Things to Do in Seward: Travel Experts' Guide to Kenai Fjords National Park

Seward is a small port town where the mountains meet the sea, and the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park.

Summary

• The best things to do in Seward are day cruises in Kenai Fjords National Park, hiking Exit Glacier, and spotting wildlife like whales, sea otters, and puffins
• The best place to stay in Seward is just outside of town on Exit Glacier Road
• You can get to Seward by car or train from Anchorage, or on a cruise ship

Things to do in Seward vary from a day exploring Kenai Fjords National Park by boat to hiking to nearby glaciers.

This is our experts' guide to visiting Seward.

Our credentials? 25 years experience designing custom tours and itineraries across Alaska, curating trips for every kind of traveler. We know what to do, when to do it, and how to arrange it into one single life-changing vacation.

This town was one of my favorites. It’s a small place, yet Seward has plenty of restaurants and activities. - Jenna, Team Member

Each recommendation and suggestion is bookable as a part of our personalized Alaska itineraries (or something free you can do in your downtime). If you see something you like, reach out to a Travel Designer and we can arrange it as a part of your trip to Alaska.

Best Things to Do in Seward

Seward is a charming little port town on the very edge of Kenai Fjords National Park. That means the best things to do there span exploring the national park and relaxing in the town itself.

A boat tour of the Kenai Fjords | Credit: Kenai Fjords Tour

Day Cruise Into Kenai Fjords National Park

Cruising Kenai Fjords National Park is the main reason most people visit Seward. Day cruises and boat tours leave from the Seward harbor and travel through Resurrection Bay and some of the surrounding fjords to visit the tidewater glaciers that are found at each tip.

There are a range of day cruises that leave Seward for the national park. They include shorter wildlife tours of the bay to full-day voyages to remote glaciers, winding through towering fjords and rocky, wildlife-covered archipelagos. We recommend choosing one that fits with the rest of your itinerary and interests, with shorter cruises allowing for other activities in the same day, and longer ones being a full-day affair. Or, reach out and let us pair you with the perfect one.

If there is one single thing you do in Seward, it should be a Kenai Fjords National Park cruise.

A boat tour to see Kenai Fjords' glaciers | Credit: Kenai Fjords Tour

Northwestern Fjord Cruise

The Northwestern Fjord Cruise is the most comprehensive and extensive way to explore Kenai Fjords National Park. Across 8 hours, you'll journey beyond Resurrection Bay to the far-off Northwestern Fjord. The longer journey means fewer other boats, and a higher chance of spotting wildlife like humpback whales, orca pods, and sea otters hiding in quiet corners of the park.

The Northwestern Fjord Cruise is the tour we'd recommend to travelers looking to explore Alaska's waterways in the most depth, and is a frequent favorite of our own guests who travel here.

A helicopter tour oover the mountains of the Kenai Peninsula | Credit: Seward Helicopters

Helicopter Glacier Tour

Helicopter tours from Seward give you the once-in-a-lifetime chance to soar between mountains, along valleys, and even land on glaciers deep in the wilderness.

As an introduction to Alaska’s mountains, fjords, and glaciers, it’s one of the best Alaska excursions there is.

Leaving Seward, you’ll fly over Kenai Fjords National Park and see the same glaciers and mountains you once saw from the ground or by boat, this time up close from the air. From there, you can land in remote spots for dog sledding, backcountry hiking, or remote picnics. It is, in short, a remarkable experience.

The viewpoint looking over Exit Glacier | Credit: Adventure 60 North

Hike to Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers in the state, being reached by car along the Seward Highway and a short, well-maintained trail to the viewpoint. It's the only part of Kenai Fjords National Park you can drive to, which makes it the perfect alternative to boat tours for a day spent on land.

The Exit Glacier trailhead has restrooms and a nature center with exhibits, safety information, and a view of the trails (including both wheelchair-accessible viewpoints and longer, more challenging hikes).

The Exit Glacier hike can be completed alone or with a guide. We recommend a guide to get an extra look into the surrounding area, as they take care of everything from getting you to the trailhead to providing trekking poles to teaching you about the ice-carved landscape, local flora, and any wildlife you spot on the way.

The viewpoint looking over Harding Icefield | Credit: Cam Fattahi on Unsplash

Hike the Harding Icefield Trail

The Harding Icefield Trail is the perfect place for a more challenging hike, continuing on past Exit Glacier to climb over 1,000 feet and view the largest icefield in the United States.

We don't recommend this hike to everyone as it is a long — nearly 9-mile — challenging trail, best taken by experienced hikers. However, if you're looking to challenge yourself and are an avid hiker, this is the best spot to push yourself and be rewarded with some spectacular views.

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If you're looking forward to the challenge but are nervous about heading into the wilderness alone, guided hikes are also a great option here, letting you experience the route with the help of a local expert and benefit from the extra support (and the expert knowledge) they can provide.

