Kenai Fjords Kayaking Map
Glacier ice & sea kayaking, all from Seward.
2-day Kenai Fjords National Park itinerary from Seward, Alaska. Hike the ice at Exit Glacier and the Harding Icefield Trail on day one, then paddle a full-day guided sea kayak tour among tidewater glaciers, sea otters, and calving ice in Aialik Bay on day two.
Excellent itinerary planner! Detail oriented with thoughtful tips for my family’s trip.
9 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Every stop is a real pin, in order.
Exit Glacier · Aialik Bay · Resurrection Bay · Alaska
5 of the stops on these 2 days.
Plan and book your 2 days in Kenai Fjords, one step at a time
How 2 days in Kenai Fjords split up
This 2-day Kenai Fjords National Park itinerary is built around Seward, Alaska, the gateway town 127 miles south of Anchorage. Day one is the accessible ice of Exit Glacier, the only part of the park you can reach by road; day two is a full-day guided sea kayak tour among tidewater glaciers and marine wildlife.
Day 1: Drive to Seward & Exit Glacier · up to 3 miles hiking
4 stops · Day one
Day 2: Full-Day Guided Sea Kayaking · 6–8 hours
5 stops · Day two
Drive to Seward & Exit Glacier · up to 3 miles hiking
Drive the scenic Seward Highway (AK-1/AK-9) south from Anchorage, roughly 127 miles and 2.5 to 3 hours through Turnagain Arm and the mountains. It is a National Scenic Byway with constant photo stops, so leave extra time. After checking in at Seward, head straight to the Exit Glacier area, the only part of Kenai Fjords you can reach by road.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Kate Mereand from Silv / CC BY 2.0Drive from127 mi · 2.5–3 hrs · Seward Highway · DriveDrive the Seward Highway (AK-1/AK-9) south from Anchorage, roughly 127 miles and 2.5 to 3 hours to Seward. It is a National Scenic Byway and part of the All-American Road system, running along Turnagain Arm with constant photo stops and a chance at beluga whales in the arm. Leave extra time for viewpoints.
- Exit Glacier Nature Center & trails
Road-accessible ice · 1–3 hrs of hiking · HikeHead to the Exit Glacier area, the only road-accessible part of Kenai Fjords. Start at the Nature Center, then choose a trail: the paved Glacier View Loop (~1 mile) to a viewpoint near the ice, the short flat Lower Outwash Plain Trail, or the strenuous Harding Icefield Trail. The road is typically open only late May to early September.
- Harding Icefield Trail (optional)
8.8 mi RT · ~3,200 ft gain · Hard · HikeIf you have the fitness and the weather, climb the Harding Icefield Trail from the Exit Glacier valley floor: about 8.8 miles round trip and roughly 3,200 feet of gain to a panorama of the largest icefield entirely within the United States. It crosses avalanche terrain and snow can linger into early July, so check conditions at the Nature Center first.
- Mark Nenadov / CC BY 4.0Overnight in Seward
Hotels, cabins & campgrounds near the harbor · lodgeCheck in at Seward, the gateway town for Kenai Fjords. Options range from hotels and B&Bs to cabins and campgrounds, and many sit near the small boat harbor, which is the departure point for the next morning's kayak tour. Camping options include Miller's Landing and the Seward city campgrounds. Book well ahead for peak season.
Full-Day Guided Sea Kayaking · 6–8 hours
Today is a full-day guided sea kayak tour into Kenai Fjords, usually departing from Seward's small boat harbor. Most trips start with a boat transfer into Resurrection Bay or out toward a remote fjord like Aialik Bay, followed by several hours of paddling among icebergs and near active tidewater glaciers. Lunch, gear, and a guide are typically included.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Seward small boat harbor departureTour launch point · boat transfer starts here · ViewpointMeet your guided kayak tour at Seward's small boat harbor. Most full-day trips begin here with a boat transfer into Resurrection Bay or out toward a remote fjord, so this is where the day starts. Arrive early, dress in warm waterproof layers, and bring sun protection and a dry bag for electronics.
- Full-day guided sea kayak tour
6–8 hrs · gear, guide & lunch included · activityJoin a full-day guided sea kayak tour into Kenai Fjords. Trips typically pair a boat transfer with several hours of paddling among icebergs and near tidewater glaciers, and usually include gear, a guide, and lunch. A guided tour is strongly recommended because of the cold water and demanding marine conditions. Book with a reputable, NPS-permitted outfitter.
Daniel Hershman from F / CC BY 2.0Aialik Bay tidewater glacierPaddle among icebergs below calving ice · ViewpointMany full-day trips run out to Aialik Bay, one of the top kayaking destinations in the park, where you paddle among icebergs below the face of Aialik Glacier and may hear and see it calve. Stay well back from the ice and follow your guide. On calmer days you may also visit Northwestern Lagoon or Bear Glacier Lagoon instead.
- Marine wildlife viewing
Otters, seals, sea lions, puffins & whales · ViewpointThroughout the paddle and the boat transfer, watch for abundant marine wildlife: sea otters, harbor seals, Steller sea lions, Dall's porpoises, and seabirds like puffins, murres, and kittiwakes. Humpback whales and orcas are frequently spotted, especially on the transfer through Resurrection Bay. Keep a safe, legal distance and never feed animals.
