This particular drive is not recommended during snowy and stormy weather, so check weather warnings in advance of setting off. Savage River is much smaller and less busy than nearby Riley Creek and you can walk along the river there which is absolutely gorgeous. See the Alaska Railroad, or check out other railroad companies, like Gray Line Denali Rail Tours and Princess Rail Tours. Hotels and restaurants at Denali Village are closed in winter, so youll need to drive about 12 more miles up the Parks Highway to the town of Healy for winter lodging and dining (denalichamber.com). Fly from Kailua-Kona on American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines and more. Around three quarters of the Parks Highway is covered with various cell providers at the time of this writing. At Mile 188 of the drive, you'll come across Igloo City. Maximize your flexibility and extend the six or seven hours it would take to drive straight through. Your first stop will be just 40 miles up the highway: Eagle River Nature Center (ernc.org). The Parks Highway is well maintained throughout the year. Since Fairbanks is on the mainland, the exit form AK-3 takes you directly into the city center. McKinley) views. Each of the viewpoints have a different perspective on the mountain, which is also different from the angle you get inside the park or from the air. This 28,000-acre refuge protects coastal and freshwater wetlands, sloughs, mudflats, lakes, streams and forests, all critical habitat for much of the regions wildlife. Enter a city to drive through, or find all. Starting at: $3569 / per person. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse! Fairbanks to Anchorage drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. You could see goats and sheep on the cliffside along the road and sometimes whales in the inlet. There's a pretty good chance you'll see the Northern lights here (during the aurora borealis peak time between September and April) because it's far from the city and it's super dark. *Note: the Denali flightseeing tour, as with any flightseeing tour is heavily weather dependent. That's why locals say, "September is a gamble.". You walk to the counter inside the airport (admittedly it's a long walk in Anchorage) and then walk directly out to the garage. Feels like 1.99 Wind speed 3.4 mph Pressure 1006 hPa. Or get a full Anchorage to Fairbanks flight plan. Where are the gas stations and other services? Stop in at the Murie Science and Learning Center (the parks winter visitor center) to find out what organized activities are happening. One of the more popular isriver raftingwhich can be booked in the nearby tourist center just outside the park or a little further north from the town of Healy. Thompson Pass is a 2,600 foot-high (855 meter-high) gap in the Chugach Mountains northeast of Valdez, Alaska. Taking a road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks is a fun adventure that takes you through many different climates and landscapes across Alaska. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 12:55 pmdrive for about 1.5 hours, 2:17 pm Talkeetna You might even decide to tarry in Talkeetna for a few days, so you wont miss anything. Fairbanks to the Arctic Circle via the Steese, Elliot and Dalton Highways features about 50 miles of pavement between Fairbanks and Coldfoot and more than 120 miles of gravel from Coldfoot to the Arctic Circle. Road Trip Conditions. Driving to Fairbanks from Anchorage in summer time is. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. Anchorage is 187 miles from the the junction with the Richardson Highway. First, the logistics. Day 1: Fairbanks 2-5 day small ship explorations. While the routes from Seattle to Anchorage are all-weather and well-maintained, Dalton High requires some planning. National Park Pass holders just need to show their pass to get in. Daily train and bus service to the park from Anchorage and Fairbanks typically ends in mid-September. The longest summer day has over 21 hours at summer solstice, around June 21. Construction and RV traffic can cause significant delays in places during the summer and winter driving can make it slow in winter depending on the conditions. 359 mi Total Distance 7 hrs 7 mins Drive Time 30 stops Cities / Attractions Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. Flight is the quickest way to travel and may be the best option if you are short on time. What is certain is that the days are shorter. Fall colors in Alaska are beautiful but different from the Lower 48. Check the Alaska DOTs511for road condition information. Duration: 15 days. While you can often see the northern lights from Fairbanks itself, many tour operators use Fairbanks as their main launching pad to take visitors beyond the Arctic Circle, which boosts your chances of seeing the lights. Fairbanks is a gateway to the great Alaskan wilderness on its doorstep, such as the trails and wildlife of the Chena River State Recreation Area. If youre focusing on the road trip, there are two hikes that I highly recommend that are easy to access from the highway and have a great payoff. Though there are many summertime shops, restaurants and hotels in the immediate area it is a two hour drive to get to a substantial town (Fairbanks) with full amenities. who wants the trip to end? Denalis entrance area has service. Alaska Railroad Anchorage to Fairbanks. I started driving back towards home after that last shot, but at 11:50 the sky exploded again and I stopped along the highway. But that doesnt mean things are totally shut downand there are some nice upsides to September here. 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While brochures wax poetic about how early fall can be the perfect time to visit Alaska, the days are shorter, and it can also be rainy and cooler. Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. In the summer, this is a wonderful alternative to the Parks Highway, especially if youre making a round trip drive to change things up. Plan on it taking at least 6.5 hours plus any stops you want to make. The train departs in the morning at 8:20am and arrives in Fairbanks at 8pm, though you are advised to check timetables in advance of traveling. There are literally hundreds of stops along the way. You could head toward Chena Hotsprings and have a soak in the hot waters. Make sure to book lodges and hotels far in advance for this very popular area, especially in the Denali National Park area which has very limited options. After Denali and Healy, you are on the home stretch to journeys end at Fairbanks, about 110 miles up the Parks Highway. Want a relaxing way to spend your last bit of time in Alaska? Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. Drive from Fairbanks to Anchorage 6h 36m $65 - $95 Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between Fairbanks (FAI) to Anchorage (ANC) flights The flight time between Fairbanks (FAI) and Anchorage (ANC) is around 1h 5m and covers a distance of around 262 miles. Many will opt to stop at Healy, Nenana, and more. Healy LazyTrips is a trading name of Uncle Bob Media Ltd. Many services are closed in winter so its extra important to be prepared with very warm clothes, a sleeping bag and extra food in your car. Is the road between there and Anchorage pretty much always open or does snow sometimes close it? Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Best itinerary for Anchorage to Fairbanks in 7 days? For a day hike, start at the Curry Ridge Trailhead across the road from the Denali South Viewpoint in Denali State Park. Plan the number of road-trip days based on your itinerary and how much time you plan to spend at each stop. The views get even more spectacular if you take a flightseeing tour and see the parks colors from above. The drive from Denali toFairbanksis 130 miles and should take about 2-2.5 hours not including any stops. But by the end of the month, temperatures are about 10 degrees lower overall , and daylight starts slipping away. If you're planning a road trip to Fairbanks, you can research locations to stop along the way. Seward is compact and easily walkable. Alyeska Resort is a great basecamp for your fall getaway. Can you Drive to Gates of the Arctic National Park? MidrangeTalkeetna Roadhouse|Booking.com|, SplurgeTalkeetna Alaskan Lodge|Booking.com|Hotels.com|. Fairbanks, AK, is the place to be during the weekend if you . Visit in May or September for major savings on rentals (and maybe seeing the northern lights!). We visited Alaska in late September and drove from Fairbanks to Denali and back (twice). Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Option:Take afishing charterinstead, relax in Seward, enjoy a nearby hike. After all, two of the biggest attractions in Seward offer shelter from the elements: The exhibits of Seward SeaLife Center are mostly indoors, and all Seward day cruiseshave a heated cabin where you can warm up between photo ops out on the deck. Heading right will take you onto the Sterling Highway toward Soldotna, Kenai, Nikiski and Homer. Talkeetna is as vibrant and quirky in the winter as it is in the more heavily traveled summer season, as the restaurants and shops stay open year-round. 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