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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 automobile. Little did I do know that the principles of the highway for winter driving in Alaska might be so completely different from driving in my hometown of Denver. Nonetheless, I beloved having wheels and freedom to discover—at occasions, with white knuckles.
Regardless that 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 assumed to myself. “Don’t brake?”
I realized quickly sufficient that not braking is nice recommendation. It’s greatest to not use your brakes to decelerate, or you may slide. Take your foot off the fuel, and also you’ll steadily decelerate.
Rule quantity two: “Don’t underneath any circumstances go previous a city named Livengood, about 60 miles north of Fairbanks,” Geiger continued. “You’ll find yourself on the Ice Street.”
Suppose Ice Street Truckers, the truth present the place truckers drive their rigs on routes that embody 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 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 plenty of area, and so they don’t prefer to be crowded.”
Geiger went over a number of extra of the commonsense fundamentals, resembling having further meals, water, and blankets, and added that cellphone service might be sketchy in sure areas outdoors 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 had been staying at Pikes Waterfront Lodge, we made our technique to Alaska Auto Rental, the place employees handed out maps to the a number of of us renting autos. He additionally had a number of extra suggestions: “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 beloved the automobile however quickly found that my Sorels, good for strolling on snow and ice, had been clumsy when driving. I couldn’t “really feel” the pedals. Later, I realized 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 noticed 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 tell apart the place the medians had been. Therefore, I drove a lot slower than all the opposite site visitors.
To the credit score of each driver on the highway—a minimum of the day I used to be behind the wheel—not one particular person honked and even gave me the stink eye as they handed.
Try my Alaska winter packing checklist 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 go away the town limits. With solely 24 hours to discover, I didn’t need the stress of heading down the freeway, not figuring out the place or when the following exit was. I’ve a horrible sense of route, and even with my telephone’s GPS, I didn’t wish to find yourself anyplace close to the Ice Street.
You need to 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 after we returned to plug within the automobile. She quizzed with a smile, “We’ve a Tesla?”
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 automobile in Alaska is a part of life. It’s to stop the engine from freezing. Seeing energy cables protruding the hood of autos can also be an on a regular basis sight. You plug the twine right into a block heater, which is in public locations, motels, and a few companies.
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 method into native creeks and streams and hurt wildlife. Sand appears to be the higher possibility.
Whereas I couldn’t verify this, I’m unsure they plow a lot, both. As my buddy and I drove searching for sights to {photograph}, I mentioned, “Let’s go down this little avenue. Do you assume they plow the aspect streets?”
“What do you imply?” she replied. “They don’t plow the major 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 glorious 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 buddy and me a trip when he heard me on the telephone attempting 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, and so they gladly did.
Plugging within the automobile was straightforward sufficient. However I did make an observation to myself that night time: Bear in mind to unplug the automobile earlier than driving away the following morning.
Driving Distances Past Fairbanks
Temperatures can fall effectively beneath zero, and guests should take every little thing about winter driving in Alaska significantly. The Alaska Division of Transportation recommends to verify the highway circumstances earlier than you go.
Regardless that I made a decision to not enterprise outdoors the town limits, a few of my colleagues did and had a wonderful expertise. Listed below are some choices to contemplate if you wish to discover past Fairbanks:
Chena Sizzling Springs
Chena Sizzling Springs is about 60 miles from Fairbanks on a paved, maintained highway; nonetheless, the freeway will be icy, and cell service is unpredictable. The excellent news is there’s an incredible probability 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 an area driver.) It’s also possible to guide a shuttle with Chena Sizzling Springs Resort.
Dalton Freeway
The Dalton Freeway takes a number of days in case you drive all the best way to the North Slope, and also you’ll be driving on the gravel a part of the best way. Examine with the automobile rental firm first to ensure they help you take the automobile on this journey. It is perhaps smart to contemplate this one for summer time 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 have the ability to 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 sudden (or intentional) tenting and cooking in a single day: spare tires, heat clothes, water, and a primary help equipment. And since fuel stations are generally far aside, make sure you all the time have sufficient fuel and don’t minimize it shut.
You’ll come throughout the Lodge at Black Rapids as you journey on the Richardson Freeway. This can be a tremendous place to cease and benefit from the landscapes round you. You possibly can study extra in regards to the Lodge at Black Rapids on this article.
Parks Freeway
The George Parks Freeway, often known as the Parks Freeway, connects Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska. This drive is stuffed with gorgeous 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 primary highway within the park is open so far as the Park Customer Middle. 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’ve got it solely for your self!
The best way to Lease a Automotive in Fairbanks for the Winter
The best method is to easily hire a automobile on the airport. Should you don’t wish to drive after a flight that arrives at midnight or later (which many do), some rental corporations will ship a automobile to your lodge.
All the automobile leases in Alaska may have winter tires, in order that’s a bonus. However if you’re actually hesitant or nervous about driving on salt-free, icy roads, then reserve a automobile with studded tires. These will present the perfect traction; nonetheless, it is going to additionally value extra to hire.
Be sure you know learn how to use the automobile plugin characteristic, as that is one thing you’ll most definitely want to make use of. Additionally, earlier than you are taking off from the airport, ensure that 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 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 ensure you 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 while you count on 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 presents a 24-hour shuttle service. Employees will counsel corporations 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 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.
