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Winter in Alaska is magical. Assume 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 highway for winter driving in Alaska may very well be so totally different from driving in my hometown of Denver. Nonetheless, I liked having wheels and freedom to discover—at occasions, with white knuckles.
Although 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 recommendations on motoring round earlier than I picked up my rented 2020 Nissan Rogue.
Ideas and recommendation for winter driving in Alaska
“Rule primary: Don’t brake,” suggested Amy Geiger, director of Communications with Discover Fairbanks.
“What?” I believed to myself. “Don’t brake?”
I discovered quickly sufficient that not braking is sweet recommendation. It’s finest to not use your brakes to decelerate, or you can slide. Take your foot off the fuel, and also you’ll regularly decelerate.
Rule quantity two: “Don’t beneath any circumstances go previous a city named Livengood, about 60 miles north of Fairbanks,” Geiger continued. “You’ll find yourself on the Ice Highway.”
Assume Ice Highway Truckers, the truth present the place truckers drive their rigs on routes that embrace frozen lakes and rivers. The present provides me nightmares, and that’s the final place I wished to seek out myself. It’s distant, dangerous, and finest 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 shortly. Folks listed here are used to numerous house, and so they don’t prefer to be crowded.”
Geiger went over just a few extra of the commonsense fundamentals, resembling having additional meals, water, and blankets, and added that cellphone service may very well be sketchy in sure areas exterior of city.
“That’s about it,” Geiger mentioned with a smile. “Watch out, and have enjoyable.”
Winter Driving in Alaska
From our convention room, the place we have been staying at Pikes Waterfront Lodge, we made our solution to Alaska Auto Rental, the place employees handed out maps to the a number of of us renting autos. He additionally had just a few extra ideas: “Comply with the tracks in entrance of you and drive together with your headlights on, day or night time.” Then, a employees member turned over the keys to a shiny new Nissan Rogue.
I liked 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 discovered a tip from an area to produce other sneakers or boots useful which are much less awkward when driving.
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 discipline. I couldn’t appear to differentiate 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 highway—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.
Take a look at my Alaska winter packing record for excessive temperatures.
What’s it prefer to drive in Alaska in winter?
Fairbanks is a simple city to navigate, even with its many one-way streets. Nonetheless, I made the choice to not depart town limits. With solely 24 hours to discover, I didn’t need the stress of heading down the freeway, not understanding the place or when the subsequent exit was. I’ve a horrible sense of route, and even with my cellphone’s GPS, I didn’t wish to find yourself wherever close to the Ice Highway.
It’s a must to plug in your automotive
After a few hours by myself, I recruited one other convention attendee to affix me in exploring the city. Within the foyer of our lodge, earlier than we walked to the parking zone, I requested her to remind me once we returned to plug within the automotive. She quizzed with a smile, “We have now a Tesla?”
As a Californian, she had even much less expertise than I did driving in snowy circumstances. However collectively, we had one of the best time maneuvering city, together with her navigating and me gripping the wheel on the 10:00 and a couple of:00 positions, as I discovered in highschool drivers’ ed.
However neither of us had ever plugged in a automotive. Plugging in your car in Alaska is a part of life. It’s to stop the engine from freezing. Seeing energy cables protruding the hood of autos can be an on a regular basis sight. You plug the wire right into a block heater, which is in public locations, lodges, and a few companies.
Roads aren’t salted in Alaska
One other tidbit I discovered is that town doesn’t use salt (in the event that they do, it’s sparingly) on streets. The salt could make its means into native creeks and streams and hurt wildlife. Sand appears to be the higher choice.
Whereas I couldn’t affirm this, I’m undecided they plow a lot, both. As my good friend and I drove on the lookout for sights to {photograph}, I mentioned, “Let’s go down this little avenue. Do you suppose they plow the facet streets?”
“What do you imply?” she replied. “They don’t plow the most important streets?”
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 wonderful salmon crepes and espresso. Parking in a close-by lot was straightforward.)
