<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFairbanks doesn’t sit at the heart of this guide by accident. It lies just under 320 kilometres (200 miles) south of the Arctic Circle, directly beneath the auroral oval \u2014 the zone where aurora activity is most concentrated. It’s hardly a metropolis that’ll wow you with its architecture, but its location makes it a geographic jackpot for anyone chasing the night sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe northern lights dancing over the snowy landscape near Fairbanks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nLocal authorities actually keep detailed statistics, and the numbers speak for themselves. If you spend at least three nights here during the peak winter season and get clear weather, your chances of seeing the northern lights exceed eighty percent. Simply hire a car, drive twenty minutes out of town away from the light pollution, and start looking up. Most activity occurs between 10 PM and 2 AM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>2. Murphy Dome (Pitch-Black Darkness)<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAsk any local aurora enthusiast where they go to watch the sky, and they’ll almost certainly point you here. Murphy Dome is a former US Air Force radar station that was decommissioned back in the 1980s, located about 45 kilometres (28 miles) northwest of Fairbanks. At an elevation of 879 metres (2,884 feet), it’s the highest point you can comfortably reach by car in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe total darkness at Murphy Dome makes the aurora an unforgettable spectacle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWith no houses or streetlights around, you’ll enjoy absolutely perfect darkness. When the aurora kicks into high gear, it dances from horizon to horizon. There’s one major catch I need to flag, though. The road up is steep and frequently icy in winter, so don’t attempt it without a proper vehicle with winter tyres and four-wheel drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>3. Cleary Summit and Skiland (Viewing in Warmth)<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAnother beloved hilltop, found roughly 32 kilometres (20 miles) northeast of the city along the famous Steese Highway. Cleary Summit sits at 682 metres (2,238 feet) and offers gorgeous panoramic views across the Tanana River valley and the White Mountains ridge. Parking at the top is completely free, and you’ll always bump into a group of photographers huddled around their tripods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A huge advantage of this spot is nearby Skiland \u2014 a ski resort that happens to have the northernmost chairlift in all of North America. After dark, their lodge doubles as an aurora viewing centre. You can sit inside in the warmth, sip coffee, and dash outside into the freezing air only when someone shouts that the sky has started to light up with colour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>4. Borealis Basecamp (Luxury From Your Bed)<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis is exactly the place you keep seeing on Instagram and drooling over. The resort is tucked away in the boreal forest outside the city, comprising modern heated igloos with enormous glass ceilings. The concept is utterly brilliant \u2014 no need to freeze outside in the snow. You simply lie under a warm duvet and watch the green ribbons fly overhead.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAt Borealis Basecamp’s glass igloos, you watch the aurora right from your bed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs you’ve probably guessed, this kind of fun doesn’t come cheap. Prices during the season typically hover around $625 per person per night, and you often have to book a two-night package for two, which comes to an eye-watering $2,500 (roughly \u00a32,000). Despite the price tag, it’s perpetually sold out, so if you’re seriously considering this experience, book your room at least six months ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>5. Chena Hot Springs (Bathing in the Freezing Cold)<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis hot springs resort about 90 kilometres (56 miles) from Fairbanks is a massive draw \u2014 people either love it or absolutely hate it. The main attraction is a large outdoor rock lake filled with natural geothermal water that stays around 41 \u00b0C (106 \u00b0F) year-round. Imagine sitting in steaming hot water, your hair freezing into white icicles, while the aurora ripples overhead. It’s genuinely magical.