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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.
On hiring an RV in Fairbanks
Unlike when hiring a rental car, people tend to book an RV a bit further in advance, and there are a few reasons for this.
When you’re hiring an RV, you’re not simply hiring something with four wheels to buzz around a city for a few days, instead you’re hiring a vehicle that you could well be living in for days, weeks, or even months. As such, people tend to have far more specific needs — some may require a certain number of berths, perhaps an onboard kitchen, or more comfortable living space. All this means that doing your research to find the right RV for you can pay off handsomely — but it also means that supply is more limited. When supply is limited, it is a good idea to book as far in advance as possible so that you know that the RV you need will be waiting for you when you arrive.
With this in mind, while it isn’t unusual for people to book a hire car the day before they need it, with RVs, people often book their vehicle months in advance. So our advice to you is if you’re planning to rent an RV, start researching today, and when you find the right RV for you, book it!
One more point, another way RV rentals differ from regular cars, is that bookings are not instant. Once you make an RV booking it will need to be approved by the provider. Yet another reason not to leave your RV rental until you’re sitting in the airport boarding lounge.
If you’re new to RVs and not sure where to start, please give our RV rental information page a read as it explains many of the basics you’ll need to know to make an informed decision.
We could start off by telling you that a typical customer hiring an RV in Fairbanks tends to look at RVs with two or four berths (including a toilet and shower). This isn’t really all that helpful though, as they type of RV you should hire in Fairbanks depends very much on the type of RV you — rather than a typical customer — needs. Consider the following questions:
How big is your travel group? What is your budget? What facilities do you need — or not need? Where are you planning to go? How long for? Knowing the answers to these questions — and plenty more — is the best way to make sure the RV you hire in Fairbanks is the right one for you.
Solo travellers or couples might find a compact RV to be more than enough, while families — especially those with young kids — or larger groups might prefer a more spacious motorhome with multiple sleeping areas.
Next, consider the facilities you need and the facilities you want. These might sound the same, but they are very different! Basic RVs often include a bed and simple cooking gear, while more luxurious options feature kitchens, bathrooms, and comfortable bedding. For example, if you’re planning on camping, perhaps paying the extra for comfortable beds isn’t really necessary, but if you’re not even packing a tent, then the extra expense required to get more comfortable beds might be a smart choice.
Where you’re going also matters. If you’re planning to just potter around Fairbanks and its immediate surrounds, then you could probably get away with a standard RV. That said, if you’re planning to drive from Fairbanks to Los Angeles — or New York City — something more spacious would be a sound investment.
Think about your budget, as RVs vary in cost depending on size, amenities, and rental duration, and while shortening the length of your trip might bring different options within your budget, spending more to get a bigger van may mean you’ll spend even less on hotels. Either way, do the math!
In conclusion, when you’re booking an RV for pickup from Fairbanks, it pays to be honest when considering what you need versus what you want, along with what fits with your budget and overall travel plans. It’s the best way to maximise your chance of getting the perfect RV for you.
For most rental RV providers, the minimum age to rent an RV is the same as for car rentals — 21 years of age. Depending on the RV rental supplier, those under 21 may only be able to rent certain vehicles. Double check with the RV rental provider to see what their specific requirements are.
In most cases, you won’t need to present a special type of licence to rent an RV — you’ll only be asked to present your standard and valid full driving licence. Keep in mind that a probationary, learner permit, or provisional licence are not accepted for RV hire. If your licence is in a language other than English, you’ll need to provide an International Driving Permit in conjunction with your valid licence. If you’re unsure as to whether your licence will be accepted, you should contact your prospective RV provider prior to booking.
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