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Before you go
Your trip to Fairbanks.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Fairbanks – Alaska about 1420 km from Juneau
How to get there
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Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) 8 km
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Fairbanks Depot (Alaska Railroad) 6 km
Approximate distances. Check flights and bus, train or boat schedules before you travel.
Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) is about 8 km from downtown. The Alaska Railroad arrives from Anchorage and Denali at the city station. By car, the Parks Highway links Fairbanks to Anchorage.
How many days
Two days for the town and its museums. For the aurora, plan three or four nights. With an extra day, include Chena Hot Springs.
When to go
From late August to mid-April for the aurora; from June to August for the long days. Winters are usually very cold and summers mild.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Very helpful, especially to get away from city lights at night. There are city buses and organized aurora-watching tours. In winter, driving requires experience on ice and snow.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Fairbanks
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Morning
Museum of the North
Visit the Museum of the North on the University of Alaska campus, with views of the Alaska Range.
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Afternoon
Downtown and Pioneer Park
Stop by the Morris Thompson cultural center and Pioneer Park.
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Evening
Aurora
Head to a dark spot outside town, on your own or with a tour, to try to see the aurora.
2 days in Fairbanks
Day 2
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Morning
Pipeline
Go to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline viewpoint north of town.
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Afternoon
Chena Hot Springs
Go to Chena Hot Springs and stay until night.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Fairbanks besides the aurora?
Visit the Museum of the North, Pioneer Park, the Morris Thompson cultural center, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline viewpoint and Chena Hot Springs.
Is there midnight sun in Fairbanks?
Near the June solstice the sun sets for only a short time and the sky does not get fully dark, but Fairbanks is south of the Arctic Circle, where the sun does not set at all.
Does Alaska charge sales tax?
Alaska does not charge a statewide sales tax, but some cities and boroughs impose local sales taxes; check the amount at the register.
What time zone is Fairbanks in?
Fairbanks follows Alaska time: UTC-9 in winter and UTC-8 in daylight saving time, which runs from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.