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGreen aurora over the ridge near Chena Hot Springs Resort<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn the interest of total honesty, though, I have to mention the downsides. The resort is reached via the long Chena Hot Springs Road, and you’ll need to drive back to Fairbanks at 2 AM, exhausted and with wet hair. The resort itself has seen better days. Pool admission costs extra if you’re not a guest, the changing rooms are reportedly grubby according to many reviews, and the vibe is more like a 1990s public swimming pool than a luxury spa. Even so, the feeling of soaking in hot water under a freezing Alaskan sky is probably worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>6. Aurora Pointe (A Smart Compromise)<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIf you’d rather not freeze by the roadside but don’t fancy spending hundreds on luxury accommodation either, head to Aurora Pointe. It’s a private viewing centre set on a vast property about fifteen minutes’ drive from central Fairbanks. For a reasonable $50 (around \u00a340), you get four hours of access (from ten in the evening until two in the morning) to modern, beautifully heated facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The price includes local pastries and, crucially, guidance from resident aurora enthusiasts. A huge bonus is that they’ll give you loads of photography tips, and if you don’t have a decent camera, they’ll rent you one for the evening for an additional $50. For beginners, it’s an absolutely ideal stress-free option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>7. Birch Hill Recreation Area (When There’s No Time)<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nSometimes you’ll be sitting in your hotel in central Fairbanks, checking the forecast, and suddenly a notification pops up telling you the aurora is blazing at full strength right now. At that moment, there’s no time to drive an hour to some remote hilltop. For these last-minute dashes, Birch Hill Recreation Area \u2014 a city park just a short hop from the centre \u2014 is perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You’ll have to contend with some light pollution from the city, and the view isn’t as pristine as Murphy Dome, but you can be on site within minutes. The park has plenty of space, and even in the deepest cold, access is easy along a well-maintained road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>8. Dalton Highway and Coldfoot Camp (For True Adventurers)<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIf you’re seeking the darkest skies and crave the ultimate extreme, you need to hit the Dalton Highway (also known as The Haul Road). This is a dusty, often ice-covered route originally built for lorries heading to the oil fields in the far north. At mile 175 lies the rugged Coldfoot Camp, a waypoint for truckers and aurora chasers heading into the Brooks Range.<\/p>\n\n\n\nColdfoot Camp on the Dalton Highway (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nArctic Circle on the Dalton Highway, Alaska (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nFair warning: most standard car hire companies explicitly state in their contracts that you’re not allowed to drive on this road. If you get caught or need a tow, it’ll cost you a fortune. A bit further along lies the settlement of Wiseman, one of the best aurora viewing spots anywhere \u2014 but the nearby area (specifically Prospect Creek) is also where the lowest temperature in US history was recorded in 1971: an unbelievable -62 \u00b0C (-80 \u00b0F). This isn’t a holiday anymore \u2014 it’s an expedition \ud83d\ude05.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>9. Anchorage and Southern Alaska<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWe often get asked whether it’s possible to see the aurora near Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage. The answer is yes, but your chances are much slimmer than in Fairbanks. Anchorage sits too far south, and for the aurora to reach this far down, the solar storm needs to be genuinely powerful (the Kp index must jump to at least 5 or higher). During the current solar maximum, though, that’s not as rare as it used to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNorthern lights over the Alaskan landscape (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf you’re in the south and a strong storm hits, get as far from the city lights as possible. Locals love heading to Eklutna Lake, which is tucked away in the mountains, or driving all the way to the picturesque town of Talkeetna. You can also enjoy stunning light-pollution-free viewing near the visitor centre in Denali National Park, though winter services there are considerably limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>10. Aurora Tours with the Pros (A Safe Bet)<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nChasing cloud breaks at two in the morning on icy roads can be utterly exhausting. Sometimes it’s just better to pay the professionals, hop into a heated van, and let someone else do the driving. Local guides know the microclimate of every valley and exactly which hilltop to head for to escape the clouds blanketing Fairbanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A very popular option is Greatland Adventures, which offers eight-hour overnight aurora hunts for around $345 (about \u00a3275) per person. The price includes professional portrait photos with the aurora in the background and, crucially, a strong cancellation guarantee \u2014 if the evening looks hopeless, you can cancel without penalty. For those who want the full works, Salmon Berry Tours offer multi-day packages upwards of $5,000 that include dog sledding and absolute luxury. You can also browse a range of northern lights Alaska tours on GetYourGuide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n