Orca swimming in the Kenai Fjords | Credit: Adventure 60 North

Wildlife Viewing

Seward and the surrounding national park and wilderness are home to a multitude of Alaskan wildlife, both iconic and lesser-known. This makes it one of the best places for wildlife viewing, as you can see marine wildlife, like whales, porpoises, seals, and sea otters, land mammals, like brown bears and moose, and coastal birds like puffins all in one place.

One of the best ways to see wildlife in Seward is on boat tours, specifically those exploring Resurrection Bay. Some assume you can only see marine wildlife on these cruises, but that overlooks the bears wandering the shoreline and puffins nesting on small islands and archipelagos that can be spotted.

Specific animal encounters can never be guaranteed in the wild, even if it's highly likely you'll encounter at least some wildlife during your time in Seward.

For a confirmed sighting, we always recommend the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center located on the Seward Highway about an hour and a half north of Seward itself. But for the dense concentration of different natural habitats, Seward is one of the best places in Alaska for wildlife viewing.

Alaska SeaLife Center

If you're particularly interested in seeing marine wildlife in Alaska, the Alaska SeaLife Center right in downtown Seward is the sighting guarantee you might be looking for.

The Alaska SeaLife Center has marine animals like puffins, sea lions, seals, as well as local fish and invertebrates for you to see. And, for anyone looking to get up close with the wildlife, there are touch pools with sea cucumbers, anemones, and starfish.

Salmon Fishing

Seward is a top sportfishing destination where you can catch various species of salmon through the year.

In Seward, you can catch sockeye (red) salmon from mid-May to July, coho (silver) salmon from early August to mid-September, and pink (humpy) salmon in between.

And, across this time, a range of techniques might be used. Depending on when you visit and what kind of salmon you're looking for, you might be snagging or lure casting. That means whatever kind of salmon fishing you're looking for, there's a good chance you'll find it in Seward.

Guided shore fishing is one of the best ways to catch salmon in Seward. You'll be taken to the scenic banks of Resurrection Bay to cast off with the beautiful Kenai Fjords National Park and Chugach National Forest in the background. The best tours focus on changing tide times for the best experience, so we partner with local guides who know the waters well to set up the best haul.

A group kayacking in Resurrection Bay | Credit: State of Alaska / Matt Hage

Sea Kayaking in Resurrection Bay

The most adventurous way to explore Seward is by kayaking Resurrection Bay and enjoying the view from the water entirely surrounded by mountains. You can rent kayaks and explore alone or take a guided trip to known nature spots. Independently renting kayaks is best for experienced paddlers, whereas guided trips are the perfect chance to dip your toe in as a beginner.

On guided trips, you'll typically hug the coast as you travel down the bay, spotting wildlife both on the shores and in the water, and stopping at significant points. Not only do you get an expert traveling with you, but you'll get support as you go, the easiest route to paddle, and an extra set of eyes looking out for important flora and fauna along the way.

An aerial view of downtown Seward and the mountains | Credit: Travel Alaska / Niaz Uddin

Wander Downtown Seward

Between activities in Kenai Fjords National Park, you should make sure you leave time to explore Seward itself. Seward is a great home base as it offers plenty to do in the charming port town alongside the easily accessible nature on its doorstep. In Seward, there are classically Alaskan eateries, quaint coffee shops, and charming gift shops lining its Main Street (4th Ave), all leading up to the waterfront Alaska SeaLife Center.

Some specific recommendations from our team are:

• Ray's Waterfront - seafood and steak overlooking the harbor
• Resurrect Art Coffee House - coffee shop and art gallery inside a historic church
• The Cookery - contemporary restaurant and oyster bar in a renovated saloon

Other sites in town to see are the Iditarod Historic Trail Statue Mile 0 marker and the waterfront Sea Otter Trail.

The downtown core is small and extremely walkable, but there’s a City of Seward Free Shuttle at key points around town, so it's easy to get between the harbor for boat tours and Main Street.

Seward Windsong Lodge's cozy lobby | Credit: Seward Windsong Lodge

Where to Stay in Seward

Like in much of Alaska, hotels in Seward are often rustic, many featuring classic log furniture, quilted beds, and stone fireplaces. That being said, there are a range of more modern and classic hotels across the town.

One of our favorite hotels to recommend in Seward is Seward Windsong Lodge, which leans into Alaska's typical charm, with wooden furnishings, heavy quilts, and log-cabin-style lodge buildings nestled in the forest.

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Most of the time, we recommend our guests stay just outside the town of Seward on Exit Glacier Road, about a 5-minute drive away, where you’ll find Seward Windsong Lodge. From there, you can easily access excursions both in and out of town, and sleep soundly by a quieter estuary offshoot of Resurrection Bay. The lodge has a free shuttle, making it perfect for road trippers and rail vacationers alike.

