Miles: 1082. Seward Ocean Excursions offers small-group custom charters year-round. While brochures wax poetic about how early fall can be the perfect time to visit Alaska, the days are shorter, and it can also be rainy and cooler. Pick up yourrental carand head to your hotel room for a few hours of sleep before heading off on the road. If time allows, stop in Wasilla and visit the Iditarod Sled Dog Race Headquarters (iditarod.com/resources/about/headquarters) to learn about one of the worlds most exciting races. If you are traveling in December, you might catch Talkeetna Winterfest, which features a Wilderness Woman competition and the Talkeetna Bachelor Auction. 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. Im so glad to have you along on the journey to experience your best low key adventure in Washington, Alaska and Western Canada! 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. Construction and RV traffic can cause significant delays in places during the summer and winter driving can make it slow in winter depending on the conditions. 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. Visit in May or September for major savings on rentals (and maybe seeing the northern lights!). Campgrounds, RV Parks & Public Use Cabins. These cookies do not store any personal information. On the other hand, if you get a nice day, your experience will be crisp and crystal clear. The bus is a cheaper option than the train, and there are a range of providers. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. Which one is right for you? Connecting Anchorage and Fairbanks, the Parks Highway (Route 3) is 359 miles of wonderland in the winter months. The Eagle River Nature Center is a beautiful area just outside of Anchorage with beautiful landscapes, wildlife and hiking trails. There are many campsites available as well as hotels for those less adventurous. Check the road conditions from Fairbanks to Anchorage and plan a trip based on the weather along the way. However, if you are driving on to Canada you may need a passport to re-enter the US. Thanks for any help! Its also usually the most expensive option. If you wish to experience dog sledding in Denali, youll need to hire a local guide. Other options:If Seward isnt appealing to you, you can opt to take the Sterling Highway to Kenai & Soldotna for fishing, or go all the way down toHomer(about 5 hours from Anchorage). What is certain is that the days are shorter. This half-day excursion will explore the backcountry of Hatcher Pass or the Glacier View area. There are long stretches without towns and services, but there are also plenty of places to stop along the highway. If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. Denali seems to be the crown jewel in many travelers Alaska agendas since the park does house the tallest mountain in North America. Traveling with a dog or cat? Fairbanks is 360 miles north of Anchorage, just north from the Denali National Park and Preserve. LazyTrips is a trading name of Uncle Bob Media Ltd. Can you Drive to Gates of the Arctic National Park? Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 1:08 pmdrive for about 51 minutes, 1:59 pm Healy At 12 hours (8:15 a.m. 8 p.m.), this is the longest train ride on the Alaska Railroad. restaurants around Healy: After the cruise, drive back towardAnchorageand make any stops youd like to check out that you may have missed on the way down. There is a visitor center and restroom at the trailhead. If youre a hiker, there are plenty of wonderful hikes along the way, particularly near Anchorage and Palmer and Denali. Another trusty source of information is theAlaska Milepost, I highly recommend purchasing one before your Alaska road trip! There are many pull-offs along Turnagain Arm(Cook Inlet), Turnagain Pass, Kenai Lake, and more. On the left of the route is Nancy Lake State Recreation Area, which makes for expansive lake-filled scenery while driving. 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. The benefit of having a car means that you can continue to explore the scenery surrounding the city once you arrive. most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. Totally worth it! 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! It also has amazing views of the entire area. But not always. We are the usable and sensible guide that inspires 300,000 readers bimonthly with useful, fresh and compelling ideas for discovering our region. Fairbanks is located just 188 miles south of the Arctic Circle. 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. Keep sleeping bags in your car just in case. Make sure to watch your speed and keep your eyes on the sides of the road in addition to whats right in front of you so you dont miss any wildlife sightings and also so you dont get into a collision with a moose or other animal. Any bus tours that might be open this early in the season on a Saturday afternoon? Lodging to see Northern Lights in Fairbanks. Fall colors in Alaska are beautiful but different from the Lower 48. 49th State Brewing Company. Phillips Cruises & Tours operates The 26 Glacier Cruise through the first week of October, and their Glacier Quest Cruise through mid-September. The demographics have changed a little by September, too (more families with small kids, since bigger kids have gone back to school). Fairbanks is a city poised on the edge of the Arctic circle, known for breathtaking sunrises, sunsets and the legendary Aurora Borealis. 5, 2023. First time in Anchorage and looking for lunch and possible site see. Eagle River, Wasilla, Talkeetna, Denali National Park/Healy and Nenana all have plenty of services. You are very likely to see wildlife, especially moose, along the highway. You cannot drive past the Savage River post in Denali National Park (unless you visit in September and secure aDenali Road Lottery Permit) which is only a few miles past the visitor center. Narrated bus tours range from $80.75 to $194.00 per person (kids 15yo and under range from $33.50 to $92.00 per kid). 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! Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. These flights can range from $220 to $460 per person. A little over an hour south of Anchorage, the small town of Whittier is situated on the shores of Prince William Sound. Youll likely arrive at the Anchorage airport at an ungodly time. 