Winter driving in Fairbanks, Alaska

Date:

Share post:

This text could comprise affiliate hyperlinks the place I make a small fee for purchases you make from hyperlinks that you simply click on from this text. By buying by these hyperlinks, you assist me at no further price to you. Thanks in your assist.

Winter in Alaska is magical. Suppose Aurora Borealis, strolling with reindeer, ice sculpting competitions, and canine sledding. After which there’s the winter driving in Alaska.

I used to be in Fairbanks, Alaska, final February for a convention and rented a car. Little did I do know that the principles of the street for winter driving in Alaska could possibly be so totally different from driving in my hometown of Denver. Nonetheless, I beloved having wheels and freedom to discover—at instances, with white knuckles.

Though I reside in Colorado, I’m not a fan of driving in snow. So, I listened intently as a employees member with Discover Fairbanks shared tips on motoring round earlier than I picked up my rented 2020 Nissan Rogue.

Suggestions and recommendation for winter driving in Alaska

“Rule primary: Don’t brake,†suggested Amy Geiger, director of Communications with Discover Fairbanks.

 “What?â€I assumed to myself. “Don’t brake?â€

I realized quickly sufficient that not braking is nice recommendation. It’s greatest to not use your brakes to decelerate, or you might slide. Take your foot off the gasoline, and also you’ll progressively decelerate.

Rule quantity two: “Don’t below any circumstances go previous a city named Livengood, about 60 miles north of Fairbanks,†Geiger continued. “You’ll find yourself on the Ice Street.†Â

Suppose Ice Street Truckers, the fact present the place truckers drive their rigs on routes that embody frozen lakes and rivers. The present offers me nightmares, and that’s the final place I needed to search out myself. It’s distant, dangerous, and greatest left to the professionals.

I circled the city of Livengood on the map and marked it with a large X.

Rule quantity three: “Don’t merge too rapidly. Individuals listed here are used to numerous area, they usually don’t prefer to be crowded.â€

Geiger went over a couple of extra of the commonsense fundamentals, comparable to having further meals, water, and blankets, and added that cellular phone service could possibly be sketchy in sure areas outdoors of city.

“That’s about it,†Geiger mentioned with a smile.  “Watch out, and have enjoyable.â€

Winter Driving in Alaska

Writer Sherry Spitsnaugle and her rented Nissan Rogue are prepared for winter driving in Alaska.

From our convention room, the place we have been staying at Pikes Waterfront Lodge, we made our strategy to Alaska Auto Rental, the place employees handed out maps to the a number of of us renting automobiles. He additionally had a couple of extra ideas: “Observe the tracks in entrance of you and drive along with your headlights on, day or evening.†Then, a employees member turned over the keys to a shiny new Nissan Rogue.

I beloved the car however quickly found that my Sorels, good for strolling on snow and ice, have been clumsy when driving. I couldn’t “really feel†the pedals. Later, I realized a tip from a neighborhood to produce other sneakers or boots helpful which are much less awkward when driving.

Street in downtown Fairbanks
Winter driving in Fairbanks, Alaska. Photograph by Sherry Spitsnaugle

I struggled as soon as I spotted that on wintery, cloudy days, snow-covered streets blended in with the colorless sky; there was no depth of subject. I couldn’t appear to tell apart the place the medians have been. Therefore, I drove a lot slower than all the opposite site visitors.

To the credit score of each driver on the street—not less than the day I used to be behind the wheel—not one particular person honked and even gave me the stink eye as they handed.

What’s it prefer to drive in Alaska in winter?

Downtown Fairbanks, Alaska, in February. Photograph by Sherry Spitsnaugle

Fairbanks is a straightforward city to navigate, even with its many one-way streets. Nonetheless, I made the choice to not go away the town limits. With solely 24 hours to discover, I didn’t need the stress of heading down the freeway, not realizing the place or when the following exit was. I’ve a horrible sense of course, and even with my cellphone’s GPS, I didn’t need to find yourself wherever close to the Ice Street.

