Overview
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.
14 sights · 18 things to do · 11 places to eat · 6 bars & cafés · 8 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Fairbanks
Creamer's Field
Located in the northern part of town off of College Road, Creamer's Field Wildlife Refuge is a former dairy farm that is now a migratory stopover point for countless numbers of Canada geese, sandhill cranes, ducks, and o…
University of Alaska Museum of the North
An excellent collection of exhibits about the nature, history and cultures of Alaska; the displays on the Northern Lights are particularly tripy.
Georgeson Botanical Garden
Self-guided or group tours.
Fairbanks Ice Museum
This is completely separate from Aurora Ice Museum by the hot springs.
Immaculate Conception Church
Historic church.
Pioneer Air Museum
Historical aviation museum housed in a gold dome.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Aug. Summer highs reach about 73°F; winter lows dip to about -17°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jul and Aug.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- FAI Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks — 4 mi away. Directions
- FYU Fort Yukon Airport, Fort Yukon — 139 mi away. Directions
- ANC Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage — 263 mi away (major hub). Directions
There are several highways that reach Fairbanks.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $33–$85 a night (typical $75), from 6 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$80, mid-range ~$150, comfortable ~$250.
Options are grouped as Hotels, Hostels in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Creamer's Field, Immaculate Conception Church, Golden Heart Plaza
- Lunch Cookie Jar
- Afternoon Fairbanks Community and Dog Mushing Museum, Fairbanks Ice Museum
- Dinner Lin's Asian Bistro
- Evening Fairbanks Distilling Company
Day 2
- Morning University of Alaska Museum of the North, Georgeson Botanical Garden, Riverboat Discovery
- Lunch The Lemongrass
- Afternoon Morris Thompson Cultural And Visitors Center, Pioneer Museum
- Dinner Pikes Landing Riverfront Dining & Sports Bar
- Evening Lavelle's Taphouse
Day 3
- Morning Chena Hot Springs Resort, Ice Alaska, Chena Riverwalk
- Lunch Alaska Salmon Bake
- Afternoon Aurora Ice Museum, Paws for Adventures
- Dinner Pad Thai
- Evening HooDoo Brewing Co
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
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 73°F and average lows of 54°F. On some particularly hot days, summer temperatures can climb upwards to around 82°F with lows around 60°F on such hot days. January is the coldest month, with average highs barely above 0°F and average lows of -18°F. Being in a valley and far from any large body of water, Fairbanks sees little seasonal lag in both winter and summer.
Because Fairbanks is near the Arctic Circle, expect a huge variation in daylight hours. In June, the sun is up from 3 AM to 12:45 AM, but it never gets dark during the wee hours, whereas in the winter, the sun is only up from 10:45 AM to 2:45 PM.
Get in
By plane
- Fairbanks International Airport (FAI), 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 (ORD), Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). 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-mile (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
- Fairbanks 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 bus
Place Interior Alaska Bus Line
Year round service on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday between Tok and Anchorage, and Tok and Fairbanks. Trips between Tok and Anchorage stop along the way at locations including Glennallen and Palmer. Trips between Tok and Fairbanks stop along the way at locations including Delta Junction. Trips depart from Tok in the morning and return to Tok in afternoon. Therefore to travel involving switching between the routes at Tok requires multiple nights stay in Tok. Be sure to reserve in advance and allow some flexibility in your schedule as buses may be rescheduled based on demand. Travel time from Tok is 3.5-4 hours and from Delta Junction is 1.75-2 hours.
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.
Get around
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.
By bus
Go MACS
Although infrequent, there are public buses that provide transportation around the downtown area including to North Pole. Some buses only operate on weekdays.
See
See Creamer's Field
Located in the northern part of town off of College Road, Creamer's Field Wildlife Refuge is a former dairy farm that is now a migratory stopover point for countless numbers of Canada geese, sandhill cranes, ducks, and other bird species. Numerous trails lead through the refuge and there is a visitor center located within the old farmhouse.
See University of Alaska Museum of the North
An excellent collection of exhibits about the nature, history and cultures of Alaska; the displays on the Northern Lights are particularly tripy.
