Fairbanks, AK Road Trips

Fairbanks' climate is subarctic bordering on continental, with frigid winters from October to April, short spring and fall seasons, and warm summers from May to September. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 73 °F (23 °C) and average lows of 54 °F (12 °C). On some particularly hot days, summer temperatures can climb upwards to around 82 °F (28 °C) with lows around 60 °F (16 °C) on such hot days. January is the coldest month, with average highs barely above 0 °F (−18 °C) and average lows of −18 °F (−28 °C). Being in a valley and far from any large body of water, Fairbanks sees little seasonal lag in both winter and summer. As Fairbanks is located near the Arctic Circle, one can expect huge variation of daylight, in June the sun is up from 3AM to 12:45AM, but it never gets dark during the wee hours, in the winter the sun is only up from 10:45AM to 2:45PM.

1 Creamer's Field, 1300 College Rd, ☏ +1 907 459-7307. Located in the northern part of town off of College Road, Creamer's Field Wildlife Refuge is a former dairy farm that is now a migratory stopover point for countless numbers of Canada geese, sandhill cranes, ducks, and other bird species. Numerous trails lead through the refuge and there is a visitor center located within the old farmhouse. (updated Jun 2021) University Of Alaska (UAF). (updated Aug 2021) 2 University of Alaska Museum of the North, 1962 Yukon Dr (University of Alaska campus), ☏ +1 907 474-7505, [email protected]. Summer: daily 9AM-7PM; winter: W-Su 10AM-6PM. An excellent collection of exhibits about the nature, history and cultures of Alaska; the displays on the Northern Lights are particularly tripy. $16/adult, $14/senior, $14/veteran, $12/local, $9/youth, children 4 and under are free. Special exhibit gallery only, $4. (updated Jun 2021) 3 Georgeson Botanical Garden (UAF Georgeson Botanical Garden), 2180 W Tanana Dr. Summer 8AM-8PM. Self-guided or group tours. free, suggested donation $8. (updated Oct 2024) Ice Alaska, 1800 College Rd (Tanana Valley State Fairgrounds), toll-free: +1 833 4ICEART (423278), [email protected]. Feb-Mar: noon-10PM, dates vary each year. Where the World Ice Art championships take place every year usually around February or March. Ice sculptors from all over the world come here and sculpt stunning ice sculptures. These sculptures are worth visiting both during day and night (due to the glow from ice).

If you are visiting Fairbanks mid-May through the end of September, there are several tours that allow tourists to learn the history and culture of Fairbanks. The tours described below are the most popular and advised tours to take while visiting Fairbanks. All major lodges in the area can set you up on a number of local tours. 1 Riverboat Discovery, 1975 Discovery Dr, ☏ +1 907 479-6673, toll-free: +1 866-479-6673, [email protected]. Daily 2PM. This tour lasts three and a half hours. While enjoying a beautiful day on the Chena River, you will have the opportunity to see and learn a lot about Alaskan Native culture and Fairbanks. This tour demonstrates a bush pilot airplane taking off from the Chena River. The tour stops for an hour at the Chena Indian Village where passengers are taken through a tour by Alaskan Native guides. The riverboat also stops at an Athabascan fishing village where passengers see how fish are cut and prepared. One of the most exciting aspects of this tour is that you are able to witness "Nuchalawoya," an Athabascan Indian term meaning "the wedding of two rivers"-in this case the Chena and Tanana Rivers. $70/adult, $43/child. (updated Jun 2021) 2 Gold Dredge 8 (formerly El Dorado Gold Mine), 1803 Old Steese Hwy N, [email protected]. Daily at 10AM. Another tour run by the same family who operates the Riverboat Discovery. It runs twice a day at 9:45AM and 3PM. However, on Saturdays it only runs at 3PM. This tour begins about 20 minutes outside of Fairbanks and takes you on a two-hour tour of Alaska's gold mining history.

1 Alaska Salmon Bake, 2300 Airport Way (at Pioneer Park), ☏ +1 907 452 7274, [email protected]. Summer only, 5-9PM. Alaska Salmon Bake is the mother of all cheesy tourist stops and is heavily trafficked by tour buses filled with foreigners and senior citizens, but for the hungry budget traveler the salmon bake probably provides the best value in Fairbanks. This all-you-can-eat dinner of grilled salmon, cod, prime rib, lemonade, and blueberry dessert can be had for $60. $20-75. (updated Jun 2021) 2 Alaska Coffee Roasting Co, 4001 Geist Rd, ☏ +1 907 457-5282. 9AM-8PM. This small coffee shop, which also offers a small variety of food items, is frequented by locals, college kids, and tourists alike. They roast their own coffee and offer specialties such as wood oven baked pizza. (updated Jul 2021) Bun on the Run, 3434 College Rd, ☏ +1 907-590-7114. Bakery and sandwich shop with outdoor seating. Everything is home-style. Summer only. 3 Cookie Jar, 1006 Cadillac Ct. M-Sa 7AM-7PM, Su 8AM-3PM. It opened in 1991 as a microbakery, and is now a full restaurant. (updated Jun 2021) 4 Ivory Jacks, 2581 Goldstream Rd, ☏ +1 907-455-6665. Ivory Jacks offers casual meals to fine dining. It is just north of town in Goldstream Valley. There is an open mic every Saturday at 10PM where performers get to take a free CD home of their performance. 5 Lane's Quickie Tacos, 3412 College Rd #1, Fairbanks (upstairs from the Marlin), ☏ +1 907 378-2812. Run by two friendly guys, they serve a simple menu of four different types of tacos and a special fifth one that frequently changes.

