Discovering Seward Alaska
- Lindsey Markwood
- Apr 3, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 28
Seward, Alaska is known for its beautiful natural landscapes, a central hub for outdoor adventures for both locals and visitors, and its maritime heritage. Approximately 2800 residents live in Seward year-round. This mountain and coastal community is the gateway for the stunning Kenai Fjords National Park.
Where is Seward, Alaska Located?
Seward is located between Resurrection Bay and the Kenai Mountains. Seward is only about 120 miles from Anchorage, Alaska. Bonus: It is less than 9 miles to Exit Glacier from Seward.
For cruise tours that begin or end in Seward, it is easy to travel to Anchorage and Fairbanks and visit national parks such as Denali. Seward is an early tidewater connection between western Alaska and the interior of Alaska. The city likes to say it is located at the end of a road.
How to Get to Seward from Anchorage?
Most tourists will arrive (or depart) via a cruise ship that typically originated from Vancouver, Canada.
From Anchorage, take the Alaska Railroad’s Coastal Classic train. During the summer season it runs daily and offers a scenic view between Anchorage and Seward. Alternatively, you can drive (or get a private transfer) via the Seward Highway.
Bonus: If you are coming from Anchorage about halfway between the two cities, stop for a visit at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a 200 acre non-profit wildlife sanctuary. There is a 1.5 mile shared pedestrian and vehicle loop where you can see wildlife in the sanctuary.
The Best Seward Shore Excursions and Activities
Kenai Fjords National Park
If time allows only one activity, then visit Harding Icefield inside Kenai Fjords National park. There are 40 glaciers flowing from the Harding Icefield with 700 miles (yes miles) of ice.
Wildlife Activities
Some of the animals who call Seward home include: harbor seals, humpback whales, bald eagles, sea otters, and sea lions. The waterfront path and harbor are the two locations to start looking for wildlife. Pro tip: take a guided tour via a boat INTO the Kenai Fjords for more wildlife viewing.
Glacier Dog Sledding
There are two options for dogsledding. Via helicopter, go to the Glaciers in Resurrection Bay to go dogsledding through snow/ice. The second option is to stay on the ground and visit the dog sled kennels.
Fishing and Hiking
Late June through early September is a great time to go fishing. Pro tip: Make sure to have the proper fishing license. Hiking is very popular and locals often visit Kenai Fjords National Park, up Mount Marathon, or along the scenic Resurrection Pass Trail.
Water Based Activities
Seward is home to more traditional water based activities including kayaking, surfing, and paddleboarding. As most of the surfing locations are only accessible via boat or air, surfing here can be a more intimate experience compared to other popular surfing destinations.
If you want to explore Seward on your own, visit the Seward Chamber of Commerce and pick up a map for the historical Seward walking tour.
What to Expect at the Seward Cruise Port
The Phoenix was the first ship built in Alaska by the Russians and began sailing in 1794. Now Seward’s port is home to both freight and cruise ships.
Seward is getting a new passenger dock replacement which will be ready in Spring 2026. It will have shore power which allows cruise ships to connect to the local electrical grid instead of running their own engines, which is much better for the environment, The new dock will allow two cruise ships to dock at the same time, including Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class which is great for multi-generational families (the Quantum class ships is what I cruised to Alaska with Royal Caribbean)
The port in Seward will be used by Royal Caribbean Group (Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruise Lines, and Silversea).
Are you interested in a cruise and/or cruise tour in Alaska that includes a stop in Seward? I would love to help make that bucket list vacation come true. Click below to schedule a consultation.
And if you have not done so already, feel free to join our cruise focused Facebook group below.
