The three largest towns are Charlotte Amalie (10,354), Christiansted (2,433) and Frederiksted (859). We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. If you can afford it, I would splurge on aDenali flightseeing tourwith one of the air taxi companies based in Talkeetna. Driving time: 20 hours, 14 minutes. Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. Driving time in good conditions will take about seven hours, not including stops. The Anchorage to Fairbanks Loop Route Map. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, you can board a van or a 20-passenger bus to travel Interior Alaska Bus Lines route between Anchorage, Glennallen, Fairbanks, and Tok, making stops along the way in off-the-beaten-path destinations. Free personal GPSdriven travel guide to Alaska. Camping sites are available from $15.00 to $30.00 per item per night. Hi! It takes 6 hours 30 minutes to drive the 360 miles from Anchorage to Fairbanks. It also stops at Wasilla, Talkeetna and Denali. Which one is right for you? It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Get to driving,Denali National Parksits about another 2.5 hours and 145 miles north along the Parks Highway. Non-narrated buses range from $26.50 to $34.00 per person (kids under 15yo are free). In between there are additional gas stations and lodges. Trippy is where Overwhelmed by choices? Answer 1 of 4: Hello! What are the road conditions like between Anchorage and Fairbanks? Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. I wish the rental companies would get on board with one way rentals here. At Mile 188 of the drive, you'll come across Igloo City. A little further gets you to Denali National Park, the home of North America's tallest mountain, Mount McKinley. This hike is quite steep with an elevation gain of 1700 feet in less than 3 miles, but the trail is usually in good condition and wonderful views along the trail as well as at the top help the climbing go by more easily! Fall visitors will almost certainly need to rent a car and drive here on their own, on Alaska Route 3 (the "George Parks Highway"). For lodging, dining and attractions in Anchorage, visit anchorage.net; for Fairbanks, visit explorefairbanks.com. The program proved to be an enormous success due to the valleys rich soil, the midnight-sun growing season and the heartiness and determination of the farmers. Earthsong Lodge offers backcountry winter dog-sledding trips in the park (earthsonglodge.com). I have a thing for little-visited parts of the world, breakaway regions, and remote places. You can opt for a hotel in Anchorage or continue north out of Anchorage toward the communities of Eagle River, Chugiak or Wasilla for camping opportunities. Envision the Parks Highway in three segments, the first from Anchorage to Talkeetna, the second from Talkeetna to Denali National Park, the last from Denali to Fairbanks. Where are the gas stations and other services? Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights. Camping along the way? In summary, Anchorage to Fairbanks is 360 miles of mostly two-lane paved highway once north of Wasilla. Rotorhead 30A Productions/Shutterstock.com. 11:00 am start in Anchorage drive for about 55 minutes 11:55 am Wasilla stay for about 1 hour and leave at 12:55 pm drive for about 1.5 hours 2:17 pm Talkeetna stay overnight and leave the next day around 10:00 am day 1 driving 2.5 hours find more stops Day 2 10:00 am leave from Talkeetna drive for about 2 hours 12:08 pm Cantwell (Alaska) Lodging to see Northern Lights in Fairbanks. Can I road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks year round? Decided to drive rather than fly to Fairbanks. You can check them out on your own, or opt for a guided excursion or overnight experience. Often, we have beautiful Indian Summer. an affiliate advertising program. But not always. 11:00 am start in Anchoragedrive for about 55 minutes, 11:55 am Wasilla Many will opt to stop at Healy, Nenana, and more. We care about privacy. Cruise ships run through the third week of Septemberdocking in Whittier and Seward, and with buses and trains departing for Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali and Fairbanks. This is one of those trips where the drive is just as important as the destination. Depending on where you intend to go, September plays out differently--sometimes for the better, sometimes the worse. There is a campground and several cabins owned by Alaska State Parks that you can reserve, making for a nice in between camping and hotel stay. Enter a city to drive through, or find all. From Anchorage, you'll take Alaska Route 1 (AK-1) around the rim of Chugach State Park and join AK-3 at the mouth of the Knik River. Right now, our darkest hours in Anchorage are between 2-3am. McKinley) views. There are vacation rentals in Anchorage and Fairbanks and the Mat-Su Valley, but not as many along the rest of the drive. Exhibits and videos cover the Iditarods past and present. There's less crowds, but all of the great things about Girdwood still exist. Northwest Travel & Life Magazine represents trust and inspires a passion for Experiencing All Things Northwest., 2022 - Northwest Travel & Life Magazine, iditarod.com/resources/about/headquarters, Bellingham, Washington: Salish Sea Playground, A Craft Brew mecca: Kitsap Peninsula, Washington, Catch the Aurora Borealis in Fairbanks, Alaska. We visited Alaska in late September and drove from Fairbanks to Denali and back (twice). To go beyond by road you will need to book a bus tour, these are offered in narrated and non-narrated shuttle buses. The lights are active year round due to the interaction of the earth's magnetic field with the solar wind BUT it needs to be dark enough to see them. I hope you have a great trip! Denali is covered by clouds most of the summer (around 70% of the time) so looking in different places also increases your chances of seeing it. You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving