by The drive between Anchorage and Fairbanks in Alaska in winter offers a wealth of unique experiences, from breathtaking snowy landscapes to winter sports and cultural stops. Here are some activities and destinations you can enjoy along the way, in order from south to north.
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) is located in Portage Valley, about 40 miles south of Anchorage, surrounded by the breathtaking Chugach Mountain Range and the Turnagain Arm Inlet. It is home to a variety of native Alaskan wildlife such as moose, bison, bears, and wolves. Explore the center on a 1.5-mile scenic loop that you can drive, bike, or walk, or better yet, borrow a kick-sled from the visitor center. In winter, the center is only open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday 10am-4pm. Entrance fee $25 per person.
Things to do in Anchorage
If you have time to stay and see Anchorage, here’s a quick list of possibilities: Rent a fat bike or nordic skis for the 11-mile Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Shop for souvenirs – Anchorage and Fairbanks are tax-free cities! Visit the Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Spend time in one or more local coffee shops and/or breweries.
Active Outdoor Winter Tours around Talkeetna
Cross-country ski, fat bike, snowshoe, snowmobile, dog mushing, ice fishing. What else am I forgetting on this list? It’s all possible in Talkeetna! Talkeetna is a charming town about 2 hours north of Anchorage with a quirky, laid-back vibe, and great views of Denali (weather permitting). If you’re traveling on a budget, simply rent outdoor gear from Talkeetna Gear Shop, such as fat bikes, cross-country (nordic) skis, or snowshoes. They also offer guided tours. Alaska Wild Guides offer snowmobile and dog-sledding tours. You can even learn to mush your own dog sled team! Snowhook Adventures will take you ice fishing. And Talkeetna Air will fly you to a glacier in Denali (sorry, no glacier landing Dec-Feb).
On your way to Talkeetna, stop for a quick tour at Alaska Wild Harvest to try authentic Birch Syrup. This makes for great souvenirs from Alaska! Gift shop open Friday-Sunday 11am-5pm in winter.
Explore Denali National Park on Snowshoes
About 3-4 hours north of Anchorage is the entrance to Denali National Park, a stunning winter landscape with opportunities for winter hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. The park road is closed to vehicles after mile 3 in deep winter, but you can still explore a few trails near the visitor center on foot. The Winter Visitor Center, the Murie Science and Learning Center, has snowshoes you can borrow. It also offers an indoor picnic area, restrooms, and a water bottle filling station, but no food. The closest services are in Healy, 11 miles north of the park entrance. You can visit the park’s Sled Dog Kennels in winter, although the dogs are sometimes out on the trail. Open hours are hosted by a ranger on Saturdays and Sundays 1-4 pm, except for major holidays.
Nenana Ice Classic
The Nenana Ice Classic is a contest that involves guessing the exact date and time the ice on the Tanana River will break up in the spring. Make a quick stop by the Nenana Ice Classic Office, an hour southwest of Fairbanks, to learn about the history of the event and submit your guess. For some reason it’s really difficult to find historical data of the event on the internet, so I’ve attached below a copy of the calendar they gave me in person. You can see that the ice usually breaks between April 20-May 20 and roughly between noon-7pm Alaska Standard Time. Of course there have been some outlier years, so gamble with your gut. You can submit as many guesses as you’d like at $3 per guess.
University of Alaska Museum of the North
If you’re in Fairbanks in winter, the University of Alaska Museum of the North is a great place to warm up when it’s dark during the day. It showcases a variety of exhibits related to Alaskan culture, natural history, and art. The exhibits on native cultures and the state’s wildlife, as well as the store of Alaska Bus 142, are especially interesting. $20 admission includes 30-min film about the aurora borealis. Open daily 9am-5pm. Café closed Sun-Mon.
Hot Springs and Ice Museum at Chena Hot Springs Resort
60 miles east of Fairbanks is the Chena Hot Springs Resort. Exactly as it sounds, the 1-hour drive to dip in natural hot springs surrounded by snow is absolutely worth it! While there, also visit the Ice Museum, which is kept at sub-zero temperatures year-round. The museum features incredible ice sculptures, ice furniture, and ice bars that are truly one-of-a-kind. Entrance fee $20 per person for the museum, includes an appletini in an ice glass at the ice bar. $20 for a day pass to the hot springs.
The Northern Lights aka Aurora Borealis
Winter is the best time to see the Aurora Borealis, and this is obviously the reason you’re going to Alaska in winter, right? Technically, there’s no “best place” to see the northern lights. Just drive out at night to a place away from city lights. You can use the Aurora Tracker app to guide you to an optimal location. The farther north you go, and the more remote the area, the better chances you have of catching the lights. On the strongest solar flare days, you can even watch the lights from your hotel window in downtown Fairbanks.
Alaskan Food and Drinks
- Seafood. Especially salmon (all types), halibut, and king crab. Have it however you like.
- Reindeer Sausage. A breakfast staple in Alaska, found in nearly all restaurants, reindeer sausage is typically a mix of reindeer and pork or beef mince served as a side to eggs, toast or even pancakes. You’ll also see reindeer sausage served by sidewalk vendors during festivals.
- Birch syrup and Fireweed Honey. The entire world produces only about 5,000 gallons of birch syrup annually, and Alaska produces a significant portion. You’ll find birch syrup products in gift shops and farmers markets. Fireweed honey is much more readily available and sold in most grocery stores.
- Muktuk and Akutaq. Since it’s illegal to sell or buy game meat in Alaska, if you want to try this, you need to make friends with local Alaskans. Muktuk is whale blubber. Akutaq, aka Eskimo ice cream, is a mixture of fat tallow from elk or moose (or other game), seal oil, cooked fish, and berries.
Enjoy your trip!
The winter scenery in Alaska is truly magical: Snow-covered mountains, frozen rivers, frosted trees, and the northern lights all make for stunning photos. Whether you enjoy outdoor adventures like snowshoeing, dog sledding, and snowmobiling, or prefer cultural experiences like visiting museums and heritage sites, there are plenty of ways to experience the beauty of Alaska’s winter along the drive between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Before you go, prepare for your winter road trip to Alaska by reading everything you need to know about driving in Alaska in winter.