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This 127 mile/204 km highway has been designated a National Forest Scenic Byway. It connects the cities of Anchorage and Seward traveling past salt water bays, ice-blue glaciers, and alpine
valleys. The first 50 miles of the highway twists and turns along the base of the Chugach Mountains, and the shore of Turnagain Arm.
The 37-foot tides here are exceeded only by those in Nova Scotia's Bay of Fundy. The waters racing out of the inlet expose miles of mud flats and when they return, frequently create 6-foot bore tides.
Thirty-eight miles from Seward, the route joins the Sterling Highway which continues down the peninsula to Soldotna, Kenai, Ninilchik, Anchor Point,
and Homer. The Alaska Railroad parallels the Seward Highway to Portage, where it has a branch line to Whittier Alaska -port for the Alaska Marine Ferry System. Alaska Marine Ferry System has service to Valdez and Cordova. The railroad also serves Seward, which was the original starting point of the Alaska Railroad.
Just past the turn-off for Portage Glacier, you will enter the Kenai Peninsula Borough - over 25,000 square miles of scenic park lands, forests, volcanoes, glaciers, coastline,
rivers, and unique communities. Here it is easy to try
your luck at hooking a world record king salmon or a giant halibut, photograph a Russian church, spotted sea lions, whales, and a kaleidoscope of seabirds on a scenic cruise, and do it all on the same day!
Warning: The mudflats along the coast from Anchorage to Portage (Turnagain Arm) exhibit quicksand-like conditions. It is extremely dangerous to walk on the beach or mudflats in this area.
mile 127/km 204.4 Anchorage. Gambell Street and 15th Ave.
mile 125/km 201.2 Airport Road. 8 miles to International Airport, no access from New
Seward Highway. You must turn west on Dimond or Tudor Road to Old Seward Highway, then take Airport Road to Anchorage International.
mile 124.7/km 200.7 Tudor Road. Bypass route around
Anchorage to Glenn Highway via Muldoon Road.
mile 122.2/km 196.7 Dimond Boulevard. Exit for Dimond Mall, Costco, Fred Meyers.
mile 120.7/km 194.2 O'Malley Road. To reach Alaska Zoo, turn left (southbound from Anchorage) and drive 2 miles.
mile 119.5/km 192.3 Huffman Road.
mile 118.1/km 190 Old Seward Highway and Rabbit Creek Road.
mile 117.6/km 189.3 Parking for Wildlife Viewing Boardwalk and Rabbit Creek Rifle Range.
mile 117/km 188.3 Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge (Potter Marsh), a 2,300-acre wetland for bird watching, interpretive displays along the boardwalk. Nesting ponds for Arctic tern, geese, ducks, and swans.
mile 116.1/km 186.8 Potter's Marsh, parking.
mile 115/km 185 Potter Section House and Historic Park. Built in 1929 to maintain a section of the railroad, the house serves as Chugach State Park Visitor Center and railroad museum. Open daily 8 to 4:30 year round. Chugach State Park, north boundary. From here to mile 103 there are several scenic viewpoints of Turnagain Arm.
mile 113.3/km 182.3 Parking.
mile 111/km 178.6 McHugh Creek State Picnic Area. Picnic sites, water,
toilets and trails. The views of Turnagain Arm and Cook Inlet are breathtaking. Fast movement of the water (up to 6 knots) usually visible to naked eye.
mile 111.2/km 179 Parking; Potter trailhead.
mile 110.3/km 177.5 Beluga Point interpretive site with telescopes. Enjoy beautiful views of Turnagain Arm while you watch for beluga.
There are several parking areas along the ocean from mile 109 to mile 90.
mile 109.2/km 175.7 Parking.
mile 108.9/km 175.3 Parking.
mile 108.7/km 174.9 Parking.
mile 108.4/km 174.4 Rainbow Road to Rainbow Trailhead and parking, access to Old Johnson Trail.
mile 108/km 173.8 Parking.
mile 107.7/km 173.3 Parking.
mile 106.8/km 171.8 Scenic viewpoint, parking. Fallen Rock Trail access.
mile 105.6/km 169.9 Falls Creek Trailhead, parking.
mile 104/km 167.4 Indian Valley Mine.
mile 103.9/km 167.2 Indian Road.
mile 103/km 165.7 Bridge over Indian Creek, rest area at south end
of bridge. Heavily fished by local residents. Sea-run Dolly Varden, silver salmon, rainbow-June to Sept. Pink salmon-July and August.
mile 102.2/km 164.5 Parking, Bird Ridge Trailhead.
mile 101.5/km 163.3 Bridge over Bird Creek, parking, observation platform. Heavily fished by local residents.
mile 101.2/km 162.9 Bird Creek State Campground. 27 camp sites, picnic shelters, water, toilets, hiking trails and fishing. Seven day limit, this campground is very often full, there is an overflow campground with
20 camp sites. View from campground across Turnagain Arm to Hope, a booming city in goldrush days. Fee Area.
Warning: The tidal mudflats that are exposed by low tide in this area are
extremely dangerous, do not go out on them.
mile 100/km 160.9 There are many large scenic parking areas from mile 100 to the junction at Girdwood.
mile 96.4/km 155 Bird Point rest area. The historic gold rush settlement of Hope can be seen across Turnagain Arm.
mile 90.5/km 145.6 Tidewater Slough.
mile 90/km 144.8 Junction to Girdwood and Alyeska Ski Resort and Kobuk Valley Jade.
Tesoro 2 Go Tesoro gas and oil products convenience store.There is no gas available between Girdwood and Seward on this Highway.
mile 89.8/km 144.5 Glacier Creek. View of 3 glaciers to the east.
mile 89.2/km 143.5 Virgin Creek.
mile 86/km 138.4 Parking, Chugach National Forest, West Boundary.
mile 84.1/km 135.3 Peterson Creek.
mile 81/km 130.4 Twenty Mile River. Observation platform with information on Twenty Mile River wetlands and wildlife.
mile 80.7/km 129.9 Bridge over Twenty Mile River
which flows out of Twenty Mile Glacier. Parking.
mile 80.3/km 129.2 Portage-Whittier.
mile 79.3/km 127.6 Portage Creek No. 2, parking.
mile 78.9/km 127 Portage Creek No. 1, parking.
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