Northern lights, hot springs and a winter train
This is leg 1 of 3, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Fairbanks, Talkeetna & Anchorage
Chena Hot Springs to Fairbanks
Chena Hot Springs and Fairbanks sit about 82 km (51 mi) apart in a straight line, with Fairbanks to the west. It is leg 1 of 3 on our Fairbanks, Talkeetna & Anchorage itinerary, an 8-day trip. Here is how long it takes by train, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 82 km · 51 mi
- Est. road distance
- 98–115 km
- Est. drive time
- 1 h 15 min – 2 h 15 min
- Direction
- Heading west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By train
Our Fairbanks, Talkeetna & Anchorage itinerary is planned around rail, so a train is the likely way to cover this leg. Timetables and direct connections vary — check the operator before you book.
By car
Driving is an estimated 98–115 km (61–71 mi) and 1 h 15 min – 2 h 15 min at typical average speeds, not a routed time.
Fly into Fairbanks (FAI) and out of Anchorage (ANC). Chena Hot Springs is about 60 miles from Fairbanks on Chena Hot Springs Road, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes, and the resort runs shuttles from town. In winter the Alaska Railroad's Aurora Winter Train runs between Fairbanks and Anchorage on weekends, stopping in Talkeetna; check the current schedule, as there is only one train each way per weekend. Driving the Parks Highway, Fairbanks to Talkeetna is about 4.5 hours and Talkeetna to Anchorage about 2 hours. Rent a car with winter tires and an engine block heater, and plug it in overnight when it is very cold.
Open Chena Hot Springs → Fairbanks directions in Google Maps ↗
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Fairbanks
Interior Alaska's hub under the auroral oval; 2 nights for museums, North Pole and aurora drives.
Museum of the North
University of Alaska museum on a hill above Fairbanks, with Alaska Native art, natural history and a mummified steppe bison.
Santa Claus House
Christmas store in North Pole, open since the 1950s, with a giant Santa outside and letters from Santa you can order.
Creamer's Field
Wildlife refuge on an old dairy farm on the edge of town, with trails for skiing, snowshoeing and walking in winter.
Fairbanks Depot
Alaska Railroad station on the edge of town, where the Aurora Winter Train leaves for Talkeetna and Anchorage.
Pike's Waterfront Lodge
Lodge on the Chena River near the airport, with rooms and cabins and a riverside restaurant.
Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center
Free downtown visitor center on the Chena River with exhibits on Interior Alaska and Athabascan life.
Before you leave Chena Hot Springs
Hot springs resort at the end of the road; 2 nights for soaking and aurora watching.
Rock Lake hot spring
The resort's outdoor, rock-lined hot spring pool, fed by natural springs and steaming in air far below zero.
Aurora Ice Museum
Year-round museum built from ice and snow, with carved sculptures, ice chandeliers and a bar serving drinks in glasses of ice.
Angel Rocks Trail
Loop trail off Chena Hot Springs Road climbing to granite tors above the North Fork of the Chena River.
On this curated route
Where Chena Hot Springs → Fairbanks sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs is the same 82 km in a straight line, heading east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in May, when Fairbanks averages highs 2°C warmer than Chena Hot Springs.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chena Hot Springs high | -16° | -11° | -8° | 2° | 12° | 18° | 19° | 16° | 10° | -1° | -12° | -14° |
| Fairbanks high | -15° | -11° | -7° | 3° | 15° | 20° | 21° | 18° | 11° | 1° | -11° | -13° |
| Chena Hot Springs rain | 29 | 30 | 24 | 30 | 47 | 95 | 131 | 107 | 74 | 45 | 41 | 34 |
| Fairbanks rain | 25 | 24 | 20 | 25 | 37 | 75 | 101 | 86 | 60 | 38 | 35 | 30 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Fairbanks month guides.
Chena Hot Springs to Fairbanks: questions travelers ask
How far is Chena Hot Springs from Fairbanks?
Chena Hot Springs is about 82 km (51 mi) from Fairbanks in a straight line, with Fairbanks to the west. By road, we estimate 98–115 km (61–71 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Chena Hot Springs to Fairbanks?
An estimated 1 h 15 min – 2 h 15 min, assuming 98–115 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day. Our itinerary leans on rail, so check train times too.
Which itineraries include the trip from Chena Hot Springs to Fairbanks?
Our Fairbanks, Talkeetna & Anchorage itinerary includes this leg. Fairbanks, Talkeetna & Anchorage runs about 8 days across 4 stops, best in Dec – Mar.
Onward from Fairbanks
- Fairbanks to Talkeetna 304 km
Guides for both ends
- Chena Hot Springs travel guide
- Chena Hot Springs weather best time to visit
- Fairbanks travel guide
- Fairbanks weather best time to visit
Fairbanks by month
Plan Chena Hot Springs → Fairbanks with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.