Anchorage Alaska to Seward

[VTgreentraveler]

great info on how to get to Seward! Our cruise leaves Seward on 5/17/23 so we should be able to get the train! We'd like to get to Seward a day or 2 early, to explore the area. Once there, how does one get around? Are there local buses to Kenai park, or any of the other area attractions? Looks like Hertz has an active location in Seward so maybe a 1 or 2 day car rental is a possibility? Thanks

[donaldsc]

Rent a car  and drive.  If you go by train you are stuck on the train and can't stop and look at stuff when you want to.  There are neat places to stop along Turnagain Arm and you can visit the Wildlife Center.  Check out this site - https://www.alaska.org/guide/seward-highway.  If you take the train you are stuck looking at the scenery as it whizzes by unless you happen to look away when you pass a great view or a neat animal.

 

True that the one way car rental from Anchorage to Seward is expensive but it is one of the great drives in AK.

 

DON

[Northern Aurora]

@VTgreentraveler:  You will be happy with either the train or car rental to travel to Seward.  There are also motor coach transfers.

 

Seward itself is fairly compact.  For example we have no problems at all walking from our preferred hotel (the Harbor 360) to the SeaLife Center.

 

If you want to rent a car there is indeed Hertz.  In a number of these small Alaska towns you will find that gas stations often have a good quality used cars to rent.  Pre-covid there was a for fee shuttle ($10 ish if my memory is correct) from Seward to Exit Glacier (located in Kenai Fjords National Park).  There also was a bus which had an established route through Seward in addition to PJ's Taxi.  Alaska in general is experiencing a serious labor shortage including a severe shortage of folks who have Commercial Driver's Licenses.  Use google to find the website for the Seward visitor's center and contact them for up-to-date information regarding the shuttle and car rental options.

[VTgreentraveler]

Thank you both for great information! The planning continues!