There are affiliate links in this post that if you choose to purchase something through our link, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Fairbanks, Alaska Quick Facts
- Largest city in the interior part of the state
- Second largest city in Alaska
- How to get there: Fly into Fairbanks International Airport. 6 hour drive from Anchorage. Shuttle. Alaska Railroad on their Denali Star route (mid May - mid September) or their Aurora Winter Train.
What to Know About Visiting Fairbanks in September
We visited Fairbanks during the last week of September and temperatures had already dropped a fair amount from just the beginning of the month.
Snow had not fallen quite yet, so we got to see the absolutely gorgeous fall colors popping through the mountainsides everywhere we went.
Average day time temperatures ranged from mid 40s° F - high 50s° F (4-14° C) Average night time temperatures ranged from 20-30° F (-7 to -1° C). We had mostly dry weather the whole time.
Sunrise was around 8 AM and sunset was around 730 PM during the last week of September.
Best to rent a car to get around if you plan to explore on your own. You can also stay at a hotel that offers all-inclusive tour packages with activities and transportation included.
What to pack: Lots of layers! One very warm jacket, like a 650 down. A rain jacket is a must. Long, warm wool socks. Boots or good shoes, gloves, scarf, beanie, warm headband and a waterproof backpack. Lots of toe and hand warmers! Merino wool and toe and hand warmers were our best friends to keep us nice and warm during those cold nights watching the Northern Lights.
Things to Do in Fairbanks in September
Fairbanks offers much more than just the Northern Lights, though these spectacular dancing lights are always the highlight of the trip.
Embark on a journey to see the Arctic Circle, visit interesting museums and cultural and heritage sites, soak in the Chena hot springs, even send a postcard from the North Pole!
Here were our favorite things to do in Fairbanks in September.
See the Northern Lights
The Northern Lights are obviously one of the top things you have to do in Fairbanks. People travel hours from all corners of the world to Fairbanks JUST for a chance to see this brilliant Earth night show.
And unlike common misconception, the Northern Lights can be seen outside winter time in Fairbanks! The Aurora season in Fairbanks typically starts around the end of August to the third week of April or so.
Photo taken by Aurora Pointe
It's totally possible to see the Northern Lights on your own. There are apps to help you hunt the lights, giving you probabilities of when and where they'll peak in the form of the Aurora Index. If your hotel offers wake-up service for Northern Lights, ask them to put you on the list. If not, set your alarm clock!
If you want to see the Northern Lights on your own, the best way is to drive to somewhere with absolutely no light pollution like a nearby vantage point and then wait. It has to be a dry, clear night to see the lights.
The aurora sometimes just look like a grey or green streak in the sky. You'll have to keep waiting to see if the aurora gets stronger.
You can also take a Northern Lights tours They normally take place from a heated cabin or lodge so you can wait inside in the warmth until the aurora gets stronger.
We did a tour at Aurora Pointe, just 26 minutes outside Fairbanks. They did an Aurora Borealis presentation, to teach us about the lights and how to start looking for them and offered tea, hot chocolate, apple cider and cookies. Their place also had running toilets which was nice. We hung out inside on the comfy couches until the Northern Lights showed up. The price included photos which was nice.
If you want to learn how to take photos of the Northern Lights, there are Northern Lights photography tours and workshops.
Read more about seeing the Northern Lights in Fairbanks in our guide.
Tour Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum
I'm not a huge car person but I love museums. This particular one, the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum was one of the most well put together small museums I have visited. Not only did they have a ton of interesting cars, they also have an extensive collection of vintage fashion through the decades, as well as photographs, archival videos and accessories.
It was not only informative, but fun and the cars, paired along with the fashion and decor of the era, truly transformed you back in time.
An old Ford and a vintage dress
Expect to take around 2 hours at the museum. 10 minute drive from downtown Fairbanks with free parking.
The automobile museum is one of the best things to do in Fairbanks in September, especially if it's raining a lot or if you are looking for an indoor activity.
Gold Daughters Gold Panning
Gold has a deep rooted history in Alaska, boosting the development of Fairbanks between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Fueled by major discoveries in the Yukon territory, the gold rush quickly turned Fairbanks into a major town, with mines and ports set up throughout the outskirts of the city thanks to the Establishment of the Fairbanks Mining District.
Nowadays, Fairbanks still has gold mining operations, such as Fort Knox Mine. Intrigued tourists can try their own hand at panning for gold at Gold Daughters, a local tourism business run by two sisters that grew up in the gold mining industry.
Got some gold flakes!
Visitors can book a tour to learn how to pan for gold and then pan for their own gold! They set up gold troughs so finding gold is guaranteed and you can take it home as a nice souvenir. Choose from the lowest paydirt option of $30 USD to the most expensive, $1000 USD, with the highest concentration of gold.
