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. Time needed: 7-10 days minimum. Those who want to go further can explore further up the ridges on Mt Healy. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. The journey winds up through Denali National Park and Preserve for 360 miles, which takes 6 hours 30 minutes to drive. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. It's well worth heading into central Alaska to see more of what this dazzling state has to offer. Healy During the winter months, the centers building is open Friday through Sunday during the day, and the trails are always open. Car, train, or group tour. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the Big ship or small ship? An icon used to represent a menu that can be toggled by interacting with this icon. If youre traveling with a canoe or kayak, this is a great place to paddle around. Another trusty source of information is theAlaska Milepost, I highly recommend purchasing one before your Alaska road trip! You could see goats and sheep on the cliffside along the road and sometimes whales in the inlet. Let us simplify it for you, How much does an Alaska summer vacation cost? Healy (4 answers) Overwhelmed by choices? You can easily do the drive in a day, but why would you when youd miss so many reasons for doing the trip along the way? At 12 hours (8:15 a.m. 8 p.m.), this is the longest train ride on the Alaska Railroad. September is actually the beginning of the peak season of this Alaskan city: Fairbanks is a nice destination year round, but really starts to shine when the night skies finally become dark enough to view the northern lights. Through this blog Ill show you how you can visit these destinations, tricks for budget travel, road trip itineraries, and more. These flights can range from $220 to $460 per person. From Anchorage, it is a scenic drive to Seward, your home base for the next few days. Seward, Girdwood, Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, Fairbanks &more, You wont find Greyhound in Alaska; learn which bus lines serve which routes, Rail can cost more and is slower, but is asightseeing tour in itself, Travel times between towns by car, train, and bus in central Alaska. A little further gets you to Denali National Park, the home of North America's tallest mountain, Mount McKinley. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. 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. Glennallen, at mile 115 is the junction with the Glenn Highway to Anchorage. Here's an insider's rundown: Alaskas biggest cityrich with museums, shops and restaurantssees the least amount of change as August turns into September. The roads seemed decent, although a bit scary going in and out of Fairbanks near the mountains/ hills. Expect construction in the summer, summer and early fall and plenty of RV traffic in the summer. Weather pending, you can also enjoy a jet ski or kayak tour through the middle of the month. If you do have a bit more time to budget for you Anchorage to Fairbanks itinerary, Id suggest spending a night over in Kayakers Cove to add an adventurous day on your trip. This makes an excellent rest stop along the way. Last updated: [wpautoterms last_updated_date]If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us. I recommend spending two nights in Denali if possible because you then get the full day to take the bus trip into the park. Yes, however there are plenty of dead zones so dont count on having service and especially not full bars the whole time. After the flats, you will enter the Mat-Su Valley. 7-10 days is the most common. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 12:55 pmdrive for about 1.5 hours, 2:17 pm Talkeetna Or get a full Anchorage to Fairbanks flight plan. Another two hours up the road is iconic Denali National Park; Fairbanks is another couple hours north. Can I road trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks year round? Fairbanks to Anchorage drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip. Both are suitable for RVs as well as tents. Today, prepare to ride through the snowy backcountry on a guided snowmobile tour with Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours (book ahead at youralaskavacation.com). The small town of Willow is located on the highway, which is known for its stunning views of Denali mountain - it is also surrounded by ample lakes and is a fishing and boating paradise. Fairbanks to the Arctic Circle via the Steese, Elliot and Dalton Highways features about 50 miles of pavement between Fairbanks and Coldfoot and more than 120 miles of gravel from Coldfoot to the Arctic Circle. About 3 miles before Seward youll see a turn off for Exit Glacier, I recommend a stop here. Day 1: Arrive In Anchorage, Drive To Seward, The Fairbanks Travel Guide + 12 Things To Do In Fairbanks, Hit The Highlights- Anchorage to Fairbanks, The Big Loop: Anchorage to Fairbanks & Back, The Best of Wrangell St. Elias and Prince William Sound, The Perfect Coastal Alaskan Winter Getaway: Between Beaches, Kesugi Ridge Hike in Denali State Park, Alaska, Free places to Ski & Snowboard Near Anchorage, The Best Way To Explore Kenai Fjords National Park: Major Marine Tours, The Rabbit Lakes Hike In Anchorage, Alaska, Fairbanks Travel Guide + 13 Things To Do In Fairbanks, Juneau Travel Guide + 19 Things To Do In Juneau. Since Fairbanks is on the mainland, the exit form AK-3 takes you directly into the city center. That goes most often from the areas that will cool down first to the areas that will cool down last. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Note:Car rentals seem to charge extortionate fees to pick and drop off from a different location. Driving distances in Alaska can be long, and dont be surprised if you get caught up in construction, especially in the summer. Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. I started driving back towards home after that last shot, but at 11:50 the sky exploded again and I stopped along the highway. Alaska's second largest city is well worth the pilgrimage and freezing temperatures. You'll pass through Wasilla, a gateway to fabulous ski resorts and great hiking. In Alaska, there are many communities that are not on the road system at all and can only be reached by plane or boat. May require a current valid driver's license, must meet UA safe driving requirements. The driving distance from Seattle to the Yukon Territory/Alaska border crossing is about 1,800 - 1,900 miles, depending on which route you take. Two trains . Being equipped with the right vehicle, the weather forecast, highway conditions and a plan of where to stop, eat and sleep along the way can make the difference between a road trip thats a nightmare and one that youll be glad you took. Make sure your car is equipped with winter tires and you have snow chains available. You also start seeing snow on the mountain tops, which we locals refer to as "Termination Dust." Cantwell (Alaska) This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Northern lights adventures with Northern Alaska Tour Company. Overcast Clouds. 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. Any bus tours that might be open this early in the season on a Saturday afternoon? Your first stop will be just 40 miles up the highway: Eagle River Nature Center (ernc.org). Fairbanks has a few sites on offer as well such as Pioneer Park, the Chena River, and downtown Fairbanks. Labor Day is not the end of the tourist crowds in Alaska. Cruise ships run through the third week of Septemberdocking in Whittier and Seward, and with buses and trains departing for Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali and Fairbanks. We are the usable and sensible guide that inspires 300,000 readers bimonthly with useful, fresh and compelling ideas for discovering our region. I'm Jennie. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights. By train, the Alaska Railroad provides daily summer service and weekend winter service between Anchorage and Fairbanks. This is one of those trips where the drive is just as important as the destination. There are long stretches without towns and services, but there are also plenty of places to stop along the highway. Trippy is where The driving distance from Anchorage to Fairbanks is 360 miles. But, to be fair, those cruises and buses are less crowded than they were in June, July or August. Detour off the highway onto Highway 1 to Palmer, your home for the night. What do I wear to aurora ice museum and hot springs. All land transportation options take you through river valleys and boreal forest, with mountain vistas and Denali (Mt. 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. A much quieter southern sky over the Alaska Highway, with an 8-second exposure. an affiliate advertising program. Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. September is a time of dramatic transformation: the tundra is ablaze in color, autumn colors peak by mid-September (even earlier farther north, or in Denali) and you even have a chance of seeing the northern lights after 11pm if you are away from the city. Talkeetna is a funky, fun, little Alaska town that at one point in time had a cat for a mayor (RIP Stubbs). Thompson Pass, as seen in May 2009. We care about privacy. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, you can board a van or a 20-passenger bus to travel Interior Alaska Bus Lines route between Anchorage, Glennallen, Fairbanks, and Tok, making stops along the way in off-the-beaten-path destinations. Make sure you check road conditions But if you can't, September could be great." The trip can be done one way fromSewardtoFairbanksafter a cruise or from Fairbanks to Seward before the cruise. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. 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. Looking for ideas? Check out myAnchorage Travel Guidefor ideas. Note that the recommending starting point for doing this as a backpacking trip is at the other end but this is a good option for a day hike. You walk to the counter inside the airport (admittedly it's a long walk in Anchorage) and then walk directly out to the garage. Make sure to book lodges and hotels far in advance for this very popular area, especially in the Denali National Park area which has very limited options. If you are away from the road (such as in Denali National Park) then you will be mostly without service. Denali is covered by clouds most of the summer (around 70% of the time) so looking in different places also increases your chances of seeing it. See goats and sheep on the mountain tops, which takes 6 30! 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