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. That brings concerts, plenty of local goods, and the world-famous, massive vegetables that have grown all summer long under the midnight sun. Id recommend a visit to the Seward Sealife Center and having a fresh Alaskan seafood dinner if your budget allows. Driving time in good conditions will take about seven hours, not including stops. Stop off for lunch in Talkeetna, a quirky town in the shadow of Denali about 2.5 hours out of Anchorage. We respect your privacy. Talkeetna is a funky, fun, little Alaska town that at one point in time had a cat for a mayor (RIP Stubbs). Its totally possible, just a long day. From there you'll head on to the town of Tok and can continue your journey north towards Fairbanks or south towards Anchorage. The only problem is, it can also be rainy and cool. Camping sites are available from $15.00 to $30.00 per item per night. Detour off the highway onto Highway 1 to Palmer, your home for the night. Overwhelmed by choices? ANCHORAGE TO TALKEETNA Learn how your comment data is processed. In winter, there is plenty of opportunity for cross country skiing. Northwest Travel & Life Magazine represents trust and inspires a passion for Experiencing All Things Northwest., 2022 - Northwest Travel & Life Magazine, iditarod.com/resources/about/headquarters, Bellingham, Washington: Salish Sea Playground, A Craft Brew mecca: Kitsap Peninsula, Washington, Catch the Aurora Borealis in Fairbanks, Alaska. (train is closed at that time. In addition to incredible landscapes, you can visit the historic independence mine. Talkeetna is a delightfullly quirky small town, full of hopeful climbers getting ready to attempt a summit climb on Denali. It's okay, you can start planning your 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 train and bus take longer and run less frequently, but offer the opportunity to sit back and enjoy the scenery. Trails near the park entrance and winter visitor center are color-coded by difficulty level, so you can easily determine the snowshoe route thats best for you. First, the logistics. The problem is that it needs to be dark enough to see them. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. 2.8k. The views get even more spectacular if you take a flightseeing tour and see the parks colors from above. Its great for independent travelers, and most of its routes continue through September. Don't forget about exploring your own hometown with a staycation. Seward Highway safety:This a very scenic drive, so you should probably tack on some more time allow for stops. 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! How Much Does It Cost To Travel In Alaska? Decided to drive rather than fly to Fairbanks. There's less crowds, but all of the great things about Girdwood still exist. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. Answer 11 of 11: Hello! next trip! Our policy is here: https://www.ordinary-adventures.com/privacy-policy/. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. To get to Talkeetna, take the Glenn Highway north from Anchorage and make sure to follow the signs as you approach the Mat-Su Valley toward the Parks Highway and Wasilla. This route is by far the fastest and most straightforward way to get to Fairbanks. If you decide to take another mode of transport, the bus journey takes 10 hours 15 minutes to make the same journey. May require a current valid driver's license, must meet UA safe driving requirements. Girdwood is great to visit in the fall. Best itinerary for Anchorage to Fairbanks in 7 days? Must undergo a criminal history background check. open-ended. For example, here are some questions people have asked about Fairbanks. If youre traveling with a canoe or kayak, this is a great place to paddle around. 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. We locals call these early snows Termination Dust, as in signaling the end of summer and that old man winter is just around the corner. Alyeska Resort is a great basecamp for your fall getaway. While the routes from Seattle to Anchorage are all-weather and well-maintained, Dalton High requires some planning. Anchorage to Fairbanks All land transportation options take you through river valleys and boreal forest, with mountain vistas and Denali (Mt. 11:00 am start in Anchoragedrive for about 55 minutes, 11:55 am Wasilla Our airport is the busiest between 10 pm-2 am. Thompson Pass is a 2,600 foot-high (855 meter-high) gap in the Chugach Mountains northeast of Valdez, Alaska. September in Alaska is the shoulder seasonoffering the promise of lower prices on hotels and excursions, fewer crowds, no bugs, fall colors, and northern lights viewing by mid-September. From glaciers to the tallest mountain in North America, small towns, cities, inlets, rivers, and everything in between. The centers focus is natural-history education and recreation, specifically in the vast Chugach State Park. Pilots will not fly if weather conditions are poor or unstable. Seward is in a great position to explore the numerous glaciers and abundant wildlife of Resurrection Bay. From glaciers to the tallest mountain in North America, small towns, cities, inlets, rivers, and everything in between. So, if you want to experience the entire park roadall the way to Kantishna and Wonder LakeSeptember is likely a no-go. Labor Day is not the end of the tourist crowds in Alaska. Here's an insider's rundown: Alaskas biggest cityrich with museums, shops and restaurantssees the least amount of change as August turns into September. Wildlife viewing is not an emergency. The journey winds up through Denali National Park and Preserve for 360 miles, which takes 6 hours 30 minutes to drive. (See our How to Budget article for more tips on cutting costs). Be sure to have your vehicle prepared for adverse weather conditions. McKinley) views. Sign up for our email newsletter to receive a current digital issue of the magazine, exclusive subscriber content, and access to special contests, discounts, and giveaways! Halibut fishing here is usually great and youll usually find many charters on offer in the summer. The Anchorage Museum showcases artful Alaskans and Arctic subjects, with exhibits rotating throughout the year. September in the Anchorage area has another unique draw: The Alaska State Fair, located just 40 minutes north of the city in Palmer. Unsubscribe at anytime. 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. 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. Rotorhead 30A Productions/Shutterstock.com. Services are operated by Alaska Airlines, Inc. and Condor Flugdienst. It takes 6 hours 30 minutes to drive the 360 miles from Anchorage to Fairbanks. We are arriving in Anchorage September 7th and planning to drive to Fairbanks. Thompson Pass, as seen in May 2009. 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. 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