You must plug in your automobile

After a few hours by myself, I recruited one other convention attendee to hitch me in exploring the city. Within the foyer of our lodge, earlier than we walked to the car parking zone, I requested her to remind me once we returned to plug within the automobile. She quizzed with a smile, “We’ve got a Tesla?â€

As a Californian, she had even much less expertise than I did driving in snowy circumstances. However collectively, we had the perfect time maneuvering city, along with her navigating and me gripping the wheel on the 10:00 and a couple of:00 positions, as I realized in highschool drivers’ ed.

However neither of us had ever plugged in a automobile. Plugging in your car in Alaska is a part of life. It’s to forestall the engine from freezing. Seeing energy cables protruding the hood of automobiles can be an on a regular basis sight. You plug the twine right into a block heater, which is in public locations, inns, and a few companies. Â

Roads aren’t salted in Alaska

One other tidbit I realized is that the town doesn’t use salt (in the event that they do, it’s sparingly) on streets. The salt could make its manner into native creeks and streams and hurt wildlife. Sand appears to be the higher choice.

Whereas I couldn’t verify this, I’m undecided they plow a lot, both. As my buddy and I drove in search of sights to {photograph}, I mentioned, “Let’s go down this little avenue. Do you assume they plow the aspect streets?â€

 “What do you imply?†she replied. “They don’t plow the essential streets?â€

Photo of sign above restaurant The Crepery in Fairbanks
The Crepery, downtown Fairbanks, serves glorious salmon crepes and espresso. Photograph by Sherry Spitsnaugle

She was proper, and we each giggled as we continued our seek for a breakfast place and a parking place. We discovered each. (The Crepery serves glorious salmon crepes and espresso. Parking in a close-by lot was simple.)

Earlier than I arrived in Fairbanks, I assumed getting an Uber was the best choice. Not so. With staffing shortages and hovering gasoline costs, Uber and Lyft drivers may be few and much between.

Depend on native rides as an alternative of Uber

The excellent news is that each particular person in Fairbanks we met was pleasant and useful. One small enterprise proprietor even provided to shut the store and provides my buddy and me a journey when he heard me on the cellphone making an attempt to rearrange a taxi. That’s small-town kindness at its greatest.

On the finish of the day, when it got here time to plug in (the corporate suggests plugging in if temperatures fall beneath zero), I requested somebody at Pikes Waterfront Lodge to assist, they usually gladly did.

Plugging within the automobile was simple sufficient. However I did make a remark to myself that evening: Keep in mind to unplug the automobile earlier than driving away the following morning.

Author plugging in her rental car after a day of winter driving in Fairbanks
Writer plugs in her automobile after a day of winter driving in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Driving Distances Past Fairbanks

Temperatures can fall nicely beneath zero, and guests should take all the things about winter driving in Alaska significantly. The Alaska Division of Transportation recommends to test the street circumstances earlier than you go.

Though I made a decision to not enterprise outdoors the town limits, a few of my colleagues did and had a superb expertise. Listed below are some choices to contemplate if you wish to discover past Fairbanks:

Chena Scorching Springs

Chena Scorching Springs is about 60 miles from Fairbanks on a paved, maintained street; nonetheless, the freeway may be icy, and cell service is unpredictable. The excellent news is there’s an excellent likelihood to see moose, and the drive by the forest is attractive. (I made the journey in a van with a dozen of my colleagues and a neighborhood driver.) It’s also possible to e book a shuttle with Chena Scorching Springs Resort.

Dalton Freeway

The Dalton Freeway takes a number of days if you happen to drive all the way in which to the North Slope, and also you’ll be driving on the gravel a part of the way in which. Examine with the automobile rental firm first to verify they can help you take the car on this journey. It may be clever to contemplate this one for summer season journey, however everytime you go, you’ll have superb views and visits to cities stuffed with character and historical past, together with Coldfoot, Deadhorse, and Prudhoe Bay.

Photo of author wearing hat and neck wrap in the cold
Writer Sherry Spitsnaugle bundles up throughout a go to to Fairbanks, Alaska.

