This text might comprise affiliate hyperlinks the place I make a small fee for purchases you make from hyperlinks that you just click on from this text. By buying by these hyperlinks, you assist me at no extra value to you. Thanks to your assist.
Winter in Alaska is magical. Assume Aurora Borealis, strolling with reindeer, ice sculpting competitions, and canine sledding. After which there’s the winter driving in Alaska.
I used to be in Fairbanks, Alaska, final February for a convention and rented a car. Little did I do know that the foundations of the street for winter driving in Alaska may very well be so completely different from driving in my hometown of Denver. Nonetheless, I liked having wheels and freedom to discover—at occasions, with white knuckles.
Although I stay in Colorado, I’m not a fan of driving in snow. So, I listened intently as a employees member with Discover Fairbanks shared recommendations on motoring round earlier than I picked up my rented 2020 Nissan Rogue.
Suggestions and recommendation for winter driving in Alaska
“Rule primary: Don’t brake,” suggested Amy Geiger, director of Communications with Discover Fairbanks.
“What?” I believed to myself. “Don’t brake?”
I realized quickly sufficient that not braking is sweet recommendation. It’s finest to not use your brakes to decelerate, or you might slide. Take your foot off the fuel, and also you’ll regularly decelerate.
Rule quantity two: “Don’t beneath any circumstances go previous a city named Livengood, about 60 miles north of Fairbanks,” Geiger continued. “You’ll find yourself on the Ice Highway.”
Assume Ice Highway Truckers, the fact present the place truckers drive their rigs on routes that embrace frozen lakes and rivers. The present offers me nightmares, and that’s the final place I needed to search out myself. It’s distant, dangerous, and finest left to the professionals.
I circled the city of Livengood on the map and marked it with an enormous X.
Rule quantity three: “Don’t merge too rapidly. Individuals listed below are used to numerous house, and so they don’t prefer to be crowded.”
Geiger went over just a few extra of the commonsense fundamentals, corresponding to having further meals, water, and blankets, and added that cellphone service may very well be sketchy in sure areas exterior of city.
“That’s about it,” Geiger stated with a smile. “Watch out, and have enjoyable.”
Winter Driving in Alaska
From our convention room, the place we had been staying at Pikes Waterfront Lodge, we made our solution to Alaska Auto Rental, the place employees handed out maps to the a number of of us renting automobiles. He additionally had just a few extra ideas: “Comply with the tracks in entrance of you and drive together with your headlights on, day or evening.” Then, a employees member turned over the keys to a shiny new Nissan Rogue.
I liked the car however quickly found that my Sorels, good for strolling on snow and ice, had been clumsy when driving. I couldn’t “really feel” the pedals. Later, I realized a tip from an area to produce other sneakers or boots useful which might be much less awkward when driving.
I struggled as soon as I noticed that on wintery, cloudy days, snow-covered streets blended in with the colorless sky; there was no depth of area. I couldn’t appear to differentiate the place the medians had been. Therefore, I drove a lot slower than all the opposite site visitors.
To the credit score of each driver on the street—at the least the day I used to be behind the wheel—not one particular person honked and even gave me the stink eye as they handed.
Try my Alaska winter packing record for excessive temperatures.
What’s it prefer to drive in Alaska in winter?
Fairbanks is a simple city to navigate, even with its many one-way streets. Nonetheless, I made the choice to not go away town limits. With solely 24 hours to discover, I didn’t need the stress of heading down the freeway, not realizing the place or when the following exit was. I’ve a horrible sense of course, and even with my telephone’s GPS, I didn’t wish to find yourself anyplace close to the Ice Highway.
It’s a must to plug in your automobile
After a few hours alone, I recruited one other convention attendee to hitch me in exploring the city. Within the foyer of our lodge, earlier than we walked to the parking zone, I requested her to remind me after we returned to plug within the automobile. She quizzed with a smile, “We now have a Tesla?”
As a Californian, she had even much less expertise than I did driving in snowy situations. However collectively, we had the most effective time maneuvering city, together with her navigating and me gripping the wheel on the 10:00 and a couple of:00 positions, as I realized in highschool drivers’ ed.
However neither of us had ever plugged in a automobile. Plugging in your car in Alaska is a part of life. It’s to stop the engine from freezing. Seeing energy cables protruding the hood of automobiles can be an on a regular basis sight. You plug the twine right into a block heater, which is in public locations, accommodations, and a few companies.
Roads aren’t salted in Alaska
One other tidbit I realized is that town doesn’t use salt (in the event that they do, it’s sparingly) on streets. The salt could make its manner into native creeks and streams and hurt wildlife. Sand appears to be the higher possibility.
Whereas I couldn’t affirm this, I’m undecided they plow a lot, both. As my buddy and I drove on the lookout for sights to {photograph}, I stated, “Let’s go down this little road. Do you assume they plow the aspect streets?”
“What do you imply?” she replied. “They don’t plow the major streets?”
She was proper, and we each giggled as we continued our seek for a breakfast place and a parking place. We discovered each. (The Crepery serves wonderful salmon crepes and espresso. Parking in a close-by lot was straightforward.)
Earlier than I arrived in Fairbanks, I assumed getting an Uber was the best choice. Not so. With staffing shortages and hovering fuel costs, Uber and Lyft drivers could be few and much between.
