Kenai Fjords National Park is just outside Seward, on the Kenai Peninsula in south-central Alaska, about 126 miles (~2.5 hours) south of Anchorage. Drive the Seward Highway (AK-9) year-round, or take the Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic in summer only. Once in Seward, the park splits two ways: Exit Glacier by road, and the fjords by boat. There is no road to the fjords — a cruise from Seward's small boat harbor is the only way to reach the tidewater glaciers and the outer coast.
Seward is the gateway to everything at Kenai Fjords. Getting to the park is really two trips: first, get yourself to Seward from Anchorage; then, from Seward, choose between the road out to Exit Glacier and a boat tour into the fjords. You can do all of it without a car, and this guide covers each leg in order.
From Anchorage to the ice, step by step
Get to Seward first, then pick your route to Exit Glacier or the fjords.
Anchorage to Seward
Drive the Seward Highway (AK-9) year-round — about 2.5 hours on a scenic coastal-mountain route. Or take the Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic, which runs in summer only: in 2026 it operates daily from May 15 to September 13, a scenic ride of about 4 hours. Motorcoach and shuttle-van services also run in season.
Seward to Exit Glacier
Turn onto Herman Leirer Road (Exit Glacier Road) at mile 3 of the Seward Highway and drive about 8.4–8.6 miles to the nature center. The road is closed to cars from about late October to mid-May because it is not plowed. No car? A seasonal Exit Glacier shuttle runs from Seward.
Seward to the fjords
Boat tours leave daily in summer from Seward's small boat harbor. This is the only way to reach the tidewater glaciers and the outer coast — there is no road in. See the boat tours guide for how the cruises compare.
How far each leg is
Approximate distances and travel from Anchorage to the park's two access points.
| Leg | Distance | By |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage → Seward | ~126 miles / ~2.5 hours | Seward Highway (AK-9) year-round, or Alaska Railroad in summer (~4 hours) |
| Seward → Exit Glacier | ~8.4–8.6 miles | Herman Leirer Road (Exit Glacier Road); road closed to cars ~late Oct–mid-May |
| Seward → small boat harbor | Walkable from downtown | Boat tours into the fjords depart here |
Where Kenai Fjords is
Seward sits on Resurrection Bay; Exit Glacier is a short drive north of town, and the fjords open to the south.
Check current conditions before you go. Road status, closures and visitor-center hours shift with the season and the weather. See the National Park Service Kenai Fjords alerts & conditions page for the latest.
Kenai Fjords Visitor Center
Seward small boat harbor
- Exhibits, a park film, a bookstore and rangers
- Walking distance from the boat-tour docks
- Generally open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day
Exit Glacier Nature Center
End of Exit Glacier Road
- Trailhead for the Exit Glacier and Harding Icefield trails
- Exhibits, a bookstore and ranger programs
- Free ranger-led walks daily at 10am and 2pm in summer
You can reach the park car-free
You do not need a car to see Kenai Fjords. Reach Seward by train or shuttle van from Anchorage, use the seasonal Exit Glacier shuttle to reach the glacier, and join boat tours that depart within walking distance of downtown and the harbor.
For Exit Glacier specifically, Adventure Sixty North operated a shuttle from Seward from April 26 to September 15, 2026, at about $30 round trip, with hotel pickup in Seward. A second operator (exitglaciershuttle.com) has run a $20 round-trip shuttle from Third Avenue — confirm the operating year before relying on it. Read the full Exit Glacier guide for what to do once you arrive.
Arriving by cruise ship? Seward is a major cruise port. Independent day cruises from the small boat harbor can often go deeper into the park than a typical port-day allows — see our Seward cruise-port guide for how to plan a port day.
Getting-there questions
Seward is about 126 miles south of Anchorage, roughly a 2.5-hour drive on the Seward Highway (AK-9). The highway is open year-round and follows a coastal-mountain route down the Kenai Peninsula.
Yes. You can reach Seward by the Alaska Railroad or by shuttle van, use a seasonal Exit Glacier shuttle to reach the glacier, and join boat tours that leave from the small boat harbor within walking distance of downtown Seward.
No. The Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic between Anchorage and Seward runs in summer only. In 2026 it operates daily from May 15 to September 13. Outside that window you reach Seward by driving the Seward Highway, which stays open year-round.
A seasonal Exit Glacier shuttle runs from Seward. Adventure Sixty North operated it from April 26 to September 15, 2026, at about $30 round trip with hotel pickup in Seward. A second operator has run a $20 round-trip shuttle from Third Avenue; confirm the operating year before relying on it.
Related guides
Kenai Fjords tours & experiences
Other experiences you might enjoy — glacier and wildlife cruises, sea kayaking and flightseeing from Seward and Aialik Bay.
Ready to reach the fjords?
Once you're in Seward, a boat tour is the only way into the tidewater glaciers and outer coast. Compare the cruises and pick your day on the water.