See Fairbanks Community and Dog Mushing Museum
Museum of the history of Fairbanks and dog mushing in Alaska.
Do
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.
Do Riverboat Discovery
This tour lasts three and a half hours. While enjoying a beautiful day on the Chena River, you will have the opportunity to see and learn a lot about Alaskan Native culture and Fairbanks. This tour demonstrates a bush pilot airplane taking off from the Chena River. The tour stops for an hour at the Chena Indian Village where passengers are taken through a tour by Alaskan Native guides. The riverboat also stops at an Athabascan fishing village where passengers see how fish are cut and prepared. One of the most exciting aspects of this tour is that you are able to witness "Nuchalawoya," an Athabascan Indian term meaning "the wedding of two rivers"-in this case the Chena and Tanana Rivers.
Do Gold Dredge 8 (formerly El Dorado Gold Mine)
Another tour run by the same family who operates the Riverboat Discovery. It runs twice a day at 9:45AM and 3PM. However, on Saturdays it only runs at 3PM. This tour begins about 20 minutes outside of Fairbanks and takes you on a two-hour tour of Alaska's gold mining history. The tour begins on a train where you go through a permafrost tunnel. While in the tunnel you are shown how gold miners used to mine underground. Following this, you will learn how miners panned for gold and how current gold miners operate. You will also have the opportunity to talk with Alaskan miners. Each person on the tour gets to pan for actual gold! Everyone finds gold and the staff at the El Dorado Gold Mine will weigh it for you to see how much you found.
Do Fairbanks City Tour
Available through Princess Tours, or any of the major lodges in the area. This tour runs everyday at 8:30AM and lasts for three hours. This tour takes you to downtown Fairbanks where you are able to tour Golden Heart Park and the Visitor's Center. While on this tour, you also get to view the Trans-Alaska Pipeline that was built in the 1970s and continues to transport oil to this day. The Fairbanks City Tour takes its passengers to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Museum and Botanical Gardens.
Activities
Do Pioneer Park
Definitely something that all tourists should visit while staying in Fairbanks. Named Alaskaland until 2001, Pioneer Park includes several gift shops, the Salmon Bake, the Alaska Civic Center, a couple of museums, a native village, fishwheel, President Harding's rail car, mining tunnel, miniature golf course, playgrounds, merry-go-rounds, and the S.S. Nenana which is an old sternwheeler that used to travel Alaskan rivers. Pioneer Park is set up like an old Gold Rush Town, which makes the activities and surroundings very fun.
Do Chena Hot Springs Resort
Along your way out to Chena Hot Springs you have a very good chance of seeing moose and other wildlife. Once you arrive at the resort you have a variety of things you can do. The swimming area includes an indoor pool, three indoor hot tubs, an outdoor rock pool, and two outdoor hot tubs all using water from the hot springs. Enjoy relaxing in the rock pool under 24-hour daylight! Another must do while visiting Chena Hot Springs is the Aurora Ice Museum. The resort has a hotel and campground. Camping, cabin rentals, and fantastic hiking opportunities are available throughout the Chena River State recreation area. This area is heavily used by mushers to practice dogsledding in the winter months.
Do Aurora Ice Museum
The largest year-round ice environment. Everything in the museum is made of ice including a bar, polar bear beds, full-size game of chess, and an ice tower. Accessible by guided tour, parka included.
Do The Trans-Alaska Pipeline
Built in 1975 and was constructed to carry oil from the oil port in Prudhoe Bay down to Valdez, Alaska the northernmost ice-free port, covering 800 miles of land. The pipeline has transmitted more than 15 billion barrels of oil since 1975 and continues to carry on average 735,000 barrels of oil every day. This represents approx 3.5% of the United States daily oil consumption. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline is one of the largest pipelines in the world.
Do Dog Sledding
Fairbanks has lots of dog sledding operators and it's a popular winter activity for tourists. During the summer, most offer dog cart rides. Most of the operators have variety of options like 30 min, 4-5 hr or even days.
Do Northern Lights
Fairbanks is one of the best places to see the northern lights. The northern lights are best seen between September and Mid-April on cold clear nights.
