Onboard the Coastal Classic Train: Anchorage, Seward, Kenai Fjords National Park

The Coastal Classic train connects Anchorage and the Kenai Fjords National Park by way of Seward and a 4.5-hour journey through Alaska's landscapes

Summary

• The Coastal Classic is a 4.5-hour train route connecting Anchorage to Fairbanks between May and September
• Onboard the Coastal Classic, you can either sit in upper-level scenic domed train carriages or enjoy a more typical rail experience
• The Coastal Classic is a way to visit the Kenai Fjords National Park without a car

The Coastal Classic train is Alaska Railroad's route connecting Anchorage and Seward, better known as the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. It is one of the five routes run by Alaska Railroad and makes for one of the best day trips from Anchorage, connecting the city with some of the best excursions in Alaska. It's something we recommend to our guests time and time again.

Most recently, our team took Alaska Railroad's Coastal Classic train both to and from Seward, testing both the morning southbound journey and the evening northbound one.

Coastal Classic route map | Credit: Alaska Rail Vacations

The Coastal Classic Route

The Coastal Classic route runs between Anchorage and Seward, stopping at Girdwood on the way. It runs in either direction, leaving Anchorage depot at 6:45am and Seward at 6pm daily.

Starting in Anchorage, the southbound route follows the Turnagain Arm south before turning right at Girdwood to cross the Kenai Peninsula. There, it heads along a pass through the Kenai Mountains before reaching Seward on the coast of Resurrection Bay.

The northbound route follows the same tracks as the southbound route but in reverse.

The journey is around 4 hours and 35 minutes, and a great alternative to car travel or a coach transfer.

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The Coastal Classic route can be completed as a day trip, taking the train both in the morning and in the evening, or can be split by an overnight stop in Seward. For that reason, we'll cover what the way there is like, leaving early in the morning, and what the way back is like.

The visitor center in downtown Anchorage | Credit: Alaska Rail Vacations

Pre-Boarding

The Coastal Classic leaves Anchorage early in the morning at 6:45am, so we always recommend our guests arrive in Anchorage the day before they're set to travel and spend the night in the city.

The morning of the trip, plan to arrive at the station around an hour early (around 5:45am for the Coastal Classic) to check in. The Alaska Railroad station sits right downtown, and you can spend time browsing the gift shop while you wait.

Luckily, Anchorage is a city that rewards an extra night. Despite being the largest city in the state, Anchorage still feels deeply Alaskan, being down-to-earth and connected to nature.

You can find excellent restaurants and breweries throughout the walkable downtown, and the Chugach Mountains rise directly behind the city skyline, which practically call you to explore. A favorite of our guests, though, and one we recommend often, is fly-in bear viewing in one of the neighboring national parks across the Cook Inlet.

Our team boarding the Coastal Classic with GoldStar tickets | Credit: Alaska Rail Vacations

Boarding the Coastal Classic in Anchorage

Boarding the Coastal Classic is easy and fast. You'll head to the Anchorage Depot, just 10 minutes from downtown Anchorage, and check any large luggage in before you board. We recommend bringing a smaller day bag with you containing anything you'll need in the train or for your time in Seward (if you're taking a day trip).

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Passengers will be directed by Alaska Railroad staff to where they need to be to board smoothly. Adventure Class passengers will be directed to their correct carriages, and GoldStar passengers will head up to the upper level of their exclusive dome cars.

Comparing service levels on the Coastal Classic | Credit: Alaska Rail Vacations, Alaska Railroad

Service Levels on the Coastal Classic Train

On the Coastal Classic, you can either travel in GoldStar Service or Adventure Class.

GoldStar is the premium option; you'll be seated upstairs in a domed car, with panoramic glass windows arching over you and access to an exclusive outdoor viewing deck. Meals, included in your ticket, will be served in the downstairs dining section of your train car.

Adventure Class, on the other hand, is the more affordable option. You'll have access to all the same stunning views — the train travels the same route regardless of class — and large picture windows line the train, making them easy to see. Meals can be purchased in the cafe car.

We always recommend GoldStar Service to our own guests and include it where possible in our itineraries. In GoldStar, you get more of the benefits of classic train travel (and the things that make Alaska Railroad special): meals in the dining car, comfortable seats in the dome car, and exclusive access to an outdoor viewing deck.

Onboard the Coastal Classic Southbound | Anchorage to Seward

On our most recent trip, our team rode in the GoldStar Service. That means they settled into their upper-level seats in the Vista Dome Car and, at 6:45am, the Coastal Classic pulled out of Anchorage.

The Coastal Classic follows the Turnagain Arm out of Anchorage | Credit: Alaska Railroad / Nicole Geils

Leaving Anchorage

Leaving Anchorage, the Coastal Classic follows the Turnagain Arm south, passing between the southern edge of the Chugach State Park and the water, following the scenic Seward Highway. Looking left, there are views into the forested mountains and, looking right, over the water to the Kenai Mountains, where you're headed.

Views from the Coastal Classic Train

As you reach the end of the Turnagain Arm, the Coastal Classic pulls away from the road to travel deep into the Kenai Mountains, following a valley with a dramatic braided river as it does. From its route in the mountains, you'll see rivers, lakes, and Spencer Glacier, all sights you'd miss by road.

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This is where we feel GoldStar Service shines. Sitting in the domed car, you can look up at the mountains towering over you, or head outside to the viewing platform for entirely unobstructed views of the landscapes (this is where our own team spent much of their last journey). We hear from guests time and time again that they loved getting away from the roads on the train.

