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). Most of ours turn yellow and orange. 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. Yes, even this step is optional, because if you're on vacation MidrangeTalkeetna Roadhouse|Booking.com|, SplurgeTalkeetna Alaskan Lodge|Booking.com|Hotels.com|. Light Snow. I recommend booking a Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise withMajor Marine Toursfor the best experience. What is the snowiest city in Alaska? This road trip takes you from Anchorage up through Wasilla and Talkeetna, before spending time in Denali National Park. Decided to drive rather than fly to Fairbanks. Seward is compact and easily walkable. 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. Between fall colors, bears gathering at salmon streams, and the possibility of seeing the northern lights, there's plenty to fill your lens. travelers and answer their questions about Anchorage! What we tell our friends is, "Come earlier in the summer, if you can. Fly from Kailua-Kona on American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines and more. Other activities in Talkeetna include theDenali Zipline, kayaking & rafting tours, and the riverboat trip up the Devils Canyon. During the winter months, the centers building is open Friday through Sunday during the day, and the trails are always open. Its great for independent travelers, and most of its routes continue through September. Use our calculator to find out, Stay casual, dress in layers, and get proper footwear, View All Southcentral & Interior Towns on a Map, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. As long as youre prepared for a long drive and make plenty of stops to keep things fun, youll have a great time! There are many pull-offs along Turnagain Arm(Cook Inlet), Turnagain Pass, Kenai Lake, and more. Fairbanks - Glennallen / Copper Center ( Driving Distance: 250 miles| Overnight: Glennallen ) Travel on the Richardson Highway to Delta Junction - a telegraph station established in 1904. In the early 1930s, more than 200 Midwestern families were relocated to Palmer under the New Deal to create an agricultural settlement. Exhibits and videos cover the Iditarods past and present. At 12 hours (8:15 a.m. 8 p.m.), this is the longest train ride on the Alaska Railroad. Learn how your comment data is processed. Plan on it taking at least 6.5 hours plus any stops you want to make. There are several B&Bs in the town of Healy (10 miles north of the park entrance) that stay open year round. Take the Talkeetna turnoff and drive the 14 miles into Talkeetna to settle in for the night. The scenery provides plenty of reason to road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks, but if you have time to make some stops, there are some great places to stretch your legs, learn about something new, see even more amazing scenery and wildlife and grab a bite to eat. In winter, you can drive up to Hatcher Pass but the road is closed beyond there so you return back the way you came to rejoin the Parks Highway between Palmer and Wasilla. Many will opt to stop at Healy, Nenana, and more. Ive not personally done a Denali flightseeing tour yet, but I have yet to hear a bad thing about it from anyone whos done it. Northern lights adventures with Northern Alaska Tour Company. Entries Feed Check timetables in advance to ensure your schedule lines up with the journey times. For a day hike, start at the Curry Ridge Trailhead across the road from the Denali South Viewpoint in Denali State Park. If you'd prefer not to travel by car, you can opt to take the bus or train from Anchorage. But by the end of the month, temperatures are about 10 degrees lower overall , and daylight starts slipping away. Highlights plus less visited destinations. But there's still more daylight than many places in the U.S. see during this same time of year, or even during their summer. We locals call these early snows Termination Dust, as in signaling the end of summer and that old man winter is just around the corner. Our airport is the busiest between 10 pm-2 am. The driving distance from Seattle to the Yukon Territory/Alaska border crossing is about 1,800 - 1,900 miles, depending on which route you take. Driving distances in Alaska can be long, and dont be surprised if you get caught up in construction, especially in the summer. You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights. Camping sites are available from $15.00 to $30.00 per item per night. While youre in Talkeetna, you can apply what you learned at the Iditarod Headquarters by booking a two-hour sled dog tour and driving your own dog team with Iditarod Champion Dallas Seavey (dallasseavey.com/alaska-sled-dog-tours). Search for RV campgrounds. Connecting Anchorage and Fairbanks, the Parks Highway (Route 3) is 359 miles of wonderland in the winter months. 7-10 days is the most common. If you're planning a road trip to Fairbanks, you can research locations to stop along the way. If you intend to road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks in the winter months, be prepared for slow driving and ice and snow in the road. Click on any question to see answers from the community! The best route from Anchorage to Fairbanks is via the George Parks Highway Interstate 3. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. View massive tidewater glaciers and keep an eye out for wildlife. You could see goats and sheep on the cliffside along the road and sometimes whales in the inlet. There's less crowds, but all of the great things about Girdwood still exist. It sits centrally within Alaska, 379 miles east of Yukon, Canada. Overcast Clouds. This is one of those trips where the drive is just as important as the destination. The road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks on the Parks Highway travels the homeland of many indigenous people, including the Dene Nation, Denaina Enena, Ahtna and Tanana People. