What to Expect On The Alaska Railroad

The Alaska Railroad is a bucket list item to do when visiting the Last Frontier of Alaska. Some views you’ll see while on the train are amazing. It beats driving down and focusing on the road instead of the views. Here’s what to expect and why you should ride the Alaska Railroad and visit Alaska at least once. 

What is the most scenic train route on the Alaska Railroad? 

The most scenic train route would be the Coastal Classic route. These trains go from Anchorage to Whittier (or vice versa). If you are going from Anchorage to Girdwood, and you are able to choose seats, sit on the right side of the train. These seats have the best view of Turnagain Arm, and if you’re lucky, you can see beluga whales on the water and the train gently rolls by. 

Another scenic ride and part of the Coastal Classic route is the train from Anchorage to Seward. If you’re going during late spring, early autumn, or winter, you can still see snow on the ground. It still feels like a winter wonderland as the train passes by tunnels and close to the trees. You can even feel some precipitation as the snow melts from the top of the trees.  

Gold Star or Adventure Class Service on the Alaska Railroad?

On two of the more popular routes, the Denali Star (Anchorage to Denali National Park and vice versa), and the Coastal Classic (Anchorage to Girdwood or Seward), there are two types of service available. These are the Gold Star (more expensive but higher class of service) and the Adventure Class Service (think economy class but with more legroom and not a lot of downsides). 

What is the Gold Star Service on the Alaska Railroad? 

The Gold Star cars are the creme de la creme service of the Alaska Railroad. The seats have huge windows, and with gorgeous views, you’ll probably spend a lot of time just staring at the scenery. The Gold Star service has elevated seats, and each car has an open-air area in the back so you can feel the fresh air and have unimpeded views without the glare. 

Is the Gold Star Service on the Alaska Railroad Worth It? 

You’ll pay a premium for the Gold Star service. These seats cost almost twice as much as the Adventure Class service, but your fare will include food and drink. You’ll also get a commemorative pin that serves as your VIP entry to the Gold Star cars when you board. 

With the domed views and the higher viewpoint that you’ll get being on the Gold Star Service, it is worth it if you have the money to spare. However, we wouldn’t recommend going into debt by taking the Gold Star Service. There is an observation car on the Adventure Class service as well, so you won’t lose out on seeing the views. 

What is the Adventure Class Service on the Alaska Railroad? 

The Adventure Class service is a more affordable option for travel around Alaska. The Adventure Class service has its own observation car, which is also slightly elevated than the seats on the Adventure Class. This observation car isn’t as impressive as the Gold Star’s dome but if you’re on a budget and want the same experience on the Alaska Railway, this is a good option. 

Think of the Adventure Class Service as the economy option and Gold Star as business class. Both have outdoor observation areas, but Gold Star seats are located on the top floor of the train car, while Adventure Class seats are usually on the first level of the train car you are in. 

You can’t go through the Gold Star train car if you’re booked on Adventure Class. However, if you are on the Gold Star Service, you can pop around and try out the Adventure Class train’s observation car. 

What to expect when going from Anchorage to Girdwood on the Alaska Railroad

I had the opportunity to go from Alaska to Girdwood on the Alaska Railroad and sat on the Gold Star service train. It was a special, chartered train, and we left the Anchorage Depot an hour before sunset. This is not part of the Alaska Railroad’s usual Coastal Classic service.

 The first part of Anchorage is nothing special: just trees, the occasional shopping area of Midtown Anchorage, and residential homes. However, once you get outside Anchorage and start going through the  Turnagain Arm is the best. 

Going through that scenic train ride during Golden Hour and for sunset is breathtaking. I can’t even begin to mention how many videos and photos I took of the whole train ride when we were chugging down Turnagain Arm. 

Pro Tip: Make sure you have enough memory and batteries on your camera or your phone since you will absolutely need it. There are plugs you can charge your phone on the Gold Star Service cars in case you’re running out of battery. 

Anchorage to Seward on the Alaska Railroad

Seward is one of the bigger ports servicing an Alaska cruise. There are no airports in Seward so your only way to get to the town is by either renting a car and driving to Seward or taking the Alaska Railroad. 

If you are taking the Anchorage to Seward train, the departure time is an ungodly hour in the morning. You’ll check out and leave your hotel before breakfast is served, and the train leaves promptly at 6:45 am during the summer. You can check out the official train times on the Alaska Railroad website. 

The Alaska Railroad Does Luggage Valet Service in Seward Regardless of the Class of Service

If you are traveling from Anchorage to Seward and are staying in a partner hotel in Seward, the Alaska Railroad can forward your luggage to your hotel free of charge. We had one night in Seward before our cruise departed, and we stayed at the Best Western. 

Imagine our surprise when we were dropping our checked bags in Anchorage. The porter asked if we were staying in Seward overnight. We said yes. The porter then asked us to fill out a luggage tag with the name under the reservation and they’ll forward our checked bags to our hotel in Seward free of charge. 

This left us with a few hours to spare wandering around Seward without needing to lug our luggage around or take a taxi from the train station. 

Is the Alaska Railroad Station in Downtown Seward? 

No. It was a leisurely 2-mile walk from the station to downtown Seward where our hotel was located. Since we wanted to see the town and thanks to the free valet service where we won’t have to bring our bags to the hotel, we walked. We saw the main street and the start of where the path to Mount Baldy. 

Is the Alaska Railroad Station in Downtown Anchorage? 

Yes, the Alaska Railroad station is close to Downtown Anchorage, however, you’ll have to go up a small hill to get to the main street (3rd Ave). If you’re staying at the Marriott, the Historic Anchorage Hotel, or at the Hilton, expect to walk for around 10 minutes, depending on how much luggage you carry. Alternatively, you can also Uber or take a taxi to your accommodation. 

A Bucket List Adventure on the Alaska Railroad 

The Alaska Railroad is one of the bucket list things you’ll have to do when visiting Alaska. The prices may be high, but riding the railroad as you visit other cities outside Anchorage is worth it for the views and the experience alone. If you have the means, definitely splurge for the Gold Star service. Not only do you get a chance to go to the outdoor observation area, but you’ll also have huge window views from the comfort of your seat. 

Looking for more Alaska posts? Here are a few suggestions:

• An Alaska Itinerary: What To Do in Alaska for Two Weeks
• Ultimate Alaska Shopping Guide (What to Buy)
• Family Fun at the Williams Reindeer Farm in Palmer Alaska
• Category: Anything we posted about Alaska