Breakfast on Alaska Railroad can include eggs, bacon, and hashbrowns | Credit: Alaska Rail Vacations

Meals on the Coastal Classic | Breakfast

Meals are included in GoldStar Service and available for purchase in Adventure Class's Wilderness Cafe. That means, on the early morning southbound route, you'll be treated to breakfast in the sit-down dining car, which is served across two seatings. Large windows line the carriage so you won't miss the views for a moment.

The Coastal Classic breakfast menu includes things like sweet 'snowbird' cream of barley and blueberry bread pudding and a classic savoury breakfast of eggs, bacon or sausage, and breakfast potatoes or a country starter of biscuits and gravy.

Breakfast onboard is perfectly suited to the Alaskan landscapes: hearty and warming, and, as any good breakfast should, comes with your choice of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and soft drinks, and up to two alcoholic drinks per passenger.

Downtown Seward retains its classic Alaskan charm | Credit: Travel Alaska /Matt Hage

Arriving in Seward

The Coastal Classic train arrives in Seward at approximately 11:20am, giving you plenty of time to explore the town and surrounding area. Hotel shuttles are at the train station when you arrive, so if you’re heading directly to a hotel, the transfer is easy. If you’re not headed to a hotel, your bags can be delivered directly.

With just one day in Seward, we particularly recommend the Alaska Sealife Center on the Resurrection Bay waterfront, hiking to the Exit Glacier viewpoint, and wandering downtown to see charming gift shops, local eateries (like Ray's Waterfront and Resurrect Art Coffee House), and historic sites like the Iditarod Historic Trail Statue Mile 0 marker.

From the waterfront, you can also walk the Sea Otter Trail along the bay, and spot wildlife like bald eagles, sea otters, and seals, as well as whales and porpoises if you're particularly lucky.

If you're planning to take a day cruise of Kenai Fjords National Park, which is our guests' favorite activity in Seward, we recommend spending an extra night here, as most begin boarding before the Coastal Classic arrives, and will give you plenty of time for the full-day tour.

Onboard the Coastal Classic Northbound | Seward to Anchorage

The Coastal Classic departs Seward in the evening, at 6pm, perfectly timed to come after a day's explorations and activities, and just as you're ready to enjoy dinner onboard.

Our team spotting a glacier from the train | Credit: Alaska Rail Vacations

Leaving Seward

The Coastal Classic train leaves Seward at 6pm. Depending on when you're traveling in Alaska, this could mean you leave to bright daylight or a gorgeous fall sunset over the golden larches.

Some hotels in Seward, like Windsong Lodge, can check your bags to the train in the morning so you don’t have to return to the hotel, but be sure to check with your concierge when checking out.

Dinner overlooking the Alaskan wilderness | Credit: Alaska Rail Vacations

Meals on the Coastal Classic | Dinner

Like breakfast, dinner is included for GoldStar Passengers on the northbound Coastal Classic train and is taken in the dining car.

The Coastal Classic dinner menu includes hearty Alaskan staples like an Angus beef burger, Dijon-crusted Alaska cod, and a slow-braised pot roast, and a number of other options. Dinner also includes dessert.

The portions are generous, and the sit-down dining car is as charming as ever, especially in the shoulder seasons where you'll watch the sun set on over the Kenai Mountains while you eat.

At the end of the season, you arrive in Anchorage as the sun begins to set | Credit: Alaska Rail Vacations

Arriving in Anchorage

The Coastal Classic arrives in Anchorage depot around 10:15pm, so you'll need to stay in Anchorage for a night after your train trip.

From mid-June to mid-August, the sunset is after the arrival time (thanks to the glorious extended daylight hours found at the northern latitude), meaning if you're traveling in these months, you'll enjoy daylight from the beginning to the end of your ride.

From Anchorage, you can continue your vacation in a number of ways. You might head north to Denali National Park and Fairbanks on the Denali Star train, to Prince William Sound and its famous glaciers on the Glacier Discovery train, or begin the journey to one of the remote wilderness lodges found across the state.

What to Consider Before Taking the Coastal Classic

A few practical notes from our team's (and previous travelers') collective experience:

• The Coastal Classic runs daily from mid-May through mid-September. It does not run in winter.
• If you're planning a summer trip, book early — GoldStar Service in particular sells out well in advance.
• Luggage check is straightforward, but carry a day bag onboard with anything you want access to during the journey. Checked bags aren't accessible while the train is moving.
• Cell service and data are sparse for large stretches of the route. But, that being said, one of the biggest pleasures onboard the train is disconnecting from modernity and relaxing into classic rail travel. That means no tech-based distractions (though a book is a great travel companion) and endless undeveloped wilderness views.

Our team on the Coastal Classic Train | Credit: Alaska Rail Vacations

Book a Trip on the Coastal Classic Train

If you're just looking for a train ticket, then you can purchase a train ticket on Alaska Railroad's website. However, if you're looking for rail vacation packages that include Coastal Classic, Alaska Rail Vacations puts together bespoke and tailored packages built around Alaska's train routes.

We plan our Coastal Classic train vacations with excursions in Seward and the Kenai Fjords included. Some packages just spend the day here while others give you a night in Seward to enjoy. Building a complete vacation lets you explore the landscapes you see rather than just pass them by.

If you’d like to travel Alaska by train, reach out to a Travel Designer to begin booking your trip.

FAQs

Is the Coastal Classic train wheelchair accessible?

The Coastal Classic train, including upper-level GoldStar Service seating, is wheelchair accessible in accordance with ADA regulations. If you're looking for an accessible seat, reach out to a Travel Designer and let them know at time of booking so they can help you find what you need.