Richardson Freeway

As Alaska’s oldest freeway, the Richardson Freeway connects Fairbanks to Valdez and takes you thru Keystone Canyon to Worthington Glacier. You’ll be capable to view the Alaska pipeline subsequent to the freeway as you drive from Valdez to Delta Junction. This journey takes planning and preparation, which suggests greater than packing an additional power bar. Locals pack gear for surprising (or intentional) tenting and cooking in a single day: spare tires, heat clothes, water, and a primary support package. And since gasoline stations are typically far aside, make sure you at all times have sufficient gasoline and don’t lower it shut.

Parks Freeway

The George Parks Freeway, also referred to as the Parks Freeway, connects Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska. This drive is filled with beautiful surroundings and views of Denali and wildlife; it’s an epic Alaska street journey. The Parks Freeway is well-traveled and maintained, even within the winter. If you wish to go to Denali Nationwide Park within the winter, you’ll take this route. Denali Nationwide Park is open within the winter – but only a few folks go to. Truly – it’s partially open. The principle street within the park is open so far as the Park Customer Middle. There, you’ll discover rangers to speak to, and you’ll even borrow…sure, borrow snowshoes and poles to go discover Denali Nationwide Park lined in snow! It’s a magical time to go to Denali, and also you’ll really feel like you’ve got it fully for your self!

The way to Lease a Automotive in Fairbanks for the Winter

The best manner is to easily lease a automobile on the airport. In the event you don’t need to drive after a flight that arrives at midnight or later (which many do), some rental firms will ship a car to your lodge.

The entire automobile leases in Alaska may have winter tires, in order that’s a bonus. However in case you are actually hesitant or apprehensive about driving on salt-free, icy roads, then reserve a automobile with studded tires. These will present the perfect traction; nonetheless, it would additionally price extra to lease.

Be sure you know how one can use the automobile plugin characteristic, as that is one thing you’ll most definitely want to make use of. Additionally, earlier than you’re taking off from the airport, make it possible for your rental has a heavy-duty ice/snow scraper. A tiny one received’t do!

Recap of Alaska Winter Driving Suggestions

  • Don’t brake; as an alternative, take your foot off the gasoline.
  • Don’t put on clunky boots; have an additional pair of driving sneakers inside your automobile.
  • Give folks loads of area
  • Lease a automobile with studs for further security
  • Plug in your automobile if it’s beneath zero
  • Plan forward and be sure you have a full take of gasoline
  • Drive along with your headlights on day or evening
  • Take a paper map with you as a result of cell connections are unreliable
  • It’s at all times a good suggestion to let somebody know the place you’re going and once you anticipate to be again
  • Pack further meals, water, matches, and a blanket
  • Guarantee you’ve got an ice scraper in your rental automobile.

The place to Keep If You Go to Fairbanks, Alaska, in Winter

Pikes Waterfront Lodge is the place to remain in Fairbanks. The lodge is a five-minute drive from the airport and gives a 24-hour shuttle service. Employees will recommend firms who may help in your quest to see the Northern Lights and can even place a name on to your room if there’s a sighting.

Extra Fairbanks, Alaska Winter Journey Suggestions

To name a taxi, strive Eagle & Yellow Cab at 907.455.5555 (about $15 from the Pikes Waterfront Lodge to downtown Fairbanks), Moose Taxi at 907.452.7000, or Pioneer Taxi at 907.987.0471.

Go to Discover Fairbanks for extra details about planning your journey to Fairbanks.


LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related articles

Inspiring Quotes From Brian Wilson of The Seaside Boys

In 1965, whereas the remainder of his band was on tour, Brian Wilson, a founding member...

Uttar Pradesh Govt Launches District-Extensive Drive To Promote Youth Entrepreneurship Underneath CM-YUVA Scheme

Lucknow: The Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan (CM-YUVA) is quickly evolving from a coverage...

Telangana authorities to open 571 new colleges

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday introduced that the state authorities will set up...