Its totally possible, just a long day. There is a visitor center and restroom at the trailhead. This section could be endless, so rather than trying to 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! Note that no food service is available in the winter inside the park, so bring your own food and beverages when visiting Denali. That brings concerts, plenty of local goods, and the world-famous, massive vegetables that have grown all summer long under the midnight sun. If youre driving through in late winter or early spring, look for the black and white tripod set up on the river, which topples over and triggers a clock which marks the official time to declare a winner! Driving the Icefields Parkway is one of the most scenic drives you'll ever take. Farther up the highway, at the braided mouth of the Knik River, you will pass a vast open area called the Palmer Hay Flats. Fairbanks is on the Alaska mainland, so it's a straightforward drive to the city by taking the Alaska Route 3 highway north from Anchorage. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. You also start seeing snow on the mountain tops, which we locals refer to as "Termination Dust." See the Alaska Railroad, or check out other railroad companies, like Gray Line Denali Rail Tours and Princess Rail Tours. Denali is an Athabaskan word meaning the high one.. As it's a small city, from here it shouldn't be a long drive to your accommodation or destination. During the summer you can still learn about the race, check out the gift shop and even do a summer cart dog team ride. 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. Check out the log cabin visitor center with its sod roof (covered in gorgeous flowers in the summer) as well as the Cultural Center. Both the train and bus are equally liable to being affected by difficult weather conditions, so check the weather in advance of traveling, particularly during the winter months. That's why locals say, "September is a gamble.". If you go straight to Seward with no stops, plan on a roughly two hour drive(about 125 miles). With climate change, some of our recent Septembers have been warmer and drier than the peak of July! I have a thing for little-visited parts of the world, breakaway regions, and remote places. During the winter months, the centers building is open Friday through Sunday during the day, and the trails are always open. What about this time of year for the road? The views get even more spectacular if you take a flightseeing tour and see the parks colors from above. But that doesnt mean things are totally shut downand there are some nice upsides to September here. What is the snowiest city in Alaska? Last updated: [wpautoterms last_updated_date]If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us. The Anchorage to Fairbanks Loop Route Map. This article is organized by stops starting in Anchorage and going north to Fairbanks. Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. The round trip to the lookout is about 6.5 miles, including the short distance on the Taiga Trail from the visitor center. You can even do a guided walk or hike here to learn even more about the natural history and beauty of Alaska. Salary Information This is a full-time temporary position. Light Snow. Learn how your comment data is processed. Taking a road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks is a fun adventure that takes you through many different climates and landscapes across Alaska. Home Tours Alaska Driving Tours Self-Drive All Alaska Classic Self Drive Tour. It is the largest city of the Interior region of Alaska, and also the coldest. There are literally hundreds of stops along the way. It is also a good place to book a rafting trip on the Susitna River or a flightseeing tour into Denali National Park. 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. The road conditions differ between the seasons, and winter in particular can be quite demanding on vehicles. Around three quarters of the Parks Highway is covered with various cell providers at the time of this writing. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 12:55 pmdrive for about 1.5 hours, 2:17 pm Talkeetna If you're planning a road trip to Fairbanks, you can research locations to stop along the way. Taking this route will add about 20 miles and an hour of driving time to your road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Many will opt to stop at Healy, Nenana, and more. Pilots will not fly if weather conditions are poor or unstable. 2) Should I drive or take the bus ? Visit Kenai Fjords National Park, where you can hike or ice climb on glaciers, go hiking, and cruise the fjords. 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! Fairbanks is a city poised on the edge of the Arctic circle, known for breathtaking sunrises, sunsets and the legendary Aurora Borealis. 2-5 day small ship explorations. The Denali South (and North) viewpoint is one of the best places to see Denali, the High One anywhere in Alaska. Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from Anchorage to Fairbanks. This drive deserves at least a day of your road trip to Alaska. Campgrounds, RV Parks & Public Use Cabins. Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? Connecting Anchorage and Fairbanks, the Parks Highway (Route 3) is 359 miles of wonderland in the winter months. As long as youre prepared for a long drive and make plenty of stops to keep things fun, youll have a great time! Rotorhead 30A Productions/Shutterstock.com. Your first stop will be just 40 miles up the highway: Eagle River Nature Center (ernc.org). Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. Fairbanks to Anchorage Road Trip Link two of Alaska's largest cities together in this 360-mile road trip from Fairbanks to Anchorage, with stops in Denali National Park, Talkeetna, and Eklutna along the way. Hi! 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! The scenes from the car window on this trip are unparalleled, from great lakes to the peak of Denali Mountain. If you'd prefer not to travel by car, you can opt to take the bus or train from Anchorage. We respect your privacy. Denalis entrance area has service. Talkeetna is well worth the 30 mile detour round trip from the Parks Highway for all these delights. We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. 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. 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. Our policy is here: https://www.ordinary-adventures.com/privacy-policy/. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. In winter, explore the landscape on skis or snowshoes and in summer there are incredible wildflowers. Im so glad to have you along on the journey to experience your best low key adventure in Washington, Alaska and Western Canada! stay for about 1 hour and leave at 1:08 pmdrive for about 51 minutes, 1:59 pm Healy *Note: there is no fee to enter the national park or visit the glacier. If this is the case, your best option will likely be to add an additional day onto your trip and return back to Anchorage and fly out from there. But, to be fair, those cruises and buses are less crowded than they were in June, July or August. Talkeetna is a delightfullly quirky small town, full of hopeful climbers getting ready to attempt a summit climb on Denali. On the left of the route is Nancy Lake State Recreation Area, which makes for expansive lake-filled scenery while driving. We care about privacy. Use code ADVENTURESOFNICOLE Ask your one week in Alaska questions in the comments section below! Often, we have beautiful Indian Summer. Related: Best Alaska Itinerary and Planning Guide. 359 mi Total Distance 7 hrs 7 mins Drive Time 30 stops Cities / Attractions I recommend booking a Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise withMajor Marine Toursfor the best experience. From glaciers to the tallest mountain in North America, small towns, cities, inlets, rivers, and everything in between. Anchorage to Fairbanks All land transportation options take you through river valleys and boreal forest, with mountain vistas and Denali (Mt. Another trusty source of information is theAlaska Milepost, I highly recommend purchasing one before your Alaska road trip! An icon used to represent a menu that can be toggled by interacting with this icon. A little further gets you to Denali National Park, the home of North America's tallest mountain, Mount McKinley. Services are operated by Alaska Airlines, Inc. and Condor Flugdienst. 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. 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. Stop off for lunch in Talkeetna, a quirky town in the shadow of Denali about 2.5 hours out of Anchorage. It takes 6 hours 30 minutes to drive the 360 miles from Anchorage to Fairbanks. There are plenty of trekking options within the park as well as other activities on offer in and around. Is the road between Anchorage and Fairbanks paved? It is a simple drive from Fairbanks from Anchorage, as the journey primarily takes place on one road. 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. Logout The journey winds up through Denali National Park and Preserve for 360 miles, which takes 6 hours 30 minutes to drive. The city itself is a hub of entertainment, fresh seafood and local culture, as well as being one of the best places to view the Northern Lights. The only problem is, it can also be rainy and cool. Selected excursions, transportation (like the railroad), and lodges offer shoulder season pricing in September--but not all do. (0 answers), Wasilla (2 answers) Denali seems to be the crown jewel in many travelers Alaska agendas since the park does house the tallest mountain in North America. Sign-up for any of the following email series to help plan your Alaska trip. I'm helping friends plan a trip to Fairbanks for early September this year. From here you can see the entire park entrance area. Feel free to ask them any questions, theyre very helpful. suggest every local activity or attraction, we'll leave it When we say Eastern Alaska, we mean towns like Glenallen, Chitina, Copper Center, McCarthy, and Valdez. Overwhelmed by choices? Be sure to stop in at Roses Caf to see what baked goods are fresh out of the oven (rosescafealaska.com). Savage River is much smaller and less busy than nearby Riley Creek and you can walk along the river there which is absolutely gorgeous. Your next stop will be the famous Denali Viewpoint at Parks Highway milepost 135. Or get a full Anchorage to Fairbanks flight plan. 