How to Spend 1, 2 or 3 Days in Seward, Alaska

Seward is one of our favorite places to visit in all of Alaska. This community is nestled into the mouth of Resurrection Bay, an area teaming with wildlife and the most magnificent mountains you’ve ever seen. It can often be rainy, and the bay fills with fog, but on a clear day, this place is heaven.

This small seaside town has a population of just over 2,500. The town’s namesake was the former US Secretary of State William H. Seward, who oversaw the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867. The local economy is driven mainly by commercial fishing and seasonal tourism.

Most people visiting Alaska arrive in Seward via cruise ship, railroad, or car. Some of the larger tour companies make it easy by shuttling you from the cruise to the coach bus or train and then to one of their many hotels. When visiting Alaska, we highly recommend planning it on your terms or finding a small, locally operated tour company that will be delighted to help you plan your dream trip to Alaska! These trips are much more personal and a great way to avoid large crowds.

We have spent a lot of time in Seward and are happy to share how we would spend a perfect couple of days in this little seaside town.

Read on to find out more:

What to do in Seward - Day 1

Walk to the Edge of Exit Glacier

As you drive into Seward, we recommend first stopping at Exit Glacier. Exit Glacier is located about 20 minutes outside of Seward. There is a trail here that winds up to a beautiful close-up view of the glacier. Along the trail, you will see signs with years written on them, showing where the glacier reached during certain times. This hike takes about 30 minutes one way.

Visit the Alaska SeaLife Center

The Alaska SeaLife Center is an iconic place known to all Alaskans. This facility combines a public aquarium with marine research, education, and wildlife response. The center is an excellent introduction to Alaska’s marine wildlife, and you’ll have a chance to see many animals, including fish, puffins, seals, sea otters, and many other sea creatures. Many tanks have underwater viewing areas to watch the animals dive through the water. There is plenty of informative areas to read, listen, watch, and learn more about the animals and their ecosystem. They also have a hands-on marine tank where visitors can touch some of the creatures, including starfish and sea anemones. This is a great place to visit with kids!

Read more about the best things to do with kids around Anchorage.

Afternoon Walk down Main Street

Seward is a charming and picturesque seaside town. Little colorful cottages line the historic streets and are wonderful to explore. There is a main street that has small shops, cafes, and restaurants. This area easily connects to a trail along the shore where you can stop and observe fishermen reeling in their haul. There is a free city shuttle, operated by Seward City Tours, that will transport you between the downtown and the harbor area so that you can have a chance to walk around the boats.

Stroll along the Beach at Lowell Point

Whale feeding along the shore at Lowell Beach

Just past the town of Seward and down a dirt road, you will find Lowell Point. This area is home to the Miller’s Landing Campground, the Lowell Point State Recreation Site, and plenty of hiking trails. Our favorite spot in this area is Lowell Beach. You will need to park at the Lowell Point State Recreation Site. Here you will find a beautiful rocky beach where on a sunny day, you can view the surrounding peaks and often see people swimming in the ocean and kayaking. It is also possible to view whales at a close distance feeding along the shore. You must drive a short gravel road alongside the ocean to get here. You will also need to pay for parking. In May 2022, there was a large landslide closing the road. During the Summer of 2022, the road was occasionally closed due to repairs. Though the road is usually open, it is wise to check beforehand.

What to do in Seward - Day 2

Kenai Fjords Wildlife Tour

It’s time to take to the seas for your Kenai Fjords wildlife tour. These boat tours are one of our favorite activities to recommend to people visiting Alaska. You can choose different tours based on the time you have. I recommend taking at least a 3-hour tour because you really need to get out of the main bay to see some incredible sights.

On these boat tours, you will have the opportunity to see tons of marine wildlife, including sea otters, orca whales, grey whales, humpback whales, sea lions, birdlife, and more. The boat crew does an excellent job sharing interesting information about the wildlife and this region.

There are a few different companies that offer Kenai Fjords wildlife boat cruises.

Tonsina Creek Trail Hike

Hiking with friends at Caine’s Head in Seward

What better way to regain your land legs after a few hours at sea than on a beautiful hike? Lowell Point State Recreation Site is just down the beach from the Miller’s Landing campground. You can walk there at low tide or otherwise drive or walk along the dirt road to access the parking for this site. (If you park at the rec site, you must pay a $5 day use fee.) Just above the beach and the parking, you can access the trailhead for the Tonsina Creek Trail.

This gradual climb will take you on a well-maintained trail through green forests until you arrive at Tonsina Creek, where you can often spot spawning salmon at the right time of year. The trail continues into a lush forest that feels like you’ve entered into a fairytale rainforest. After passing through this section, you will reach the shoreline, where you can enjoy some time on the beach before turning back.

