Tours and Tickets to Experience Alaska Railroad

There are plenty of ways to experience the Alaska Railroad. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Wilderness, Wildlife, Glacier Experience from Anchorage

• Alaska Railroad Anchorage to Seward Round-Trip Same Day Return

• Alaska Railroad Anchorage to Seward One Way

• Valley of Glaciers Experience with Portage Glacier Cruise and Wildlife Tour

• Refined Alaskan Escape: Private, Custom Journey with Local Expert

Tickets typically range from US$60 up to US$500, depending on trip length, route, and ticket class. The Alaska Railroad offers Adventure Class (standard service) and GoldStar Dome service (premium with included meals). Value season rates happen in May and September, and seniors, Medicare cardholders, and military receive discounts.

The Alaska Railroad operates five regularly scheduled passenger routes covering much of Alaska, from Fairbanks to Seward and beyond; there’s also an aurora winter train. Popular routes include the Denali Star (Fairbanks-Anchorage-Denali), Coastal Classic (Anchorage-Seward), and Glacier Discovery (Anchorage-Whittier). True to its name, the railroad stays in Alaska.

Book at least three months in advance. There are daily departures from mid-May to mid-September; however, each train departs only once per day, so it's essential to book your ticket in advance. Peak season (June–August), when hotels and trains fill up quickly, is especially busy.

On your Alaska Railroad trip, you may spot black and brown bears, caribou, moose, bald eagles, ptarmigan, salmon, mountain goats, and Dall sheep. Moose and bald eagles are common on all routes, while bears are occasionally spotted. However, "wildlife are wild," and sightings are never guaranteed. Do pack those binoculars!

The Alaska Railroad offers spectacular scenery and wildlife viewing, though your route determines what you see. The routes travel along rushing rivers and through amazing canyons, offering views of glaciers, blue mountain lakes, and Denali. At Kodachrome Corner near Talkeetna, the train stops for unobstructed views of “The High One.”