Fairbanks Travelers Recommend

It’s hard to believe that the Arctic Circle is within reach of a major US city. But travelers to Fairbanks, Alaska, can get there for the weekend or even a day. Here’s where to go for a first-hand experience of the world’s northernmost circle of latitude—and the magical northern lights.

Full-Day Tours

From Fairbanks you’ll journey up the Dalton Highway, one of the “loneliest roads in the world,” to where the Arctic Circle begins. Along the way you can see the famous Trans-Alaska Pipeline, the mighty Yukon River, and the local wildlife and peaceful landscapes that make this such a beautiful place to visit. Your guide will inform you about Alaska’s arctic geology and indigenous Eskimo culture, and you’ll have a shot at seeing the northern lights (aurora borealis).

Arctic Circle Northern Lights Tours

If seeing the northern lights is your main goal and you’ve come at the right time of year, a dedicated small-group northern lights tour is your top choice. Traveling the highway during afternoon and evening, guides know the best spots and times to see the celestial phenomenon, whether by land or air. Some tours include a visit to outdoor hot mineral springs and the Aurora Ice Museum.

Things to Know

• While northern lights sightings are never guaranteed, the best time of year to try to see them is September to March.

• Though Alaska tour company vans are climate-controlled, it’s best to dress warmly for comfort in the cold climate.

• Tours can last 10 to 16 hours, depending on what is included.

• Tours that include one-way by scenic flight offer more time on the ground at the Arctic Circle while still allowing you to see stellar views of the arctic tundra by road.

With three days in Fairbanks, you’ll be able to see the city’s most popular sights and still have time for an adventure above the Arctic Circle. Guided outdoor excursions offer a chance to reach remote areas and enjoy the outdoors in every season. Here are just a few suggestions for how to spend your three days in Fairbanks. 

Day 1: Enjoy the City Sights

Kick off your trip to Fairbanks with a history and culture-focused tour of top city sights. Visit the Museum of the North to see Alaska’s largest public display of gold, then head to the Santa Claus House in the town of North Pole, where Christmas is celebrated all year round. Don’t miss the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Viewpoint and the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum.

In the afternoon, get a hands-on lesson about Alaska’s gold rush history: Take a narrow-gauge train ride to the Gold Dredge 8 historic mining site, and learn how to pan for gold. If you strike it rich, you’ll be able to take home whatever you find. In the evening, check out one of Fairbank’s many breweries or distilleries, or head out of the city for a northern lights viewing tour. 

Day 2: Venture Above the Arctic Circle

Fairbanks is often referred to as the gateway to the arctic, so on your second day, take a trip above the Arctic Circle for a glimpse into the real wilds of Alaska. Several companies offer tours into the Arctic, which range from simple driving tours to flightseeing adventures that take you to remote villages. 

To go it alone, take a drive on the Dalton Highway, one of only two roads in North America that crosses the Arctic Circle. Before you go, just make sure your rental car agreement allows travel on this rugged dirt highway; the road can be rough and difficult to travel on during inclement weather. Alternatively, spend the day touring the White Mountains National Recreation Area and enjoy a guided hike to Wickersham Dome (in summer) or a snowmobile tour (in winter). 

Day 3: Nature and Outdoor Fun

Spend your last day in Fairbanks enjoying the natural beauty that surrounds the city. The nearby Chena River State Recreation Area offers ample outdoor adventures including hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing, and paddling. During the winter, the park offers several guided snowshoe hikes, ice fishing excursions, snowmobile trips, and dog-mushing adventures. 

Go all out on your final evening in Fairbanks, and enjoy a soak in the Chena Hot Springs. The springs were discovered over a hundred years ago when miners saw steam rising out of a distant valley. Today the springs are part of a full-service, year-round resort. Evening tours to Chena Hot Springs depart from Fairbanks, and many include a northern lights experience. While in the area, be sure to check out the quirky ice sculptures at the nearby Aurora Ice Museum.

With almost endless daylight during the summer months and fantastic northern lights displays during the winter, Fairbanks dazzles visitors all year round. With two days, you’ll have plenty of time to see the top sights and also enjoy an outdoor excursion or two. Here’s how to make the most of a two day trip to Fairbanks. 

Day 1: City Sights

**Morning:**Get a quick introduction to the city’s history and culture with a sightseeing tour: Start at the Museum of the North to learn about Alaska’s diverse peoples, natural wonders, and wildlife, then head over to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline to learn about how it was built and how it is maintained.

**Afternoon:**Delve into the natural beauty surrounding Fairbanks with a guided hike, a rafting trip, a canoeing adventure, or a fishing excursion. During the winter months, choose between snowmobile, snowshoe, ice-fishing, and dog-sledding tours. 

**Night:**Head to Chena Hot Springs for the evening to soak in the natural thermal pools and admire impressive art sculptures at the Aurora Ice Museum. Several tours to Chena Hot Springs are offered from Fairbanks and, depending on the season, they may include a special northern lights outing. 

Day 2: Find Gold in the Water and Sky

**Morning:**No trip to Alaska is complete without a little gold-panning fun. Hop aboard a narrow-gauge train and enjoy a narrated journey to historic Gold Dredge 8. In addition to learning about Alaska’s gold rush history, you’ll get the chance to pan for gold on your own. 

**Afternoon:**For a truly wild Alaskan experience, take a scenic flight above the Arctic Circle. Enjoy incredible views of the Alaskan Arctic from a small passenger plane before landing in a remote outpost above the circle. 

**Night:**Fairbanks is considered one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights. For a glimpse of the heavenly colors, visit mid-September through late April, when dark skies make the lights visible. For the best chance of seeing them, take an aurora borealis tour that takes you from Fairbanks to prime viewing locations. 

Known as the gateway to the Arctic, Fairbanks is the only major city in Alaska’s interior and is also one of the best spots to view the northern lights. With only one day, you’ll want to take advantage of tours that include multiple activities to pack in as many sights as possible. Here’s how to make the most of one day in Fairbanks. 

Morning: City Highlights

Delve into Alaska’s past and its present with a sightseeing tour of Fairbank’s top history and cultural sights: Start with the Fairbanks Community Museum or the University of Alaska Museum of the North for a crash course in Alaskan history. Then move on to the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum, the Pioneer Air Museum, or the Large Animal Research Station. A guided tour can take you to many of these sights without the hassle of navigating the city, so that you can see as much as possible in a short period of time.

Afternoon: Wilderness Expeditions

Located just an hour’s drive from Fairbanks, White Mountains National Recreation Area offers stunning scenery, nearly endless trails, and plenty of gold-panning opportunities. Opt for a guided hike to Wickersham Dome, which offers incredible panoramas of the White Mountains and the Brooks Range on a clear day. Other options vary by season and include river-rafting trips, guided fly-fishing experiences, ice-fishing tours, and dog-mushing adventures.

Evening: Thermal Springs and Icy Drinks

A visit to the steamy thermal pools at Chena Hot Springs is a must. Due to its unique location, clear skies, and low light pollution, the area is one of the best places in Alaska to see the northern lights, and many tours from Fairbanks combine a visit to the springs with a northern lights viewing experience. You also won’t want to miss the curious ice sculptures in the Aurora Ice Museum or the Ice Bar’s signature cocktail, an appletini served in a glass carved entirely out of ice.