Why the Alaska Railroad Isn't Worth It (My Honest Review)

If you're planning a trip to Alaska, you might have been told that one of the things you have to do while in Alaska is to take a ride on the Alaska Railroad. While this does happen to be one of the top sights for visitors to the Anchorage and Kenai Peninsula area, I honestly don't recommend a trip on the Alaska Railroad to visitors. In my personal opinion, you're much better off (both time wise and expense wise) to just rent a car for the day in Anchorage and drive to Seward yourself.

​My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip to the 49th State.

For flights, I recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates.

To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required), and always use NordVPN to stay safe while connecting to different wifis.

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier.

What to Expect on the Alaska Railroad

The Alaska Railroad has a few different itineraries - with most of them starting (or ending) in Anchorage. You can take it to Girdwood, Seward, Denali, and even all the way up to Fairbanks. They have 2 different ticket types - "Adventure Class" or "Goldstar Service" - think of it like economy or first class on a flight. You can also choose to take the train round trip or just one way to your destination.

​I booked the trip for myself and my mother, and the trip took about 4.5 hours each way and cost $349 for both of us to have round trip tickets in the Adventure Class section from Anchorage to Seward, also called the "Coastal Classic." There's no food/drinks included for the Adventure Class section, but there is a food car selling snacks. There's also a "dome" area that everyone on the train has access to.

Round Trip Railroad Tour :
- Anchorage to Seward Alaska Railroad

Why the Alaska Railroad Isn't Worth It

The beginning of the trip started off with a short narration, mostly a few facts about the towns you're driving through, as well as some jokes and announcements of any wildlife spottings. However, the first 20-30 minutes of the ride is a monotonous list of the rules of the train (and what the consequences would be if you didn't listen - a.k.a. a $10,000 fine and 5 years on the no fly list) and to be honest it really felt a bit threatening...I suppose this didn't really set us up for an exciting train ride after waking up at 5 am to catch the train haha.

As for the wildlife spottings - we did have a few moose and belugas according to the speaker, however no one in our cars ever actually saw them. This could have been because we were in the "Adventure Class" towards the back of the train, but it really made me question if the wildlife was really there.​ (As a wildlife photographer, I'm usually very good at spotting wildlife haha.)

Since the "Goldstar Service" was sold out when I tried to book, my mom and I went with the "Adventure Class." We really didn't know what would be so different about the two - but here's what we noticed :

• Goldstar Service cars are at the front of the train and Adventure Class in the back, with the bar/cafe car separating the two.
• Goldstar Service passengers get a small pin to wear, and are allowed anywhere in the train whereas Adventure Class is only allowed in their own cars and in the bar/cafe car.
• Goldstar Service passengers have drinks and dinner included in their ticket price.
• Both Goldstar and Adventure Class passengers are able to use the glass dome - but are asked to limit their time to 20 minutes.
• Goldstar Service passengers also have access to an open air section on their cars.
  

One more thing, no one is allowed to open the side doors of the train or any of the windows - so it can be a bit tricky for Adventure Class passengers to get clear photos (windows in Alaska get dirty fast haha). If you are in Adventure Class, I recommend heading to the very last car and out to the back, there's a very small spot here where about 2-3 people can stand and get photos without the glare of the windows.

Overall, would I recommend a train ride on the Alaska Railroad? Honestly, no I wouldn't. For the price, you'd be much better off renting a car for the day - this way you'd be able to stop and actually see the wildlife and views on your own time. Personally, I felt the trees blocked nearly all my views of the mountains, lakes, and glaciers on the train ride, except for a minute or two here and there.

The final reason we wouldn't recommend is because it is SO SLOW. We took the railroad from Anchorage to Seward, and it took us about 4.5 hours each way when it normally would only take us about 2 hours to drive - this really limits the time you have to explore if you're on vacation. We were happy we did it once, but I honestly wouldn't do it again. (I'm also planning to take the train to Fairbanks from Anchorage to see if the experience is any different, so stay connected!) 

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Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in : 
-> 15 Easiest Alaska Glaciers to Visit
-> Where to Rent Bear Spray in Alaska
-> 7 Best Tours in Alaska

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