Seward Highway, Alaska: Things You Must Know About Driving Through The Third Most Amazing Highway

Photo of Seward Highway, Alaska, USA

     Long driving could be a bore. But not when you’re driving along the Seward Highway from Anchorage to Seward, Alaska. It is one of the most scenic and dramatic highways on earth. About 201 km long of well-paved roads, it luxuriates in nature’s gifts like clouds of all formations, waterways, snowy mountains, and lush forests. My daughter Trina and I were about to go to Seward City in Kenai Peninsula to see the famous glaciers of Alaska. We wanted to visit before the glaciers melted due to climate change. An Alaskan adventure would not be complete without having seen the million-year-old glaciers. Add to that is driving along the third most amazing highway, Seward Highway, next to Italy's Amalfi Drive and the number one highway, the Rhine south of Coblenz.

Photo of snow-clad Anchorage Mountain as viewed from the plane.

        Our trip started by plane from Kodiak, Alaska, where Trina was based. The view of the Anchorage Mountain above seems surreal to a native Pinay like me, as snow is alien to my very existence.

Free tomato juice in the plane.

     I love the free drinks on the plane, specially, this tomato juice (above). The stewardess asked me repeatedly, so I ordered tomato juice whenever she asked. The smile on my face (above) shows how happy I am drinking to my heart’s delight.

Photo outside Wal Mart with the snow-capped
Anchorage Mountain, Alaska, USA as background.

     After touch down in Anchorage, we stopped by Wal-Mart Supercenter in the Old Seward Highway to take lunch at a fast food restaurant and buy some snacks. At the parking area, I couldn't help but be amazed by the snowy mountain (above, background).

Photo of Alaska Route (AK-1).

     We proceeded to take Alaska Route 1 (AK-1) passing by Kenai Mountains, Turnagain Arm waterway, Chugach National Forest before ending up in AK-9 in Seward, Kenai Peninsula with a rented Toyota 4Runner, a mid-size semi-luxury SUV with off-road capabilities . We were so happy with this SUV, as it came along with major features like, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, remote keyless entry, single zone automatic climate control, power driver's lumbar support, power rear tailgate window, etc. 

Trina is shown above as the designated driver (L) with our rented 4Runner (R).

    On Seward Highway, the Turnagain Arm waterway can be seen to our right (below).

Parallel to the Seward Highway, the Alaska railroad system that services Anchorage to Seward is also visible (right). That railroad trip takes around 4 hours and 20 minutes. We made several stops along the way to better drink in the view

Photo of Turnagain Arm Waterway and the Alaska railroad track on the right.

     Seward Highway attracts migrating birds and waterfowl in the spring, summer and fall, and ice skaters in the winter. A long boardwalk at the north end of the marsh allows birdwatchers to get closer to see the birds (http://www.alaskascenes.com/turnagain.html).  There's a good chance of seeing dall sheep and a somewhat lesser chance of seeing some of Cook Inlet's 350 beluga whales and an eagle or two.

Birds and waterfowl may be seen in this part of the highway.

     Along the way, I requested Trina to stop so that I could touch the snow on the embankment. I might not have this chance to feel the freezing snow in my part of the world (Philippines) in the summer month of May. The temperature, about 4 °- 7°C, is bone chilling for my tropical-born-and-

bred body.

I had to get close to the snow.

     When we started this tour, the clouds were dark and heavy. But further along, the cloud formation changed. This cloud like a ball of cotton falling from the blue sky (below) is so rare and I have only seen this type in Seward highway.

Photo of a cloud formation like a falling cotton ball, Seward Highway, Alaska.

     We finally reached Seward City (below) after that long wonderful drive that, ordinarily takes 2 ½ hours, took us about four hours with stops along the way. The adventure-filled drive from Anchorage to Seward must be included in your bucket list because of the amazing views of the mountains, the waterways and the lush forests along the way. The beautifully maintained highway makes for a very relaxing and interesting drive from Anchorage to Seward vice versa.

Photo upon entering Seward City, Alaska, USA.