Seward Highway
Visitor Services

The Seward Highway is a heavily visited recreation and tourism destination. As such, significant user facilities already exist or are planned throughout the corridor. Year-round traveler services (e.g. fuel, repair, food, phone, lodging, and automatic banking) are concentrated in Anchorage, Girdwood, and Seward. While there do remain areas of the route with no services, travelers are never more than 50 miles away from essential services.

For people with disabilities, the following services are available:

  • The majority of the pullouts and interpretative facilities along the Seward Highways have been designed to accommodate people with disabilities.
  • Newly constructed state park facilities at Indian Creek, Potter Creek, Bird Creek, and soon at Bird Point and McHugh Creek have wheelchair-accessible boardwalks, making the facilities fully available for people using wheelchairs.
  • A USFS wildlife viewing facility at the Sterling Highway Junction has wheelchair accessible boardwalks, making it fully available for people using wheelchairs.
Service Description Service Description
Fees

Fees

Some attractions may charge fees.

 Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities

Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities

The byway is a well-surfaced, well-maintained highway with wide shoulders in many locations. Passenger vehicles are easily accommodated. Pedestrians are also accommodated at most of the byway's... More information on Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities
Camping

Camping

Camping facilities throughout the corridor consist of: * Chugach State Park: 3 campgrounds, 134 sites * US Forest Service: 13 campgrounds, 720 sites * City of Seward: 2 campgrounds, 900 sites... More information on Camping 		Food

Food

There are places to buy food along this byway.
Gasoline

Gasoline

Gasoline is available.

 Information

Information

The Seward Highway Travel Guidebook can be picked up for free at any one of the APLICs (Alaska Public Lands Info Centers). The contact phone is: 907-271-2737. For recreation and interpretive... More information on Information
Lodging

Lodging

Lodging facilities throughout the corridor consist of:

  • Many hotels/motels/bed & breakfasts
  • Anchorage: 6,000 rooms
  • Girdwood: 300 rooms
  • Seward: 500 rooms
 Phone

Phone

Public phones are available along this byway.
Restrooms

Restrooms

There are toilet facilities along this byway.

 Retail

Retail

There are places to shop along this byway.

NOTE: The America's Byways® website is federally funded and cannot promote commercial businesses. This data may not be complete or up to date. The National Scenic Byways Program is not responsible for the quality of your travel experience. See the right column on the Byway Overview page for local contact information.

Special Considerations

The only significant seasonal problem facing the Seward Highway is adverse winter conditions. The road is closed by avalanches an average of five times a year for approximately four hours each time.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities has made a serious and effective commitment to keeping the Seward Highway passable during the winter months, as it is the principal highway serving the Kenai Peninsula. The highway, shoulders, and many of the pullouts are plowed throughout the winter months.

An electronic message sign at Porter Marsh at the northern end of the route advises travelers of conditions ahead. Avalanche gates have been installed in all potential avalanche areas. Additionally, current and planned reconstruction of segments of the Highway are attempting to relocate the Seward highway out of avalanche zones.

Restrictions

Due to extreme conditions during the winter, the road is closed by avalanches an average of five times a year for approximately four hours each time.

Seasons

Best Time to Drive

Year-round

High Season

From May to mid-October, the byway is alive with visitors for obvious reasons. Salmon fishing is at its peak during these months and visitors will see whales along the shore and sheep on the mountainsides. Take a hike among the wildflowers.

Off Season

The off season consists of winter and spring. Winter may present driving challenges, but provides breathtaking vistas. Avalanches may cause the road to be closed for short periods of time throughout the winter.

Road Conditions

To find up to date information about the road conditions along Seward Highway, please visit the FHWA listing of web sites for more information.
Alaska