Fairbanks Travel Guide: Things to Do, Best Time to Visit & Itinerary

Fairbanks is a city of dualities, defined by the swing of the pendulum between the midnight sun and the polar night. Located deep in the Alaskan interior, it is known as the ‘Golden Heart City,’ a nod to both its gold rush past and the warmth of its people in the face of extreme elements. Unlike the coastal cruise ports, Fairbanks offers a grittier, more authentic slice of frontier life.

This is a place where you might see a moose walking through a grocery store parking lot or watch a neighbor start their car at -40°F. It is the gateway to the Arctic, a basecamp for Denali explorers, and arguably the best place in the United States to witness the Northern Lights. Whether you come for the endless energy of a 24-hour summer day or the quiet magic of a winter night, Fairbanks promises an adventure you cannot find anywhere else in the Lower 48.

Life at 64 Degrees North

What makes Fairbanks truly special is how the community adapts to its environment. In the winter, life revolves around the Aurora Borealis; hotels offer wake-up calls when the lights appear, and locals track solar data like stock prices. In the summer, the city refuses to sleep. You’ll find gardening competitions producing 50-pound cabbages thanks to the constant photosynthesis, and baseball games that begin at 10:30 PM without the need for stadium lights.

The city is also a hub for Athabascan culture. The interior of Alaska has been the home of the Athabascan people for thousands of years, and their influence is woven into the fabric of the city, from the exhibits at the Morris Thompson Center to the traditional beadwork found in local galleries.

The Icons You’ll Want to See

Museum of the North - This architectural gem mimics the lines of a glacier and an alpine ridge. Inside, you will find the state’s most comprehensive collection of natural and cultural history, including ‘Blue Babe,’ a 36,000-year-old mummified steppe bison. Located 4 mi from downtown. Admission is approx $16 USD.

Chena Hot Springs - A natural geothermal resort located at the end of a paved road. It is famous for its Rock Lake, where you can soak in 106°F water while the air around you freezes. It also houses the Aurora Ice Museum. Located 60 mi from downtown. Day passes approx $15 USD.

Riverboat Discovery - A family-run sternwheeler operation that takes you down the Chena River. The tour includes a stop at a recreated Chena Indian Village and a demonstration by a bush pilot. Located 4 mi from downtown. Tours approx $75 USD.

Gold Dredge 8 - A massive historic mining vessel that extracted millions of ounces of gold. The tour includes a ride on a narrow-gauge train and a guaranteed gold panning experience. Located 10 mi from downtown. Tours approx $50 USD.

Planning Your Visit

Getting to Fairbanks usually involves flying into Fairbanks International Airport (FAI), which has daily connections to Seattle. Alternatively, in the summer, many visitors arrive via the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage or Denali. Once you are here, renting a car is almost mandatory. The city is spread out, and rideshare services can be unreliable, especially in winter or late at night.

If you visit in winter, your rental car will likely come with an electric plug hanging from the grille. This is for engine block heaters, and you will see electrical outlets in parking lots all over town, plug in if you are parked for more than an hour and the temperature is below zero. In summer, bring a high-quality eye mask; standard hotel curtains often let in enough light to disrupt sleep during the midnight sun.

Fairbanks is a destination that demands you choose your adventure: the vibrant, sleepless energy of summer or the silent, ethereal beauty of winter. Whichever you choose, you will leave with a new appreciation for life on the edge of the Arctic.