Fairbanks

Interior Alaska's aurora capital: soak in Chena Hot Springs under the northern lights, see the ice art championships, pan for gold at Gold Dredge 8, visit the Santa Claus House in North Pole, or join a tour across the Arctic Circle.

Fairbanks is the largest city in Interior Alaska. It sits in the Tanana Valley at about 65°N, only about 200 km from the Arctic Circle and directly beneath the auroral oval, and it's widely regarded as one of the world's best places to see the northern lights. The climate is classic continental subarctic. Winters (Nov–Mar) are long and bitterly cold, often dropping to −30°C, but clear nights are common and auroras are frequent. In Feb–Mar the city also hosts the World Ice Art Championships. Summers (Jun–Aug) can top 25°C, with near-round-the-clock daylight around June, making it a good time for riverboat cruises, gold panning and hiking. The area breaks down into three parts: downtown and the university area (the Museum of the North, Pioneer Park, Golden Heart Plaza and the Large Animal Research Station), the northern outskirts (the Trans-Alaska Pipeline viewpoint, Gold Dredge 8 and the Murphy Dome aurora-viewing spot), and the route east (the Santa Claus House in North Pole and Chena Hot Springs). With more time, you can join a tour up the Dalton Highway to cross the Arctic Circle, or head about 2 hours south to Denali National Park (covered as a separate destination). Fairbanks International Airport has flights to Anchorage and Seattle, and in summer the Alaska Railroad runs to Denali and Anchorage. Public transit in town is limited, so rent a car or book an aurora tour with pickup. If you drive in winter, use snow tires and bring plenty of warm gear. Stay 3–5 days to improve your chances of seeing the aurora.

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