Learn my article about 29 Issues to Do in Fairbanks Alaska Summer time and Winter
Depend on native rides as a substitute of Uber
The excellent news is that each particular person in Fairbanks we met was pleasant and useful. One small enterprise proprietor even provided to shut the store and provides my buddy and me a journey when he heard me on the telephone making an attempt to rearrange a taxi. That’s small-town kindness at its finest.
On the finish of the day, when it got here time to plug in (the corporate suggests plugging in if temperatures fall under zero), I requested somebody at Pikes Waterfront Lodge to assist, and so they gladly did.
Plugging within the automobile was straightforward sufficient. However I did make an observation to myself that evening: Bear in mind to unplug the automobile earlier than driving away the following morning.
Driving Distances Past Fairbanks
Temperatures can fall effectively under zero, and guests should take every thing about winter driving in Alaska critically. The Alaska Division of Transportation recommends to verify the street situations earlier than you go.
Although I made a decision to not enterprise exterior town limits, a few of my colleagues did and had a wonderful expertise. Listed below are some choices to think about if you wish to discover past Fairbanks:
Chena Sizzling Springs
Chena Sizzling Springs is about 60 miles from Fairbanks on a paved, maintained street; nonetheless, the freeway could be icy, and cell service is unpredictable. The excellent news is there’s an excellent probability to see moose, and the drive by the forest is beautiful. (I made the journey in a van with a dozen of my colleagues and an area driver.) You may as well e-book a shuttle with Chena Sizzling Springs Resort.
Dalton Freeway
The Dalton Freeway takes a number of days in case you drive all the way in which to the North Slope, and also you’ll be driving on the gravel a part of the way in which. Examine with the automobile rental firm first to verify they will let you take the car on this journey. It may be sensible to think about this one for summer season journey, however everytime you go, you’ll have wonderful views and visits to cities filled with character and historical past, together with Coldfoot, Deadhorse, and Prudhoe Bay.
Richardson Freeway
As Alaska’s oldest freeway, the Richardson Freeway connects Fairbanks to Valdez and takes you thru Keystone Canyon to Worthington Glacier. You’ll be capable of view the Alaska pipeline subsequent to the freeway as you drive from Valdez to Delta Junction. This journey takes planning and preparation, which implies greater than packing an additional vitality bar. Locals pack gear for sudden (or intentional) tenting and cooking in a single day: spare tires, heat clothes, water, and a primary help equipment. And since fuel stations are generally far aside, make sure you all the time have sufficient fuel and don’t minimize it shut.
You’ll come throughout the Lodge at Black Rapids as you journey on the Richardson Freeway. This can be a tremendous place to cease and benefit from the landscapes round you. You’ll be able to study extra in regards to the Lodge at Black Rapids on this article.
Parks Freeway
The George Parks Freeway, also called the Parks Freeway, connects Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska. This drive is filled with beautiful surroundings and views of Denali and wildlife; it’s an epic Alaska street journey. The Parks Freeway is well-traveled and maintained, even within the winter. If you wish to go to Denali Nationwide Park within the winter, you’ll take this route. Denali Nationwide Park is open within the winter – but only a few individuals go to. Really – it’s partially open. The principle street within the park is open so far as the Park Customer Heart. There, you’ll discover rangers to speak to, and you may even borrow…sure, borrow snowshoes and poles to go discover Denali Nationwide Park lined in snow! It’s a magical time to go to Denali, and also you’ll really feel like you’ve got it solely for your self!
Easy methods to Hire a Automobile in Fairbanks for the Winter
The simplest manner is to easily lease a automobile on the airport. When you don’t wish to drive after a flight that arrives at midnight or later (which many do), some rental corporations will ship a car to your lodge.
All the automobile leases in Alaska may have winter tires, in order that’s a bonus. However if you’re actually hesitant or fearful about driving on salt-free, icy roads, then reserve a automobile with studded tires. These will present the most effective traction; nonetheless, it should additionally value extra to lease.
Be sure you know the best way to use the automobile plugin characteristic, as that is one thing you’ll probably want to make use of. Additionally, earlier than you’re taking off from the airport, ensure that your rental has a heavy-duty ice/snow scraper. A tiny one received’t do!
Recap of Alaska Winter Driving Suggestions
- Don’t brake; as a substitute, take your foot off the fuel.
- Don’t put on clunky boots; have an additional pair of driving sneakers inside your automobile.
- Give individuals loads of house
- Hire a automobile with studs for further security
- Plug in your automobile if it’s under zero
- Plan forward and be sure to have a full take of fuel
- Drive together with your headlights on day or evening
- Take a paper map with you as a result of cell connections are unreliable
- It’s all the time a good suggestion to let somebody know the place you’re going and once you count on to be again
- Pack further meals, water, matches, and a blanket
- Guarantee you’ve got an ice scraper in your rental automobile.
The place to Keep If You Go to Fairbanks, Alaska, in Winter
Pikes Waterfront Lodge is the place to remain in Fairbanks. The lodge is a five-minute drive from the airport and gives a 24-hour shuttle service. Workers will counsel corporations who may also help in your quest to see the Northern Lights and can even place a name on to your room if there’s a sighting.
Extra Fairbanks, Alaska Winter Journey Suggestions
To name a taxi, attempt Eagle & Yellow Cab at 907.455.5555 (about $15 from the Pikes Waterfront Lodge to downtown Fairbanks), Moose Taxi at 907.452.7000, or Pioneer Taxi at 907.987.0471.
Go to Discover Fairbanks for extra details about planning your journey to Fairbanks.