Denise

My family (two adults and two kids)is taking cruise in August. If we rented a car, how is the drive/roads from Seward to Anchorage? Is it an easy drive? Or is it a winding road with mountains? We are from Illinois.<BR>With kids, we cannot drive a San Francisco to Carmel type road.

Paul Therault

<BR>You will realy enjoy the highway. Very scenic and plenty of places to stop for picture taking. Excellent road and no where near the heavy traffic of California.<BR><BR>If you have the time, stop off at the Portage Glacier and you can pan for gold at the Crow Creek Mine. Very reasonable.<BR><BR>Enjoy,<BR><BR>Paul

John

The drive takes around 2 1/2 hours not counting stops. The road crosses a relatively low mountain pass then follows the bank of Turnagain Arm (more or less a fjord) the last 40 miles or so into Anchorage. It's not up-and-down twisty like some roads, but it does curve along the side of the inlet. It's a relatively easy drive, and it can be a little trafficky sometimes (following buses, trucks, or RVs) but Paul's right, it's a spectacular drive, much better in a car than on the transfer bus, and more flexible than the train. One way car rentals in Alaska are expensive and difficult to arrange, though, so book something ASAP. Use the boards at cruisecritic.com for lots of how-tos on this subject.

dana g

I agree. As a former resident of Anchorage who has done this dozens of times, it quite a nice drive. They have upgraded the road around Portage, not as narrow as before. The biggest bugaboo is<BR>the campers/rv's that go slow.<BR><BR>IMHO, it's the most spectacular scenery in the world. <BR><BR>Locals not out for a sightseeing drive can do in 2 1/2 hrs. But many interesting stops, including Portage Glacier, Alyeska Resort, the gold mine<BR>on the way to Alyeska, and the little town of Hope. <BR><BR>Enjoy!

Denise

Thanks very much. Your information has been very helpful!