With its midday arrival and evening departure, this roundtrip Alaska Railroad route is ideal for travelers taking a day tour into Prince William Sound from Whittier. It's a comfortable way to travel as well, offering passengers spacious assigned seats, access to an onboard café, and beautiful views.
Roundtrip train travel for an exciting day trip.
The route is part of the daily Glacier Discovery train. As it departs the historic Anchorage Depot, it quickly reveals views of the Knik Arm, Cook Inlet, and Kenai Peninsula. The track swings east from here and runs along the rugged, varied bank of the Turnagain Arm, twisting around viewpoints and snaking along cliffsides.
About halfway through the trip, the train passes Girdwood before continuing into Portage and then onto the spur leading to Whittier. There are two impressive tunnels to go through, the first a mile-long path that cuts through Begich Peak. The next is the second longest highway tunnel in North America. The tunnel was originally built for the railroad in 1943, and the train still has the right of way today. On the other side, the train immerges onto the far western edge of Alaska's famous Prince William Sound. Passengers disembark across the street from the Whittier boat harbor at about 12:05 PM.
The train returns to Anchorage via the reverse route, returning passengers to the city at 9:15 PM.
The Alaska Railroad offers one level of service on the roundtrip Whittier route. All passengers are seated in spacious Adventure Class cars with picture windows and large seats. Everyone enjoys access to a shared dome observation car and the ability to easily walk between different cars on the train. Food and beverages are available for purchase onboard in the Wilderness Café.
Bring a camera, medications, and government issued photo ID. Bring a credit or debit card for additional onboard purchases (cash not accepted). It is a good idea to dress in layers, since the temperature can vary depending on the weather and the train car's heating and cooling system.
Check in at the depot with a valid government issued photo ID one hour prior to departure. Boarding passes with seat assignments will be issued then. All passengers are assigned seats by the Alaska Railroad upon check in at the depot. The Alaska Railroad offers checked baggage service. Passengers are allowed two checked bags plus one carry on, with dimension and weight restrictions like those of airlines. The Alaska Railroad charges $20 per item for oversized or excess baggage.
Passengers can transfer to the Anchorage Depot by taxi, rideshare, or hotel shuttle (where available). The Whittier Depot is centrally located across the street from the cruise terminal and boat harbor, so passengers can easily walk to their next destination.
Anchorage Train Depot
411 West 1st Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
Whittier Train Depot
Mile 1.3 West Camp Road
Whittier, AK 99693
Here are the rates and operating dates for this product. Remember, we have a lowest price guarantee for nearly everything we sell.
Child rates apply to children under the age of 12. Infants under the age of 2 may travel for free but must sit on an adult's lap.
| Dates | Adult | Child | Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/12/25 (M) to 9/15/25 (M)5/12/25 (M) to 9/15/25 (M) | Adult: $133.00 | Child: $67.00 | Infant: $0.00 |
| The rates above are subject to change without notice. | |||
Departure times and locations are listed below. Click on a link for an interactive map.
| Depart | Location |
|---|---|
| Depart: 9:45 AM | Location: Anchorage Train Depot |
Select a departure below to see current availability. If your desired date is sold out (red) we will do our best to find an alternative, but we may not be able to accommodate your request.
"Great views and good service on board the train. We were very impressed by the professionalism of the train staff and the services offered."
~Gary from Virginia~
