Original Arctic Circle Drive from Fairbanks

About This Experience

Northern Alaska Tour Company has been running ground tours to the Arctic Circle longer than anyone in Fairbanks, and this is the original summer version. Guests check in at 5:45 am at the company's office on the East Ramp of Fairbanks International Airport and set off north in a 25-passenger coach with an on-board restroom, or a 15-passenger van when the group is smaller.

The first stops are the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and the Arctic Circle Trading Post at Joy, a log general store on the Elliott Highway. Past Livengood the pavement gives way to the gravel Dalton Highway, which crosses the Yukon River on the bridge at milepost 56. Lunch and dinner are not included; the tour stops at Yukon River Camp, where sack lunches and cafe meals can be bought, or you can bring your own food.

North of the river the road climbs onto open tundra for a guided walk, with the Brooks Range visible on the northern horizon on a clear day. At the Arctic Circle wayside at milepost 115 the guide rolls out a red carpet at the sign and presents each guest with an official Arctic Circle Adventure Certificate. The coach then retraces the route, with guests reporting a return to Fairbanks around 11:30 pm to midnight.

The tour is priced from $289 per person and holds a 4.8 rating from more than 200 Viator reviews, almost all of which mention the same two things: a very long, bumpy day and a guide who made it worthwhile. Hotel pickup is not included, and the Viator booking is all sales final, so confirm your plans before you book.

Highlights

• Trans-Alaska Pipeline viewing stop north of Fairbanks
• Arctic Circle Trading Post at Joy, a log general store on the Elliott Highway
• Yukon River crossing at Dalton Highway milepost 56 with a break at the river bank
• Guided walk on the arctic tundra, with the Brooks Range on the horizon on clear days
• Arctic Circle sign at milepost 115 and the operator's red-carpet certificate ceremony
• Coach with on-board restroom or 15-passenger van, depending on group size

What's Included

• ✓ Driver-guide with live commentary throughout the day
• ✓ Official Arctic Circle Adventure Certificate
• ✓ All taxes, fees and handling charges
• ✓ Round-trip ground transportation from the operator's Fairbanks office
• ✓ Restroom on board when the tour runs in the coach

Not Included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Food and drinks (meals can be bought at Yukon River Camp)
• Parking fee at the check-in location, paid on the day
• Gratuities

What to Bring

• Warm layers and a rain jacket; the tour runs in all weather
• Camera, binoculars and spare batteries
• Insect repellent for the summer stops
• Snacks, water and any medication you need during a 16-hour day
• Cash or card for meals at Yukon River Camp, the parking fee and gratuities

Good to Know & Caveats

• A summer and early-autumn departure; check the booking calendar for open dates.
• Viator lists this tour as all sales final: there is no refund once you book. If the operator cancels for weather, you are offered another date or a full refund.
• Check-in opens at 5:45 am and closes at 6:00 am at the operator's office on the East Ramp of Fairbanks International Airport, the small-plane side. Guests arriving after 6:00 am risk missing the tour.
• You must call to reconfirm your departure and check-in time 24 to 48 hours before the tour.
• There is no hotel pickup; you make your own way to the airport East Ramp and pay a parking fee if you drive.
• Guests report returning to Fairbanks between 11:30 pm and midnight, so the day runs about 16 hours. In summer it is still light on the way back.
• The longest stretch between stops is about 2 hours. Stops along the Dalton Highway have outhouses; the coach has a restroom on board.
• Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be carried if the passenger travels with someone who can help them board and disembark.
• Roughly 400 miles round trip, much of it on gravel shared with trucks; no cell service north of the Yukon River.

Meeting Point

Northern Alaska Tour Company office on the East Ramp of Fairbanks International Airport; check in between 5:45 and 6:00 am.