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Alaska, United States

Fairbanks

Interior Alaska's hub under the auroral oval; 2 nights for museums, North Pole and aurora drives. This guide pulls together 2 sights, 1 activity and 2 outdoor spots from our curated routes.

Plan Fairbanks with friendsBrowse 7 places
Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Places
7

2 See · 1 Do · 2 Outdoors · 1 Shop · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

Fairbanks, Talkeetna & Anchorage

Best season
Dec – Mar

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

21°C / 69°F avg high

Coolest month
January

-15°C / 4°F avg high

Wettest month
July

about 101 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Fairbanks

7 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

2 sights worth building a day around across UAF campus and Downtown.

  • Museum of the North in FairbanksPhoto: Malcolm Manners · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Museum of the North

    University of Alaska museum on a hill above Fairbanks, with Alaska Native art, natural history and a mummified steppe bison.

    Tip Visit near sunset for the light over the Tanana Valley from the plaza.

    • UAF campus
    • $$
    • 2 hr
    • Afternoon
  • Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center in FairbanksPhoto: RadioKAOS · CC BY-SA 3.0
    See

    Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center

    Free downtown visitor center on the Chena River with exhibits on Interior Alaska and Athabascan life.

    Tip Ask here about the night's aurora outlook and winter tours.

    • Downtown
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Daytime

Do

1 activity for when the group wants to do more than look.

  • Do

    Fairbanks Depot

    Alaska Railroad station on the edge of town, where the Aurora Winter Train leaves for Talkeetna and Anchorage.

    Tip Check in early; the winter train leaves in the morning and the trip takes most of the day.

    • $$
    • 30 min
    • Morning

Outdoors

2 outdoor spots for fresh air in Steese Highway. All 2 are free to visit.

  • Outdoors

    Creamer's Field

    Wildlife refuge on an old dairy farm on the edge of town, with trails for skiing, snowshoeing and walking in winter.

    Tip Trails are flat and good for a first try at cross-country skiing.

    • Free
    • 1.5 hr
    • Midday
  • Outdoors

    Cleary Summit

    High pass on the Steese Highway north of Fairbanks, away from city lights, with wide views of the northern sky.

    Tip Bring a thermos and wait in the car with the engine off between displays.

    • Steese Highway
    • Free
    • 3 hr
    • Late night

Shop

Markets and shops worth the detour in North Pole.

  • Santa Claus House in FairbanksPhoto: Srishti Sethi · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Shop

    Santa Claus House

    Christmas store in North Pole, open since the 1950s, with a giant Santa outside and letters from Santa you can order.

    Tip It is about 25 minutes from downtown Fairbanks on the Richardson Highway.

    • North Pole
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Daytime

Stay

1 place to stay we would book.

  • Stay

    Pike's Waterfront Lodge

    Lodge on the Chena River near the airport, with rooms and cabins and a riverside restaurant.

    Tip Handy for a late arrival or an early flight.

    • $$

How to fit Fairbanks into a trip

Fairbanks is stop 2 of 4 on our Fairbanks, Talkeetna & Anchorage route. Follow it as-is or lift Fairbanks into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Fairbanks month by month

Average daily highs run from -15°C / 4°F in January to 21°C / 69°F in July. July is the wettest month, with about 101 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Fairbanks weather and the best time to visit →

Near Fairbanks

2 other destinations from our guides within about 350 km (217 mi), measured in a straight line.

Fairbanks questions, answered

How many days do you need in Fairbanks?

Our route notes suggest 2 nights in Fairbanks. On our Fairbanks, Talkeetna & Anchorage route it is stop 2 of 4 in a 8-day trip. The listed visit times for our 7 places add up to roughly 9 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Fairbanks best known for?

Interior Alaska's hub under the auroral oval; 2 nights for museums, North Pole and aurora drives. Standouts on our list: Museum of the North (University of Alaska museum on a hill above Fairbanks, with Alaska Native art, natural history and a mummified steppe bison); Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center (Free downtown visitor center on the Chena River with exhibits on Interior Alaska and Athabascan life); Creamer's Field (Wildlife refuge on an old dairy farm on the edge of town, with trails for skiing, snowshoeing and walking in winter).

When is the best time to visit Fairbanks?

Our Fairbanks, Talkeetna & Anchorage route is best Dec – Mar. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (21°C / 69°F), the coolest in January (-15°C / 4°F) and the most rain in July (about 101 mm).

What are the best things to do in Fairbanks?

Start with Museum of the North, Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center, Creamer's Field, Cleary Summit and Fairbanks Depot. Our guide lists 7 places in all, from 2 sights, 1 activity, 2 outdoor spots, 1 shop and 1 place to stay.

What is near Fairbanks?

The closest destinations in our guides are Chena Hot Springs (about 82 km / 51 mi) and Talkeetna (about 304 km / 189 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Fairbanks with your crew

Open the Fairbanks, Talkeetna & Anchorage route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 7 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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