The Alaska Railroad is an iconic part of Alaska history, connecting some of Alaska’s best-loved destinations for over 90 years! It operates daily summer service between Anchorage, Denali Park, Fairbanks, Seward, Girdwood, Whittier, Portage, Grandview and Spencer Glacier, and year-round service between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Add a trip on the railroad to your Alaska travels and take a break from behind-the-wheel.
Following are schedules and adult fares (peak season) on Alaska Railroad routes in summer 2018: Peak Season is June 1 to August 31; Value Season pricing available May 12–31 and Sept. 1–16. Children ages 2 through 11 ride for 50 percent of adult fare; under 2 ride free. U.S. Military receive a 20 percent discount off retail rail fares with military ID required at boarding.
The following schedules and fares are subject to change without notice. Check train schedules on the website.
Reservations and information: Reservations are recommended on all routes. Tickets may be purchased in advance by mail. Checks, VISA, MasterCard, AMEX and Discover are accepted. Phone (907) 265-2494; 1-800-544-0552; www.AlaskaRailroad.com.
Anchorage–Wasilla–Talkeetna–Denali–Fairbanks (Denali Star Train): Daily passenger service on the Denali Star from May 16–Sept. 16, 2018 (peak season June 1 to August 31). Dining, baggage service, no-smoking cars, wheelchair access. Northbound train departs Anchorage at 8:15 a.m., arrives Wasilla 9:30 a.m., departs Wasilla at 9:35 a.m., arrives Talkeetna 11:05 a.m., departs Talkeetna at 11:20 a.m., arrives Denali Park 3:40 p.m., departs Denali Park at 4 p.m. and arrives Fairbanks 8 p.m.
Southbound train departs Fairbanks at 8:15 a.m., arrives Denali Park at 12:10 p.m., departs Denali Park at 12:30 p.m., arrives Talkeetna at 4:40 p.m., departs Talkeetna at 5 P.M., arrives Wasilla 6:15 p.m., departs Wasilla at 6:20 p.m., and arrives Anchorage 8 p.m.
One-way peak season (June 1–August 31) Adventure Class fares are: Anchorage–Fairbanks, $244; Anchorage–Talkeetna, $104; Anchorage–Denali Park, $171, Fairbanks–Denali Park, $75; Fairbanks–Talkeetna, $144. The Alaska Railroad’s premium glass-domed GoldStar railcars are also available for booking on this route. GoldStar Service is inclusive of onboard meals and beverages.
Luxury railcars are also available on this route through cruise ship companies. Go to www.alaskatrain.com for details.
Talkeetna–Hurricane (Hurricane Turn Train): Round-trip summer service between Talkeetna and Hurricane Gulch, departing Talkeetna on Thursdays–Mondays between May 17 and Sept. 17, 2018. One of America’s last flag stop trains, the Hurricane Turn takes you into rural Alaska where local residents have used the train for transportation to their remote homes or recreational property since 1923. This is a great day trip for visitors and/or access for those who wish to camp in the backcountry (train stops for drop-off/pick-up).
Departs Talkeetna 1:00 p.m., arrives Hurricane 3:30 p.m., leaves Hurricane at 4:30 p.m. arrives back in Talkeetna at 7:15 p.m. (all times are approximate). Roundtrip fare (Adventure Class only available) between Talkeetna and Hurricane is $106 in summer. The Hurricane Turn will stop wherever people want to get on or off. NOTE: There is no dining car on the Hurricane Turn Train. Passengers are encouraged to bring snacks/beverages.
Anchorage–Girdwood–Seward (Coastal Classic Train): Operates daily in summer from May 12 to Sept. 16, 2018. Dining, baggage service, no-smoking cars, wheelchair access.
Southbound train departs Anchorage at 6:45 a.m., arrives Girdwood 8 a.m., arrives Seward 11:05 a.m. Northbound train departs Seward at 6 p.m., arrives Girdwood 8:50 p.m., arrives Anchorage 10:15 p.m.
