Snow-covered rooftops of downtown Anchorage at sunrise with the Chugach Mountains behind

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Northern lights in Anchorage

By Deepak R · Updated 23 September 2026

Anchorage, Alaska. Photo: Will Buckner, CC BY 2.0

You can see them from Anchorage, but for a trip built around the aurora, go north to Fairbanks.

Key takeaways

  • Anchorage's visitor bureau says the aurora can be seen over the city from the middle of August through April.
  • Fairbanks is about an hour's flight or a day on the train from Anchorage, so Anchorage works well as a gateway.
  • In Fairbanks, which sits under the auroral oval, nearly half of February and March nights have a clear spell.
  • The most likely viewing hours are the three or four around midnight, and displays come in bursts, so dress for a long wait.

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What to expect in Anchorage

In short Expect some chance but not the best odds: Alaska's tourism board lists Anchorage as having viewing opportunities, but names the Interior and the Arctic for clear, dark skies.

Anchorage sits in Southcentral Alaska, on the coast, with the Chugach Mountains behind it. Alaska's tourism board lists Southcentral, including Anchorage, Girdwood and the Mat-Su Valley, as a place with viewing opportunities, and names the Interior and the Arctic for clear, dark skies away from city lights.

Why we don't give odds here

We don't have measured cloud or aurora odds for Anchorage, so we won't give you a number. What we can say: the aurora needs a dark, clear sky, and a city of lights works against you. If you're in Anchorage on a clear night with an active forecast, get out of town.

How to give yourself a chance from Anchorage

In short Check the University of Alaska Fairbanks aurora forecast and the cloud forecast each evening, get away from city lights with a clear northern view, and stay up around midnight.

  1. Watch the forecast

    The University of Alaska Fairbanks publishes a public aurora forecast, with a 3-day outlook it calls more reliable than its 27-day one. Check it, and the cloud forecast, each evening.

  2. Get away from the lights

    The university's general advice holds anywhere: a spot away from city lights with a clear view of the northern horizon, and not too many trees in the way.

  3. Stay up late

    The most likely hours are the three or four around midnight. Displays come in bursts, so dress for a long wait.

  4. Or go with a guide

    Anchorage's visitor bureau suggests an expert guide to find the best vantage points on the night.

When to go north instead

If the aurora is the reason for the trip, base yourself in Fairbanks. It sits under the auroral oval, and nearly half of February and March nights there have a clear spell; the odds are on how many nights you need.

Getting there from Anchorage is easy:

By air

  • Anchorage to Fairbanks is a flight of about an hour
  • Frequent daily service

By train

The Alaska Railroad's Aurora Winter Train

  • Weekends from mid-September to mid-May: north on Saturday, back on Sunday
  • Extra midweek departures on some dates in February and March 2027
  • About 12 hours, with stops including Wasilla, Talkeetna, Healy and Nenana
  • A sightseeing day in its own right

By road

What to do once you're in Fairbanks

Steam rising off the outdoor rock pool at Chena Hot Springs, its boulders heaped with snow

Chena Hot Springs

Day pass $20 · ~60 mi from Fairbanks

An outdoor hot spring in the snow, an ice museum, and the resort's own aurora tour.

A team of huskies in harness running hard through snow at the Iditarod ceremonial start

Dog sledding

From $75 at Chena

A ride behind a husky team, or a lesson in driving your own.

Northern lights in Anchorage: FAQs

Can you see the northern lights in Anchorage?

Yes. Anchorage's visitor bureau says they can be seen from the middle of August through April. Get away from city lights on a clear night.

Is Anchorage or Fairbanks better for the northern lights?

Fairbanks. It sits under the auroral oval and far from the coast, and it's where the state's tourism board and the University of Alaska Fairbanks point aurora-seekers.

How do I get from Anchorage to Fairbanks in winter?

Fly, in about an hour, or take the Alaska Railroad's Aurora Winter Train, about 12 hours, which runs weekends from mid-September to mid-May.

What are the chances of seeing the northern lights in Anchorage?

We don't know, and we won't guess. We have measured cloud records for Fairbanks, not Anchorage.

More on Alaska's northern lights

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