Compare rental cars at Fairbanks airport
In-terminal pick-up · AWD and 4x4 available
Search many of the airport's rental companies at once and filter for all-wheel drive.
Rent one if you'll drive to Chena Hot Springs, stay outside town or want to chase clear sky yourself; skip it if you're staying in town and touring every night.
Key takeaways
- Rental counters are inside the terminal at Fairbanks International Airport; a late-September search found 38 offers, with AWD and 4x4 cars available.
- Check the car has an engine block heater and cord, and that your hotel or cabin has an outlet to plug it in overnight.
- Read your rental terms before driving any part of the Dalton Highway; a guided Arctic Circle tour is the simpler option.
- Chena Hot Springs is about 60 miles (1.5 hours) northeast of Fairbanks, with rooms if you'd rather not drive back at 2am.
Do you need a car?
In short You need a car for a cabin outside town, Chena Hot Springs on your own or chasing clear sky, but not for a town hotel with nightly tours.
| Your trip | Car? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel in town, a tour each night | Not really | Tours take you to dark sky; taxis cover the rest |
| Cabin or lodge outside town | Yes | Nothing is walkable |
| Chena Hot Springs on your own | Yes | About 60 miles each way |
| You want to chase clear sky | Yes | Cloud is patchy; a car lets you move |
| Uneasy on ice and in the dark | No | Book tours with transport instead |
Picking one up
Rental counters are inside the terminal at Fairbanks International Airport. When we searched (late-September dates; we haven't checked February prices yet, and rates change with dates, so compare your own):
38offers from the airport, all with in-terminal pick-up
AWD and 4x4cars were available
Who rents there:
- Alamo, among the companies in our search
- Dollar and National, also listed by the airport
- Alaska 4x4 Rentals, a local firm
What to ask for at the counter
In short Ask for an engine block heater and cord, check which winter tyres are fitted, and confirm where the rental terms let you drive.
Price aside, three things matter more in winter than at home.
A block heater and cord
In deep cold, Fairbanks cars are plugged in overnight so the engine will start. Check the car has an engine block heater and a cord, and that your hotel or cabin has an outlet.
Winter tyres
Alaska's transportation department advises good winter tyres with adequate tread. Ask what's fitted.
Where you're allowed to drive
If you're thinking of driving part of the Dalton Highway toward the Arctic Circle, read the rental terms first and check that your agreement allows it. The simpler option is a guided Arctic Circle tour.
Driving in the cold and dark
In short Expect ice, darkness and deep cold, with 3 h 41 min of sun on the shortest day; February and March have much longer days for driving.
3 h 41 minof sun on the shortest dayBy February and March the days are much longer, one more reason those months suit a driving trip
~7 daysa year at −40°F or colder at the airportThe number swings widely from year to year, and some winters have none
At that temperature, keep in the car:
- A charged phone
- Warm clothes
- Water and snacks
- A tank that never runs low
Check the roads
Before any longer drive, check conditions at 511.alaska.gov or by dialling 511.
Watching the aurora from the car
At night, don't stop on the road shoulder to watch the aurora. Use a proper pull-out or parking area, and turn your headlights off once parked so you and others can see the sky.
Where a car gets you
- Chena Hot Springs: about 60 miles (1.5 hours) northeast of town on Chena Hot Springs Road. A soak, the Aurora Ice Museum and dark skies, with rooms if you'd rather not drive back at 2am.
- Borealis Basecamp: about 25 miles from town.
- Your own dark spot: tours use hilltops such as Murphy Dome; with a car you can find your own with a view north.
See things to do in Fairbanks for more.
Car rental in Fairbanks: FAQs
Do I need a car in Fairbanks in winter?
Not if you're staying in town and touring each night. Yes if you're staying outside town, driving to Chena Hot Springs yourself, or want to chase clear sky.
Do I need 4x4 in Fairbanks?
It's not required, but all-wheel drive or 4x4 is worth it on snowy roads, and the airport rental companies offer both. Good winter tyres matter as much.
Why do cars in Fairbanks have plugs?
They have engine block heaters. In deep cold, you plug the car into an outlet overnight so it will start in the morning.
Can I drive a rental car to the Arctic Circle?
Only if your rental agreement allows the Dalton Highway. Check before you book, or take a guided Arctic Circle tour instead.
More for a Fairbanks trip
Sources (8)
- Car rental: DiscoverCars search at Fairbanks International Airport, 38 offers, all in-terminal, AWD and 4x4 available (observed 2026-09-23; February prices not checked)
- Fairbanks International Airport: ground transportation and rental companies (checked 2026-09-23 via search index; the page blocks automated access)
- Alaska DOT&PF: winter driving tips (checked 2026-09-23 via search index)
- Alaska 511: road conditions (checked 2026-09-23)
- Temperatures and −40°F days: NOAA / RCC ACIS, Fairbanks International Airport, 2005–2025
- Explore Fairbanks: winter solstice daylight (checked 2026-09-23)
- Chena Hot Springs Resort (checked 2026-09-23)
- Borealis Basecamp: location and drive time (research 2026-09-17)