Fairbanks, in the Tanana Vallet, is one of the best year-round destinations in Alaska. The city has long, cold winters with short, warm summers. Fairbank’s natural beauty was made to explore with the comfort of an RV rental. There are several pick-up and drop-off locations in the area, which makes it more convenient for RVing. If you prefer a smaller vehicle, you can also compare rental cars in Fairbanks through VroomVroomVroom.
Fairbanks is popular with tourists who love the winter season, but it also gets many visitors during the summertime. The city offers plenty of fantastic visual sights and fun activities including soaking in hot springs, skiing on the amazing snow-covered mountains, hiking the Chena Dome Trail and kayaking the meandering Chena River.
Some of our favorite things to do year-round in Fairbanks are:
Summer (June, July, August): The Midnight Sun Festival (in June), Golden Days (in July) and Tanana Valley State Fair (in August) are three extraordinary events you should not miss when in Fairbanks. Marked by 30,000 attendees every year, the historic Midnight Sun Festival is the biggest single-day event in Alaska. If you're looking for the best bird-watching spots in Fairbanks, head to Creamer's Field where you can see over 100 species of birds.
Fall (September, October, November): For an authentic Alaskan experience, sign up for A+ Dog Sled Excursions & Tours and go for an enjoyable ride in a dog sled basket. There are several dog mushing businesses to choose from in the Fairbanks area such as 1st Alaska Tours, Wild and Free Mushing, and Chena Outdoor Collective. Don’t miss to stop by a farmer’s market and take a quick tour of HooDoo Brewing Company.
Winter (December, January, February): Head to the North Pole to visit the Santa Claus House which is just a short 20-minute drive from downtown Fairbanks. Check out the amazing Chena Hot Springs Resort located just outside of town. The resort is famous for its natural hot springs, spectacular ice museum, and great Aurora Borealis viewing. Only half an hour drive from Fairbanks via AK-2 W and AK-6 N, Ski Land has been a favorite winter sports destination for skiers and snowboarders since it opened in 1962.
Spring (March, April, May): Visit a local museum to develop a sense of place, choosing from Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center, Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Museum, Fairbanks Children’s Museum, and University of Alaska Museum of the North. You may also want to explore the area at your own pace and do a self-guided walking tour.
Year-Round: For some of the best things to do in Fairbanks, visit the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum, University of Alaska Museum of the North, and The Palace Theatre. Make sure to also spend some time at the Aurora Ice Museum while exploring the ice sculptures and watching a sculpting demonstration. Of course, no visit to Fairbanks is complete without seeing the fantastic Northern Lights located inside the Auroral Oval.
River's Edge Resort RV Park on Boat Street is located on the shore of the Chena River. It offers full hookups, partial hookups, pull-through sites, cable TV, free Wi-Fi, a dump station, shower facilities, and restroom facilities. The RV park also features a gift shop, spacious wooded sites, car wash/RV rental wash facility, and paved bike/walking trails.
Lakeview Terrace RV Park is a quiet RV park nestled near local wildlife. Less than a 10-minute drive from Fairbanks via AK-2 E, the park provides pull-through motorhome sites, several back-in sites, restroom facilities, shower facilities, and laundry facilities. It also offers a lovely view of Lewistown Lake and all sites feature a picnic table and a barbecue grill.
Chena River State Recreation Site also known as Chena Wayside is located at 3530 Geraghty Avenue and can be accessed from Fairbanks International Airport via Airport Way and Washington Drive. This 29-acre park which sits on the banks of the Chena River has over 60 campsites for vehicles. Great facilities include 16 have electric and water hookup, picnic sites along the river, drinking water, restrooms with flush toilets, dump station, boat launch, and river-side walking trails.
Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum features over 84 American-made antique vehicles, including 1904 Stevens-Duryea, 1899 Hertel, 1921 Heine-Velox, and many more classic automobiles. Located on Wedgewood Drive, the museum showcases the heritage of automobiles after the Gold Rush era. Grab the keys to your RV rental and head over to see the amazing history behind American automobiles.
The Aurora Ice Museum is located on Chena Hot Springs Road in Fairbanks. The ice museum is also known as an ice hotel and was the first of its kind. Constructed out of ice, this museum is something you must see during your stay in Fairbanks. Inside the ice house is a gallery and ice bar, as well as overhead chandeliers constructed of ice crystals and ice fireplace.
Pioneer Park is a 44-acre city park located along Airport Way in Fairbanks. Several museums and historic displays can be found within the park, such as the Pioneer Air Museum and Tanana Valley Railroad Museum. There are also plenty of restaurants and shops in the park. Several attractions are also included like the Bear Gallery, Mini-Golf Fairbanks, Palace Theater, and Crooked Creek Railroad.
You need to be at least 25 years old. However, some providers may rent to those drivers that are 21 and over. Learn more here.
No. Your full and valid driver’s license is enough in order to drive an RV in Fairbanks. License must be in English or an International Driving Permit (IDP) will be required.
There are plenty of places to camp near Fairbanks including Riverview RV Park, Tanana Valley Campground and RV Park, and Borealis Basecamp.