When you work with us, your personal Travel Designer will work with you one-on-one to find the perfect hotel for you. If your perfect place is in the heart of downtown, or farther out in the peninsula at a lakeside inn, let them know, and they'll work it into your custom itinerary.

How We Choose Hotels

When choosing hotels for each vacation we design, we consider the wants and needs of each individual guest and the way the overall itinerary comes together. Our Travel Designers are great at knowing which one is right for who, and when — an anniversary rail vacation will look very different from a family fishing trip.

Our Travel Designer was a real pleasure to work with. Everything she set up for us was perfect and when we arrived to each of our stops she planned (tours, excursions, hotels, etc.), everything went smoothly with NO issues. - Daniel, Recent Traveler

We work with a curated collection of properties across Alaska to get the fit right for each guest. That means you'll be paired with a unique combination of stays along your trip. If you have any particular dream stays, let your Travel Designer know when booking. If not, let us see what we can do for you.

The Seward Highway from Anchorage to Seward | Credit: Travel Alaska

How to Get to Seward

Seward is reached from Anchorage, which has Alaska's main airport, by either car or train, or on an Alaska cruise.

To drive to Seward, you'll take the Seward Highway south along the Turnagain Arm before cutting through a mountain pass across the Kenai Peninsula. The drive takes around two and a half hours and has stunning views of the ocean, lakes, and the Kenai Mountains from start to end.

The drive from Girdwood to Seward is absolutely stunning. - Jennifer Thow, Team Member

The Coastal Classic route on Alaska Railroad | Credit: Alaska Railroad

If you want to take the train to Seward, you'll be onboard Alaska Railroad's Coastal Classic route, which runs daily in summer between Anchorage and Seward. The train follows a similar route as the highway, so you'll see the same beautiful Tunagain Arm views before cutting away from the road across the peninsula to take you into the backcountry. By train, you can easily enjoy an Alaska vacation without needing a car.

Our Favorite Packages With Time in Seward

Our most popular Alaska vacation packages visit Seward and include rail tours and scenic road trips. That makes choosing our favorite Seward trips easy, as there's something for every traveler.

Prince William Sound's tidewater glaciers | Credit: Travel Alaska / Ben Prescott

Glaciers, Fjords Denali & Alaska Train Vacation

This rail vacation spends 7 days exploring Southcentral Alaska and Denali National Park and Preserve.

You'll journey to Kenai Fjords, Prince William Sound, and Denali National Park by train, taking all of Alaska Railroad's major summer routes across a single trip. Spending time on each of the iconic rail routes makes this tour one of the most comprehensive rail tours in Alaska.

Alaska Railroad en route to Seward | Credit: Alaska Railroad

Alaska Discovery Road Trip with Alaska Railroad

Combine a road trip and a rail vacation on this 8-day vacation around Southcentral Alaska.

Enjoy a road trip around Southcentral Alaska, spending extra time in Seward and Homer on the Kenai Peninsula, before riding the flagship Denali Star north to Fairbanks via Denali National Park and Preserve.

Small Plane flying over Wrangell-St. Elias National Park | Credit: Ultima Thule Lodge

Alaska National Parks Self Drive Explorer

On this scenic 12-day road trip, combine three different national parks into one vacation, stopping in Kenai Fjords National Park, Denali National Park and Preserve, and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

Starting in Anchorage, you'll first travel to Seward, where you'll spend two days exploring the town and Kenai Fjords. Then, journey north to Denali and then Fairbanks, before venturing off to lesser-known spots like Chitina, McCarthy, Valdez, and Sheep Mountain to see a quieter side of Alaska.

Our team exploring Alaska firsthand | Credit: Alaska By Design

How to Book

When booking with Alaska By Design, we take care of the necessities, arranging your hotel stays, transport, and activities ahead of time. A Travel Designer will work with you one-on-one to include the best activities for you and weave them into a custom itinerary. When the time comes, you just have to show up.

FAQs

Why should I visit Seward, Alaska?

Seward is one of the most accessible places in Alaska which combine glaciers, marine wildlife, and mountains in a short amount of time. It's the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, easily reached from Anchorage by car, train, or cruise ship, and offers a charming harbor town atmosphere alongside its wilderness access.

Do I need a park pass to visit Kenai Fjords National Park?

You don't need a park pass to visit Kenai Fjords National Park, including Exit Glacier, which is the only part of the park accessible by road. Boat tours into the fjords themselves are booked independently or as a part of a custom itinerary.

How many days should I spend in Seward?

Two days is a good amount of time to explore Seward and Kenai Fjords National Park. That gives you room to take a full-day (or half-day) boat tour of the fjords and also spend time exploring town, hiking to Exit Glacier, or visiting Alaska SeaLife Center.

Can I see the Northern Lights in Seward?

Seeing the Northern Lights in Seward is unlikely. For a better chance, book a Northern Lights tour in Fairbanks or the Alaskan Arctic.