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Trip from Anchorage, AK to Seward, AK

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 45m

Distance

126.9 mi

204 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 34m ★
6 AM
2h 45m
8 AM
3h 7m
10 AM
2h 53m
12 PM
2h 50m
3 PM
2h 54m
5 PM
3h 6m
8 PM
2h 39m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
consolidated city-borough, and largest city in Alaska, United States of America

Anchorage, AK

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Seward, AK, AK

Seward, AK

Tima Miroshnichenko

Trip Overview

The drive from Anchorage, AK to Seward, AK covers 126.9 miles and takes about 2h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Seward Highway, Gambell Street, West 4th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 124 miles on Seward Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.64 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

63.4 miles from Anchorage, AK

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Seward Highway 124 mi 2h 37m
Gambell Street 1.2 mi 2m
West 4th Avenue 1 mi 2m
3rd Avenue 0.6 mi <1m
Jefferson Street <0.1 mi <1m
2nd Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Seward Highway — 124 mi, about 2h 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Anchorage, AK and Seward, AK.

1

Start on this road

85 ft · 8 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto West 4th Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · West 4th Avenue
3

Turn right onto Gambell Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · Gambell Street
4

Continue on AK 1

124 mi · 2 hr 37 min · Seward Highway
5

Continue on AK 9

0.6 mi · 58 sec · 3rd Avenue
6

Turn right onto Jefferson Street

300 ft · 18 sec · Jefferson Street
7

Turn left onto 2nd Avenue

170 ft · 7 sec · 2nd Avenue
8

Arrive at destination

2nd Avenue

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.4 miles from Anchorage, AK, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 28 miles or 38m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 63.4 miles or 1h 23m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 15m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seward, AK than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Anchorage, AK so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Anchorage, AK

This is one driving day of about 126.9 miles and 2h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Anchorage, AK.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Seward Highway for about 124 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

human settlement in United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Girdwood, AK

63 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Eagle River, AK

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Girdwood, AK

Meal break

The midpoint is around 63.4 miles from Anchorage, AK, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Seward Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 124 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

4 of 4

4 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 126.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | West 4th Avenue

Turn right onto West 4th Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
1 mi into trip | ~3m in | Gambell Street

Turn right onto Gambell Street

Navigation decision point

4
126.8 mi into trip | ~2h 44m in | Jefferson Street

Turn right onto Jefferson Street

Navigation decision point

5
126.8 mi into trip | ~2h 44m in | 2nd Avenue

Turn left onto 2nd Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.64 one way

$53.29 round trip

$5.33/gal 25.4 MPG avg 44 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.61 $28.02 $56.05
premium $5.80 $28.99 $57.97
diesel $5.60 $27.97 $55.95

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 44.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 38.1 0 $13.32 $6.09
Efficient EV 31.7 0 $11.10 $5.08
EV Truck/SUV 50.8 0 $17.77 $8.12

Gas CO2

44 kg

EV CO2

15 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Sep 1, 2026

Origin

Anchorage, AK

Afternoon in Anchorage on Friday

Local time

2:00 PM

AKDT

Current temp

54°F

Scattered Rain Showers

N 10 to 15 mph 31% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued August 31 at 5:52AM AKDT until September 1 at 4:00AM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK

Destination

Seward, AK

Afternoon in Seward on Friday

Local time

2:00 PM

AKDT

Current temp

48°F

Mostly Sunny

NW 40 mph 13% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued August 31 at 5:52AM AKDT until September 1 at 4:00AM AKDT by NWS Fairbanks AK

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

6 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 45m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

126.9 mi in 2h 45m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 124 mi on Seward Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West 4th Avenue.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Anchorage, AK to Seward, AK is easy. At 2h 45m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 4th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (Gambell Street): Navigation decision point; at 126.8 miles (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,318 ft 24 ft

Total Climb

1,453 ft

Total Descent

1,454 ft

Highest Point

1,318 ft

~81.6 mi in

Elevation Range

1,294 ft

Notable High Points

1,318 ft at ~81.6 miles +593 ft prominence

About the Cities

Starting in Anchorage, AK

Full guide →

“The City of Lights and Flowers” · Founded 1914

Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska, in the Southcentral region. Anchorage is a cosmopolitan port city with a population of 291 247 (2020). It is a consolidated city-borough referred to as a municipality. The urbanized city is defined by Muldoon Road to the east, Rabbit Creek Road to the south, and Cook Inlet to the north and west. Several small suburbs are within the Municipality of Anchorage while physically outside what most Anchorageites would call the "Anchorage" proper area. These include Eagle River and Chugiak to the north and Girdwood to the south.

Top landmarks

  • • Fort Richardson National Cemetery — United States National Cemetery in Anchorage, Alaska
  • • Alaska Native Heritage Center — cultural center in Anchorage, Alaska, United States
  • • Crow Creek Consolidated Gold Mining Company — historic gold mine near Girdwood, Alaska

Arriving in Seward, AK

Full guide →

Founded 1903

Seward ("SOO-word") is a small port city (population ~2,700) located at the head of Resurrection Bay on the Kenai Peninsula in Southcentral Alaska. Seward was named in honor of William H. Seward, President Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of State, who was responsible for negotiating the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867.

Top landmarks

  • • Seward Depot — American former rail depot
  • • Swetman House — historic residence in Seward, Alaska

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 45m. Total distance: 126.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 124 miles on Seward Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through AK can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (West 4th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (Gambell Street): Navigation decision point; at 126.8 miles (Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Seward, AK before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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