Dmadeo / CC BY-SA 3.0Seafood dinner & stay in SewardFresh Alaskan seafood · depart or extend · lodgeBack in Seward in the late afternoon, cap the trip with fresh Alaskan seafood in town before you drive north or spend a second night. From here you can extend into a Resurrection Bay wildlife cruise, more Exit Glacier hiking, or a third day exploring the Kenai Peninsula.
Book the 1 night
Beds near the trailheads are the one thing on this trip that genuinely runs out. Everything else can be decided later.
Tell us your dates and we will do the calling. We check every booking site, put your points and card perks against the cash price, and email you this plan back with the best room we can find for each night. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for Kenai Fjords
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
Because you are sleeping indoors
For the driving days
Specific to Kenai Fjords
Essential park rules & planning.
No fee, no entry permit
Kenai Fjords National Park has no entrance fee and no timed-entry reservation for general access. You can visit Exit Glacier and Seward and day hike the established trails without a permit. Guided tours operate under their own NPS permits.
Exit Glacier road is seasonal
The road to Exit Glacier is typically open only late May to early September, weather permitting, and closed in winter under heavy snow. Always check the official NPS website for current road conditions before planning your day one hike.
Book kayak tours well ahead
For kayaking into the fjords, a guided tour is strongly recommended because of the cold water and challenging marine environment. Book with a reputable, NPS-permitted outfitter and reserve 3 to 6 months in advance for peak season in July and August.
Go June through August
The best window for kayaking and wildlife is June through August, when temperatures are mildest (roughly 50–70°F), daylight is long, and wildlife activity peaks. May and September bring fewer crowds and lower prices but colder, less predictable weather and reduced services.
Respect wildlife & Leave No Trace
Maintain a safe, legal distance from all marine wildlife and never feed animals. Pack out everything you pack in and dispose of waste properly, on the water and on the Exit Glacier trails.
Backcountry needs a free permit
This 2-day plan uses lodging in Seward, but if you extend into backcountry camping in the park you need a free NPS permit, obtained at the Seward ranger station or online. Reserve early for the Aialik Bay public-use cabins.
Check Harding Icefield ice at the ranger desk
The upper Harding Icefield Trail crosses active avalanche terrain and can hold snow well into July. Before you commit to the full 8.8-mile round trip, verify current upper-trail ice and snow conditions in person at the Exit Glacier Nature Center ranger desk, and turn around if the snowfields look sketchy.
Everything you'll actually want to know.
Everything you'll actually want to know before a Kenai Fjords trip.
No. There is no entrance fee or permit for general access to Kenai Fjords National Park. You can visit Exit Glacier and walk around Seward without a permit, and no permit is required to day hike the established Exit Glacier trails. Guided kayak tours operate under their own NPS permits, and backcountry camping requires a separate free permit.
We'll find the cheapest way to do this trip.
Tell us your dates and we price the plan you just built: every booking site, the hotels direct, and your own points and card perks against the cash price. You get it back by email with a link for each night and what it saved you.
- It is free. The hotel pays us, not you. You pay their normal price.
- Nothing is charged and nothing is held. You decide at the end, or you walk away.
- Beds near trailheads are the part that runs out. Everything else can wait.
The figures below are estimates from local nightly rates, so you know the ballpark before you ask. The real number comes back once we have checked what is free.
- 1 night, sites held for you
- Any permits secured before you fly
- Gear rented locally and waiting at the site
- The route pinned to your phone before you leave
- Everything in Camped
- Rooms booked for every night, one base where the route allows
- Dinner reservations on the nights that need them
- A rain-day plan written before you go
- Everything in Glamped, plus a local guide for the trip
- Airport pickup and every drive handled
- All the gear rented and waiting, so you pack clothes and nothing else
- Weather turns and they rewrite the day while you are still at breakfast
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Builds every custom itinerary herself and leads guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests. Based in Seattle.
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What adventurers say about us.
All reviews are from verified guests. ★★★★★ 5.0 average from 20+ bookings.
"Felt like going out with a really knowledgeable friend who just happens to know everything about the area. No awkward tour-guide energy, just a magnificent day."
"Yulia is an incredible guide. She knew every trail, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the day for our group. The photos she took of us were stunning. 100% booking again."
"I was visiting Seattle solo and this was the best decision I made on the trip. Yulia picked me up, had snacks, and took us to a trail I never would have found on my own. Absolute must-do."
"We did this as a couple's trip and it was perfect. Yulia adapted everything to us, our pace, our interests, our photo obsession. The mountain views were unreal."
"Phenomenal experience. Yulia has deep local knowledge and a real passion for the outdoors. She went out of her way to show us the hidden gems tourists never see. Will remember this forever."
"I've done a few guided hikes and this was by far the best. Yulia is warm, funny, and genuinely expert. The trail she chose had the most insane wildflower bloom, we got so lucky."
Fees, reservation windows, shuttle dates and trail closures are planning estimates. Confirm hours, road status and any reservations with the land manager before you go.
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You can't hike it if you can't get the permit.
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How it works
- An email the morning each window opens, never the day after.
- A 14-day heads-up so you can line up your group and dates.
- Win odds and a ranked backup plan for every trail you pick.
Didn't win? We keep watching. We check recreation.gov every day for The Enchantments, Half Dome and Angels Landing, and email you the moment a sold-out date frees up. Cancellations are the second chance most people never hear about.
Excellent itinerary planner! Detail oriented with thoughtful tips for my family's trip.