Seward Alaska's Airport: What You Need To Know

Seward, Alaska, is a small town with a Sea Life Centre and a gateway to kayaking and boating trips. It is served by the Seward Airport (SWD), a state-owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles from the town's central business district. However, the airport is only accessible by small aviation flights, with a short runway and no airport terminal. As such, most visitors to Seward arrive via the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, located about 125 miles north, which offers major cargo and passenger operations with most major airlines.

Seward Airport is a small airport

Seward Airport was initially constructed during World War II and was named Walseth Air Force Base, honouring Major Marvin E. Walseth, a US Army Air Forces pilot who perished in a plane crash in July 1942. The airport was closed by the US Air Force in April 1947 and later taken over by the Territory of Alaska.

Over the years, several commuter air carriers provided scheduled passenger service between Seward Airport and Anchorage. However, the airport currently does not have any airline flights. Most visitors to Alaska use major airlines, making the Anchorage airport their best option for travel.

Due to the limitations of Seward Airport, travellers often opt for alternative transportation methods to reach Seward. Options include travelling by bus, rental car, cruise ship, or the Alaska Railroad. The scenic train ride from Seward to Anchorage is particularly popular, offering a unique and enjoyable experience.

Accessible only by small aviation flights

Seward, Alaska, does have an airport, but it is only accessible by small aviation flights. The runway is only a few hundred feet long and there is no airport terminal. The airport does not offer any flights to the continental United States. Instead, it has a runway that can only be accessed by small air taxi services offering flight-seeing trips and flights to local airports.

The closest major airport is about 125 miles north of Seward in Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. This airport is a major cargo and passenger hub with most major airlines flying all over the world. Since most visitors come to Alaska by air using a major airline, Anchorage airport is the best option for those travelling by air. From there, visitors can rent a car, take a bus, or travel by train to Seward.

Since flying directly to or from Seward is not a viable option for most travellers, there are several transportation options available. Visitors can reach Seward by bus, rental car, cruise ship, or the Alaska railroad. There is also a scenic train from Seward to Anchorage, from where travellers can take an Uber to the airport or book a shuttle to the airport.

Seward Airport (IATA: SWD, ICAO: PAWD, FAA LID: SWD) is a state-owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles (2.3 miles; 3.7 km) northeast of the central business district of Seward, a city in the Kenai Peninsula Borough of Alaska. The airport was built during World War II and was named Walseth Air Force Base in honour of Major Marvin E. Walseth, a United States Army Air Forces pilot who died when his aircraft crashed in July 1942.

No flights to the continental US

Seward Airport (SWD) is a small airport located two nautical miles from the central business district of Seward, Alaska. The airport does not have any flights to the continental US. It is accessible only by small aviation flights, with a runway of only a few hundred feet and no airport terminal. The airport previously had scheduled passenger service to Anchorage provided by several commuter air carriers, but it currently does not have any commercial airline flights.

Seward Airport is primarily served by small air taxi services offering flight-seeing and local flights. The closest major airport to Seward is Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, located about 125 miles north. This airport is a major cargo and passenger hub, with most major airlines flying all over the world. Since most visitors come to Alaska by air using a major airline, Anchorage airport is the best option for those travelling to Seward.

There are several transportation options available to get from Anchorage airport to Seward. Alaska Cruise Transportation offers bus and day tour services from the airport to the Seward cruise ship port. This service is provided for all cruise ship passengers and includes hotels and car rental agencies. Visitors can also choose to take the scenic train from Seward to Anchorage and then Uber to the airport or book a shuttle directly from Seward to the airport.

Since flying directly to Seward is not a viable option for most travellers, other transportation methods such as bus, rental car, cruise ship, or the Alaska railroad are commonly used to reach the town. It is worth noting that the train ride is slow but offers a spectacular view and is considered a well-known and well-explored option.

Closest major airport is Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport

Seward, Alaska, does have an airport, but it is a small airport with limited accessibility. The Seward Airport (SWD) is located about two miles from the city centre and is accessible only by small aviation flights. It has a short runway and no airport terminal, served only by small air taxi services offering flight-seeing trips or flights to nearby local airports.

The closest major airport to Seward, Alaska, is the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, approximately 125 miles north of Seward. This airport is a significant cargo and passenger hub, with most major airlines operating worldwide. It is the best option for travellers to and from Seward, as the Seward Airport does not offer flights to the continental United States.

Travellers can easily access the Anchorage airport by renting a car, taking a bus, or using other ground transportation options. There are also shuttle services available specifically for cruise ship passengers travelling between Seward and the Anchorage airport.

For those looking for a more scenic route, there is the option of taking the train from Seward to Anchorage and then transferring to the airport. This train journey is well-known for its spectacular views and is often recommended as a unique travel experience.

Transport options to/from Seward Airport

Seward, Alaska does not have an airport. The closest airport to Seward is in Anchorage, which is 120 miles away. Here are some transport options to and from Seward:

Anchorage to Seward

• By Car: Driving from Anchorage to Seward offers scenic views and takes about 2.5 hours. You can rent a car in Seward or Anchorage.
• By Train: The Alaska Railroad's Coastal Classic train departs from Anchorage at 6:45 am and arrives in Seward around 11:20 am. The trip offers beautiful scenery, including glaciers and alpine meadows, and takes about four hours and twenty minutes.
• By Bus: The bus trip from Anchorage to Seward is a bit cheaper and faster than the train, taking around three hours. There are two daily departures from Anchorage at 6:30 am and 3 pm.
• Private Transfers: You can also book a private transfer from Anchorage to Seward, either as a direct transfer or a longer, customized transfer and tour.

Seward to Anchorage

• By Car: If you have rented a car, you can drive back to Anchorage.
• By Train: You can take the scenic train from Seward to Anchorage.
• By Shuttle: You can book a shuttle from Seward to the airport in Anchorage. Some hotels and tour operators provide shuttle services.

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