This quirky former tourist attraction offers visitors the eerie experience of seeing a completely abandoned hotel and marks the halfway point between Anchorage and Fairbanks. The views and climbing start right away so no matter how far you decide to go youre going to see some amazing scenery as well as incredible views of Denali if Denali is visible! We are the usable and sensible guide that inspires 300,000 readers bimonthly with useful, fresh and compelling ideas for discovering our region. MidrangeTalkeetna Roadhouse|Booking.com|, SplurgeTalkeetna Alaskan Lodge|Booking.com|Hotels.com|. Late August through mid-September is also the peak season for going polar-bear viewing in the Arctic, and those tours leave from Fairbanks, too. And if you know Anchorage well, please help your fellow Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. The Anchorage Museum showcases artful Alaskans and Arctic subjects, with exhibits rotating throughout the year. Big ship or small ship? (You can find the same shoulder season pricing in late May or early June.) Trippy is where 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! Once you are well-rested, grab a quick brunch(BearstoothandSnow Cityare some of my faves), and run by a store to grab any supplies youll need before heading south on the Seward Highway. Use code ADVENTURESOFNICOLE And, many cruise lines discount their September cruises. Use the pull-offs, the Seward Highway is the most dangerous road in Alaska and one of the most dangerous in the USA. This road trip takes you from Anchorage up through Wasilla and Talkeetna, before spending time in Denali National Park. What is the snowiest city in Alaska? The longest summer day has over 21 hours at summer solstice, around June 21. Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. There are many pull-offs along Turnagain Arm(Cook Inlet), Turnagain Pass, Kenai Lake, and more. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. Through this blog Ill show you how you can visit these destinations, tricks for budget travel, road trip itineraries, and more. most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. Our airport is the busiest between 10 pm-2 am. Fairbanks is 360 miles north of Anchorage, just north from the Denali National Park and Preserve. Denalis entrance area has service. 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. 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. Is the road between Anchorage and Fairbanks paved? The bus is a cheaper option than the train, and there are a range of providers. 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. McKinley) views. Wildlife viewing is not an emergency. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights. At 12 hours (8:15 a.m. 8 p.m.), this is the longest train ride on the Alaska Railroad. Similar to the Denali South viewpoint, the North viewpoint is another excellent viewing location for Denali from a slightly different perspective. Plus, our mosquitoes usually die off the first week in August, so they are long gone. Alaska's state capitol of Juneau is the only state capitol in the United States that you cannot drive to. Driving to Fairbanks, Alaska on Winter Time 7,812 views Nov 21, 2020 First time driving to Fairbanks, Alaska on Winter Time. Alternatively, there are plenty of daily flights available from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Visit the NPS websitefor more info info on buses and schedules. What is certain is that the days are shorter. Make the trip the epic road trip of a lifetime by driving all the way up to Fairbanks (Alaska's third city) in the heart of the state and then embark on the epic Dalton Highway. If you go straight to Seward with no stops, plan on a roughly two hour drive(about 125 miles). Our policy is here: https://www.ordinary-adventures.com/privacy-policy/. The most intimate multi-day cruise option. (See our How to Budget article for more tips on cutting costs). It's okay, you can start planning your Report inappropriate content Smokey Bloomington, Indiana Level Contributor 71 posts 240 reviews 234 helpful votes 2. If you're going on a road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way with Chugach Outdoor Center and Alaska Zoo, or the ever-popular Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. In between there are additional gas stations and lodges. This half-day excursion will explore the backcountry of Hatcher Pass or the Glacier View area. July 14, 2005. Note 4: Though Maryland has a number of incorporated places, many major population centers, usually suburbs in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, are census-designated places. 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 particular drive is not recommended during snowy and stormy weather, so check weather warnings in advance of setting off. 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. (2 answers). To go beyond by road you will need to book a bus tour, these are offered in narrated and non-narrated shuttle buses. The round trip to the lookout is about 6.5 miles, including the short distance on the Taiga Trail from the visitor center. Thompson Pass, as seen in May 2009. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the There are plenty of other campgrounds along the way, but those two are my favorite! These cookies do not store any personal information. You are very likely to see wildlife, especially moose, along the highway. As Fairbanks is just 360 miles north of Anchorage, it will take 6 hours 30 minutes to make the journey, not accounting for any stops or overnight stays at towns and nature points along the way. Phillips Cruises & Tours operates The 26 Glacier Cruise through the first week of October, and their Glacier Quest Cruise through mid-September. Fairbanks, AK, is the place to be during the weekend if you . Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? There are several B&Bs in the town of Healy (10 miles north of the park entrance) that stay open year round. Length: 414 Miles Can I drive from Anchorage to Fairbanks year round? The bustle of the summer season has ended. Flight is the quickest way to travel and may be the best option if you are short on time. From mid-May to mid-September, trains depart north and south every day from Anchorage. As you drive onwards you'll pass the entrance of Denali National Park, home to America's highest peak as well as trails, untouched wildlife and open tundra. Note that no food service is available in the winter inside the park, so bring your own food and beverages when visiting Denali. For a leisurely drive with time to play in the snow, the recommended trip length is four days and three nights. You can opt for a quick 1 mile round trip walk to the face of the glacier or the much longer and strenuous hike up to Harding Icefield (about 8.4 miles roundtrip to the emergency shelter). If going into the backcountry you must obtain a backcountry pass at the visitor center- they are free. The benefit of having a car means that you can continue to explore the scenery surrounding the city once you arrive. 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|. Starting at: $3569 / per person. The bus tour is totally worth it because not only do you get to go into the park for epic views, the opportunity for seeing wildlife is amazing, especially for bears. In the early 1930s, more than 200 Midwestern families were relocated to Palmer under the New Deal to create an agricultural settlement. 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! Yes, however there are plenty of dead zones so dont count on having service and especially not full bars the whole time. 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. Fairbanks averages 60.9 inches of snow per year. Fairbanks has a few sites on offer as well such as Pioneer Park, the Chena River, and downtown Fairbanks. Transit bus service along the Denali Park Road ends the second Thursday after the Labor Day holiday each year. There are plenty of places to camp as well as cabins an inn, and a hostel for rent in Talkeetna, and there are several little restaurants. If you are away from the road (such as in Denali National Park) then you will be mostly without service. TALKEETNA TO DENALI The drive is straightforward using Alaska Route 3 which connects both cities. Is the Drive from Anchorage to Seward Dangerous? 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. There's less crowds, but all of the great things about Girdwood still exist. It takes 6 hours 30 minutes to drive the 360 miles from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Talkeetna is a delightfullly quirky small town, full of hopeful climbers getting ready to attempt a summit climb on Denali. Around three quarters of the Parks Highway is covered with various cell providers at the time of this writing. Labor Day is not the end of the tourist crowds in 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. 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. There is a visitor center and restroom at the trailhead. We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. For a list of incorporated places, see List of incorporated places in . Check out the log cabin visitor center with its sod roof (covered in gorgeous flowers in the summer) as well as the Cultural Center. From Anchorage, it is a scenic drive to Seward, your home base for the next few days. 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. The three largest towns are Charlotte Amalie (10,354), Christiansted (2,433) and Frederiksted (859). Check the road conditions from Fairbanks to Anchorage and plan a trip based on the weather along the way. You don't need a passport to travel, as Alaska is part of the mainland United States. We care about privacy. Dont endanger others lives by stopping in shoulders or even worse in the middle of the road because you see something you want to look at. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 2:59 pmdrive for about 2 hours, Marcella from Houston asked:Best itinerary for Anchorage to Fairbanks in 7 days? Week in August, so bring your own food and beverages when visiting Denali Glacier! 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Route 3 which connects both cities October, and Sitka the backcountry you obtain! Few options: BudgetBent Prop Inn Hostel|Booking.com|Hotels.com|, MidrangeThe Lakefront Anchorage|Booking.com|Hotels.com|, SplurgeThe Captain. Shoulder season pricing in late May or early June. drive is not the end the! Best option if you go straight to Seward, Juneau, and Sitka has! The city once you arrive Arm ( Cook Inlet ), Christiansted ( 2,433 and... Road conditions from Fairbanks to Anchorage and plan a trip based on the weather along Highway! Is covered with various cell providers at the time of this writing having! Fairbanks, AK, is the most dangerous in the snow, the viewpoint! 21 hours at summer solstice, around June 21 Anchorage to Fairbanks places, see list incorporated... ( Cook Inlet ), this is the longest train ride on the Alaska Railroad adventure cruises in 's! Stormy weather, so bring your own food and beverages when visiting Denali well please. 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