Earlier than I arrived in Fairbanks, I assumed getting an Uber was the most suitable choice. Not so. With staffing shortages and hovering fuel costs, Uber and Lyft drivers will be few and much between.
Learn my article about 29 Issues to Do in Fairbanks, Alaska Summer time and Winter
Depend on native rides as a substitute of Uber
The excellent news is that each particular person in Fairbanks we met was pleasant and useful. One small enterprise proprietor even supplied to shut the store and provides my good friend and me a experience when he heard me on the cellphone attempting to rearrange a taxi. That’s small-town kindness at its finest.
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, and so they gladly did.
Plugging within the automotive was straightforward sufficient. However I did make a remark to myself that night time: Keep in mind to unplug the automotive earlier than driving away the subsequent morning.
Driving Distances Past Fairbanks
Temperatures can fall nicely beneath zero, and guests should take every thing about winter driving in Alaska critically. The Alaska Division of Transportation recommends to examine the highway circumstances earlier than you go.
Although I made a decision to not enterprise exterior town limits, a few of my colleagues did and had a wonderful expertise. Listed below are some choices to think about if you wish to discover past Fairbanks:
Chena Sizzling Springs
Chena Sizzling Springs is about 60 miles from Fairbanks on a paved, maintained highway; nevertheless, the freeway will be icy, and cell service is unpredictable. The excellent news is there’s a terrific likelihood to see moose, and the drive by means of the forest is beautiful. (I made the journey in a van with a dozen of my colleagues and an area driver.) You may as well ebook a shuttle with Chena Sizzling Springs Resort.
Dalton Freeway
The Dalton Freeway takes a number of days in case you 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 automotive rental firm first to verify they can help you take the car on this journey. It could be clever to think about this one for summer season journey, however everytime you go, you’ll have wonderful views and visits to cities filled with character and historical past, together with Coldfoot, Deadhorse, and Prudhoe Bay.
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 of view the Alaska pipeline subsequent to the freeway as you drive from Valdez to Delta Junction. This journey takes planning and preparation, which implies 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 assist package. And since fuel stations are generally far aside, make sure you all the time have sufficient fuel and don’t reduce it shut.
You’ll come throughout the Lodge at Black Rapids as you journey on the Richardson Freeway. It is a tremendous place to cease and benefit from the landscapes round you. You’ll be able to be taught extra concerning the Lodge at Black Rapids on this article.
Parks Freeway
The George Parks Freeway, also called the Parks Freeway, connects Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska. This drive is stuffed with beautiful surroundings and views of Denali and wildlife; it’s an epic Alaska highway 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. Really – it’s partially open. The principle highway within the park is open so far as the Park Customer Heart. There, you’ll discover rangers to speak to, and you may even borrow…sure, borrow snowshoes and poles to go discover Denali Nationwide Park coated in snow! It’s a magical time to go to Denali, and also you’ll really feel like you will have it completely for your self!
Find out how to Lease a Automobile in Fairbanks for the Winter
The simplest means is to easily lease a automotive on the airport. In the event you don’t wish 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 automotive leases in Alaska could have winter tires, in order that’s a bonus. However in case you are actually hesitant or nervous about driving on salt-free, icy roads, then reserve a automotive with studded tires. These will present one of the best traction; nevertheless, it would additionally value extra to lease.
Ensure you know the best way to use the automotive 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 Ideas
- Don’t brake; as a substitute, take your foot off the fuel.
- Don’t put on clunky boots; have an additional pair of driving sneakers inside your automotive.
- Give folks loads of house
- Lease a automotive with studs for additional security
- Plug in your automotive if it’s beneath zero
- Plan forward and be sure to have a full take of fuel
- Drive together with your headlights on day or night time
- Take a paper map with you as a result of cell connections are unreliable
- It’s all the time a good suggestion to let somebody know the place you’re going and whenever you count on to be again
- Pack additional meals, water, matches, and a blanket
- Guarantee you will have an ice scraper in your rental automotive.
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 presents a 24-hour shuttle service. Employees will counsel firms who can assist 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 Ideas
To name a taxi, attempt 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.