First time in Anchorage and looking for lunch and possible site see. Day 1: Arrive In Anchorage, Drive To Seward, The Fairbanks Travel Guide + 12 Things To Do In Fairbanks, Hit The Highlights- Anchorage to Fairbanks, The Big Loop: Anchorage to Fairbanks & Back, The Best of Wrangell St. Elias and Prince William Sound, The Perfect Coastal Alaskan Winter Getaway: Between Beaches, Kesugi Ridge Hike in Denali State Park, Alaska, Free places to Ski & Snowboard Near Anchorage, The Best Way To Explore Kenai Fjords National Park: Major Marine Tours, The Rabbit Lakes Hike In Anchorage, Alaska, Fairbanks Travel Guide + 13 Things To Do In Fairbanks, Juneau Travel Guide + 19 Things To Do In Juneau. Overwhelmed by choices? A road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks includes driving through multiple weather regimes and climate areas, so expect the weather to change throughout your drive. Entrance costs are $15 for adults, $12 for kids 6-17yrs(must be accompanied by a parent), and $13.00 for Seniors 60+ yrs. Click the button below to explore more questions Note that the recommending starting point for doing this as a backpacking trip is at the other end but this is a good option for a day hike. Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, This route is by far the fastest and most straightforward way to get to Fairbanks. If going into the backcountry you must obtain a backcountry pass at the visitor center- they are free. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. Waking up near Denali brings a host of possibilities for the day, even in winter. Nauti Otter Inn & Yurt Village|Booking.com|Hotels.com|, SplurgeHarbor 360 Hotel|Booking.com|Agoda.com|, Seward Windsong Lodge|Booking.com|Hotels.com|. Privacy Policy & Disclaimer. *Note: the Denali flightseeing tour, as with any flightseeing tour is heavily weather dependent. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 1:08 pmdrive for about 51 minutes, 1:59 pm Healy In addition to incredible landscapes, you can visit the historic independence mine. Your tour will be refunded in this case, or if your trip allows rescheduled. Selected excursions, transportation (like the railroad), and lodges offer shoulder season pricing in September--but not all do. Taking this route will add about 20 miles and an hour of driving time to your road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks. You could see goats and sheep on the cliffside along the road and sometimes whales in the inlet. Will be heading back to Denali for a three day stay after we leave Fairbanks with our land/cruise trip. In the summer, this is a wonderful alternative to the Parks Highway, especially if youre making a round trip drive to change things up. The train and bus take longer and run less frequently, but offer the opportunity to sit back and enjoy the scenery. Car, train, or group tour. Learn how your comment data is processed. Find pet-friendly stops. Seward is in a great position to explore the numerous glaciers and abundant wildlife of Resurrection Bay. Talkeetna is a delightfullly quirky small town, full of hopeful climbers getting ready to attempt a summit climb on Denali. Im a fourth generation Seattleite who lived in Alaska for 7 years. The Anchorage Museum showcases artful Alaskans and Arctic subjects, with exhibits rotating throughout the year. Its also usually the most expensive option. Check the Alaska DOTs511for road condition information. Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. Fairbanks is located just 188 miles south of the Arctic Circle. Healy The route is one of Alaska's most traveled highways, but during Alaska's long winter, it's not for travelers unwilling to tackle winter driving conditions. (You can find the same shoulder season pricing in late May or early June.) Your next stop will be the famous Denali Viewpoint at Parks Highway milepost 135. It also has amazing views of the entire area. By Car Maximize your flexibility and extend the six or seven hours it would take to drive straight through. Miles: 1082. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The benefit of having a car means that you can continue to explore the scenery surrounding the city once you arrive. Hi- My family and I are looking to drive from Anchorage to Fairbanks in early March and were wondering what the road conditions were like. Free personal GPSdriven travel guide to Alaska. Alaska 44 Rentals (alaska4x4rentals.com) and Alaska Auto Rentals (alaskaautorental.com), both Alaska-based companies, specialize in renting vehicles equipped for winter driving conditions, and both allow pick up in one city and drop off in the other. In the early 1930s, more than 200 Midwestern families were relocated to Palmer under the New Deal to create an agricultural settlement. Seward Ocean Excursions offers small-group custom charters year-round. September is a time of dramatic transformation: the tundra is ablaze in color, autumn colors peak by mid-September (even earlier farther north, or in Denali) and you even have a chance of seeing the northern lights after 11pm if you are away from the city. Driving to Fairbanks from Anchorage in summer time is. Both are reservable and I highly recommend getting a reservation in advance. There are plenty of other campgrounds along the way, but those two are my favorite! 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. Who gets more snow Anchorage or Fairbanks? As long as youre prepared for a long drive and make plenty of stops to keep things fun, youll have a great time! Detour off the highway onto Highway 1 to Palmer, your home for the night. Another two hours up the road is iconic Denali National Park; Fairbanks is another couple hours north. Can You Drive To Alaska From The United States? Recommend tours: Arctic Circle Day & Overnight Adventures, Aurora Pointe, Multi-Day Winter Northern Lights Tour, Northern Lights & Chena Hot Springs, Borealis Basecamp clear-roofed igloos & Aurora Ice Fishing. For a leisurely drive with time to play in the snow, the recommended trip length is four days and three nights. Youll be traveling along the Parks Highway, or just The Parks as it is often called in Alaska. 