? about RR Anch-Seward

[mumom95]

Does anyone know what time the Alaska RR gets into Seward from Anchorage. It says it leaves Seward to go north at 11:00 am, but wasn't sure what time it would have arrived. We are booked on the 11:30 Kenai Fjords boat trip through Renown (they say get there and hour early, so that would be 10:30) and was wondering if we could do the Alaska RR from Anchorage to Seward that morning and still make it to check in with Renown by 10:30 (we are currently planning on renting a car, but thought I would see about the RR).

 

Next, if we are able to do this, any suggestions on how to get from Seward back up to Anchorage that night (we are staying in Anchorage that night, and if we do the train we won't have our rental car). The boat trip is supposed to end at 5:30 pm.

 

Thanks for any help.

[NancyIL]

It leaves Anchorage at 6:45 a.m. and arrives in Seward at 11:05 a.m. The return train leaves Seward at 6:00 p.m. and arrives in Anchorage at 10:15 p.m. http://www.alaskarailroad.com/arrc18.html

 

The Kenai Fjords tour through Alaska Heritage Tours fits in nicely with both trains, but it's a LONG day! http://www.alaskaheritagetours.com/543.cfm

[NancyIL]

This is the package deal if you want to take the train or bus roundtrip and do the Kenai Fjords tour with Alaska Heritage: http://www.alaskaheritagetours.com/574.cfm

 

If you are going with Renown, you can coordinate rail or coach transportation, too. http://www.alaskatravel.com/parks/kenai-fjords.html

[JohnQ]

As mentioned above, the times are leaving Anc at 6:45 am and arrives at 11:05am in Seward. I don't know about Renown but Kenai Fjords Tours will pick you up at train station and take you back there for the return train at 6pm. Their 6hr cruise starts at 11:30am and is done by 5:30. We have done the tour twice and would highly recommend it.

 

But the trip you are describing is a very long day and not the best way to see the Seward Hwy. We have driven it two or three times and rode the train last yr. While the train is nice, having a car would make the trip faster and still give you time to stop at Portage Glacier on way down or Exit Glacier in Seward for a little while. It would be much better to spend one night in Seward and not rush this part of your trip. We have taken the 8 or 8:30 morning 6hr tour and then drove back to Anc after that. That way we got to see the rest of Seward on the previous afternoon. Just one opinion, suggestion. The Alaska RR r/t would be about $120 each while the two day car rental r/t from Anc would be much cheaper.

[GlacierLady]

At the train depot each specfic tour will have a bus with their name on them to transport you the 2 blocks to the docks where the tour boats leave from.The train accounts for a large percent of tour boat passengers and their schedules reflect that.Most of the time it is faster and easier to walk!

 

I suggest if at possible to take the train and spend the night in Seward and take the train back to Anch the following evening.There is plenty to do and see here.

[Budget Queen]

I never recommend this as a day trip and if at all possible, spend the night in Seward either the night before or after. It is too long of a day otherwise.

[Chenega]

The Alaska Railroad trip to Seward is spectacular at times but combining it with a Kenai Fjords tour in a single day is exhausting. Spend the night in Seward and enjoy the Alaska Sealife Center and perhaps a trip to Exit Glacier.

 

Lots of fun places to poke around in Seward as well.