Best Adventures Around Fairbanks, Alaska

Known as the Golden Heart City, Fairbanks is Alaska’s third-largest city and sits in the Interior region of the state. It’s a community featuring the true frontier spirit of Alaska, rich in history and culture and full of activities in the vast outdoor spaces surrounding it. Whether you choose to visit in the summer and take advantage of a lingering “midnight sun,” or arrive in the winter to chase northern lights, Fairbanks is a gateway to the sights and sounds of the Great Land. 

Check out our top activities in and around Fairbanks, including all-day adventures and shorter experiences closer to town. 

ADVENTURES AROUND FAIRBANKS: THREE HOURS

Museums and cultural center experiences

If you only have a brief window of time to explore the city, make sure to spend some of it at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center on Dunkel Street downtown. Also the local visitor center, this is the place to both learn about Fairbanks and gather information about other activities. Don’t miss the exhibits about local life and take a look at maps and other materials from staff at the Alaska Public Lands Information Center, also on site. 

If art and natural history interest you, travel across town to the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Museum of the North, located on a bluff overlooking the scenic Tanana Valley. Here, find artwork by local and visiting artists, photographers, and sculptors, then wander among the fascinating exhibits showing what Alaska looked like thousands of years ago. 

Pioneer Park is an outdoor history park that is popular with adults and kids alike. This 44-acre property features historical buildings, two museums, a small railroad, and a large playground, making it a favorite among families. Stop at The Alaska Salmon Bake for outdoor dining, then attend a performance at the Palace Theater. The park property is open all year, but historical exhibits and museums operate only during the summer months. 

Private Fairbanks City Tour (winter, spring, summer, fall)

Want to explore with a guide? Greatland Adventures offers a private tour of Fairbanks, a three-hour adventure that begins with pick-up at local hotels. Explore downtown Fairbanks’ unique character and architecture, then visit the exhibits at Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center before the local driver-guide heads for the town of North Pole and Santa Claus House. This tour ends with a stop along a section of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, an engineering marvel stretching 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez. 

ADVENTURES AROUND FAIRBANKS: ALL-DAY (OR NIGHT)

If you have an entire day to travel beyond the downtown area of Fairbanks, there are several destinations within easy driving distance, and we highly recommend the opportunity. Not sure which direction to take? Greatland can help you decide, and manage all the driving as well! 

Private Chena Hot Springs Day Tour (winter)

This full-day adventure from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs Resort includes transportation in a comfortable van, a narrated history tour, scenic stops, and plenty of soaking time in the famous thermal pools. You’ll also have the option to add a dogsled ride or an up-close experience with a small herd of reindeer. 

This adventure begins with pick-up at your hotel and a bit of history of Fairbanks as you make your way out of town toward the Chena Valley for a day of geothermal soaking and Interior Alaska character. Your driver-guide will also stop at a section of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, stretching 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez. At Chena Hot Springs Resort you’ll have time to soak in the pools (outdoor pool guests must be 18+, guests under 18 are welcome to use the expansive indoor facilities), visit the Ice Museum (under construction in 2023/24 with limited access), and enjoy a leisurely lunch.

Fairbanks Northern Lights Tour (winter, spring)

Chase the northern lights with Greatland Adventures! The aurora borealis is one of the most amazing natural wonders on Earth, and our team is excited to take you to view and photograph these stunning displays of lights in and around the greater Fairbanks area.

Our team uses innovative technology to forecast aurora viewing conditions based on weather forecasts, aurora strength, and the drive time from Fairbanks. Each night’s tour location is chosen to maximize the chances to view the lights, and your guides will get you to the most strategic site possible to see this natural phenomenon.

Choose your preferred date via our online booking platform. We will ask for your arrival and departure date/time, and any potential additional nights you have available to join a tour during the booking process. We gather this information from all of our guests so we may help to maximize your chances of seeing aurora while visiting Alaska!

This tour is designed for anyone visiting the Fairbanks area with an interest in viewing the northern lights.  Our tours include web-quality aurora portraits and basic photography instruction.

We use our fleet of comfortable tour vehicles as traveling base camps. Tours generally depart between 8 and 11 p.m. and return between 3 and 6 a.m., depending on the season and forecasted conditions. Note: This tour is a late one, so the minimum age for participation is 13. 

Private Arctic Circle Driving Tour (winter) 

Looking for a big adventure? Travel above the Arctic Circle on the Dalton Highway, one of the most remote in the United States. This day tour will travel into the Arctic region of Alaska north from Fairbanks and across the Arctic Circle. 

Guests will make plenty of stops for photos, naturalist interpretation of interesting tundra features, a visit the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, a crossing of the mighty Yukon River, and end in the tiny community of Coldfoot Camp for either lunch or dinner. It’s also possible to add on a northern lights chase on the way back if you choose the afternoon and evening tour options. This is an unforgettable opportunity for Alaska visitors and we love to show off this remote area!