Arctic Circle Tour with Kids
Age limits and child prices on every Arctic Circle tour from Fairbanks, Alaska's car-seat law, and how families handle a 12 to 18 hour day on the Dalton.
You can take children on an Arctic Circle tour from Fairbanks, but the age rules vary by operator and none of them offers a published child discount. 1st Alaska Tours accepts children from age 5, Alaska Wild Lights does not recommend its tours for under-10s and charges adult prices for everyone, and Midnight Sky Adventures only takes guests aged 15 and up. The bigger question is the day itself: 12 to 18 hours, mostly in a van on a gravel road, with no medical facilities along the way. For most families the answer is a daytime summer departure with older children, and the right pick among the Arctic Circle tours from Fairbanks depends on your youngest traveler.
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Age limits and child prices, tour by tour
This is what each listing says. Where a listing gives no age guidance, call the operator before booking with young children, because a waiver or a quiet “not recommended” can still apply on the day.
| Tour | Age guidance in the listing | Child price | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic Circle Adventure Full-Day Tour (1st Alaska Tours, summer season) | Not suitable for children under 5 | No child rate listed; from $260 | About 14–15 hours |
| Arctic Circle Northern Lights Full-Day Trip (1st Alaska Tours) | Children under 5 not permitted | No child rate listed; from $330 | About 14 hours, back around 3 a.m. |
| Arctic Circle Day Tour (Alaska Wild Lights) | Not recommended under 10 | Adult price for all; from $335 | 13 hours |
| Northern Lights & Arctic Circle Tour (Alaska Wild Lights) | Not recommended under 10, for safety reasons | Adult price for all; from $363 | 12–14 hours |
| Original Arctic Circle Drive (Northern Alaska Tour Company) | No minimum age; the company says its drive is not recommended for younger children | No child rate; from $289 | 16 hours |
| Midnight Sun Arctic Circle Drive Adventure (Northern Alaska Tour Company) | Children must be accompanied by an adult | No child rate listed; from $269 | 16 hours |
| Winter Drive and Aurora Drive (Northern Alaska Tour Company) | No age guidance | No child rate listed; from $309 and $369 | 16 and 17–18 hours |
| Arctic Circle & Northern Lights Dalton Highway Tour (Midnight Sky Adventures) | Age 15 and up; minors with a parent or guardian | No child rate listed; from $379 | 13–14 hours |
| Arctic Circle Day Tour Adventure, Shared Tour with Aurora Viewing, Aurora and Free Photos | No age guidance | No child rate listed | 12 to 17 hours |
None of these listings publishes a child rate, so budget a full fare per child unless the operator confirms otherwise.
Car seats and Alaska law
Alaska law (AS 28.05.095) requires every child under 16 to be properly secured in a vehicle, in tiers:
- Under 1 year old, or any child under 20 lb: a rear-facing child seat.
- Age 1 to under 5 and at least 20 lb: a forward-facing child restraint.
- Over 4 and under 8 years, under 57 inches tall and between 20 and 65 lb: a booster seat.
- Everyone else under 16: a seat belt.
No listing on this site says whether car seats or boosters are provided. If your child still rides in one, ask the operator before booking whether you should bring your own, and whether it fits the van’s seats. If you drive yourself to a meeting point, such as Northern Alaska Tour Company’s office at the airport’s East Ramp, the same law applies in your own car.
Other Experiences
Other experiences you might enjoy
Other family-friendly ways to see the far north from Fairbanks: daytime Dalton Highway drives to the Yukon River and Finger Mountain, and, for older children, aurora tours that reach the Arctic Circle sign.
The length of the day
This is the part to think hardest about. The Arctic Circle sign is about 200 miles from Fairbanks, the last 115 of them on the Dalton Highway, and the BLM’s planning figure is five hours each way before stops. Tours run 12 to 18 hours, and the aurora versions return between 1 and 4 a.m. Our how long is an Arctic Circle tour guide lists every tour’s start and return time.
For a family, a daytime departure that gets back in the evening is far easier than an overnight aurora run. The summer-season Arctic Circle Adventure Full-Day Tour picks up from Fairbanks hotels between 7 and 8 a.m. and returns around 10 p.m., and the Arctic Circle Day Tour runs about 13 hours. Restroom breaks come roughly every two hours on Northern Alaska Tour Company’s drives, mostly at outhouses, and its larger coaches have a restroom on board. The stops themselves are short, so children spend most of the day in their seat.
There are no medical facilities between Fairbanks and Deadhorse and almost no cell coverage north of the Elliott Highway, so bring any medicines your children need and a basic first aid kit.
Food, snacks and toilets
Meals are rarely included. Alaska Wild Lights provides snacks and bottled water on its day tour, with lunch for sale at Yukon River Camp. 1st Alaska Tours’ night trip includes sandwiches, chips, granola bars, sweets and hot drinks. The 1st Alaska Tours day trip, the Northern Alaska Tour Company drives and Midnight Sky Adventures all leave food to you, with a meal stop at Yukon River Camp, and Midnight Sky makes a grocery stop before leaving Fairbanks.
Pack more food than you think you need, especially for picky eaters, because there is nowhere else to buy it. The Arctic Circle Wayside has picnic tables and accessible pit toilets, but no water.
Cold, bugs and what kids should wear
In winter, Fairbanks averages a January high of 1°F and a low of −17°F, and lows near the Arctic Circle commonly reach the −20s to −40s°F, with windchills to −70°F. At a −34°F wind chill, frostbite can set in within 10 to 30 minutes, so the photo stop at the sign is short. Dress children in layers, with a hat that covers the ears, mittens, warm boots and a neck cover, and bring hand warmers. Alaska Wild Lights excludes cold-weather gear, so plan to bring your own.
In summer, temperatures in Coldfoot average in the 50s°F and snow is possible north of Coldfoot in any month. Mosquitoes emerge in mid-June and last into August, so pack repellent and head nets. Our what to wear guide covers both seasons.
Which tour suits a family
For children aged 5 to 9, the 1st Alaska Tours day trip is the clearest choice, because its listing explicitly accepts them and it stays a daytime trip, but it runs only in summer. For children 10 and up, Alaska Wild Lights’ daytime Arctic Circle Day Tour in a van of up to eight guests is a good fit. Teenagers who want the northern lights can join an aurora tour. Read our review of the Arctic Circle Adventure Full-Day Tour for the details.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum age for an Arctic Circle tour from Fairbanks?
It depends on the operator. 1st Alaska Tours does not take children under 5, Alaska Wild Lights does not recommend its tours for under-10s, and Midnight Sky Adventures requires guests to be 15 or older. Several listings give no age at all, so ask before booking.
Do kids pay less on Arctic Circle tours?
None of the tours we cover lists a child rate. Alaska Wild Lights states that adult pricing applies to all travelers, and Northern Alaska Tour Company has no child rate for its drive.
Is an Arctic Circle tour too long for young children?
It is a 12 to 18 hour day, mostly sitting in a van on a rough road, which is hard for small children. A daytime summer departure is the gentlest option.
Do Arctic Circle tours provide car seats?
None of the listings say so. Alaska law requires a child seat or booster for young children, so ask the operator in advance and bring your own if needed.
Do children get the Arctic Circle certificate?
On tours that include one, every booked traveler gets one. See our Arctic Circle certificate guide.
Ready to book?
Compare daytime options on the Arctic Circle day tours page, see what runs in summer on the summer tours page, or check dates for the featured tour.
Cross the Arctic Circle This Season
The Dalton Highway by day, the 66°33′ sign by evening and an aurora watch on the drive back to Fairbanks.
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