Do Arctic Circle Tour (NATC)
Do Flight see
Alaska has few roads. Getting around is about flying. Sure, it isn't cheap. Sample flights include village mail runs, Arctic Circle flights, Barrow or Deadhorse, and numerous other small villages. Some people hitch plane rides from the general aviation side of the airport as well as the float plane base. Bush pilots are for hire.
Events
Do Midnight Sun Baseball Game
Held every summer on Summer Solstice. The Alaska Goldpanners are the farthest north semi-professional baseball team. What makes this event so special is that the sun barely goes down in Fairbanks on Summer Solstice. The game begins at 10:30PM and last the whole nine innings without getting dark. Throughout its one hundred years of existence the Midnight Sun Game has never had to turn on artificial baseball lights.
Do Fairbanks Golden Days
A week-long event that was created to celebrate the discovery of gold in Fairbanks in 1902. The event is usually held toward the end of July. Throughout the week people are able to participate in several activities. However, the highlight of the week is the Golden Days Parade. This parade showcases marching bands, antique cars, clowns, jugglers, and several decorated floats. Enjoy watching the parade as it goes through the heart of Fairbanks. During this week make sure you wear a Golden Days pin or take the risk of getting "arrested" and put in the Golden Days jail!
Do Rubber Duckie Race
Following the Golden Days Parade is the annual Rubber Duckie Race. Every year at this time 6,000 yellow rubber duckies race the Chena River to win cash and prizes worth up to $30,000.
Do The Red-Green Regatta
Another event, associated with golden days. Picture 40 or more homemade "boats" floating down the Chena River all created using liberal amounts of duct tape and imagination.
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.
Eat
Eat Alaska Salmon Bake
Alaska Salmon Bake is the mother of all cheesy tourist stops and is heavily trafficked by tour buses filled with foreigners and senior citizens, but for the hungry budget traveler the salmon bake probably provides the best value in Fairbanks. This all-you-can-eat dinner of grilled salmon, cod, prime rib, lemonade, and blueberry dessert can be had for $60.
Eat Alaska Coffee Roasting Co
This small coffee shop, which also offers a small variety of food items, is frequented by locals, college kids, and tourists alike. They roast their own coffee and offer specialties such as wood oven baked pizza.
Eat Bun on the Run
Bakery and sandwich shop with outdoor seating. Everything is home-style. Summer only.
Eat Cookie Jar
It opened in 1991 as a microbakery, and is now a full restaurant.
Eat Ivory Jacks
Ivory Jacks offers casual meals to fine dining. It is just north of town in Goldstream Valley. There is an open mic every Saturday at 10PM where performers get to take a free CD home of their performance.
Eat Lane's Quickie Tacos
Run by two friendly guys, they serve a simple menu of four different types of tacos and a special fifth one that frequently changes. Very good food. Casual, basic accommodations.
Eat The Lemongrass
Good Asian food from pad Thai to BBQ beef. Great atmosphere as well.
Eat Lin's Asian Bistro
Slightly upscale Chinese dining, with an emphasis on presentation and a contemporary re-interpretation of American-Chinese cuisine.
Eat Pikes Landing Riverfront Dining & Sports Bar
Great outdoor deck, fine dining indoors
Eat The Pumphouse
Has some menu items with game meats.
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.
Drink Lavelle's Taphouse
For the beer geek, Lavelle's is a please place to be, with 36 rotating taps, including wine and cider. This bar doesn't serve food, but frequently has food trucks outside in the summer, and outside food is welcome. It caters to a diverse crowd.
Drink Fairbanks Distilling Company
The building is a historic property. Free tours available by appointment. The bar's hours have been reduced due to covid. They don't distribute outside of Alaska, so it's worth stopping by for a cocktail.
Drink HooDoo Brewing Co
Brewery, taproom and biergarten with a food truck most days. Free brewery tours on Sa at 4PM.
Drink Black Spruce Brewing Co
BSBC was founded in 2018 in South Van Horn. Beer slushees available F Sa.
Drink Lat 65 Brewing Co
Brewery and ciderhouse just north of downtown.
Sleep
Hotels
Hostels
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.
Nearby
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