Alaska Road Trips from Fairbanks

Planning a self-drive vacation in Alaska can raise a few questions, especially if you're visiting Alaska for the first time. As Alaska travel specialists, we've designed our driving tours to combine scenic routes, carefully selected accommodations and plenty of time to explore along the way. Here you'll find practical answers about rental cars, road conditions, gravel roads, accommodations, activities and what to expect when traveling through Alaska by car.

Where can I pick up my rental car in Fairbanks ?

Rental cars for our Alaska road trips from Fairbanks are available at the Fairbanks International Airport. 

Can I drive north from Fairbanks on the Dalton Highway to the Arctic Ocean?

No. Our rental cars are not permitted to travel on the Dalton Highway, so our self-drive tours do not include driving to the Arctic Ocean. The Dalton Highway is primarily a truck highway serving the Alaska oil fields, with long remote stretches and limited services, and driving conditions can be challenging.

If you would like to experience the Dalton Highway and travel north toward the Arctic Ocean, we offer guided tours from Fairbanks. These tours provide an experienced driver and guide, allowing you to enjoy the remote Arctic landscape without having to drive the Dalton Highway yourself.

What is included in an Alaska driving tour?

Our Alaska driving tours combine your rental car with pre-arranged accommodations and a detailed itinerary for your journey. Depending on the selected tour, sightseeing activities, wildlife cruises, national park excursions, flightseeing tours, ferry transfers, flights or other experiences may also be included. Each tour page lists the exact inclusions for that itinerary, so you can easily see what is already arranged before you travel. Flights from your home country or city to Alaska are not included.

Are rental cars included in your Alaska road trips?

Yes. Our self-drive tour packages include a rental car for the driving portion of the itinerary. Rental periods, vehicle categories and pick-up and return locations vary depending on the tour. The exact rental car arrangements are shown in the individual itinerary and booking confirmation.

What type of rental car will I receive?

A mid-size car is included with all of our Alaska driving tours. If you prefer more space or a different type of vehicle, you can upgrade to a full-size car, standard SUV, standard elite SUV or minivan for an additional cost. Rental car companies guarantee a vehicle category rather than a specific make or model.

Can I drive on gravel roads with a rental car?

In general, rental car companies do not permit their vehicles to be driven on gravel roads or highways such as the Denali Highway, Dalton Highway, Top of the World Highway, Taylor Highway or McCarthy Road. Driving on these roads may also void the rental car's insurance coverage. Our Alaska driving tours are therefore planned around roads permitted under the applicable rental agreement.

There are some exceptions. Our driving tours starting in Whitehorse, Yukon, specifically allow travel on certain gravel roads and highways. We also offer selected Alaska driving tours from Anchorage that include the Yukon with a rental company specifically chosen because its rental agreement permits travel on the required gravel roads and highways. The applicable road restrictions and rental conditions are confirmed for each tour.

Which Alaska roads are suitable for rental cars?

Alaska's main highways are paved and well suited for regular rental cars during the summer travel season. Popular routes include the Parks Highway between Anchorage, Talkeetna and Denali, the Glenn Highway, Richardson Highway, Seward Highway and Sterling Highway across the Kenai Peninsula. Our driving tours are designed around established routes that provide access to Alaska's major destinations while remaining suitable for the rental vehicle included with your package.

Can I combine different regions of Alaska on one road trip?

Yes. One of the advantages of a self-drive vacation is the flexibility to experience several regions of Alaska in one journey. Depending on the itinerary, you can combine destinations such as Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula, Seward, Homer, Talkeetna, Denali National Park, Fairbanks and the Interior. Longer itineraries may also combine Alaska with Canada's Yukon Territory.

Can I add extra nights or activities to a driving tour?

Yes. All of our Alaska driving tours can be customized with additional hotel nights or optional activities. Depending on your route, you may be able to add wildlife cruises, bear viewing excursions, rafting trips, flightseeing tours, fishing trips or additional time in destinations such as Denali, Seward, Homer, Talkeetna or Fairbanks. We recommend arranging additional nights and activities when booking, especially during the busy summer season.

Is an Alaska driving tour suitable for first-time visitors?

Yes. A self-drive tour is an excellent way for first-time visitors to explore Alaska independently while still having the important parts of the trip arranged in advance. Your accommodations and rental car are pre-booked, and your itinerary provides a clear route between destinations. Alaska's main highways are generally easy to navigate, traffic outside the larger towns is usually light and the driving itself is part of the experience, with frequent opportunities to stop for scenery, wildlife and photography.

What happens if weather or road conditions affect my itinerary?

Summer weather in Alaska is well suited for road trips, but wildfires can occasionally result in road closures or temporary changes to your itinerary. We closely monitor road conditions and official road closure information. If a road closure or other significant disruption affects your scheduled route, we will contact you and work with you and our local suppliers to find the best available solution or alternative for your itinerary.

When is the best time for an Alaska road trip?

The main season for Alaska driving tours is from mid May through September, with each month offering a different experience. May and September are generally less expensive than the peak summer months and can be a good choice for travelers looking for lower prices and fewer visitors. May is typically one of the drier months and has very few mosquitoes, while September also brings fewer mosquitoes as the season winds down. June and July offer very long daylight hours and are popular months for exploring Alaska by car. July and August are particularly good for wildlife viewing, with salmon spawning attracting bears, eagles and other wildlife to many areas. August and September also offer the opportunity to see fall colors, with September bringing shorter days and the beginning of the transition into autumn.