Transportation in Fairbanks
An enjoyable visit to Alaska requires planning. Alaska's isolation and vastness
make travel to and through the state more complicated than travel in the "Lower
48."
Just getting to Alaska can be an adventure. You can come by air, highway,
or sea, or by a combination of these means.
Commercial airlines serve Fairbanks.
Highway Systems
Cruise ships ply Alaska's southeastern waters through the
Inside Passage. An
Alaska Cruise is a nice way to enjoy luxury and comfort while adventuring
through the state. The state ferry system, known as the Alaska
Marine Highway, transports people and vehicles from the Lower 48 to southeast
points and between points in southcentral Alaska. Extending 1,500 miles from Dawson Creek,
British Columbia, to Fairbanks, the Alcan, or Alaska Highway,
provides a land link with roads to the south. The Alaska Highway is paved through Alaska
and most of Canada and maintained year round. Use this next link to check
road
conditions in the state of Alaska, or
this one. For more information on the Alcan,
including Canada's portion, use the Alaska Highway link above or button on the left.
To travel to any of Alaska's parklands, other than Denali National Park
(covered elsewhere in this web site)
you will have several options. Unlike most National Park Service areas in the Lower 48,
most of these Alaska areas are not accessible by road. Scheduled jet service to cities
near some parklands can put you within air taxi distance of them. To see and experience
the more remote reaches of Alaska generally requires significant added commitment in time,
effort, and money, involving air and boat charters, rafts, kayaks, hiking, or combinations
thereof.
Alaska Railroad
The
Alaska Railroad serves the interior, running from
Seward in the south to Eielson AFB in the north.
Airplanes
Air Transportation is needed for
visiting many of the native villages which can be reached from Fairbanks. Our
latest page gives some ideas for combining flying and
driving to get the most out of your trip for the least cost.
Transportation Closer to Home (Fairbanks)
Metropolitan Area Commuter System
(MACS),
is the public bus system for the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
You can purchase an all-day pass for $3. There are several routes, from
downtown to outlying areas, including major shopping centers and the University of Alaska.
The main bus depot is at the corner of 5th, 6th, and Cushman St. Schedules are
also available at bus stops and at the Visitor Center on 1st Ave. Borough buses do not go
to the airport. Follow our link for route maps, prices, and links to the Borough's web
site.
Bicycle Rentals are available from
Alaska Outdoor Rentals &
Guides.
Shuttles & Small Tour Operators
- Alaska/Yukon Trails
- Operates a daily summer shuttle between Fairbanks and Anchorage, with
three-day-a-week service in the winter. Their tours encompass Dawson City
and Whitehorse. The company also runs the Fairbanks Shuttle
for inexpensive local transportation.
- Gray Line of Alaska, or Alaskon Express:
- 300 Elliott Avenue West, Seattle, Washington 98119, (206) 281-3535 or
1-800-544-2206.
- They have been touring Alaska for 50 years, offering local sightseeing tours in
every major city in Alaska.
- Alaska Bus Guy
- Scheduled bus service between Fairbanks and Anchorage. Passengers may
elect to stop enroute and reboard at another day/time without additional
costs. Stops made in 12 other communities, including Denali Park.
- Alaska Direct Bus
Lines
- This Anchorage bus line offers summer rides between Fairbanks and
Whitehorse, with stops in other smaller communities. Their schedule appears to be offer a chance to go as far as Tok and then choose between Anchorage or Whitehorse as your final
destination. Be aware
there are extra considerations if you plan to cross the Canada/Alaska
border.
- Tours
- This page lists some companies that offer tours you might want to try.
See also the bottom of the Dalton Highway
page
NOTE: Holland Alaska and Princess Tours have not been included on
this page since they
seldom let their passengers out of controlled, packaged, scheduled activities long enough
to see the real Alaska anyway, so we assume that those taking their tours are not
interested in this web site. It has been estimated that they average less than a day in
Fairbanks, with only an hour or two not scheduled, if that.
Fairbanks also has an abundance of Taxi and Car
Rental companies.