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| Air |
The Fairbanks International Airport is about six miles from downtown Fairbanks. Shuttles, rental cars, taxi service and the occasional bus are available for transport to your final destination. Service to and from Fairbanks is offered by Alaska Airlines year-round. Northwest Airlines often has summer and seasonal flights, and offers daily direct flights from Fairbanks to the Lower 48. Several regional and commuter carriers fly between Fairbanks and numerous Interior communities, as well as Anchorage and some destinations in Canada. Also, Thomas Cook powered by Condor, Germany's largest leisure airline, provide weekly summer service between Fairbanks and Frankfurt. Charter flights are also available from Japan via Japan Airlines through much of the winter.
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| Rail |
The last full-service railroad in the United States, the Alaska Railroad, provides daily summer service and weekend winter service between Fairbanks and Anchorage. Summer routes include stops in Denali for visitors to take advantage of activities. Log on to www.alaskarailroad.com for complete schedules and pricing.
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| Alaska's Marine Highway |
The Alaska Marine Highway System has been operating year-round since 1963, with regularly scheduled passenger and vehicle service to 30 communities in Alaska, plus Bellingham, Washington and Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Visitors can access Alaska - the Inside Passage, Southeast and Southwest, the Aleutian Islands and the Alaska Peninsula by one of the nine vessels in the AMHS fleet. Passenger and vehicle capacity as well as amenities such as staterooms, food service and observation lounges vary on each ship. A popular trip for travelers is to continue north via motor-home to Fairbanks and Denali.
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| Ground |
Shuttle service companies provide daily scheduled transportation throughout Alaska and the Yukon. Statewide charter services can also be arranged. Autos, trucks, vans and motor-homes can be rented at a number of convenient locations.
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| Around Town |
Rent a car, take a shuttle, flag down a taxi, or check the Fairbanks North Star Borough MACS Transit Bus System schedule. If you have a car and just need a place to park you can make use of the $8.3 million, 380-space Downtown Transportation Center and Parking Garage in the heart of Fairbanks. For one dollar an hour, you can park and walk around downtown. The Log Cabin Visitor Information Center is within walking distance and has information on attractions, shopping, dining, lodging and services. Pick up a copy of the Fairbanks Self-Guided Downtown Walking Tour to explore the past and present of Fairbanks.
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| Highways |
Originally built during World War II as a link between Alaska and the Lower 48, the Alaska Highway (#2) is a fully paved modern highway with services about 50 miles apart. The Richardson Highway (#4) is the home stretch of the Alaska Highway leading north to Fairbanks. The Steese Highway (#6) heads north out of Fairbanks to the Yukon River, with about one-third of the road paved. The Parks Highway (#3) links Alaska’s two largest cities, Fairbanks and Anchorage, a 360-mile or 6 1/2 hour drive in the summer. The Elliott Highway (#2) heads north from Fox to Livengood. The Dalton Highway (#11), also known as “the Haul Road,” closely follows the route of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline for which the road was constructed and is one of America’s great motoring adventures with magnificent scenery. It is a narrow gravel service road with substantial truck traffic. Services are available at the Yukon River and Coldfoot. After Coldfoot, the next services are available 244 miles away in Deadhorse. The Dalton Highway is open to the public for 496 miles north of Fairbanks. Security gates at Prudhoe Bay restrict access, though tours are available. Best time to drive the highway is between late May and mid-September.
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| Highway Conditions |
Roads in Alaska vary from two-lane highways to narrow country roads. Some stretches have little or no shoulder. A unique feature of Interior Alaska roads and highways are frost heaves; bumps and dips caused by freezing and thawing of the ground below the road surface. Exercise caution when approaching such terrain. Road construction and maintenance happens in the summer, so be aware that you may encounter some construction along the way. For an up-to-date report on road conditions, call (907) 456-7623. The Log Cabin Visitor Information Center also posts the latest road condition report from the Alaska Department of Transportation website.
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| Alaska Vehicle Regulations |
Motor vehicle liability insurance is required in Alaska. The speed limit is 55 miles per hour on major highways unless otherwise posted. Seat belts are mandatory for all occupants, and any child under four must ride in a federally approved child safety seat. Helmets are mandatory for motorcycle passengers. It is unlawful to use only your parking lights, day or night, when the vehicle is in motion. For more information, consult the Alaska DMV website.
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| Canadian Customs and Border Information |
Proof of citizenship (current passport or birth certificate) and a valid driver’s license are required for entry. Anyone under 18 traveling alone must have a notarized letter of permission from a parent or guardian. A valid driver’s license, motor vehicle registration form and proof of liability insurance are required for vehicular traffic. Some documentary regulations will be changing in the near future, so check out the Get a Passport Now website for details and change dates.
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| Alaska/Canada Border Locations and Hours |
Top of the World Highway (Poker Creek)
Open mid-May to mid-Sept, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Alaska Highway (Beaver Creek)
Open year-round, 24 hours a day
Haines Highway
Open year-round, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Klondike Highway (Skagway)
U.S. – open year-round, 8 a.m. to midnight
Canada – 8 a.m. to midnight (Nov-May), 24 hours a day (June-Oct)
Though verified at press time, if time is critical to your travel plans, please call the local U.S. Customs office at (907) 474-0307, the Alaska Highway U.S. border station at (907) 774-2252 or the Canadian Customs office at Beaver Creek, YT at (867) 862-7230.
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