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. For one thing, since this is more of a business hub than a tourist spot, hotels stay open year round, though they can offer better rates in September than you would find during the peak summer months. When youre ready to say farewell to Talkeetna, backtrack to the Parks Highway and head north. Road Trip Conditions. It's extremely convenient and easy to rent a car at Alaska airports. Use code ADVENTURESOFNICOLE My favorite camping locations on the road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks are the Kesugi Ken Campground in Denali State Park as well as the Savage River Campground in Denali National Park. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. September is actually the beginning of the peak season of this Alaskan city: Fairbanks is a nice destination year round, but really starts to shine when the night skies finally become dark enough to view the northern lights. Continue on into the town of Seward after stretching your legs at the glacier. Located in Denali State Park and well marked, theres lots of parking, an epic view and plenty of picnic tables and pit toilets. If you dont have time for that, you can still make a shorter stop in Denali. The direct journey time doesn't account for road conditions during adverse weather, which may impact the speed at which you are able to travel. I lived in Alaska for seven years and during that time (and many times since) Ive done this road trip and Im excited to tell you all about the best places to stop along the way. It is a paved two lane road. Taking you from Anchorage to Fairbanks this road trip itinerary gives you a pretty good sampling of what the 49th state has to offer if you only have one week in Alaska. Talkeetna is well worth the 30 mile detour round trip from the Parks Highway for all these delights. Overwhelmed by choices? If youre relying on a strong signal for steaming music or podcasts, make sure to download them before your road trip so you dont get frustrated losing the signal frequently. It is a five hour drive to get to the state's major airport hub in Anchorage. Availability: 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. Drive from Anchorage to Fairbanks 6h 41m $65 - $95 Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between Anchorage (ANC) to Fairbanks (FAI) flights The flight time between Anchorage (ANC) and Fairbanks (FAI) is around 1h 2m and covers a distance of around 262 miles. Your next stop will be the famous Denali Viewpoint at Parks Highway milepost 135. It is also inside the Kesugi Ken Campground. The intersection, marked by an oversized white milepost for Mile 1422 is known as the Triangle. Looking for ideas? Being equipped with the right vehicle, the weather forecast, highway conditions and a plan of where to stop, eat and sleep along the way can make the difference between a road trip thats a nightmare and one that youll be glad you took. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. If youre going slow, pull off in designated pull-offs and let cars pass- its illegal to hold up 5 or more vehicles. Hatcher Pass is one of the most popular recreation areas near Anchorage year round! Traveling with a dog or cat? Driving from Anchorage to Fairbanks will give you a feel for Alaskas vast landscapes and at stops along the way you can enjoy hikes, views, picnics and get to know what Alaska is like! Meal Service: Grab 'N Go, Sit Down Dining Operating Dates: May 10 to September 16, 2023 Adults Rates: $269 Adventure, $489 GoldStar, $367 WEX Child Rates (2-11): $135 Adventure . It is the second largest city in the state after Anchorage. Make a stop at the Iditarod Headquarters and check out the museum all about the epic dog sled race that travels 1000 miles across Alaska in March. This article is organized by stops starting in Anchorage and going north to Fairbanks. And, many cruise lines discount their September cruises. Alternatively, there are plenty of daily flights available from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. 359 mi Total Distance 7 hrs 7 mins Drive Time 30 stops Cities / Attractions Right now, our darkest hours in Anchorage are between 2-3am. Although youll find the national parks winter visitor center open, the park has limited access and services in the winter. 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. Denalis entrance area has service. Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. But you can stretch your legs at any time, enjoy all three meals in the dining car, and usually be able to take in the scenery from special domed rail cars. McKinley) views. Can I drive from Anchorage to Fairbanks year round? Your email address will not be published. First time in Anchorage and looking for lunch and possible site see. A much quieter southern sky over the Alaska Highway, with an 8-second exposure. The longest summer day has over 21 hours at summer solstice, around June 21. A $10 per person pass fee will be charged per visitor at the entrance of the park. You are very likely to see wildlife, especially moose, along the highway. 7-10 days is the most common. The most intimate multi-day cruise option. Related: Best Alaska Itinerary and Planning Guide. 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. Our policy is here: https://www.ordinary-adventures.com/privacy-policy/. And if you know Anchorage well, please help your fellow 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. Both are reservable and I highly recommend getting a reservation in advance. Car, train, or group tour. 