J
A very pleasant ride through the mountains of southern Alaska.
The views were spectacular and the boarding went very smooth the train ride was a part of the best adventure of my life!
Alaska Railroad Anchorage to Seward Round Trip Same Day Return
+2 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 14h 30min
- Price from
- $226 / person
- Location
- Anchorage, United States
- Rating
- 4.6 / 5 · 404 reviews
- Group
- Small group, up to 15
- Cancellation
- See policy below
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Alaska Railroad Corporation
- Meeting point
- Check-in one hour prior to the scheduled departure time to receive boarding passes.Check baggage at the outside Baggage tent before proceeding into the Depot.
Description
Departing from downtown Anchorage, the Coastal Classic Train travels south along the rugged coastline of Turnagain Arm, with dramatic views of the Chugach Mountains plunging directly to the sea. At the end of Turnagain Arm, the tracks veer away from the road system into the backcountry wilderness – and what many consider to be the most scenic stretch of the Alaska Railroad, accessible only by train. Watch for views of massive glaciers, steep river canyons, and cascading waterfalls. The train arrives to Seward at 1115 am, allowing plenty of time to explore this charming port town – or opt to take a marine wildlife & glacier day cruise into the nearby Kenai Fjords – before departing on the return journey at 6 pm that evening, arriving back to Anchorage by 10:15 pm.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 6:45 AM
- Season
- Starts May 14, 2027
- Adult (ages 12+)
- $226
- Child (ages 0–11)
- $113
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Alaska Railroad Depot
Take a train ride to the port town of Seward from Anchorage on the Alaska Railroad! You will not be disappointed by the stunning vistas on your relaxing 4-hour journey down to Seward. The large picture windows and open vestibules on the train provide excellent photo-taking opportunities along the journey, and local guides share the stories behind the sights along the way. There are many local highlights and excursions you can see and do in Seward before the return rail journey to Anchorage that evening. • Depart Anchorage Depot at 6:45 am • Arrive Seward Depot at 11:05 am • Onboard narration included on train • Onboard dining available for purchase on train • Explore Seward on your own. Optional tours or cruises (sold separately) to explore Seward and/or the Kenai Fjords. Advance booking recommended. • Depart Seward at 6:00 pm • Arrive Anchorage at 10:15 pm
Girdwood
Originally named Glacier City, Girdwood was founded as a gold mining town. As the number of miners increased, a supply camp arose that also supplied a trail stop on the route between Seward and Ship Creek - the latter of which is now known as Anchorage. Today, Girdwood is loved as a unique recreation destination, thanks to a picturesque setting, an extensive network of trails, and the award-winning Alyeska Resort.
Take a train ride to the port town of Seward from Anchorage on the Alaska Railroad! You will not be disappointed by the stunning vistas on your relaxing 4-hour journey down to Seward. The large picture windows and open vestibules on the train provide excellent photo-taking opportunities along the journey, and local guides share the stories behind the sights along the way. There are many local highlights and excursions you can see and do in Seward before the return rail journey to Anchorage that evening. • Depart Anchorage Depot at 6:45 am • Arrive Seward Depot at 11:05 am • Onboard narration included on train • Onboard dining available for purchase on train • Explore Seward on your own. Optional tours or cruises (sold separately) to explore Seward and/or the Kenai Fjords. Advance booking recommended. • Depart Seward at 6:00 pm • Arrive Anchorage at 10:15 pm
What's included
Included
Round-trip rail transportation from Anchorage to Seward on the same day
Alaskan tour guide providing narration throughout rail journey
Depart Anchorage 645am and arrive Seward 1115am
Optional dining and snack bar available for purchase
Depart Seward 600pm and arrive Anchorage 1015pm
Comfortable reserved seating
Not included
Accommodation, tours and/or activities in Seward
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.6
404 reviews
How it compares in Anchorage
- No. 10 by number of reviews among 200 tours in Anchorage
Excurgo comparison of 200 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Infants (0-1) may be added to a reservation as lap children (not requiring a paid, reserved seat) but they must be registered in the booking. To register an infant as a lap child, please indicate so in the “Special Requests” option in the final checkout and include the infant’s name, age and gender.
Cancellation
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
0+ days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
Alaska Railroad Anchorage to Seward Round Trip Same Day Return lasts about 14h 30min. The itinerary has 3 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $226 per person for this Anchorage experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does this tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 6:45 AM.
How much does this tour cost for children?
Children aged 0–11 pay from $113, adults from $226.
Can I cancel this tour for free?
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Check-in one hour prior to the scheduled departure time to receive boarding passes. Check baggage at the outside Baggage tent before proceeding into the Depot. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 15 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap Children must be accompanied by an adult
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is this tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.6 out of 5 across 404 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Alaska Railroad Corporation.
Reviews(404)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
C
Hospitable
The ticket agents were most friendly and the team members and crew members were hospitable and cordial. Excellent!
J
Questionable
I loved the train ride. The people on the train were very informative and entertaining. The city of Seward was very cute and the sea life aquarium was great. But you do not need 7 hours on Seward. It would have been much better of the return trip was at 3 or 4 PM. I would not recommend for older people. As the tour is currently it is a VERY long day.
S
Magical train ride Anchorage to Seward
It is well worth your day, the scenery is just magical, Seward is a great town to spend the day wandering about, the sunset on the way back to anchorage breath taking !
J
I love trains!
Amazing train ride and wonderful experience. Loved having dinner in the dining car!! Seward was a sweet little town that was fun to explore.
P
Must do
This is a wonderful way to see Alaska.
J
Too much time on terrain
This is too long a day. You meet at train station at 5:45am and return at 10:45 pm. It takes about 4.5 hours on the train each way to visit Seward which consist of mostly restaurants and souvenir shops. The train trip scenery is pretty but fairly repetitive and the train tour guide cannot be heard over the train noise. We arrived in Seward 11:00 ish, walked around for an hour, ate a nice lunch, went thru the National Park exhibit (I believe that is what it was called), bought some coffee and waited 2+ hours to get back on train. Food in “grab and go” area on train is very so so and does not match description they give you. Go have a nice seafood lunch in Anchorage and save yourself the money and time this tripy takes.
J
Most beautiful scenery in the comfort of the train
Long day, but well worth it. We loved the beautiful scenery at a casual pace, slowly rolling down the tracks. Raining when we got into Seward, but we put on our raincoats and trudged on. Would book this again. Not sure what to expect from the dining car, but the evening meal had a variety of choices and they were wonderful. Didn’t order the pot roast, with carrots and potatoes, but friends who chose it said it was excellent!
J
Best Day Ever!
This is such a great experience! The Train staff is super friendly and knowledgeable about everything you see along the way.
I
Fun!
There was beautiful scenery the whole time and I appreciated the guides trying to call out animals. It was super comfortable, decent dinner, and clean.
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Railroad Anchorage to Seward Round Trip Same Day Return | 14h 30min | 4.6 (404) | $226 | |
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from$226
4.6(404)