The Alaska Railroad, with over 470 miles of railway track running through a few of Alaska's most stunning landscapes, is the ideal way to see the region. Tourists to the Alaska Railroad should expect the trip to be as breathtaking as the end. Of course, the route's stops, such as Talkeetna, Seward, Denali National Park, and others, set the bar pretty high. Tourists will agree that the ideal way of traveling Alaska is by rail, with two tiers of passenger trains, full-service onboard meals, and lines that snake through some very stunning landscapes. The tour features many places visitors need to see in Alaska to appreciate it.

The Most Scenic Routes Along The Way

The Coastal Classic Route

Many native Alaskans like the Coastal Classic path connecting Anchorage to Seward, and it's usually a good option even if the weather isn't ideal. Because there is so much to see and do aboard the Coastal Classic train, it's difficult to pick down the highlights.

Naturally, the route passes through Anchorage, giving visitors a good perspective of the city's downtown, residential neighborhoods, and business districts. Tourists will be awestruck by the ever-changing beauty as they look for bald eagles, beluga whales, Dall sheep, and the opportunity to see one of the world's biggest bore waves.

Denali Star Route

As the title suggests, Denali National Park is the crown jewel of this route. The complete journey stretches over 350 kilometers between Anchorage and Fairbanks, with breaks in Denali National Park and Talkeetna in the journey.

The route runs northward from Anchorage and brings travelers from the urban downtown area, through the joint army posts of Elmendorf and Richardson, over the Knik Arm, and around the Matanuska and Knik Rivers to the Matanuska Basin settlement of Wasilla. The railroad provides some incredible views of Mt. Denali immediately to the north and the south of Talkeetna, and it approaches approximately 46 miles of the peak at one point. From Talkeetna to Denali Park, visitors will cross Hurricane Gulch on a 914-foot-long bridge that rises 296 feet above the water. The Nenana River valley gorge, which the railway goes through immediately after leaving Denali for Fairbanks, is another spectacular region on this journey.

Glacier Discovery Route

The train leaves from Anchorage to Whittier every morning and returns to the former in the evenings during summers. The train, although, departs Whittier at midday for a tourist journey up Grandview and Spencer Glacier.

The 50-mile beautiful segment down the Turnagain Channel between Anchorage and Portage will be a highlight for practically all passengers on this journey, regardless of whatever route they pick. The Turnagain Strait has the world's biggest tidal range and is surrounded on both flanks by steep mountains that appear to rise from the ocean. The Whittier tunnel isn't exactly a picturesque marvel, but it's nonetheless a sight to behold.

Visitors who go up to Grandview will be rewarded with some of the most breathtaking parts of the Alaskan Railroad, including glaciers, deep river canyons, tunnels, and stunning views.

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Goldstar Dome

  • These 78-seat railcars have enormous arched glass panels that run the length of the vehicle and provide superb 360-degree visibility.
  • Every Goldstar Dome rider has a seat reservation in the upper tier dome and reserved seats in the lower tier dining area, where all-inclusive meals are provided.
  • Per trip, two adult drinks (beer, wine, and cocktails) are included with food suited for the hour of the day.
  • The distinctive second-level outdoor observation deck is among the most prominent GoldStar attractions.
  • The GoldStar cars contain washrooms on the lower tier and even their own accessible elevators.

Adventure Class

  • Adventure Class is the regular or coach fare. Railcars in the Adventure Class are spacious.
  • The single-level carriages contain 60 to 80 chairs, vaulted ceilings, huge windows, and substantial leg space.
  • The majority of seats are reclining and have footpegs. There are crossbar racks available and enough space for hand luggage.
  • The communal dome car is yet another fantastic Adventure Class amenity. These are half-dome cars that give passengers a superior view of the surroundings along the railway route.

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Tickets And Fares

Coastal Classic Prices

  • Peak Season (June 1, 2022- August 31, 2022)

Adventure Class- $116

Goldstar Dome- $231

  • Value Season ( May 5, 2022- May 31, 2022 and September 1, 2022- September 18, 2022)

Adventure Class- $102

Goldstar Dome- $204

Glacier Discovery Prices

  • May 14, 2022- September 11, 2022

Adventure Class- $94

Denali Star Prices

  • Peak Season (June 1, 2022- August 31, 2022)

Adventure Class

  • Anchorage- Denali- $181
  • Anchorage- Fairbanks- $259
  • Anchorage- Talkeetna- $111
  • Denali- Anchorage- $181
  • Denali- Talkeetna- $81
  • Denali- Fairbanks- $104
  • Fairbanks- Anchorage- $259
  • Fairbanks- Denali- $81
  • Fairbanks- Talkeetna- $153
  • Talkeetna- Anchorage- $111
  • Talkeetna- Denali- $104
  • Talkeetna- Fairbanks- $149

Goldstar Dome

  • Anchorage- Denali- $335
  • Anchorage- Fairbanks- $473
  • Anchorage- Talkeetna- $242
  • Denali- Anchorage- $349
  • Denali- Talkeetna- $187
  • Denali- Fairbanks- $237
  • Fairbanks- Anchorage- $473
  • Fairbanks- Denali- $175
  • Fairbanks- Talkeetna- $305
  • Talkeetna- Anchorage- $253
  • Talkeetna- Denali- $273
  • Talkeetna- Fairbanks- $319
  • Value Season ( May 11, 2022- May 31, 2022 and September 1, 2022- September 18, 2022)

Adventure Class

  • Anchorage- Denali- $144
  • Anchorage- Fairbanks- $205
  • Anchorage- Talkeetna- $90
  • Denali- Anchorage- $144
  • Denali- Talkeetna- $64
  • Denali- Fairbanks- $90
  • Fairbanks- Anchorage- $205
  • Fairbanks- Denali- $64
  • Fairbanks- Talkeetna- $123
  • Talkeetna- Anchorage- $90
  • Talkeetna- Denali- $90
  • Talkeetna- Fairbanks- $123

Goldstar Dome

  • Anchorage- Denali- $287
  • Anchorage- Fairbanks- $405
  • Anchorage- Talkeetna- $212
  • Denali- Anchorage- $300
  • Denali- Talkeetna- $165
  • Denali- Fairbanks- $213
  • Fairbanks- Anchorage- $405
  • Fairbanks- Denali- $153
  • Fairbanks- Talkeetna- $265
  • Talkeetna- Anchorage- $226
  • Talkeetna- Denali- $213
  • Talkeetna- Fairbanks- $279

The Alaska Railroad is a must-see route for travelers and Alaskans who want to discover the splendor of the Last Frontiers and is definitely among the many tours of Alaska that are worth the money.