Seward Highway
A scenic highway from Anchorage to Seward that follows the fjord-like Turnagain Arm, with beluga whales, bighorn sheep and glaciers within easy reach, ending at Kenai Fjords National Park.
The Seward Highway runs south from Anchorage along the north shore of Turnagain Arm, winds through the Kenai Mountains, and reaches the port of Seward on Resurrection Bay. It is about 127 miles (204 km) long and is designated an All-American Road. Highlights along the way: birdwatching at Potter Marsh; Beluga Point, where belugas can be seen in summer and bighorn sheep often appear on the roadside cliffs; the tidal bore of Turnagain Arm (up to 2 m at spring tides); the resort towns of Girdwood and Alyeska; the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center; and a side road to Portage Glacier and the Whittier Tunnel. The highway then crosses Turnagain Pass and continues through Moose Pass to Seward. At Exit Glacier you can view the glacier up close, and you can take a boat tour of Kenai Fjords National Park to see tidewater glaciers and marine wildlife. Driving straight through takes about 2.5 hours; plan a full day or stay overnight in Seward. The mudflats along Turnagain Arm are quicksand, so never walk onto them. Much of the road has only two lanes and few passing zones, so accidents are common. Turn on your headlights and drive slowly. Avalanches close the road in winter.