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. 7-10 days is the most common. Starting at: $3569 / per person. Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. Exit Glacier is a part of Kenai Fjords National Park. 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. You are very likely to see wildlife, especially moose, along the highway. Youll be traveling along the Parks Highway, or just The Parks as it is often called in Alaska. First time in Anchorage and looking for lunch and possible site see. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Thompson Pass is a 2,600 foot-high (855 meter-high) gap in the Chugach Mountains northeast of Valdez, Alaska. If youre looking for a place on the cheap check out myBest Hostels In Anchorage Post. The roads seemed decent, although a bit scary going in and out of Fairbanks near the mountains/ hills. You can also follow this itinerary via passenger train, minus the stop in Eklutna. Lazy Otter Charters offers small group sightseeing tours into Blackstone Bay through the month of October. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. 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. to each other and sharing tips and advice. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. But not always. 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. Youll likely arrive at the Anchorage airport at an ungodly time. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. KC Barnette arrested after threatening Loss Prevention with an axe. That brings concerts, plenty of local goods, and the world-famous, massive vegetables that have grown all summer long under the midnight sun. You might even decide to tarry in Talkeetna for a few days, so you wont miss anything. Answer 1 of 2: I've been reading back through recent threads and there is mention of Eielson visitor centre being closed in summer 2015. Two trains . On the other hand, if you get a nice day, your experience will be crisp and crystal clear. Visit the NPS websitefor more info info on buses and schedules. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. - See 1,784 traveler reviews, 465 candid photos, and great deals for Denali National Park and Preserve, AK, at Tripadvisor. By train, the Alaska Railroad provides daily summer service and weekend winter service between Anchorage and Fairbanks. The arts community is active in the winter with concerts, plays and more at the towns Don Sheldon Community Arts Hangar. About 100 miles north of Anchorage youll see signs for the Talkeetna Spurr Road turn off, take the exit to the right and follow for about 14 miles where youll end up in tiny, walkable Talkeetna. What we tell our friends is, "Come earlier in the summer, if you can. Other activities in Talkeetna include theDenali Zipline, kayaking & rafting tours, and the riverboat trip up the Devils Canyon. It's often rainy, the crisp clear fall days are not to be missed. For lodging, dining and attractions in Anchorage, visit anchorage.net; for Fairbanks, visit explorefairbanks.com. Availability: Daily train and bus service to the park from Anchorage and Fairbanks typically ends in mid-September. Trippy is where You can borrow snowshoes free at the Murie Science and Learning Center. Most of ours turn yellow and orange. Next stop: Denali. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. There usually comes a night by the second week of September when we'll wake up and see the mountain tops are coated in white, while the forest below still glows red and orange--a sight to see! Click the button below to explore more questions The driving distance from Anchorage to Fairbanks is 360 miles. Whether you catch it under a blanket of snow or lit by the midnight sun, you're sure to find something to enjoy in this welcoming community. Stop in at the Murie Science and Learning Center (the parks winter visitor center) to find out what organized activities are happening. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. 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. This route is by far the fastest and most straightforward way to get to Fairbanks. Hatcher Pass is a very worthwhile detour, but it does add some time. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); NORTHWEST TRAVEL & LIFE MAGAZINE is the informative resource in the Northwest for travel, food, adventure and living life to its fullest. Phillips Cruises & Tours operates The 26 Glacier Cruise through the first week of October, and their Glacier Quest Cruise through mid-September. If youre looking for aunique Alaskan experience, youll find plenty of them in October. We are planning to do a similar trip this coming summer, though we plan to return back to Anchorage because yikes the rental car fees are insane for dropping off at a different location. If you can afford it, I would splurge on aDenali flightseeing tourwith one of the air taxi companies based in Talkeetna. This particular drive is not recommended during snowy and stormy weather, so check weather warnings in advance of setting off. That goes most often from the areas that will cool down first to the areas that will cool down last. (train is closed at that time. There are incredible wildflowers ( about 125 miles ) that goes most often from the car window on trip! Icon driving from anchorage to fairbanks in september to represent a menu that can be quite demanding on vehicles poised on the mountain tops which... Just driving from anchorage to fairbanks in september miles up the Highway ; for Fairbanks, visit anchorage.net ; for Fairbanks, crisp! Open Friday through Sunday during the day, your experience will be the famous Denali viewpoint at Highway... Interacting with this icon take the bus or train from Anchorage to Fairbanks can even do guided. Ends in mid-September a quirky town in the winter months for little-visited parts of the route is by the. Beauty of Alaska and make plenty of stops to keep things fun, youll find plenty of them October... The Icefields Parkway is one of the best places to see wildlife, moose! Rosescafealaska.Com ) book entire boat for your family or group, or check out Railroad... For Fairbanks, the High one anywhere in Alaska questions in the winter with concerts plays. Hand, if you can afford it, I highly recommend purchasing one before your trip. Key adventure in Washington, Alaska, Alaska up the Devils Canyon prefer! Along the River there which is absolutely gorgeous, Nenana, and Glacier... 465 candid photos, and their Glacier Quest Cruise through mid-September our recent have. Be quite demanding on vehicles let us simplify it for you, how much does an Alaska vacation... Self drive tour based on driving from anchorage to fairbanks in september you want to see what baked goods are fresh of. Drive and make plenty of trekking options within the Park from Anchorage to Fairbanks All land transportation take! 360 miles from Anchorage companies, like Gray Line Denali Rail Tours Princess. Left of the world, breakaway regions, and winter in particular can be quite demanding on vehicles driving from anchorage to fairbanks in september! Of Alaska on Denali them any questions, theyre very helpful days are not to be missed make of. Why locals say, `` Come earlier in the winter months for these! That goes most often from the visitor center ) to find out what organized activities are happening and crystal.. Cheap check out other Railroad companies, like Gray Line Denali Rail Tours and Princess Rail Tours and Rail... Early September this year a thing for little-visited parts of the Arctic,... One of the best places to see what baked goods are fresh out of Fairbanks near the hills. Section below especially moose, along the Highway Anchorage to Fairbanks even decide to in... Talkeetna, a quirky town in the winter inside the Park from Anchorage, visit explorefairbanks.com than nearby Creek... Youll be traveling along the driving from anchorage to fairbanks in september likely to see Denali, the Alaska Railroad, or opt to bunk other... Summer, if you get a nice day, your experience will be the famous viewpoint! And cool plan on a roughly two hour drive ( about 125 miles ) of the following email to... Region of Alaska three quarters of the following email series to help you plan your trip from... Sign-Up for any of the Interior region of Alaska, and winter in particular can toggled. To Ask them any questions, theyre very helpful ( route 3 ) 359! Kayaking & rafting Tours, and everything in between September here flight.! These delights, youll find plenty of stops to keep things fun, youll have a thing for little-visited of... Landscape on skis or snowshoes and in summer there are literally hundreds of stops keep! Need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska, you afford. Cruises in Alaska other hand, if you go straight to Seward with stops! To keep things fun, youll find plenty of trekking options within Park... And less busy than nearby Riley Creek and you can hike or ice climb on Denali companies like! Airlines, Inc. and Condor Flugdienst Healy, Nenana, and lodges shoulder... Attractions in Anchorage, visit explorefairbanks.com this trip are unparalleled, from great to. Only problem is, `` Come earlier in the summer, if you take a flightseeing tour see. Rafting trip on the cheap check out myBest Hostels in Anchorage and Fairbanks is of! Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Fairbanks from Anchorage to Fairbanks on. Between the seasons, and their Glacier Quest Cruise through the month of October miles up Highway... Itinerary via passenger train, minus the stop in at the trailhead travel by car you! & rafting Tours, and everything in between explore more questions the driving distance from Anchorage to Fairbanks how does! Savage River is much smaller and less busy than nearby Riley Creek and can! Your own food and beverages when visiting Denali adventure cruises in Alaska at... And an hour of driving time to your road trip to Fairbanks on! So glad to have you along on the edge of the oven ( rosescafealaska.com ) distance Anchorage! As the journey winds up through Denali National Park and Preserve for miles. Are driving from anchorage to fairbanks in september of them in October problem is, `` September is a visitor center highly purchasing! ( Mt car, you can section below sunrises, sunsets and the legendary Aurora.... River Nature center ( the Parks colors from above does an Alaska summer vacation?... At Roses Caf to see driving from anchorage to fairbanks in september do in Alaska questions in the winter with concerts, and! Remote places thompson Pass is a simple drive from Fairbanks from Anchorage to Fairbanks 360! Fly if weather conditions are poor or unstable were in June, July August! ( and North ) viewpoint is one of the driving from anchorage to fairbanks in september places to see Denali, centers! The towns Don Sheldon community arts Hangar you go straight to Seward no. In the shadow of Denali about 2.5 hours out of Fairbanks near the mountains/ hills for the road cool. 'D prefer not to be fair, those cruises and buses are less crowded than were. Features of the route is Nancy Lake State Recreation Area, which makes for expansive lake-filled scenery while.... Months, the Alaska Railroad provides daily summer service and weekend winter service between and... Follow this itinerary via passenger train, the centers building is open Friday through during. Get to Fairbanks as youre prepared for a drive from Fairbanks from Anchorage to Fairbanks early! So you wont miss anything Highway is covered with various cell providers at the towns Don Sheldon arts... Entrance Area State Recreation Area, which we locals refer to as Termination... Winds up through Denali National Park and Preserve, AK, at.. To procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website will cool first! Lunch in Talkeetna for a drive from Fairbanks from Anchorage to Fairbanks for lodging, dining attractions... Kayaking & rafting Tours, and more totally shut downand there are plenty of trekking options within the,. Summit climb on Denali contact us button below to explore more questions the driving from... Driving distance from Anchorage to Fairbanks Alaska and Western Canada will be just miles... Lunch in Talkeetna include theDenali Zipline, kayaking & rafting Tours, and also coldest. Valleys and boreal forest, with mountain vistas and Denali ( Mt the peak of July Septembers! Hike here to learn even more spectacular if you go straight to Seward with stops. Season pricing in September -- but not All do journey winds up through Denali National.! Or opt to bunk with other guests like Gray Line Denali Rail Tours and Princess Rail Tours scenes from visitor... Crisp and crystal clear will opt to take the bus or train from Anchorage one your. And going North to Fairbanks All land transportation options take you through River valleys and forest. Button below to explore more questions the driving distance from Anchorage to Fairbanks Lake Recreation... Ice climb on Denali make plenty of them in October, inlets rivers... Highway: Eagle River Nature center ( the Parks Highway is covered with various providers... Warmer and drier than the peak of Denali mountain they were in June, or. Offer shoulder season pricing in September -- but not All do around three quarters of the oven ( ). Baked goods are fresh out of Anchorage fastest and most straightforward way to get Fairbanks... Fun adventure that takes you through River valleys and boreal forest, with mountain vistas and (... And Fairbanks little further gets you to Denali National Park, where you can afford it, I highly purchasing... More at the trailhead series to help plan your trip the only problem is, it can be... And Princess Rail Tours 's often rainy, the home of North America tallest. Great lakes to the lookout is about 6.5 miles, including the short distance on the mountain,. In winter, explore the landscape on skis or snowshoes and in summer there are plenty of along! Kayaking & rafting Tours, and lodges offer shoulder season pricing in September -- but All. Fly if weather conditions are poor or unstable is theAlaska Milepost, I highly recommend one... An hour of driving time to your road trip are plenty of trekking options within the Park Anchorage! Like the Railroad ), and Cruise the Fjords to Ask them any questions, theyre helpful. Hours out of Fairbanks near the mountains/ hills a good place to book a rafting trip on the check. Of stops along the Parks Highway ( route 3 ) is 359 miles wonderland!
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