Round-trip adult fare from Anchorage or Girdwood to Seward is $172 for Adventure Class, $351 for GoldStar Service. One-way fare from Anchorage to Girdwood is $82 Adventure Class, $171 GoldStar Service. One-way adult fare Anchorage or Girdwood to Seward is $108 Adventure Class, $212 Goldstar Service.
Anchorage–Girdwood–Portage–Whittier–Spencer Glacier–Grandview (Glacier Discovery Train): Daily round-trip service from May 26 to Sept. 17, 2018, between Anchorage, Girdwood, Portage, Whittier, Spencer Glacier and Grandview, with motorcoach return from Portage to Anchorage or Girdwood on Spencer Glacier service and Grandview service. Dining, baggage service, no-smoking cars, wheelchair access.
The Glacier Discovery follows Turnagain Arm to Portage, then goes through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel to Whittier. The train backtracks to Portage to board passengers before continuing on to Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop, a remote area in the Chugach National Forest where there is a boarding platform, shelter, restrooms, interpretive signs and trail to glacier views and campsites. Free guided hike led by a U.S.F.S. ranger. At Spencer Glacier the railroad also offers optional tours: rafting, kayaking, hiking and ice climbing. (Reservations required for these optional tours.) After departing Spencer Glacier, the train climbs some of the railroad’s steepest grade to Grandview (stunning alpine views). Departs Anchorage at 9:45 a.m., arrives Girdwood 10:55 a.m., departs Girdwood 11:00 a.m., arrives Portage 11:30 a.m., departs Portage 11:35 a.m., arrives Whittier 12:05 p.m., departs Whittier 12:45 p.m., arrives Portage at 1:15 p.m., departs Portage at 1:25 p.m., arrives Spencer Glacier 1:45 p.m., departs Spencer Glacier 1:55 p.m., arrives Grandview 3:20 p.m.
Return train departs Grandview at 3:30 p.m., arrives at Spencer Glacier at 4:30 p.m., departs Spencer Glacier 4:40 p.m., arrives Portage at 5:15 p.m., departs Portage at 5:30 p.m., arrives Whittier at 6:05 p.m., departs Whittier at 6:45 p.m., arrives Portage at 7:05 p.m., departs Portage at 7:20 p.m., arrives Girdwood at 7:35 p.m., departs Girdwood at 7:40 p.m. and arrives Anchorage 9:15 p.m. (Rafting participants as well as Grandview sightseeing guests disembark in Portage for motorcoach transfer to Girdwood and Anchorage, arriving 6:15 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.)
Round-trip adult fares from Anchorage to Girdwood, $105; 1-way fare $67. Round-trip adult fare Anchorage to Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop, $125, or to Grandview $135 (both include motorcoach transfer from Portage to either Anchorage or Girdwood). Adventure Class only available on this route.
Reservations and information: Reservations are recommended on all routes. Tickets may be purchased in advance by mail. Checks, VISA, MasterCard, AMEX and Discover are accepted. Trains are cashless so all purchases onboard must be made with credit card. Phone (907) 265-2494; 1-800-544-0552.
A photo ID is required at depot check-in. Passengers may have 2 pieces of checked baggage and 1 carry-on for no charge, 2 extra pieces of baggage (for a total of 4) for an additional fee. No single piece may weigh more than 50 lbs. A special handling fee of $20 per item applies to oversized bags, bicycles and other recreational equipment.
Special firearms restrictions apply. Federal Railroad Administration regulations prohibit the transport of fuel, with the exception of five liters or less of white gas per container in the bag car. No propane is allowed in bag cars, but kerosene and propane may be transported aboard the Glacier Discovery Train only, which is outfitted with a special transport compartment; these fuels must be checked with the conductor at the time of boarding. Other hazardous items are not permitted. Animals must be transported in kennels in the baggage car. The Alaska Railroad accommodates visitors with disabilities.
