There’s just something magical about snagging a window seat, knowing you’re locked in place for a surreal adventure.
While everyone has posted the same plane-wing views from above, the reality is that more travelers are heading back down below for a ground-level experience.
That’s right — train travel is back, and while the U.S. largely has a lot of real estate to fill compared to Europe and Asia, there’s still expansive swaths of scenic journeys to enjoy as you chug along through astounding nature not as easily admired from a bird’s eye view.
The Travel Off Path team has scoured the map, read local reports, and ultimately determined that one of America’s most underrated states is the absolute best to explore by train this summer.
Expect towering peaks, untamed wilderness, and small-town charm as we present you with multiple options to hit the rails through Alaska.
In fact, we’ve rounded up our top 3 favorite train rides for you — all operated by Alaska Railroad — surely to help narrow down the perfect route for an unforgettable trip through an array of vast wilderness.
Before diving in, remember to check Travel Alerts & Safety Levels no matter where it is you’re off to next!
1) Glacier Discovery: A Winter Wonder Without The Frostbite
Alaska has long been deemed America’s “last frontier”, a place many deem too remote outside of summer given the treacherous weather.
But the vivid summertime is undeniably the best time of year to explore by train as you can hit up wintry wonders that are just too unbearable to actually visit during winter.
Alaska offers so much more than ‘seeing Russia’ from someone’s backyard (you know who) — it’s a remarkable reminder just how truly captivating nature can be.
Glacier Discovery is the kind of summer train ride that makes Alaska feel downright otherworldly, carrying travelers from Anchorage through Girdwood, Whittier, Portage (as seen above), Spencer Glacier, and Grandview past glacier-fed landscapes, alpine meadows, and some of the most mesmerizing backcountry in the entire state.
The scenery only gets better the farther you go, with highlights including unmatched views of Trail Glacier, Bartlett Glacier, and the jaw-dropping Placer River Valley.
This summer, Adventure Class fares start at $119 to Whittier, while Spencer Glacier day trips are listed at $154 and Grandview runs for $172 — a worthy price tag for a route that serves up an icy-blue wonderland in the heart of summer.
Daily service is offered from late May through mid-September.
2) Coastal Classic: Alaska Railroad’s “Most Scenic Route“
Self-described as Alaska’s “most scenic route”, it’s the ultimate summer journey to immerse in sun-drenched natural wonders such as Kenai Fjords National Park, boasting other-planetary landscapes.
Obviously, the state’s largest city of Anchorage is usually travelers’ entry point if they’re flying in. Otherwise, Juneau may be your landing spot if you get here by cruise.
I mean if ya don’t know, now Juneau, right? I try…
For trains, though?
The Coastal Classic is often viewed as a day trip add-on from Anchorage as you steward to Seward, a postcard-worthy harbor town on Resurrection Bay and one of the top gateways to Kenai Fjords National Park.
Arriving in Seward means easy access to Kenai Fjords cruises you’ll never forget, blue-hued glacier views, and a waterfront framed by Resurrection Bay, and for summer 2026, one-way fares from Anchorage start at $133 in Adventure Class and $277 in GoldStar.
Daily service is offered from mid-May through mid-September.
3) Denali Star: Bear Witness North America’s Tallest Mountain
‘Bear Witness’ — see what I did there? 🐻
You know Yellowstone and Yosemite, but if Alaska has one National Park that’s an absolute must-visit, it’s gotta be Denali.
The Denali Star traverses from Anchorage to Fairbanks, Alaska’s second largest city known for Northern Lights spectacles (not typically in summer) and its 24-hour sunlight (definitely in summer).
In between, you’ll stop in:
Wasilla is the hometown of former Alaska Governor and Vice Presidential nominee, who was famously misquoted as saying the aforementioned ‘Russia’ line, so you can see if that tracks or not on your trip.
Otherwise, carry on to Talkeetna, an artsy historic town with sweeping mountain backdrops, and of course Denali itself — the true star of the route, where vast wilderness, unreal scenery, and bucket-list wildlife sightings steal the show, besides North America’s tallest mountain.
For summer 2026, one-way fares start at $205 from Anchorage to Denali in Adventure Class and $393 in GoldStar, while going all the way to Fairbanks starts at $294 and $553.
This is by far the most expensive route, but one where “you get what you pay for” applies.
Daily service is offered from mid-May through mid-September.
