Getting There
You can make the spectacular 127-mile drive down from Anchorage. All major car-rental agencies are in Anchorage.
By Bus: The Seward Bus Line (tel. 888/420-7788 or 907/224-3608 in Seward, 907/563-0800 in Anchorage) makes a round-trip from Seward to Anchorage daily, year-round (except Sun Oct-Apr); the fare is $50 one-way, $95 round-trip. They'll pick up and drop off passengers anywhere en route and, for an extra $5, take you to the airport.
The Park Connection Motorcoach Service (tel. 800/266-8625 or 907/245-0200; www.alaskatravel.com/bus-lines) connects Seward with Anchorage, Talkeetna, and Denali National Park twice daily in summer in each direction with big, comfortable coaches. The fare is $55 between Seward and Anchorage, $145 between Seward and Denali, half off under age 12. Passengers going to Anchorage get a free pass to the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center.
By Train: The Coastal Classic route between Anchorage and Seward is one of miraculous beauty. The Alaska Railroad (tel. 800/544-0552 or 907/265-2494; www.alaskarailroad.com) offers passenger service from Anchorage and back daily in summer. The route is even prettier than the highway, passing close by glaciers and following a ledge halfway up the narrow, vertical Placer River gorge, where it ducks into tunnels and pops out at bends in the river. The landscape looks as it did when the first person beheld it. The fare for basic service is $75 one-way, $119 round-trip; children ages 2 to 11 half price. Gold Star Service on double-decker cars with white tablecloth dining is $130 adults one-way, $219 round-trip. The railroad also offers packages with lodging and activities in Seward. Don't try to do it in 1 day from Anchorage -- the 16-hour marathon is too much. A rental car will almost always be cheaper for the day than the train, but here's a fluke of pricing and taxation that could save money: Rental-car taxes are so high in Anchorage that, depending on how long you keep your car, you may find it makes financial sense to take the train to Seward, rent a car from there from the local office of Hertz (tel. 800/654-3131; www.rentacaralaska.com), and return the car in Anchorage.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