One traditional Fairbanks cruise is known as The Bar Float. The Chena River runs right through the center of town, with several of the bars that may be accessed right from the river. You can start at the put in near Pioneer Park, where Peger Road crosses the Chena River. There, they also rent canoes and kayaks. From here, you can float downriver past the bars known as The Boatel, Chena's, Pikes Landing, and finally taking out at The Pumphouse. The Chena is an easy-going river, but there's plenty of motorboat, canoe, jetski, and even airplane traffic during the summer so, as always, have a designated driver to keep it safe. 1 Lavelle's Taphouse, 414 2nd Ave (Look for the large Elbow Room sign on 2nd. Lavelle's is next door.), ☏ +1 907-888-2220. 3-11PM most days. For the beer geek, Lavelle's is a please place to be, with 36 rotating taps, including wine and cider. This bar doesn't serve food, but frequently has food trucks outside in the summer, and outside food is welcome. It caters to a diverse crowd. (updated Sep 2018) 2 Fairbanks Distilling Company, 410 Cushman St, ☏ +1 907 452-5055. F 4PM-8PM, Sa Noon-8PM. The building is a historic property. Free tours available by appointment. The bar's hours have been reduced due to covid. They don't distribute outside of Alaska, so it's worth stopping by for a cocktail. (updated Jun 2021) HooDoo Brewing Co, 1951 Fox Ave (west of downtown, north of pioneer park), ☏ +1 907 459-BEER (2337). Tu-F 3-8PM, Sa-Su 11AM-8PM. Brewery, taproom and biergarten with a food truck most days. Free brewery tours on Sa at 4PM.

1 Pike's Waterfront Lodge, 1850 Hoselton Rd, ☏ +1 907 456-4500, fax: +1 907 456-4515. Rates vary wildly depending on specials, day of week and time of year. Great art collection, free wireless, free airport pickup, fridges and microwaves in all rooms. 208 rooms. Has cabins. 2 Best Western Plus Pioneer Park Inn, 1908 Chena Landings Loop, ☏ +1 907 479-8080, fax: +1 907 479-8063. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Another national chain, this hotel offers an indoor pool and free breakfast. Rates around $160 per night in the summer, $80 per night in winter. 3 7 Gables Inn & Suites, 4312 Birch Ln, ☏ +1 907 479-0751. 4 Clarion Hotel & Suites Fairbanks near Ft. Wainwright, 95 Tenth Ave, ☏ +1 907-891-7231. 5 Alaska Heritage House Bed & Breakfast, 410 Cowles St, ☏ +1 907 388-9595, [email protected]. NRHP building. Low season: from $75/room, High season: from $220/room. (updated Jun 2021) 6 Billies Hostel, 2895 Mack Blvd, ☏ +1 907 479-2034. Clean, spacious and very friendly. Close to the rail/airport and university and a bus route to downtown. Free wifi, linens, and towels. There's coffee available in the morning for free. from $33 shared, from $85 private. (updated Jul 2021) Sven's Basecamp Hostel, 3505 Davis Rd, ☏ +1 907 456-7836, [email protected]. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 10:30AM. Hostel and campground with shared bathrooms, private cabins, treehouses, and shared wall tents. They also have volleyball, foosball and organize tours. $35 shared, from $75 private. (updated Jun 2021) Fairbanks Downtown Hostel, 524 3rd Ave.

1 Fairbanks International Airport (FAI IATA), 6450 Airport Way. Flights from remote destinations in Alaska's interior and international destinations. The main carriers are Everts Air, Warbelow's Air Ventures, Wright Air Service. There are international charter flights from Canada (Air North) and seasonal flights from Germany (Condor). There are domestic flights from Chicago (ORD IATA), Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA IATA). Airlines that operate flights from the lower 48 include Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines. Direct flights throughout the intrastate include Anchorage, Utqiaġvik (Barrow). It is served by 40-Mile Air, Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air, Everts Air, Penair, Ravn Alaska, Warbelow's Air Ventures, Wright Air Service. There are several highways that reach Fairbanks. Highway 2 Fairbanks can be reached driving west from Whitehorse, Yukon. In the Yukon, the highway is named Highway 1, until it enters Alaska. The 1488-mile (2395 km) portion of the highway between Delta Junction (66 miles (106 km) east of Fairbanks) and Dawson Creek, British Columbia is known as the Alaska Highway Fairbanks can also be reached driving east from Manley Hot Springs. Highway 3 (George Parks Highway) - Fairbanks can be reached driving north from Wasilla. The quickest route from Anchorage is to take Highway 1 and transfer to Highway 3. Highway 6 - Fairbanks can be reached driving southwest from Circle.

By far, the easiest way to get around Fairbanks is by car. Major car rental companies are based at the airport. Multiple taxi companies provide transportation throughout the city. MACS. M-Sa. Although infrequent there are public buses that provide transportation around the downtown area including to North Pole (Alaska). Some buses only operate on weekdays. $1.50 or $3/daypass, as of June 2021 freedom to COVID-19. (updated Jun 2021)

Fairbanks had a somewhat bad reputation for crime back in the 1980s and 1990s. Crime rates have improved significantly since then and downtown Fairbanks is well policed. However, it is wise to avoid the area around South Cushman street after dark. It is the poorest and most dangerous area of Fairbanks, has high rates of drug activity, prostitution, sexual assaults and muggings, and suffers from urban blight, but attacks on tourists are very rare and there's little reason for tourists to be in this area at night. Other constant problems in Fairbanks are break-ins in parked vehicles, house robberies, and petty theft. Don't leave valuables visible in your car, lock your car and house doors, and you should be fine.