It takes 6 hours 30 minutes to drive the 360 miles from Anchorage to Fairbanks. 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. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. So, if you want to experience this area, you just have to come in the early part of the month. I normally recommend starting in Fairbanks and heading south (don't forget the Richardson Highway is much more beautiful than the Parks highway past Denali, so a circle tour is to be considered). All land transportation options take you through river valleys and boreal forest, with mountain vistas and Denali (Mt. MidrangeTalkeetna Roadhouse|Booking.com|, SplurgeTalkeetna Alaskan Lodge|Booking.com|Hotels.com|. 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. to double check the weather. 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. There are several lodges near Trapper Creek and Talkeetna that make a good overnight stop. Girdwood is great to visit in the fall. Early September between Anchorage and Fairbanks on the Parks or Richardson/Glenn Highways will likely be fine. 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. (train is closed at that time. Our picks for the best tours and experiences during your Alaska Cruise. It sits centrally within Alaska, 379 miles east of Yukon, Canada. Its also a base of flightseeing and rafting operations so there is plenty of opportunity for every adventurer. It's often rainy, the crisp clear fall days are not to be missed. Seward Highway safety:This a very scenic drive, so you should probably tack on some more time allow for stops. Both are reservable and I highly recommend getting a reservation in advance. To do this, leave the Parks Highway between Palmer and Wasilla, and head up steeply into the mountains before getting to Hatcher Pass and then continuing on to the other side and coming out in Willow. Want a relaxing way to spend your last bit of time in Alaska? There are many campsites available as well as hotels for those less adventurous. Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. Through this blog Ill show you how you can visit these destinations, tricks for budget travel, road trip itineraries, and more. While the routes from Seattle to Anchorage are all-weather and well-maintained, Dalton High requires some planning. While only 144 miles (232km), you could drive it in just over 2 hours. It is the largest city of the Interior region of Alaska, and also the coldest. We care about privacy. Exit the road at the next pull off if you see something youd like to stop for. 7-10 days is the most common. 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! So, if you want to experience the entire park roadall the way to Kantishna and Wonder LakeSeptember is likely a no-go. This article is organized by stops starting in Anchorage and going north to Fairbanks. Driving from Anchorage to Fairbanks is relatively straightforward along one major road, with plenty to see and do along the way. 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. Halibut fishing here is usually great and youll usually find many charters on offer in the summer. It is a five hour drive to get to the state's major airport hub in Anchorage. From glaciers to the tallest mountain in North America, small towns, cities, inlets, rivers, and everything in between. Car, train, or group tour. Yes, however there are plenty of dead zones so dont count on having service and especially not full bars the whole time. Anchorage to Fairbanks All land transportation options take you through river valleys and boreal forest, with mountain vistas and Denali (Mt. Kayakers Cove: My Favorite Escape From Seward, Homer Travel Guide + 14 Things To Do In Homer, Visiting Virgin Creek Falls In Girdwood, Alaska, Seward Travel Guide + 18 Things To Do In Seward, The Reed Lakes Hike In Hatcher Pass, Alaska, Denali National Park Travel Guide + 14 Things To Do In Denali, Anchorage Travel Guide + 20 Things To Do In Anchorage, How To Visit Gates of the Arctic National Park, The Best Places To See The Northern Lights in Alaska, Girdwood Travel Guide + 5 Things To Do In Girdwood, Alaska, Visit Spencer Glacier On The Whistle Stop Train, What to Pack for Alaska, Written by a Local, Anchorage To Fairbanks Road Trip: One Week In Alaska, MacDonald Spit, My Favorite Coastal Alaska Destination, 10 Off The Beaten Path Destinations For 2021, Arrigetch Peaks Expedition: Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska, The Surreality of the Underbelly: The Mendenhall Cave, Inside a Glacier, Eating My Way Across The Alaska State Fair. restaurants around Healy: Taking a road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks is a fun adventure that takes you through many different climates and landscapes across Alaska. This particular drive is not recommended during snowy and stormy weather, so check weather warnings in advance of setting off. Even though cloud cover and rain can affect visibility, its not a dealbreaker for any activities, assuming you have the appropriate gear and clothing (see our packing list). Check timetables in advance to ensure your schedule lines up with the journey times. Ask your one week in Alaska questions in the comments section below! In the summer, this is a wonderful alternative to the Parks Highway, especially if youre making a round trip drive to change things up. Driving in Alaska: Alaska is different than the Lower 48 in many ways, which is why it requires more planning and preparation than other domestic vacations. Two trains . 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. 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. Your first stop will be just 40 miles up the highway: Eagle River Nature Center (ernc.org). Winter biking and cross-country skiing are also popular in the park, but youll need to bring your own gear. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. 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. Thanks for any help! 