A bed in town
Night 1–2, 4–5
Four nights in town, one at Chena. See where to stay in Fairbanks for the choices.
Five nights in late February or March, with one night at Chena Hot Springs and every evening kept free for the aurora.
Key takeaways
- Three nights at Fairbanks in February or March gives roughly even odds of a proper display, and five nights about two in three.
- The Arctic Circle winter drive takes about 15 hours, runs only on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays, and the standard drive is not an aurora tour.
- Chena Hot Springs is about 60 miles (1.5 hours) northeast of Fairbanks; the outdoor pool is $20 and the Charlie Dome aurora tour $125.
- If you rent a car, ask for a block heater cord and good winter tires; without one, stay in town, book tours and use taxis.
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Why five nights
In February or March, three nights at Fairbanks gives roughly even odds of a proper display and five nights about two in three, by our count of 26 winters of airport weather reports; how many nights you need has every month. Five is a sensible middle: enough for the weather to turn, short enough to take as a week off.
Late February bonus
The World Ice Art Championships run from 15 February to 2 March 2027.
Day by day
In short Arrive and rest, see the museum and take a tour, then dogs and Chena Hot Springs, a day back in town, the Arctic Circle or rest, and fly home.
Day 1: arrive
Fly in through Seattle or Anchorage and pick up your car at the airport. Check in, eat early, and nap. If the sky is clear after 10pm, drive a short way out of town to somewhere dark and look north. Anything you see tonight is a bonus.
Day 2: town, then your first tour
Spend the short day at the University of Alaska Museum of the North ($23 adult, open 9am–5:30pm) and its planetarium show. Drop by the free Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center downtown for maps and advice. At night, take a guided aurora tour; this one includes photos, so you can just watch. To take your own, read how to photograph the northern lights on a phone.
Check dates on GetYourGuideDay 3: dogs, then the hot springs
Ride behind a husky team in the morning light. Then drive about 60 miles (1.5 hours) northeast to Chena Hot Springs, soak in the outdoor pool ($20) and stay the night. After dark, go up Charlie Dome on the resort's 5-hour aurora tour ($125), with heated yurts at the top.
Check dates on GetYourGuideDay 4: ice museum, reindeer, a warm night
Tour the Aurora Ice Museum ($20, 45 minutes) before you leave Chena, then drive back to town. In the afternoon, walk with reindeer at Running Reindeer Ranch ($85–120, book ahead) or, in late February, see the ice sculptures. At night, go out on your own if it's clear, or wait indoors at the glass house on Cleary Summit.
Check dates on GetYourGuideDay 5: the Arctic Circle, or a slow day
If you want to stand on the Arctic Circle, this is the day: about 15 hours up the Dalton Highway and back, arriving after 1am. Northern Alaska Tour Company's winter drive departs only on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays, so plan your week around it. The standard winter drive isn't an aurora tour; trips that include aurora viewing, like this one, cost more. If that's too much, sleep in, and give your last night to the sky.
Check dates on GetYourGuideDay 6: fly home
Return the car at the airport. If a night was cloudy and your flight is late, one more look north before you go.
What the activities cost
In short The Chena pool and Aurora Ice Museum cost $20 each, the Museum of the North $23, and guided aurora tours $125 at Chena or from about $225 with photos.
| Activity | Price per adult | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Museum of the North | $23 | Museum |
| Aurora tour with photos | from about $225 | GetYourGuide |
| 1-hour dog sled ride | from about $175 | GetYourGuide |
| Chena Hot Springs pool | $20 | Chena |
| Chena aurora tour, Charlie Dome | $125 | Chena |
| Aurora Ice Museum | $20 | Chena |
| Reindeer walk | $85–120 | Running Reindeer Ranch |
| Glass house aurora night | from about $180 | GetYourGuide |
| Arctic Circle winter drive | $299–339 | Northern Alaska Tour Company |
| Arctic Circle with northern lights | from about $330 | GetYourGuide |
Book the basics
Flights, beds and a car vary too much by date to price honestly here, so check your own dates.
A car from the airport
In-terminal pick-up
Ask for a block heater cord and good winter tires. More in renting a car in Fairbanks.
Trip insurance
For prepaid tours and rooms
Winter weather can delay or cancel flights. If much of this trip is prepaid and non-refundable, cover it.
Without a car
In short Stay in town somewhere with an airport shuttle, book aurora tours on three or four nights, take a combined Chena Hot Springs tour and use taxis.
Compare the options on Fairbanks northern lights tours.
- Stay in town the whole time, somewhere with an airport shuttle such as Pike's Waterfront Lodge.
- Book an aurora tour on three or four of the nights.
- Take a tour that combines Chena Hot Springs with aurora viewing instead of driving there.
- Use taxis in town.
You gain
- You never drive on ice at 2am
You lose
- The freedom to chase a clear patch of sky
Planning a Fairbanks trip: FAQs
How many days do you need in Fairbanks for the northern lights?
In February or March, three nights gives roughly even odds of a proper display, five nights about two in three, and eight to nine nights about four in five.
Is it worth staying at Chena Hot Springs overnight?
Yes if you can. It's about 60 miles from town, so staying saves a late drive back, and the resort runs its own aurora tour from there.
Can you do the Arctic Circle and see the northern lights on the same day?
Only on a tour that includes aurora viewing. The standard winter drive doesn't stop to wait for the lights.
When should I book?
Book the Arctic Circle trip first: Northern Alaska Tour Company's winter drive runs only three days a week. Then build the rest of the week around it.
More for a Fairbanks aurora trip
Sources (9)
- Cloud odds: our calculation from Fairbanks airport (PAFA) hourly weather reports 2000–2026, joined to the GFZ Kp index
- University of Alaska Museum of the North: hours and admission (checked 2026-09-23)
- Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center (checked 2026-09-23)
- Chena Hot Springs Resort: activities and prices (checked 2026-09-23)
- Running Reindeer Ranch: reindeer walks (checked 2026-09-23)
- Ice Alaska: 2027 World Ice Art Championships dates (checked 2026-09-23)
- Northern Alaska Tour Company: Arctic Circle Winter Drive Adventure (checked 2026-09-23)
- Pike's Waterfront Lodge: airport shuttle (checked 2026-09-23)
- GetYourGuide Fairbanks listings: durations, ratings and 'from' prices for 15–20 Feb 2027 (observed 2026-09-23)