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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 could possibly be so totally different from driving in my hometown of Denver. Nonetheless, I liked having wheels and freedom to discover—at instances, with white knuckles.
Although I dwell in Colorado, I’m not a fan of driving in snow. So, I listened carefully as a workers member with Discover Fairbanks shared recommendations 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?” I believed to myself. “Don’t brake?”
I realized quickly sufficient that not braking is sweet 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 progressively 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.”
Assume Ice Street 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 needed 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 shortly. Folks listed here are used to numerous area, and so they don’t prefer to be crowded.”
Geiger went over a couple of extra of the commonsense fundamentals, reminiscent of having further meals, water, and blankets, and added that mobile phone service could possibly be sketchy in sure areas outdoors 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 have been staying at Pikes Waterfront Lodge, we made our option 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: “Observe the tracks in entrance of you and drive along with your headlights on, day or evening.” Then, a workers member turned over the keys to a shiny new Nissan Rogue.
I liked the car however quickly found that my Sorels, excellent for strolling on snow and ice, have been clumsy when driving. I couldn’t “really feel” the pedals. Later, I realized a tip from an area to produce other footwear or boots useful which might be 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 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 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.
Take a look at my Alaska winter packing checklist for excessive temperatures.
What’s it prefer to drive in Alaska in winter?
Fairbanks is a straightforward 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 realizing the place or when the following exit was. I’ve a horrible sense of path, and even with my telephone’s GPS, I didn’t need to find yourself wherever close to the Ice Street.
It’s a must to plug in your automotive
After a few hours alone, 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 after we returned to plug within the automotive. She quizzed with a smile, “We’ve a Tesla?”
As a Californian, she had even much less expertise than I did driving in snowy situations. However collectively, we had the perfect time maneuvering city, together 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 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 automobiles can also be an on a regular basis sight. You plug the twine right into a block heater, which is in public locations, accommodations, and a few companies.
Roads will not be 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 approach 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 stated, “Let’s go down this little road. Do you assume they plow the aspect streets?”
“What do you imply?” she replied. “They don’t plow the essential 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 best choice. Not so. With staffing shortages and hovering fuel costs, Uber and Lyft drivers could 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 supplied to shut the store and provides my good friend and me a trip when he heard me on the telephone 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 under 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 evening: Keep in mind to unplug the automotive earlier than driving away the following morning.
Driving Distances Past Fairbanks
Temperatures can fall effectively under zero, and guests should take every little thing about winter driving in Alaska severely. The Alaska Division of Transportation recommends to examine the highway situations earlier than you go.
Although 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 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; nonetheless, the freeway could be icy, and cell service is unpredictable. The excellent news is there’s a fantastic probability to see moose, and the drive via the forest is attractive. (I made the journey in a van with a dozen of my colleagues and an area driver.) You can too guide 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. Test with the automotive rental firm first to ensure they help you take the car on this journey. It may be clever to think about this one for summer time 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.
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 vitality 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 fuel stations are generally far aside, make sure you all the time have sufficient fuel and don’t lower 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’ll be able to study extra in regards to 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 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. Truly – it’s partially open. The primary highway within the park is open so far as the Park Customer Heart. 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 could have it solely for your self!
The way to Hire a Automobile in Fairbanks for the Winter
The best approach is to easily hire a automotive on the airport. For those who 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.
All the automotive leases in Alaska may have winter tires, in order that’s a bonus. However if you’re actually hesitant or frightened about driving on salt-free, icy roads, then reserve a automotive with studded tires. These will present the perfect traction; nonetheless, it’ll additionally price extra to hire.
Ensure you know how one can use the automotive plugin characteristic, as that is one thing you’ll almost certainly want to make use of. Additionally, earlier than you’re taking off from the airport, be sure that your rental has a heavy-duty ice/snow scraper. A tiny one gained’t do!
Recap of Alaska Winter Driving Suggestions
- Don’t brake; as an alternative, take your foot off the fuel.
- Don’t put on clunky boots; have an additional pair of driving footwear inside your automotive.
- Give folks loads of area
- Hire a automotive with studs for further security
- Plug in your automotive if it’s under zero
- Plan forward and be sure you have a full take of fuel
- 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 all the time 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 could 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 affords a 24-hour shuttle service. Workers will recommend firms who might 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, 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.