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. Often, we have beautiful Indian Summer. If you decide to take another mode of transport, the bus journey takes 10 hours 15 minutes to make the same journey. Those who want to go further can explore further up the ridges on Mt Healy. Anchorage Fairbanks Road Trip Table Of Contents. When we say Eastern Alaska, we mean towns like Glenallen, Chitina, Copper Center, McCarthy, and Valdez. 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. After the cruise, drive back towardAnchorageand make any stops youd like to check out that you may have missed on the way down. Or get a full Anchorage to Fairbanks flight plan. Youll be traveling along the Parks Highway, or just The Parks as it is often called in Alaska. Talkeetna is a funky, fun, little Alaska town that at one point in time had a cat for a mayor (RIP Stubbs). Get to driving,Denali National Parksits about another 2.5 hours and 145 miles north along the Parks Highway. You can drive to the parts of Alaska that are on the road system, including Anchorage, Fairbanks and Denali National Park. 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. Meet your guides and get your gear at the companys headquarters in Palmer. Whether as an independent traveler or a cruise passenger looking for a pre- or post- experience, the Alaska Railroad is a wonderful way to move through Alaska. 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 was the sky to the south and this was looking northwest. Looking for ideas? Although youll find the national parks winter visitor center open, the park has limited access and services in the winter. Fall is my favorite time of year to make this drive, most of the RV traffic is gone, there usually isnt ice yet and the fall colors are absolutely amazing! Home Tours Alaska Driving Tours Self-Drive All Alaska Classic Self Drive Tour. If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. Its also usually the most expensive option. It is also inside the Kesugi Ken Campground. Where are the gas stations and other services? 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. Hi Cherise, stay overnight and leave the next day around 10:00 am, 10:00 am leave from Talkeetna Nenana is also famous throughout Alaska for the Nenana Ice Classic, a long tradition of betting on the date the ice will break up on the Tanana River in the spring. Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. Feel free to ask them any questions, theyre very helpful. On a clear day you can see Denali and the Alaska Range. If you'd prefer not to travel by car, you can opt to take the bus or train from Anchorage. These glaciers calve pretty regularly and youll have chances to see wildlife. 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! Along the route, RV road trippers get to enjoy plenty of roadside attractions and jaw-dropping mountain scenery. 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. Prior to Alaskas 1964 earthquake, much of these wetlands was dry land; the earthquake dropped the land two feet and more, creating wetlands as water from Cook Inlet and freshwater drainage inundated the flats. Barbara from asked:What do I wear to aurora ice museum and hot springs (4 answers), Janet from Emerald Hills, Ca asked:Lodging to see Northern Lights in Fairbanks? drive for about 2 hours, 12:08 pm Cantwell (Alaska) Any bus tours that might be open this early in the season on a Saturday afternoon? See the Alaska Railroad, or check out other railroad companies, like Gray Line Denali Rail Tours and Princess Rail Tours. If you do this you will miss Wasilla (described above) and Nancy Lake Recreation Area (described below). 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. Check out the following posts in the One Week In Alaska series: Start shopping plans over atbattleface, my go-to travel insurance choice, or over atWorld Nomads. Along the route, RV road trippers get to enjoy plenty of roadside attractions and jaw-dropping mountain scenery. The roads seemed decent, although a bit scary going in and out of Fairbanks near the mountains/ hills. The highway is easy to follow, although it crosses rugged terrain. How is the drive in one day? September in the Anchorage area has another unique draw: The Alaska State Fair, located just 40 minutes north of the city in Palmer. What we tell our friends is, "Come earlier in the summer, if you can. After the flats, you will enter the Mat-Su Valley. 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. 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. Most of ours turn yellow and orange. Lodging to see Northern Lights in Fairbanks. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. That brings concerts, plenty of local goods, and the world-famous, massive vegetables that have grown all summer long under the midnight sun. (See our How to Budget article for more tips on cutting costs). 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. You still have that increased chance of rain and clouds, so your shipboard views of the coastline could be shrouded in fog. 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. I'm helping friends plan a trip to Fairbanks for early September this year. Answer 1 of 4: Hello! To find lodging and dining in Talkeetna, go to talkeetnachamber.org. Seward is in a great position to explore the numerous glaciers and abundant wildlife of Resurrection Bay. Seattle to Anchorage are all-weather and well-maintained, Dalton High requires some planning you want to the... Is often called in Alaska the Mat-Su Valley further up the ridges on Mt Healy is often called in?... Through this blog Ill show you how you can visit these destinations, tricks for budget travel, road itineraries! Just the Parks Highway, or check out that you may have missed on the down! Here is usually great and youll have chances to see wildlife you decide to take another mode of,... Snowy and stormy weather, so check weather warnings in advance going in and out of near! Or just the Parks or Richardson/Glenn Highways will likely be fine ask any! Tack on some more time allow for stops, like Gray Line Rail... 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And dining in Talkeetna, go to talkeetnachamber.org feel free to ask them any questions, theyre helpful!

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