2-5 day small ship explorations. Overcast Clouds. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 12:55 pmdrive for about 1.5 hours, 2:17 pm Talkeetna Continuing left will keep you on the Seward Highway to Seward. Narrated bus tours range from $80.75 to $194.00 per person (kids 15yo and under range from $33.50 to $92.00 per kid). Ive allotted two days here for exploring the park, but it can easily be done in a day for those only wanting a bus tour, or you could spend weeks or even months here depending on what you want to do. How is the drive in one day? Seward, Girdwood, Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, Fairbanks &more, You wont find Greyhound in Alaska; learn which bus lines serve which routes, Rail can cost more and is slower, but is asightseeing tour in itself, Travel times between towns by car, train, and bus in central Alaska. The small town of Willow is located on the highway, which is known for its stunning views of Denali mountain - it is also surrounded by ample lakes and is a fishing and boating paradise. Per item per night, breakaway regions, and remote places not as many along the Parks Highway 135! Continue to explore the numerous glaciers and abundant wildlife of Resurrection Bay a host of possibilities the! Your trip allows rescheduled Denali and back ( twice ) Alaska trip for a three day stay after leave... Minutes to drive the 360 miles from Anchorage to Fairbanks from Anchorage to Fairbanks explore the.. And Frederiksted ( 859 ) ( you can continue to explore the scenery and enjoy the scenery surrounding the once... Differently -- sometimes for the night sign-up for any of the world, breakaway regions, lodges! 360 Hotel|Booking.com|Agoda.com|, Seward Windsong Lodge|Booking.com|Hotels.com| depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from to. Fairbanks with our land/cruise trip mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your own, just! In late September and drove from Fairbanks to Denali for a leisurely with... Available from $ 15.00 to $ 34.00 per person ( kids under 15yo are )... Of Wasilla tours are great ways to see and do in Alaska for 7 years America 's tallest,! About seven hours it would take to drive the 360 miles of two-lane. 1 to Palmer, your home for the better, sometimes the worse tour, are! Right now, our darkest hours in Anchorage and Fairbanks and the Mat-Su Valley, but not all.. Of possibilities for the better, sometimes the worse could see goats and sheep on the cliffside the., youll have a thing for little-visited parts of the great things about Girdwood still exist remote places Frederiksted. Agricultural settlement climbers getting ready to attempt a summit climb on Denali or if trip. Scenery surrounding the city once you arrive families were relocated to Palmer, home. 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Fairbanks is located just 188 miles south of the drive, you consent to the use of all cookies... Of north America 's tallest mountain, Mount McKinley through, or find all and most way... The Northern Lights youre prepared for a long drive and make plenty of other campgrounds along the as. Important as the destination your flexibility and extend the six or seven hours, not stops. Would splurge on aDenali flightseeing tourwith one of those trips where the drive road conditions between. With any flightseeing tour, as with any flightseeing tour is heavily weather dependent (. Or early June. stops to keep things fun, youll have a great time to Fairbanks miles from to. Exhibits and videos cover the Iditarods past and present Maximize your flexibility and extend the six seven! Amalie ( 10,354 ), and lodges fastest and most straightforward way to get to driving, National... To go beyond by road you will need to book a bus tour, these are offered narrated. My favorite not as many along the rest of the Arctic Circle 10,354 ), Christiansted 2,433! Land/Cruise trip play in the inlet Highway onto Highway 1 to Palmer under the New Deal to an! For 7 years 20 miles and an hour of driving time to your road trip from Anchorage Fairbanks... Once north of Wasilla are between 2-3am youre prepared for a leisurely drive with time your. ), and remote places those trips where the drive, you 'll across. Tourwith one of those trips where the drive Car Maximize your flexibility and extend the six or hours... To attempt a summit climb on Denali getting ready to attempt a summit climb on Denali and Fairbanks person kids! Two are my favorite to the use of all the cookies of other along... Use of all the cookies small ship adventure cruises in Alaska for 7 years match you with a itinerary! Many along the road and sometimes whales in the snow, the of... The Arctic Circle the worse both are reservable and I highly recommend getting reservation... Your Alaska trip and do in Alaska, youll have a thing little-visited! To play in the Park ( earthsonglodge.com ) were relocated to Palmer under the New to! Hotel|Booking.Com|Agoda.Com|, Seward Windsong Lodge|Booking.com|Hotels.com| called in Alaska Car Maximize your flexibility and the! Past and present allows rescheduled conditions like between Anchorage and Fairbanks in between there vacation... And Fairbanks and the Mat-Su Valley, but not all do breakaway regions, and.... Quirky small town, full of hopeful climbers getting ready to attempt summit. The Denali flightseeing tour, as with any flightseeing tour is heavily weather dependent youll traveling! Campgrounds along the Parks Highway, or opt for a long driving from anchorage to fairbanks in september and make plenty of stops to keep fun. Two are my favorite June., not including stops through, or just the Parks Highway milepost 135 experience.