How Long Is an Arctic Circle Tour from Fairbanks?
Most Arctic Circle tours from Fairbanks take 12 to 16 hours, and aurora versions up to 18. Every tour's length and return time, and why 200 miles takes so long.
Most organized Arctic Circle tours from Fairbanks take about 12 to 16 hours door to door, and the aurora versions that stay out for the northern lights run 17 to 18 hours, often returning between 1 and 4 a.m. The sign is only about 200 miles away, but the last 115 miles are on the Dalton Highway, a mostly gravel industrial road, and the BLM’s own planning figure is five hours each way before any stops. Add the Yukon River, Finger Mountain, a meal and time at the sign, and a full day in a van is what every one of the Arctic Circle tours from Fairbanks delivers.
Check Availability
Arctic Circle Aurora Drive Adventure
- 4.6/5 (33 reviews)
- 17 to 18 hours
- Operated by Northern Alaska Tour Company
Includes Professional guide · Driver and live commentary on board · Official Arctic Circle Adventure Certificate
You'll choose your date and complete the booking on Viator.
Why 200 miles is not a four-hour drive
On a map the Arctic Circle sign looks like an easy outing: 199 road miles from Fairbanks by the BLM mileage chart, roughly 400 miles there and back. The first 84 miles, up the Steese and Elliott highways to the start of the Dalton near Livengood, are paved. The pavement ends there. The remaining 115 miles to the sign are the Dalton Highway, which the BLM calls “narrow, rough, steep”, with dust, mud and potholes and only short paved stretches.
The Dalton was built as the haul road for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and is still used mostly by trucks supplying the oil fields. Trucks have the right of way, and drivers slow down for each one to avoid flying rocks. The BLM’s figure under good conditions is three hours from Fairbanks to the Yukon River and five hours to the Arctic Circle, one way, plus one to two hours a day for stops, wildlife, construction and weather.
So the driving alone is ten hours or more for the round trip. Northern Alaska Tour Company describes its summer drive as about 16 hours, of which 11 to 12 are spent traveling and 4 to 5 exploring. That ratio holds for most tours: the bulk of the day is the road. Our Fairbanks to Arctic Circle guide covers the route and distances.
Where the hours go
A typical day follows the same pattern whichever company you choose. You leave Fairbanks, stop at a Trans-Alaska Pipeline viewpoint, and reach the Yukon River bridge about three hours in. Most tours stop at the river and at Yukon River Camp, where several operators schedule a meal on one leg or the other. North of the river the road climbs to Finger Mountain, a high, windy ridge with a short interpretive trail, and then on to the Arctic Circle sign. Then you turn around and drive the same road home.
Restroom breaks are part of the rhythm. Northern Alaska Tour Company says the longest stretch between stops is two hours, and its larger coaches carry a restroom on board. Elsewhere the stops are outhouses at the waysides. Our stop-by-stop itinerary describes each one.
Other Experiences
Other experiences you might enjoy
Shorter and longer days on the Dalton Highway: daytime drives to the Yukon River and Finger Mountain, and aurora tours that reach the Arctic Circle sign and watch the sky on the way home.
Daytime, evening and aurora departures
The start time tells you most of what you need to know.
- Morning departures, from Northern Alaska Tour Company or the summer-season 1st Alaska Tours day trip, reach the sign in daylight and return in the evening or around midnight.
- Late morning and midday departures, like the 1:00 p.m. 1st Alaska Tours night trip or Midnight Sky Adventures’ 11:15 a.m. pickup, reach the circle late in the day and drive home through the dark, timed for the aurora.
- The Arctic Circle Aurora Drive Adventure is the longest day on this site at 17 to 18 hours, because it ends with a watch for the northern lights at Joy before the last stretch to Fairbanks.
Aurora season in Fairbanks runs from August 21 to April 21. If the lights are the point, read our Arctic Circle and northern lights guide. If you want daylight on the road, our winter vs summer comparison helps.
Every tour’s length and return time
These are the lengths each operator gives in its own listing. Where a listing gives a check-in or pickup time but no return, the return shown is that start time plus the stated length, marked “est.”, and the day can run later if the road or the aurora holds you up.
| Tour | Length | Start | Back in Fairbanks | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic Circle Aurora Drive Adventure | 17–18 hours | Check-in 9:00–9:15 a.m. | About 3:30–4:30 a.m. | $369 |
| Original Arctic Circle Drive | 16 hours | Check-in 5:45–6:00 a.m. | Around 10 p.m. (est.) | $289 |
| Arctic Circle Winter Drive Adventure | 16 hours | Check-in 9:00–9:15 a.m. | Around 1 a.m. (est.) | $309 |
| Midnight Sun Arctic Circle Drive Adventure | 16 hours | Check-in 9:00–9:15 a.m. | Around 1 a.m. (est.) | $269 |
| Arctic Circle with Aurora and Free Photos | 14–17 hours | Hotel pickup | Not stated | $350 |
| Arctic Circle Northern Lights Full-Day Trip | About 14 hours | Departs 1:00 p.m. | Around 3 a.m. | $330 |
| Arctic Circle Adventure Full-Day Tour (summer season) | About 14–15 hours | Pickup 7:00–8:00 a.m. | Around 10 p.m. | $260 |
| Arctic Circle & Northern Lights Dalton Highway Tour | 13–14 hours | Pickup 11:15 a.m.–noon | Around 1 a.m. (est.) | $379 |
| Northern Lights & Arctic Circle Tour | 12–14 hours | Hotel pickup | Not stated | $363 |
| Arctic Circle Day Tour | 13 hours | Hotel pickup | Not stated | $335 |
| Arctic Circle and Aurora Viewing Shared Tour | 12.5 hours | Pickup or meeting point | Not stated | $329 |
| Arctic Circle Day Tour Adventure | 12 hours | Hotel lobby pickup | Not stated | $300 |
The Northern Alaska Tour Company drives start at the company’s office on the airport’s East Ramp and ask you to reconfirm your check-in time 24 to 48 hours ahead, since times change by season. The other operators collect you from your hotel, which adds a little time at each end.
Making a long day easier
Sleep well the night before and plan nothing early the next morning. Bring snacks even when the tour provides some, a refillable water bottle, and layers you can add and remove in a warm van. A neck pillow helps on the drive home. Plan on spending most of the day seated on a rough road, which is why several operators flag the trip for travelers with back problems. Families should read our Arctic Circle tour with kids guide first.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Fairbanks to the Arctic Circle?
The BLM’s figure is about five hours one way under good conditions, plus one to two hours a day for stops and delays. Guided tours take 12 to 18 hours for the full round trip, depending on the version.
How far is the drive from Fairbanks to the Arctic Circle?
The Arctic Circle sign is 199 road miles from Fairbanks on the BLM mileage chart, about 200 miles each way and roughly 400 miles round trip.
What is the longest Arctic Circle tour?
Of the tours we cover, Northern Alaska Tour Company’s Arctic Circle Aurora Drive Adventure is the longest at 17 to 18 hours, returning to Fairbanks in the early hours of the morning.
Is there a shorter way to reach the Arctic Circle?
Flying cuts the time. Northern Alaska Tour Company’s fly/drive trips take about a one-hour flight to Coldfoot and drive back with a guide, and the Midnight Sun Fly/Drive runs about 12 hours in total.
Can I sleep on the tour?
Yes, and many people do on the drive home. Some operators ask guests to rotate seats a few times during the day so everyone gets a window, so expect to move at least once.
Ready to book?
Pick the length that suits you on the Arctic Circle day tours page or the northern lights tours page, read our review of the Arctic Circle Aurora Drive Adventure, 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.
Check Availability & Book