For the vast majority of the globe, the sun is a consistent companion — reliable, life-giving, and predictable. But imagine if the sun never rose above the horizon, or, if it stayed above the horizon for weeks at a time. Such extremes are a reality for life above Alaska’s Arctic Circle — and a visit to this region will inspire newfound appreciation for that big star in the sky. Read on to discover how you can experience this phenomenon for yourself above the Arctic Circle with a trip along the famous Dalton Highway.
The Arctic Circle is an imaginary line around the Earth drawn parallel to the equator. Anything located above that line is what is referred to as “the Arctic.” In Alaska, a sign denoting the location of the Arctic Circle is located about a 5 hour drive north of Fairbanks along the Elliot and Dalton Highways. The further you travel above the Arctic Circle, the more extreme your experience with sunlight becomes. On the winter solstice, the Arctic Circle marks the spot where the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon. The further north you travel from there, the longer amount of time the sun stays consistently below the horizon. This winter phenomenon is called polar night. Conversely, around the summer solstice — the longest day of the year in June — the Arctic experiences polar day, or the midnight sun, where the sun doesn’t set.
If you’re looking to experience either extreme with your own eyes in the United States, there’s only one place to go: Alaska! The first step is getting to Fairbanks, where the journey begins — approximately few hundred miles south of the Arctic Circle.
There are many ways to access Alaska’s Arctic Region — but the fastest? Flying in. Before your flight north from Fairbanks, carve out time for lunch at East Ramp Pizza, located on the opposite side of the runway from the International Airport in Fairbanks. Get a table by a window to secure views of local air traffic coming in and out. Small aircraft serve as taxi to some of the most remote places in Alaska — including those communities above the Arctic Circle.
Visitors can hop a “bush flight” to communities and villages within the Arctic through companies like Wright Air, Brooks Range Aviation, or Coyote Air. However, don’t expect online flight booking — reservations are typically done the over the phone. If you’re looking for a guided tour from Fairbanks that includes a flight above the Arctic Circle, Northern Alaska Tour Company provides a wide variety of year-round options.
Although not for the faint of heart, driving the rugged Dalton Highway across the Arctic Circle is an absolute must-do for anyone looking for an extraordinary experience in northern Alaska. If you’re looking for a ride up without the stress of a rental car and managing the logistics for self-driving, the Dalton Highway Express offers multi-stop routes running up and down every week for affordable prices from about May to September. This is as close to a taxi as you can get, for a fraction of the price of a private charter.
If you do have a larger group headed north, you may want to invest in a private charter van so you can go at your own pace with an experienced driver. The aforementioned Northern Alaska Tour Company also offers private charters up and down the road. Finally, if you’re a seasoned backcountry traveler, and have some experience driving (and surviving!) in rough, mountainous country, self-driving may be the option for you.
Yes! Originally built in the 70s, the Dalton Highway is a 414-mile rugged road from Livengood to Deadhorse that provides infrastructure to support the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. During that time, the road was only open to truckers hauling supplies to the oil fields at Prudhoe Bay. Thus, the road is still dubbed “The Haul Road” by locals and truckers alike.
The Haul Road was opened to visitor traffic in the 1990s — but drivers beware! The infrastructure of the road is still set up as a utility corridor above all else. Drivers should never expect “normal” conditions on this span of road. It’s notorious for copious amounts of gravel in the summertime, low speeds to avoid dust (summer) or ice (winter), inevitable rock chips churned up by traffic, plentiful potholes large enough to blow tires, and no cell service after you leave Fairbanks for upwards of 6 hours until you arrive in Coldfoot Camp. The nearest medical care is Fairbanks or at the end of the road in Deadhorse. For the entire 414 miles, there are only three places to stop and fuel up, and four places to stop for lodging.
To get to this part of Alaska, you first drive 83 miles north of Fairbanks (which takes about 2 hours at moderate speeds) on the Elliot Highway. There, you’ll find a big sign to marking Dalton Highway Mile #1, along with another sign that gives some historical context to the road.
Most rental car companies don’t allow guests to drive the Dalton Highway — and you definitely don’t want to roll the dice! Due to the area’s remote nature, AAA and other towing services don’t service this region, so a tow to Fairbanks from the Dalton is rumored to cost $1,500 to $3,000 or more. Stranded drivers could be waiting for the arrival of a tow truck for 24 hours (or longer). In other words: Self-sufficiency is crucial. There are only a few companies that allow their vehicles to be drive north, including GoNorth, Alaska 4x4 Rentals, Arctic Outfitters, and Alaska Auto Rental.
Although there appear to be many side roads veering off from the Dalton, the vast majority of those are gated roads for pipeline access. There are only four places with services and/or accommodations to stop along the road, and a handful of other unique stops for visitors.
A few notable stops along the Dalton Highway include:
If you have the time, don’t just turn around at the Arctic Circle! There is so much more north of mile 115, including the majestic Brooks Range.
The varied adventurous experiences to be had in the Arctic are as vast as its wilderness landscapes. Whether you take advantage of the unlimited daylight during summertime’s midnight sun, or the cotton-candy colored twilight of polar night (or anytime in between!) Alaska’s Arctic is sure to make an impression that will last a lifetime.