University of Alaska Museum of the North
A trip to Alaska is not complete without learning about its extensive history. The University of Alaska Museum of the North has intricate exhibits about Alaska's people, lands, wildlife, history and culture as well as modern exhibits to proudly showcase local artists.
University of Alaska - Museum of the North Display
Expect around 2 hours at the museum. Open 7 days a week.
The University of Alaska Museum of the North is one of the best things to do in Fairbanks if the weather is terrible out. Learn all about Alaska's wild and rich history.
They also have movies, a museum store and cafe.
Learn About Reindeer at the Running Reindeer Ranch
If you want to learn about reindeer, then a tour at the Running Reindeer Ranch can be a fun activity for you. This family owned business runs the tours on their property and while you do learn a LOT about reindeer during this 2.5 hour tour, you don't actually run with the reindeer so don't get misled by the name.
Although we learned more about reindeer than I cared for, the reindeer are very cute and seem to be well taken care of. We got to walk up the hill with them and take some photos. The "running" part was more like a 15 minute walk while the reindeer kinda wandered around the trees on their own, until one of the staff members grabbed them so we could take pictures with them.
Hanging out with one of the reindeer
Unfortunately you don't get a ton of time with the reindeer during the tour besides the walk. Although the entire tour was around 2 hours, it was over an hour of the owner talking without seeing a reindeer anywhere.
But when the reindeer finally came out, it was fun. I just wish the tour was shorter so we could spend more time with the reindeer. Also, the presentation was 100% outside, which if you visit during the winter, will be freezing cold.
This tour is over $100 USD per adult so make sure you really want to see reindeer before you book it.
Visit the North Pole
Just a 15 minute drive from Fairbanks is the North Pole. You heard that right, the place where Santa Claus lives! This real town in Alaska called the North Pole has a Santa Claus House, which is basically a gift shop with Christmas based merchandise, a pastry shop and Santa statue.
They also have a reindeer enclosure which you don't have to pay for. If you don't want to do the very extensive Running with Reindeer tour mentioned abve, you can perfectly see reindeer at the Santa Claus House.
Santa Claus House in North Pole
I would say that it wasn't the most fruitful visit in September so you can pass on this unless you really want to be able to say you went to the North Pole. They did have some unique and neat Christmas items and Alaskan made merchandise.
But if you visit over the holidays, then you don't miss the Santa Clause House! Santa Claus comes for photos, you can hang out with the reindeer and it's much more picturesque and fun during the Christmas season.
Visit the Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle seems to be something made up in a sci-fi book but it is in fact, real and you can visit it! There are several companies that offer fly-drive tours from Fairbanks to the Arctic Circle, to fulfill the Alaska bucket list.
As it is not recommended for the normal person to drive on the treacherous Dalton highway, tour companies with professional guides and drivers will take visitors up to through the tundra to the Arctic circle.
You can either fly from Fairbanks to Coldfoot and then drive down or vice versa in one day or even stay overnight at Coldfoot Camp.
We made it to the Arctic Circle!
Soak in the Chena Hot Springs
Alaska's only hot springs resort is open to the public, so you don't have to be a hotel guest to enjoy their vast property. Don't miss their Ice Museum either! That was more fascinating to me than the hot springs, although the warm waters were very relaxing.
Ice Museum - they even have a bar totally made out of ice
Chena Hot Springs Resort is about a 1 hour and 20 minute drive from Fairbanks. We recommend to purchase your day pass beforehand if you do not plan to stay overnight at the resort.
Combo Day Trips
You can perfectly do several activities in one day to maximize your time in Fairbanks. A popular full day trip is the Arctic Circle day trip from Fairbanks with Aurora viewing by driving, an evening at the Chena Hot Springs with Northern Lights viewing, dog mushing/sledding and a reindeer walk, or plan a day out on your own if you have your own rental car.
Cultural Day
In the morning, visit the University of Alaska museum after breakfast. Finish around 12-1 PM, and then stop at the Auto Museum for a couple of hours. Grab lunch, and then do some gold panning in the later afternoon.
Adventure Day
Book a day trip to Denali or the Arctic Circle fly drive. Or if you can, book both tours on two different days, for two different epic adventures. Northern Alaska Tour Company operates both of these trips.
Recommended Places to Eat and Drink
Lemongrass Thai Cuisine: Wonderful Thai food and nice atmosphere
Lavelle's bistro: Salads, pizza, meat, seafood, a little bit of everything. I had the duck which was delicoius. Bit of an upscale place.
The Cookie Jar Restaurant: Classic American breakfast place, massive portions,. The corned beef hash, stuffed Nolan's and pancakes were a huge hit with our group. Also has freshly baked cookies and other pastries
Saltys: Soups, salads, sandwiches, their drinks are a work of art.
Bobby's Downtown:
Yummy greek food.
Hoarfrost Distilling: Handmade vokda distillery
We stayed at Pike's Waterfront Lodge for our time in Fairbanks, Alaska. They have standard hotel rooms and also specialty themed suites.