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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 foundations of the highway for winter driving in Alaska could possibly be so completely 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 intently 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 assumed to myself. “Don’t brake?”
I discovered quickly sufficient that not braking is sweet recommendation. It’s greatest to not use your brakes to decelerate, or you can slide. Take your foot off the fuel, and also you’ll progressively 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.”
Assume Ice Street Truckers, the truth present the place truckers drive their rigs on routes that embrace frozen lakes and rivers. The present offers 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 an enormous X.
Rule quantity three: “Don’t merge too shortly. Folks listed here are used to plenty of area, they usually don’t wish to be crowded.”
Geiger went over just a few extra of the commonsense fundamentals, comparable to having further meals, water, and blankets, and added that cellphone service could possibly 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 had been staying at Pikes Waterfront Lodge, we made our approach to Alaska Auto Rental, the place workers handed out maps to the a number of of us renting automobiles. He additionally had just a few extra ideas: “Comply with the tracks in entrance of you and drive together with your headlights on, day or evening.” Then, a workers member turned over the keys to a shiny new Nissan Rogue.
I cherished the car 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 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 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—not less than the day I used to be behind the wheel—not one individual honked and even gave me the stink eye as they handed.
Try my Alaska winter packing record 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 following exit was. I’ve a horrible sense of course, 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 automotive
After a few hours alone, I recruited one other convention attendee to hitch 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 after we returned to plug within the automotive. She quizzed with a smile, “We’ve got 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 discovered 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 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 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 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 pal 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 principal 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 season and Winter
Depend on native rides as an alternative 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 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 beneath zero), I requested somebody at Pikes Waterfront Lodge to assist, they usually 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 beneath zero, and guests should take the whole lot about winter driving in Alaska significantly. The Alaska Division of Transportation recommends to verify the highway circumstances earlier than you go.
Despite the fact that I made a decision to not enterprise exterior the 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 highway; nevertheless, the freeway could be icy, and cell service is unpredictable. The excellent news is there’s an awesome probability to see moose, and the drive by way of the forest is attractive. (I made the journey in a van with a dozen of my colleagues and a neighborhood driver.) You can even e-book a shuttle with Chena Scorching Springs Resort.
Dalton Freeway
The Dalton Freeway takes a number of days for those who 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. Verify with the automotive rental firm first to verify they assist you to take the car on this journey. It is likely to be clever to contemplate this one for summer time journey, however everytime you go, you’ll have superb 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 assist equipment. And since fuel stations are generally far aside, make sure you at all times 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. 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, also called the Parks Freeway, connects Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska. This drive is filled with beautiful 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 may have it solely for your self!
Learn how to Hire a Automotive in Fairbanks for the Winter
The simplest method is to easily lease a automotive 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 firms will ship a car to your resort.
All the automotive leases in Alaska could 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 automotive with studded tires. These will present the perfect traction; nevertheless, it should additionally price extra to lease.
Be sure you know the best way to use the automotive plugin function, as that is one thing you’ll most definitely want to make use of. Additionally, earlier than you’re taking off from the airport, make it possible for your rental has a heavy-duty ice/snow scraper. A tiny one received’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 beneath zero
- Plan forward and be sure to have a full take of fuel
- Drive together 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 if you anticipate to be again
- Pack further meals, water, matches, and a blanket
- Guarantee you may 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 gives a 24-hour shuttle service. Employees will counsel 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 Suggestions
To name a taxi, strive 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.