BONUS DAY 3

If you’ve got the time to spend an extra day in Seward, I highly recommend hiking in Caines Head State Recreation Area and staying overnight at one of the state-run cabins. A few summers ago, we had some friends visit us from Poland. We took a water taxi from Miller’s Landing and arrived at the Derby Cove Cabin. We dropped our gear off and hiked to Fort McGilvray, which contains abandoned WWII ruins. The following day we hiked out back toward Seward along the beach. Read on to learn more about planning a trip to Caine’s Head State Recreation Area.

Book A Cabin in Seward

You can book one of the three cabins in Caines Head through the Reserve America website. We stayed at the Derby Cove Cabin. It was clean and comfortable and could sleep up to 8 people. There is also a compostable outdoor toilet. The area around this hut was lush and forested, with easy access to the beach.

Book a Water Taxi in Seward

Miller’s Landing does an excellent job running water taxis around Resurrection Bay. We were able to schedule a water taxi on the same day. They shuttled us from the main building at Miller’s Landing to the boat launch at Lowell Point State Recreation Site. You can hop on the boat from here, and they take you exactly where you need to go. If you don’t feel like hiking out, you can also arrange a time for a water taxi pick-up upon departure. Here is a list of the State of Alaska authorized water taxi carriers for the Caines Head area.

Hike to Fort McGilvray

From the cabin, you can hike to Fort McGilvray, which contains the ruins of the abandoned WWII remote defense facilities. This area housed 2,000 troops over two years during the war. The hike from the Derby Cover Cabin is about 2.5 miles one way on a defined trail. You can continue the hike to South Beach, another 1.5 miles ahead.

Hiking Out

You will need to check the local tide table before hiking in or hiking to Caine’s Head. The Seward Visitor’s Center is a great resource for information on tides. You must leave at least 2 hours before low tide to avoid getting stranded. Make sure to plan accordingly!

Travel Tips

Be sure to travel with bear spray and practice bear safety precautions, as black and brown bears frequent this area.
If you hike along the beach, wear solid hiking shoes and bring trekking poles. Some of the rocks you cross are wet and algae covered, making them very slippery.
Check the tide table before you hike along the beach to avoid getting stranded!

Best Restaurants in Seward

The Cookery

A locally run restaurant focused on serving elegant meals using ingredients from nearby farms and regional wild edibles when available. It’s a great place to experience some truly authentic Alaskan flavors. Great place for dinner.

Resurrect Art Coffee House

This cafe is in a renovated historic church filled with coffee, baked goods, locally made art, and even a small thrift section!

Le Barn Appetite Inn and Crepery

This creperie, on the way to Exit Glacier, makes enormous gourmet Belgian-style crepes. They serve savory and sweet crepes, waffles, and gluten-free crepe options.

Zudy’s Cafe

A great little spot close to the Sealife Center that serves up hearty sandwiches, soups, salads, cakes, and more. It's a good place for lunch.

Flamingo Lounge

A renovated speakeasy-style restaurant serving delicious cocktails, fresh fish, and steak.

Best Places to Stay in Seward

Salted Roots

These new beautiful cabins are located in Lowell Point, just a 5-minute drive past Seward. The cabins are surrounded by forests with easy beach access. They are cozy, set back, and secluded while still offering an abundance of natural light.

Harbor 360

This is a large hotel located in the harbor area of Seward. This modern hotel boasts beautiful harbor views and an indoor pool, hot tub, and warm breakfast.

Cabins at Miller’s Landing

Miller’s Landing oversees several beachfront cabins in the Lowell Point area. Peruse some of their offerings and see which might fit your needs.

Exit Glacier Lodge

A small lodge and cabins located in a beautiful and quiet wooded setting.

Camping in Seward

When we visit Seward, we usually choose to camp. Our favorite place for camping is Miller’s Landing. If you’re set up with your camper or camping equipment, Miller’s Landing is an excellent place to stay the night. This large, privately run beachfront campground offers everything you need and more. They have a spacious bathhouse and a main building with a small shop and cafe. They can also arrange any activities you may be interested in, such as guided kayaking trips, water taxis, etc. Because this campground is right on the beach, you can easily take an evening stroll and observe the local wildlife, including jellyfish, sea otters, eagles, and more.

Additionally, there is tons of camping in the town of Seward. The camping areas are mostly parking lot style, but they have incredible views and are close to the harbor, restaurants, and shops. Find more information about camping in Seward.

Car Rental in Seward

Car rental options are very limited in Seward. Alaskan Car Rentals will drop off cars in many different locations, including the Seward and Whittier Cruise Terminals. These cars will need to be returned to Anchorage at the end of your trip. They offer a shuttle to the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.