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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 foundations of the street for winter driving in Alaska may very well be so completely different from driving in my hometown of Denver. Nonetheless, I liked having wheels and freedom to discover—at instances, with white knuckles.
Regardless that I reside in Colorado, I’m not a fan of driving in snow. So, I listened intently as a workers 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 discovered quickly sufficient that not braking is nice recommendation. It’s finest to not use your brakes to decelerate, or you would slide. Take your foot off the fuel, and also you’ll step by step 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.”
Suppose Ice Highway Truckers, the fact 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 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 rapidly. Individuals listed here are used to numerous area, and so they don’t wish to be crowded.”
Geiger went over a couple of extra of the commonsense fundamentals, corresponding to having additional meals, water, and blankets, and added that mobile phone service may very well be sketchy in sure areas exterior of city.
“That’s about it,” Geiger stated 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 workers handed out maps to the a number of of us renting automobiles. He additionally had a couple of extra suggestions: “Comply with the tracks in entrance of you and drive along with your headlights on, day or night time.” Then, a workers member turned over the keys to a shiny new Nissan Rogue.
I liked the automobile however quickly found that my Sorels, excellent for strolling on snow and ice, had been clumsy when driving. I couldn’t “really feel” the pedals. Later, I discovered a tip from a neighborhood to produce other sneakers or boots useful which might be 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 area. I couldn’t appear to differentiate 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 street—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 listing for excessive temperatures.
What’s it wish 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 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 subsequent exit was. I’ve a horrible sense of path, and even with my cellphone’s GPS, I didn’t need 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 resort, earlier than we walked to the parking zone, I requested her to remind me after we returned to plug within the automotive. She quizzed with a smile, “We now have 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, along with her navigating and me gripping the wheel on the 10:00 and a pair of:00 positions, as I discovered in highschool drivers’ ed.
However neither of us had ever plugged in a automotive. 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 automobiles can be an on a regular basis sight. You plug the twine right into a block heater, which is in public locations, resorts, and a few companies.
Roads will not be salted in Alaska
One other tidbit I discovered is that the 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 possibility.
Whereas I couldn’t affirm this, I’m unsure they plow a lot, both. As my good friend and I drove searching for sights to {photograph}, I stated, “Let’s go down this little road. Do you assume they plow the facet streets?”
“What do you imply?” she replied. “They don’t plow the predominant 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 simple.)
Earlier than I arrived in Fairbanks, I assumed getting an Uber was the best 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 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 good friend and me a experience when he heard me on the cellphone making an attempt 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 under zero), I requested somebody at Pikes Waterfront Lodge to assist, and so they gladly did.
Plugging within the automotive was simple sufficient. However I did make a remark to myself that night time: Bear in mind to unplug the automotive earlier than driving away the subsequent morning.
Driving Distances Past Fairbanks
Temperatures can fall properly under zero, and guests should take the whole lot about winter driving in Alaska severely. The Alaska Division of Transportation recommends to examine the street circumstances earlier than you go.
Regardless that I made a decision to not enterprise exterior the town limits, a few of my colleagues did and had a superb 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 street; nonetheless, the freeway will be icy, and cell service is unpredictable. The excellent news is there’s an amazing likelihood to see moose, and the drive via the forest is beautiful. (I made the journey in a van with a dozen of my colleagues and a neighborhood driver.) You too can e book a shuttle with Chena Sizzling 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. Test with the automotive rental firm first to verify they mean you can take the automobile on this journey. It is likely to be sensible 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 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 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 equipment. And since fuel stations are generally far aside, make sure you at all times 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. This can be a tremendous place to cease and benefit from the landscapes round you. You may study 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 filled with gorgeous 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 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!
How one can Hire a Automotive in Fairbanks for the Winter
The simplest means is to easily hire a automotive on the airport. When you don’t need to drive after a flight that arrives at midnight or later (which many do), some rental firms will ship a automobile to your resort.
The entire automotive leases in Alaska can 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; nonetheless, it’ll additionally value extra to hire.
Be sure you know tips on how to use the automotive plugin characteristic, as that is one thing you’ll probably want to make use of. Additionally, earlier than you’re taking off from the airport, ensure that your rental has a heavy-duty ice/snow scraper. A tiny one gained’t do!
Recap of Alaska Winter Driving Ideas
- Don’t brake; as an alternative, 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 area
- Hire a automotive with studs for additional security
- Plug in your automotive if it’s under zero
- Plan forward and ensure you have a full take of fuel
- Drive along with your headlights on day or night time
- 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 whenever you count on to be again
- Pack additional meals, water, matches, and a blanket
- Guarantee you’ve got 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 affords a 24-hour shuttle service. Employees will recommend 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.
