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Knowing what to expect when it comes to winter travel and safety is an important part of enjoying your trip. Winter in Fairbanks is truly beautiful, with crisp air, sparkling snow, and northern lights illuminating the sky.
At the same time, roads are consistently covered in packed snow and ice, which makes winter safety essential and calls for slower, more attentive travel. With the right preparation, you can safely enjoy the magic of Fairbanks’ winter landscape.
“Something impressive about winter in Alaska is that the roads are very well maintained when it comes to snow plowing and ice buildup. Yes, you will be driving on roads that are thick with ice for many months, but they are also continually sanded.”
How to safely drive in winter
The Alaska Department of Transportation recommends these expert winter driving tips:
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Don't rush. Take your time and reduce your speed to match the road and weather conditions.
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Clean off your car. Before driving, make sure to remove snow and ice from the windshield, windows, rear window, top of vehicle, headlights and taillights.
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Stay alert, especially when driving in the dark. Moose and other large animals are common road hazards, especially in winter. Caribou migrations occur on the Richardson and Tok-Cutoff Highways, so be extra alert in these areas.
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Increase your following distance to allow for more time to stop. Stopping on ice and snow takes longer than stopping on pavement.
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Drive carefully near snowplows by keeping your distance (stay at least 200 feet back). Never pass or tailgate a snowplow.
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Drive with your headlights on. Driving with your headlights on helps other drivers see you. This is especially important in winter when storms and less daylight can impact visibility.
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Slower traffic keep right. If you’re moving slower than the flow of traffic, keep to the right when possible. When it is safe to do so, pull over and let people pass you.
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Be aware that bridges and overpasses ice first. Even if the rest of the road is in good condition, be mindful that bridges and overpasses may still have ice on them.
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Remember to always wear a seatbelt, don’t text while driving, avoid driving under the influence, and be prepared for limited cell phone coverage.
Winter safety tips
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Plug your car in. Cars in Alaska are “winterized,” which means that they’re outfitted with engine block heaters, oil pan heaters and battery blankets. Plugging your car in is an important part of making sure that it’ll start even in the coldest temperatures.
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Bring extra necessities and cold weather clothing. You’ll never regret having a few extra layers available. Better safe than sorry!
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Be flexible. In the event of freezing rain or other extreme winter weather, the safest thing that you can do is have an indoor backup plan. Shifting your plans and “waiting out” harsh weather can turn a risky situation into a wonderful experience.
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Call 511 for current driving conditions.
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Road Maintenance: Fairbanks rarely shuts down for weather. Visitors are often surprised to find that businesses, schools and roads stay open, and people continue to drive even when the roads are covered in snow. Closures only occur during the most extreme conditions, most often being freezing rain events. With that said, it’s important to make informed decisions about your winter travel by staying up to speed on weather, snow removal and current driving conditions. Road maintenance is done on a specific schedule from inner thoroughfares to outlying areas. For reliable information about which areas receive road maintenance when, look at the city’s snow removal updates and the Alaska Department of Transportation’s Winter Road Maintenance Priority Map. Many roads outside the city center are maintained by road service areas or private contractors. You can also call 511 for real-time road condition updates.
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Choose a vehicle capable of handling winter conditions (ex. 4WD or AWD). Not all car rentals in Alaska come with four-wheel or all-wheel drive. If you are unfamiliar with driving in snowy conditions and/or planning to drive to places outside the city center, it is recommended to reserve a rental vehicle with four-wheel or all-wheel drive as well as winter tires. Check with your car rental agency about how they prepare their vehicles for winter driving conditions.
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Driving is optional: If you don’t feel comfortable driving in the snow and ice, there are plenty of other transportation options including tours, a train, taxis/ride shares, public transportation, and more.
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Learn more about winter transportation in Alaska: Winter Resources, Transportation & Public Facilities, State of Alaska
Always remember:
A safe time is a good time. This blog is meant to prepare you, not scare you. Thousands of visitors drive on winter roads in Fairbanks every year, with great success! Driving in the winter is a truly beautiful experience. Picture peaceful, snowy landscapes, shimmering icicles, snow-capped mountains, and evergreen trees. Nothing beats the beauty of a winter drive in Interior Alaska. Have fun out there!
For more information on how to prepare for a winter trip to Fairbanks, check out the rest of our winter blog series: What is winter weather like in Fairbanks?, What to pack for a winter trip to Fairbanks and Things to do in winter: Fairbanks, AK
Sources: “Winter Driving Tips.” Transportation & Public Facilities, State of Alaska, https://dot.alaska.gov/winterdrivingtips.shtml., “Winter Road Maintenance Priority Map.” Statewide Maintenance & Operations, Transportation & Public Facilities, State of Alaska, https://dot.alaska.gov/stwdmno/wintermap.shtml., “Rural Services.” Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK, https://www.fnsb.gov/289/Rural-Services., “Alaska 511.” Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, https://511.alaska.gov/., “Winter Resources.” Transportation & Public Facilities, State of Alaska, https://dot.alaska.gov/winter.shtml.
