Stay in Seward and day-trip into the park. Almost every Kenai Fjords visitor bases in Seward, the coastal town at the head of Resurrection Bay, then rides a glacier cruise or drives to Exit Glacier from there. Two nights in Seward is a common recommendation, since it keeps a single day from feeling rushed and leaves room for weather. In-park lodging is limited: two remote coastal cabins, one free tent-only campground and a single all-inclusive wilderness lodge, all with restricted access and booking.
Seward's official tourism body, Visit Seward, groups local lodging into nine categories: hotels and motels, resorts and lodges, bed and breakfasts, cabins and cottages, vacation rentals, hostels, campgrounds and RV parks, public-use cabins, and secluded and remote stays. That range covers most budgets, but the practical choice comes down to which part of Seward you want to be near and whether any of the harder-to-reach in-park options fit your trip. Prices and dates change each season, so verify before booking.
Three parts of Seward to base in
The right area depends on whether your trip centers on a boat tour, on dining and walking, or on Exit Glacier.
The small boat harbor
Closest to the cruise departures and the Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center, with Resurrection Bay right there. This is the best area if your trip centers on a glacier boat tour.
Best for cruise-focused tripsDowntown Seward
About a mile south of the harbor, with restaurants, shops and the historic core within walking distance. A good base if you want to eat and wander on foot between park activities.
Best for dining and walkingExit Glacier Valley
A few miles north of town, this is the area closest to Exit Glacier and the Harding Icefield trailhead. Choose it if hiking and Exit Glacier are the main draw of your visit.
Best for hikersEstablished places to stay in and around Seward
A few well-known options by location and type. Rates change each season, so confirm current pricing with each property before booking.
Harbor 360 Hotel
On the small boat harbor
- Sits directly on the small boat harbor with Resurrection Bay views
- About a block from the Alaska Railroad depot
- Handy for early cruise departures and arriving by train
Seward Gateway Hotel
Between harbor and downtown
- At 1115 4th Avenue, between the harbor and downtown
- Walking distance to the Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center
- Close to Major Marine Tours cruise departures
Seward Windsong Lodge
Exit Glacier Valley
- Outside town in the Exit Glacier Valley, near Exit Glacier
- Runs a shuttle to downtown Seward
- 2026 season runs May 14 to September 15
Campgrounds and RV parks near Seward
From free walk-in tent sites near Exit Glacier to municipal waterfront campgrounds and private RV parks.
| Site | Type | 2026 from-price & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Exit Glacier Campground | Tent-only, walk-in (in park) | Free — 12 first-come sites, no RVs, 14-day limit; frequently fills by early evening in July and August |
| City of Seward — tent | Municipal waterfront (Ballaine Blvd) | About $25 + tax per night; reserved through Campspot, pay-and-display |
| City of Seward — RV dry | Municipal waterfront, no hookups | About $45 + tax per night; reserved through Campspot |
| City of Seward — RV partial hookup | Municipal waterfront, partial hookup | About $60 + tax per night; reserved through Campspot |
| City of Seward — premium RV | Municipal waterfront, premium | About $70 + tax per night; reserved through Campspot |
| Stoney Creek RV Park | Private RV park, near Seward | Roughly $72–$84 per night before tax (single-source — verify) |
2026 figures — verify before booking. The camping and RV prices above are 2026 rates and change each season. City of Seward campgrounds are reserved in advance through Campspot under a pay-and-display rule. Confirm current fees before you go.
Coastal cabins and the one in-park lodge
The park's two coastal public-use cabins — Aialik Bay (sleeps up to 4) and Holgate (sleeps 6) — cost about $75 per night and are generally available from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. They are booked on recreation.gov, where the season opens January 1, with a three-night limit per group.
Neither cabin has road access. You reach them by water taxi (roughly a two-hour boat ride) or float plane (about 30 minutes) from Seward. Each has a propane heater but no electricity or running water, so plan to bring bedding, a stove and drinking water.
Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge is the only lodge inside the park, at Pedersen Lagoon near Aialik Bay and reached by boat from Seward. It sells all-inclusive multi-night packages with guided kayaking and hiking, and is premium-priced — 2025–26 rates started around $2,175 for two nights (verify before booking).
Booking tip: summer (June–August) books up, so reserve lodging and cabins well ahead. The coastal public-use cabin season opens for booking on recreation.gov on January 1. Prices and dates change each season — verify before booking.
Where-to-stay questions
Almost everyone stays in Seward and day-trips into the park. Seward has hotels, lodges, bed and breakfasts, rentals, hostels and campgrounds, and it is the departure point for glacier cruises and the road to Exit Glacier. Two nights in Seward is a common recommendation to avoid a rushed day trip. In-park lodging is limited.
Yes, but options are limited. The park has two coastal public-use cabins, Aialik Bay (sleeps up to 4) and Holgate (sleeps 6), at about $75 per night, booked on recreation.gov with a three-night limit and reached only by water taxi or float plane from Seward. Exit Glacier Campground has 12 free, first-come, tent-only walk-in sites. Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge at Pedersen Lagoon is the only lodge inside the park and sells premium all-inclusive packages.
Reserve well ahead for a summer trip. June through August books up, and the in-park cabins and lodge are especially limited. The coastal public-use cabin season opens for booking on recreation.gov on January 1. Prices and dates change each season, so verify before booking.
Yes. Exit Glacier Campground has 12 free, first-come, walk-in, tent-only sites with a 14-day limit. It has no RV sites and frequently fills by early evening in July and August. RV travelers can use Seward's municipal waterfront campgrounds or private parks such as Stoney Creek RV Park near town.
Stay near the small boat harbor if your trip centers on a glacier cruise, since it is closest to the cruise departures and the Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center. Stay downtown, about a mile south, if you want restaurants, shops and the historic core within walking distance. The Exit Glacier Valley, a few miles north, is closest to Exit Glacier and the Harding Icefield trailhead.
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 book your basecamp?
Summer books up — especially the in-park cabins and lodge. Lock in two nights in Seward, then compare glacier cruises for your day on the water.