The Seward Highway – Anchorage, Alaska - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

AO Edited

The Seward Highway

Anchorage, Alaska

Considered by many to be one of the most dangerous highways in Alaska. 

View all photos
Merging onto Alaska 1 from a scenic overlook. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
Merging onto Alaska 1 from a scenic overlook. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
The Girdwood area surrounded by mountains. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
A snow capped peak just outside Seward. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
A view of the Seward harbor. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
A photo taken at Primrose. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
Two moose are visible in the center of this photo taken at Primrose. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
A view of the bay at Chugach State Park. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
At Rabbit Creek just outside of Anchorage an old snow removal locomotive. rbt45769 (Atlas Obscura User)
640
170
Top Places in Anchorage
Wolf Song of Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
Burial Spirit Houses
Anchorage, Alaska
Alaska Resources Library and Information Services
Anchorage, Alaska
 See All

Constructed in 1951, this 127-mile long road connects Anchorage with the port city of Seward on the Kenai peninsula. Coming out of Anchorage as Alaska Route 1, it meets Alaska Route 9 at the Sterling Highway. From there, the Seward Highway follows Alaska 9 into Seward.

Driving nonstop this trip takes nearly three hours to complete. The Seward Highway is popular with tourists because of its beautiful mountain and sea vistas. The highway passes through the Kenai Peninsula, Chugach National Forest, Turnagain Arm, and the Kenai Mountains.

A 1964 earthquake caused around 20 miles of the Seward Highway to sink low enough that it had to be rebuilt.  

Know Before You Go

This is considered one of the most dangerous highways in Alaska because of traffic congestion during the summer months and the fact that it is a winding two-lane highway.          


Scenic views abound in all directions. Whale watching tours are featured in Seward and camping facilities are available at various locations along the Seward Highway. Be cautious of the local wildlife. 

highways infrastructure design
Community Contributors
rbt45769
Added by
rbt45769
m
biodieselbarry
Collector of Experiences
Edited by
martinavasil, biodieselbarry, Collector of Experiences
Published
June 25, 2021
Edit this listing
Make an Edit Add Photos
Nearby
Alaska Resources Library and Information Services
1.88 miles
Anchorage Light Speed Planet Walk
2.28 miles
Grandma Olga Statue
2.64 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
Alaska Resources Library and Information Services
Anchorage, Alaska

Alaska Resources Library and Information Services

This Alaska library may be the only one in the country that allows you to check out pieces of taxidermy.
Our Sun, looking radiant in Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage Light Speed Planet Walk

A high school astronomy enthusiast designed this model of our solar system to be traversed on foot.
Anchorage, Alaska

Grandma Olga Statue

Pay homage to a preeminent matriarch, and the native Dena’ina people, at this sculpture installation in Anchorage.
Anchorage, Alaska

Worlds Largest Chocolate Waterfall

While not recognized by Guinness, this chocolate waterfall is likely to be the world's largest.
Related Places
Duboka, Croatia

Pelješac Bridge

Construction of this bridge was once described as an "act of violence" against a neighboring country.
Pickering Pedestrian Bridge
Pickering, Ontario

Pickering Pedestrian Bridge

The longest enclosed pedestrian bridge in the world spans 14 lanes of traffic and six rail tracks, all while lighting up the night sky.
Looking toward Eastgate on old US-50 (NV-722), from near its west junction.
Austin, Nevada

Nevada State Route 722

US-50 in Nevada is known as "the Loneliest Road in America," but this earlier iteration of the route is even lonelier.
Sand filtration pits repurposed as tree planters.
Denver, Colorado

Carpio Sanguinette Park

An innovative local park built from an abandoned sewage treatment plant.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web