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. Taking this route will add about 20 miles and an hour of driving time to your road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks. A map of the best Alaska road trip itinerary for adventurous travelers. This applies particularly to holiday times during peak tourism season in the summer. Homer is a funky, fun little fishing town. In between there are additional gas stations and lodges. You also start seeing snow on the mountain tops, which we locals refer to as "Termination Dust." Earthsong Lodge offers backcountry winter dog-sledding trips in the park (earthsonglodge.com). Feels like 5.95 Wind speed 3.4 mph Pressure 1005 hPa. Here, clouds permitting, catch glimpses of Denali, take in the panoramic views of the Alaska Range and keep an eye out for wildlife as you traverse the pass. September in the Anchorage area has another unique draw: The Alaska State Fair, located just 40 minutes north of the city in Palmer. An icon used to represent a menu that can be toggled by interacting with this icon. Starting at: $3569 / per person. Privacy Policy & Disclaimer. Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. Enter a city to drive through, or find all. Yes, however there are plenty of dead zones so dont count on having service and especially not full bars the whole time. Click the button below to explore more questions This route is by far the fastest and most straightforward way to get to Fairbanks. We think we will reserve our last day for making the drive from Fairbanks back to Anchorage. In Alaska, very few trees turn red. After the cruise, drive back towardAnchorageand make any stops youd like to check out that you may have missed on the way down. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Otherwise here are a few options: BudgetBent Prop Inn Hostel|Booking.com|Hotels.com|, MidrangeThe Lakefront Anchorage|Booking.com|Hotels.com|, SplurgeThe Hotel Captain Cook|Booking.com|Hotels.com|. There are vacation rentals in Anchorage and Fairbanks and the Mat-Su Valley, but not as many along the rest of the drive. 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. How long is the drive from Anchorage to Fairbanks? You don't need a passport to travel, as Alaska is part of the mainland United States. Find flights to Seattle from $138. Note:Car rentals seem to charge extortionate fees to pick and drop off from a different location. Denali National Park is a popular attraction, so you may encounter some traffic as you approach it. Check out myDenali National Park Guide, BudgetCamping (tent & RV) in Denali National Park|Reservedenali.com|, MidrangeAurora Denali Lodge (Healy)|Booking.com|Hotels.com|, SplurgeMcKinley Creekside Cabins|Booking.com|Hotels.com|. Driving to Fairbanks from Anchorage in summer time is. Fly into Anchorage or Fairbanks, rent a vehicle thats well-equipped for winter driving conditions, complete the one-way drive between the two cities, return the vehicle at the other end. 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. Denali is an Athabaskan word meaning the high one.. All land transportation options take you through river valleys and boreal forest, with mountain vistas and Denali (Mt. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. There are long stretches without towns and services, but there are also plenty of places to stop along the highway. July 14, 2005. The parks only road will likely be closed at Denali Village, three miles inside the park, but youll still find plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun without the summer crowds. This makes a good place to stay overnight in one of the lodges or get some amazing pizza or pub food and visit at least one of the delicious bakeries! Its also usually the most expensive option. Im so glad to have you along on the journey to experience your best low key adventure in Washington, Alaska and Western Canada! 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) Big ship or small ship? It has a couple of surprisingly excellent museums for such a small town. Talkeetna is a delightfullly quirky small town, full of hopeful climbers getting ready to attempt a summit climb on Denali. Driving time: 20 hours, 14 minutes. The demographics have changed a little by September, too (more families with small kids, since bigger kids have gone back to school). (0 answers), Wasilla (2 answers) Your tour will be refunded in this case, or if your trip allows rescheduled. It is also home to the Nancy Lake Recreation Area, covering a large area with many small lakes. Is the road between Anchorage and Fairbanks paved? This was the sky to the south and this was looking northwest. But if you can't, September could be great." We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. If you are arriving by train, the arrival station is located to the north of the Chena River by the Johansen Expressway and is a short walk into central downtown. From there you'll head on to the town of Tok and can continue your journey north towards Fairbanks or south towards Anchorage. Use the pull-offs, the Seward Highway is the most dangerous road in Alaska and one of the most dangerous in the USA. restaurants around Healy: questions about Talkeetna: See the Alaska Railroad, or check out other railroad companies, like Gray Line Denali Rail Tours and Princess Rail Tours. 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. Plus, our mosquitoes usually die off the first week in August, so they are long gone. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly.

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