8 Best Hotels in Seward, The Kenai Peninsula and Southcentral Alaska

On a private parcel of land on Resurrection Bay's Fox Island, this beautiful retreat with expansive bay and mountain views is only a 45-minute boat ride from Seward and consists of cabins constructed of local wood and outfitted with two beds and private baths. Some rooms have additional views of the small lake right behind them. Meals are served in the lodge, which has a vaulted ceiling and two-story windows that overlook Halibut Cove. The rate includes meals, use of a wood-fired sauna, transportation, and a tour of Resurrection Bay. Kayaks are available for rent.

A sole, beautifully decorated cabin nestled in the woods across from Kenai Lake, Teddy's is surrounded by mountains and hiking trails. The cabin sleeps up to four comfortably. The grounds are superbly manicured and convey a sense of a magical forest. The inn is 6 miles from Moose Pass and 23 miles from Seward.

Across the street from the small-boat harbor, this modern 100-room hotel is very convenient if you're planning an early-morning fishing trip. One wing has four suites with jetted tubs, and an annex building has two suites overlooking the harbor. On the first floor is the popular restaurant. It's open year-round.

Rooms here at this hotel just a couple of blocks from the Alaska SeaLife Center and close to the hiking at Mount Marathon overlook Resurrection Bay, and on clear days you can take in the panorama of mountains and glaciers. Continental breakfast is served in the lobby, with a three-story atrium complete with a small waterfall, many plants, a baby grand piano, and plush seating. A side room has a fireplace, and works by local artists hang on the walls. Rooms are decorated with warm colors, artwork, and wooden crown moldings that complement the cabinetry. 

Originally built in the 1940s and billed then as the "best and most beautiful hotel in town," Hotel Seward is conveniently located downtown near a number of eateries, shopping, and the Alaska SeaLife Center. All of the historic wing rooms are on the second floor—11 of those rooms have four shared bathrooms, and they cost less than those in the newer wing. There's also a high-end restaurant, Fifth Ave. Bistro & Bar.

In a thickly forested setting near the bank of the Resurrection River, this lodging 2 miles north of Seward has the feel of a mountain upscale cabin. The rooms and balcony suites are decorated in warm plaids, pine furniture, and Alaskan prints. The lodge has hiking trails and offers hourly shuttle rides to the train and walking tours of Exit Glacier.

Six miles out of Seward, sandwiched between two streams—one glacial, the other salmon-spawning—this tranquil inn offers respite from the summer buzz. Detox in the sauna or soak in the wooded streamside hot tub and watch the salmon migrate. An indoor common area has games and books, and there's an outdoor picnic pavilion with a fireplace. Groups can rent the three-bedroom, two-bathroom guest house next door that comes with a fully equipped kitchen, living room, and deck with a gas grill.

Built in 1916 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Van Gilder is steeped in local history. Early 20th-century photos of Seward adorn the walls, beds are brass or carved wood, and the common rooms foster a cozy B&B feel. This is definitely not a mass-market chain hotel, and the extremely friendly staff gives tours of the property, pointing out interesting historical information. Spend time in the sitting room with books of local interest or by the piano player in the lobby.