Kenai Fjords National Park guide · 2 min read
Seward: Gateway Town and Harbor Visitor Center
Seward lies at the top of Resurrection Bay on the Kenai Peninsula, and it counts among Alaska's older towns.
The town is often called the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. The park lies just outside town, and Anchorage is about 126 miles north of Seward. Lodging ranges from hotels and bed and breakfasts to recreational vehicle campgrounds, and you can find restaurants and grocery stores year-round.
The Seward Highway, a National Scenic Byway, is the road into town, and Seward can be reached by it throughout the year. From Anchorage, head south on the highway. Around mile 35, about 87 miles from Anchorage, the road changes route number, and you stay on it into Seward.
The Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center sits in the Seward small boat harbor, a convenient stop before or after a boat trip. From the city limits, turn left on South Harbor Street, go one block, then turn right on Fourth Street. The building is second on your left after that turn. Indoors, the center shows the park film, has an Alaska Geographic bookstore, and offers rangers who can answer your questions. You can also get cancellation stamps for your National Parks Passport.
Exit Glacier, about 12 miles from Seward, is the one stretch of the park you can reach by road. Without a car, you can ride a daily shuttle between Seward and Exit Glacier, and taxis cover the same route. Adventure 60 North runs its service year-round, and the Exit Glacier Nature Center is where the Harding Icefield Trail begins.
Boat tours are a popular way to see the fjords, tidewater glaciers, and marine wildlife. Tours come in a variety of lengths, so you can pick one that fits your schedule, and many include a park ranger explaining what you see. Water taxis, kayaks, and flightseeing offer other ways to explore the coast.
