Fairbanks is arguably the most popular destination for visitors who want to see the Northern Lights.
Peak viewing season is in the dead of winter, when the weather is the coldest and when it is the darkest. There are opportunities to see the northern lights at the tail end of the summer season in early September, but if this experience is a priority for you, hold out for winter and bundle up. Either way, you don't miss out on the opportunity to experience this rare and mystical event.
If you are not quite sure where to begin, there are great tours that will increase your chances of seeing the northern lights by putting bringing you to prime locations for aurora activity. Sightings are never guaranteed, but you can do yourself a favor by taking a multi-day trip in case one night has higher aurora activity than another.
Not sure what to wear?
Here's our packing list. Or, rent your aurora viewing gear from Alaska Outdoor Gear Outfitter & Rentals.
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Aurora Pointe Activity Center
Mid-August to mid-April
Just a short drive from Fairbanks, wait for the northern lights to appear in a warm, inviting space. Cozy up to the fire, sip on cocoa and coffee, and step outside when mother nature puts on a show. Although the center is a short distance from town, it is far enough away so that you won’t have to worry about light pollution interrupting your view as you stand gazing under the vast, starlit sky.
Arctic Circle Aurora Fly & Drive Adventures
May 21 - Sept 18
Stand out on the Arctic tundra under the northern lights, experiencing their eerie glow on a one-day tour you won’t soon forget. From October to April, you’ll depart from Fairbanks on this one-day adventure and get a majestic flightseeing trip to the remote town of Coldfoot, above the Arctic Circle. Explore this fascinating town and look for the mysterious lights overhead. Then drive south and get a close up of all the terrain in between, seeing the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and crossing the Arctic Circle in ceremonious fashion.
Alaska Wildlife Guide: Chena Hot Springs Northern Lights Tours
Join Alaska Wildlife Guide in exploring one of Alaska’s most desired attractions, Chena Hot Springs Resort. From visiting the most northern Ice Museum, soaking in the all-natural hot springs to viewing the breathtaking Northern Lights dance across the sky, this tour will be a highlight of your Alaskan experience.
Arctic Circle Aurora Overnight Adventures
Spend some time above the Arctic Circle under the mysterious, eerie northern lights. From mid-September to late April, when you have the best chance of witnessing phenomenon of the aurora borealis, you’ll fly from Fairbanks to the remote village of Coldfoot, in the Brooks Mountain Range. After the spectacular flightseeing experience, you’ll have either 3 days/2 nights or 4 days/3 nights to explore this rugged, fascinating landscape, with excursions from town. Then you’ll drive back to Fairbanks along the Dalton Highway, with some unique stops along the way.
Rod’s Alaskan Guide Service Aurora Ice Fishing
November–March
Seeing the Northern Lights is an unforgettable wintertime experience. Of course, you never know quite when (or even if) Mother Nature is going to unleash the display into the night sky. So while you wait, you’ll be trying your hand at another activity that’s unique to the Alaskan winter: ice fishing!
