The Seward Highway – Anchorage, Alaska - Atlas Obscura
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The Seward Highway

Anchorage, Alaska

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

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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)
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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
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Published
June 25, 2021
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