Fairbanks



Fairbanks is a town in interior Alaska. With 31,000 inhabitants (2019), and 98,000 in Fairbanks North Star Borough, it is Alaska's second-largest city. A junction of several major highways, will be a likely stop of most visitors to the state.

Fairbanks may be like a smaller version of a large American city. There's a Walmart, a Home Depot and a McDonald's. Don't let this fool you: the greater Fairbanks area is true to its roots. There are plenty of Alaskan originals here.

Climate
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 and average lows of ; January is the coldest month, with average highs barely above  and average lows of. 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.

By plane

 * , 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, Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport . 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.

By car
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 miles (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
 * Fairbank 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.

If you are driving up from Anchorage, the Highway 3 (George Parks Highway) is a beautiful trip. Plan plenty of time in your schedule for sight-seeing, meals and photographs. During the summer, when the roads are clear, the trip can easily be made in 7 or 8 hours, with stops for snacks and bathroom breaks - depending on road construction and motorhome-convoy-slowdowns. You will pass through Denali National Park on your way which is a popular attraction. However, if you plan to stay the night have reservations well in advance. By "lower-48" standards, accommodation near the park is either "4-star" or "rustic". Both can be pricey, but worth every penny, especially if you spend a day in the park.

Though many think Denali Park is the highlight of the trip there are long stretches of breath-taking beauty. It is not uncommon to see moose, caribou, dall sheep, bear, and other wildlife along the road - have your camera ready. There are plenty of gas stations scattered along the route, but as expected, the prices are much higher than in Anchorage or Fairbanks. Fill up before you leave.

There are several good places to eat along the way as well. Most places will have specialties like reindeer or buffalo on the menu as well as more traditional fare.

All in all, you should make the drive at least once. It's worth it.

By train
During the summer the Alaska Railroad provides daily service between Anchorage and Fairbanks, stopping in Denali National Park and other spots along the way. Trains depart Anchorage at 8:15AM, arriving in Fairbanks at 8PM. Winter services are limited to one service on Saturdays. Fares vary throughout the season, with rates between $167 and $210 for a one-way ticket.



By car
By far, the easiest way to get around Fairbanks is by car. Major car rental companies are based at the airport.

By taxi
Multiple taxi companies provide transportation throughout the city.

Tours
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.

Buy
Like most of Alaska, there is no sales tax in Fairbanks.

For those who have been camping extensively, one of the first things to look for in Fairbanks is a shower. Practically every laundromat in town also offers showers for between $3 and $7. Most will provide a towel and liquid soap, but be prepared for a quick cleaning as nearly all will utilize timers that turn the water off after only a few minutes.



Drink
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.

Stay safe
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.

Go next

 * Denali National Park. 120 miles (193 km) south of Fairbanks on the George Parks Highway, Denali is vast wilderness preserve that is the home of North America's tallest mountain, the 20,320-foot (6394-m) Denali.
 * Dalton Highway
 * Manley Hot Springs is located on Route 2 west of Fairbanks.
 * North Pole is famous for being the town that celebrates Christmas 365 days a year. Meet Santa Claus, mail postcard and letters from the North Pole post office, but select the special slot or box for special Santa cancellation.