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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 street for winter driving in Alaska might be so totally different from driving in my hometown of Denver. Nonetheless, I cherished having wheels and freedom to discover—at occasions, with white knuckles.
Despite the fact that I reside in Colorado, I’m not a fan of driving in snow. So, I listened carefully as a employees member with Discover Fairbanks shared tips 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 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 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 Street.”
Suppose 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 search 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 an enormous X.
Rule quantity three: “Don’t merge too shortly. Folks listed below are used to numerous house, and so they don’t prefer to be crowded.”
Geiger went over a couple of extra of the commonsense fundamentals, similar to having additional meals, water, and blankets, and added that cellular phone 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 option to Alaska Auto Rental, the place employees handed out maps to the a number of of us renting autos. 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 employees member turned over the keys to a shiny new Nissan Rogue.
I cherished the automobile 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 discovered 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 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 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 street—at the very least 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 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 path, and even with my telephone’s GPS, I didn’t wish to find yourself anyplace close to the Ice Street.
You must 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 resort, earlier than we walked to the car parking zone, I requested her to remind me once 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 one of the best time maneuvering city, along 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 automobile. Plugging in your automobile in Alaska is a part of life. It’s to forestall 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, inns, 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 manner 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 mentioned, “Let’s go down this little avenue. Do you suppose 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 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 could 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 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 experience when he heard me on the telephone 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 beneath zero), I requested somebody at Pikes Waterfront Lodge to assist, and so they gladly did.
Plugging within the automobile was simple sufficient. However I did make an observation to myself that evening: Bear in mind to unplug the automobile earlier than driving away the subsequent morning.
Driving Distances Past Fairbanks
Temperatures can fall properly beneath zero, and guests should take every part about winter driving in Alaska critically. The Alaska Division of Transportation recommends to verify the street circumstances earlier than you go.
Despite the fact that I made a decision to not enterprise exterior town limits, a few of my colleagues did and had a superb expertise. Listed here are some choices to contemplate if you wish to discover past Fairbanks:
Chena Scorching Springs
Chena Scorching Springs is about 60 miles from Fairbanks on a paved, maintained street; nevertheless, the freeway could be icy, and cell service is unpredictable. The excellent news is there’s an excellent probability to see moose, and the drive by way of the forest is beautiful. (I made the journey in a van with a dozen of my colleagues and an area driver.) It’s also possible to ebook a shuttle with Chena Scorching 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 may be clever to contemplate 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 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 package. And since fuel stations are typically far aside, make sure you at all times 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. It is 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 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 individuals 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 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 totally for your self!
Find out how to Lease a Automobile in Fairbanks for the Winter
The best manner is to easily lease a automobile 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 automobile to your resort.
All the automobile leases in Alaska may have winter tires, in order that’s a bonus. However in case you are actually hesitant or fearful about driving on salt-free, icy roads, then reserve a automobile with studded tires. These will present one of the best traction; nevertheless, it can additionally value extra to lease.
Ensure you know the right way to use the automobile plugin function, as that is one thing you’ll probably 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 received’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 footwear inside your automobile.
- Give individuals loads of house
- Lease a automobile with studs for additional security
- Plug in your automobile if it’s beneath zero
- Plan forward and be sure to 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 at all times a good suggestion to let somebody know the place you’re going and while you anticipate to be again
- Pack additional meals, water, matches, and a blanket
- Guarantee you will have 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. Workers will recommend firms who will 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.
