seward Highway. It is surrounded by the Chugach National Forest. It is one of the best scenic drives in Alaska and a perfect place to stop on your Anchorage to Seward drive.
Things to Do at Moose Pass
If you want to stop at Moose Pass be sure to check out the Trail Lake Hatchery. This hatchery has fish that are released into the lakes and streams nearby.
Hours:
8:00 am -5:00pm
Hiking Near Moose Pass
Crater Lake Trail is a great 3.7-mile trail. It is a beautiful scenic hike. Johnson Pass is also located near Moose Pass.
Summer Solstice
One of the biggest events of the year is the Summer Solstice. The festival is always around June 21. It is the longest day of the year.
If you want to hike, Moose Pass is the perfect place to stop on your drive from Anchorage to Seward!
12. Exit Glacier - Kenai Fjords National Park
Mile Marker: 8.6
Time to Hike: 2 hours
Exit Glacier is at the tell end of your Anchorage to Seward drive. Exit Glacier is part of Kenai Fjords National Park.
Hiking Spots Along the Alaska Seward Highway
Hiking to the Exit Glacier is a must. It is a beautiful easy trail that is about a mile long. You can also hike to the Harding IceField from the Exit Glacier National Park Visitor Center.
This National Park is free! As you enter Seward you will see a sign that will direct you to the National Park hiking area. Most of Kenai Fjords is viewable by a boat tour offered in Seward but this section is different and worth the detour.
Exit Glacier is a must on your drive from Anchorage to Seward!
13. Bear Creek Weir
Mile Marker: 6.6
Bear Creek Weir is a Salmon sanctuary. There are 1000’s of Salmon jumping out of the water. You can not fish here as it is only a viewing area. It is a must-see on your Anchorage to Seward road trip!
Best Seward Highway Stops
This stop is so fun! We loved it! The salmon put on quite a show! If you come in July when the Salmon are everywhere maybe you wouldn’t have to stop here to see Salmon.
We went in June just before the salmon had really started swimming upstream. This gave us the opportunity to really see the Salmon. So I highly recommend it if you haven’t already seen the Salmon.
It was one of my favorite stops on our Anchorage to Seward drive.
You Made the Drive from Anchorage to Seward!
This beautiful drive from Anchorage to Seward is a must for your Alaska itinerary. There are some fun things to do in Seward that you will need to check out once you arrive.
Sometimes it is nice to enjoy the journey and the Seward Highway is the perfect Alaska scenic drive to do just that. One thing that we loved was during the summer it was light all day and night!
We were able to enjoy the drive both from Anchorage to Seward and then when we returned from Seward to Anchorage. It was amazing!
I hope you have a blast on your Anchorage to Seward road trip!
More Adventures in Alaska
We did an amazing road trip in Alaska. We started with all the fun things to do in Fairbanks, including a Riverboat tour, and a trip to the North Pole to visit Santa. Then headed to Denali National Park.
We stopped in Talkeetna and took a flightseeing tour that actually landed on Mt. Denali. We also spent some time in Anchorage. We love the beautiful drive from Anchorage to Seward with Seward being the final destination. It was incredible and we loved visiting. We love Alaska and highly recommend planning a trip! You might enjoy this Alaska itinerary. If you need help packing for Alaska, I have you covered there as well.
Facebook Community
If you have any questions join my Facebook Travel Community. You can ask any questions you have about upcoming trips and everyone is happy to help you plan your trip. I also try to give exclusive travel deals that companies send me. It is a great group to join!
What an amazing adventure. I’d love to get to Alaska someday!
It is so beautiful!
What a beautiful scenic drive. A perfect road trip to see Alaska from Anchorage to Seward!
It was so amazing!
I’d love to go! Actually, my husband and I have been talking about Alaska since we visited Glacier National Park this summer. We now have it one a “within 10 years” list!
If you find a good deal just go! It is incredible!
What a beautiful scenic drive between Anchorage and Seward! I would be stopping at every point just to take more photos! We hope to visit Alaska within the next couple of years, so I’m saving this post! Thanks!
We kept pulling over ever few miles to take pictures!
This road trip between Anchorage to Seward, Alaska looks epic! So much beauty!
It was unbelievable! So beautiful!
Sooo many amazing hikes to choose from! And the funny thing is, when I thought about travelling to Anchorage, I never considered the hikes! The tram ride also looks like something the kids would like!
I thought it would be cold but I was wrong….it is actually perfect hiking weather.
OMG you have captured some amazing views of Alaska! I went in the winter and now I’m dying to go back in the summer so we could do a road trip!
Summer is amazing! We had such a great time!