A building made of ice, open every day of the year, with carved sculptures, ice bedrooms and a bar that serves drinks in ice glasses.
Key takeaways
- The Aurora Ice Museum is at Chena Hot Springs Resort, 60 miles from Fairbanks, and stays at 25°F (−7°C) inside all year.
- Entry is by a 45-minute guided tour at $20 per adult or $15 per child aged 6–11, and parkas are lent free.
- Children under 6 can't go in, and tours run at set times, so check the day's times and arrive 15 minutes early.
- Without a car, the resort's shuttle costs $90 each way from Fairbanks airport, many hotels and the visitor center, booked 72 hours ahead.
The Aurora Ice Museum is at Chena Hot Springs Resort, 60 miles from Fairbanks. It was completed in 2005 from over 1,000 tons of ice and snow, and it stays at 25°F (−7°C) inside, summer and winter. You see it on a 45-minute guided tour for $20 per adult. Parkas are lent free at the door.
Inside the ice museum
In short A guide leads you past ice carvings and the four ice bedrooms, then to the ice bar, where an appletini in an ice glass costs $20 extra.
You pull on a borrowed parka and step into a hall where everything is ice: walls, sculptures, furniture. The guide walks you through the carvings and the four ice bedrooms, and ice-carving demonstrations are included when available.
The tour ends at the ice bar. The signature drink is an appletini served in a glass carved from ice, $20 on top of the ticket.
In winter, the odd thing is that the museum is warmer than outside.
Tickets
In short Adults (12+) pay $20 and children aged 6–11 pay $15 for the 45-minute guided tour, and the $20 ice-bar appletini is optional.
| Ticket | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (12+) | $20 | 45-minute guided tour |
| Child (6–11) | $15 | Minimum age 6 |
| Appletini at the ice bar | $20 | Optional add-on |
How to plan your visit
- Check the day's tour times with the resort: tours run at set times.
- Meet at the resort's Activities Center and arrive 15 minutes early.
- Children under 6 can't go in.
The easy plan is to fold the museum into a day at the springs. Everything is on one site, so there's no driving between them.
Afternoon: arrive and soak
Get to the springs and soak.
Early evening: the museum
Take a museum tour.
Night: the aurora
Stay for the resort's 5-hour aurora tour on Charlie Dome ($125).
Getting there
In short Drive 60 miles from Fairbanks along Chena Hot Springs Road, take the resort's shuttle at $90 each way, or join a combined tour from about $275.
The museum is at Chena Hot Springs Resort. Full details are on our Chena Hot Springs guide.
By car
- 60 miles from Fairbanks along Chena Hot Springs Road
- About 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on conditions
The resort's shuttle
$90 each way
- From Fairbanks airport, many hotels and the visitor center
- Booked 72 hours ahead
On a tour
From about $275
- A combined 10-hour Northern Lights & Chena Hot Springs tour, sold by Fairbanks tour operators
- Listed on GetYourGuide for February 2027 dates (converted from INR at 95.54 per US dollar)
- Check whether museum entry is included before you book
Aurora Ice Museum: FAQs
How much is the Aurora Ice Museum?
$20 for adults (12 and over) and $15 for children aged 6 to 11. The appletini at the ice bar is $20 extra.
How long is the Aurora Ice Museum tour?
45 minutes. Arrive 15 minutes early at the Activities Center.
Is the Aurora Ice Museum open in summer?
Yes. It's open every day of the year and kept at 25°F (−7°C) inside.
Do I need warm clothes?
The resort lends parkas for free. Bring gloves and a hat; you're in 25°F air for 45 minutes.
Can you sleep in the ice museum?
The museum has four ice bedrooms that you see on the tour. We haven't confirmed whether overnight stays are sold, so ask the resort.
More at Chena and around Fairbanks
Sources (5)
- Chena Hot Springs Resort: Aurora Ice Museum (checked 2026-09-23)
- Chena Hot Springs Resort: activities and prices (checked 2026-09-23)
- Chena Hot Springs Resort: shuttle (checked 2026-09-23)
- NOAA/ACIS 1991–2020 normals, Fairbanks International Airport
- GetYourGuide and Viator Fairbanks listings, prices for 15–20 Feb 2027 (checked 2026-09-23)