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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 automobile. Little did I do know that the principles of the street 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 dwell 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 realized quickly sufficient that not braking is nice recommendation. It’s greatest to not use your brakes to decelerate, or you could possibly slide. Take your foot off the fuel, and also you’ll step by step 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.”
Assume 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 wished 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 shortly. Individuals listed here are used to plenty of house, they usually don’t prefer to be crowded.”
Geiger went over a number of extra of the commonsense fundamentals, comparable to having further meals, water, and blankets, and added that cellphone service might 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 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, 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 helpful 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 area. I couldn’t appear to tell apart the place the medians have been. Therefore, I drove a lot slower than all the opposite 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 individual 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 simple city to navigate, even with its many one-way streets. Nonetheless, I made the choice to not go away 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 subsequent exit was. I’ve a horrible sense of route, and even with my cellphone’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 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 automobile. 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 situations. However collectively, we had the most effective time maneuvering city, along with her navigating and me gripping the wheel on the 10:00 and a pair 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 be an on a regular basis sight. You plug the wire right into a block heater, which is in public locations, accommodations, and a few companies.
Roads aren’t salted in Alaska
One other tidbit I realized is that 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 pal and I drove in search of sights to {photograph}, I mentioned, “Let’s go down this little avenue. Do you assume they plow the facet streets?”
“What do you imply?” she replied. “They don’t plow the 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 simple.)
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 season and Winter
Depend on native rides as a substitute of Uber
The excellent news is that each individual in Fairbanks we met was pleasant and useful. One small enterprise proprietor even provided to shut the store and provides my pal and me a trip when he heard me on the cellphone 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 under 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 night time: Keep in mind to unplug the automobile earlier than driving away the subsequent morning.
Driving Distances Past Fairbanks
Temperatures can fall nicely under zero, and guests should take every little thing about winter driving in Alaska significantly. The Alaska Division of Transportation recommends to verify the street situations earlier than you go.
Regardless that I made a decision to not enterprise exterior 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 ideal probability 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 an area driver.) You may also guide a shuttle with Chena Sizzling Springs Resort.
Dalton Freeway
The Dalton Freeway takes a number of days should 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 automobile rental firm first to ensure they can help you take the automobile on this journey. It could 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 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 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 fuel stations are typically 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. It is a tremendous place to cease and benefit from the landscapes round you. You may 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 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 primary street 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 have got it completely for your self!
Tips on how to Lease a Automotive in Fairbanks for the Winter
The best approach is to easily lease a automobile on the airport. For those who 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.
The entire automobile leases in Alaska can 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 most effective traction; nonetheless, it would additionally value extra to lease.
Ensure you know tips on how to use the automobile plugin characteristic, as that is one thing you’ll most certainly 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 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 footwear inside your automobile.
- Give folks loads of house
- Lease a automobile with studs for further security
- Plug in your automobile if it’s under 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 at all times a good suggestion to let somebody know the place you’re going and if you count on to be again
- Pack further meals, water, matches, and a blanket
- Guarantee you have 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 affords a 24-hour shuttle service. Employees will counsel corporations 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.