We visited Alaska during the last two weeks of September and saw the northern lights every night we were in Fairbanks (September 27, 28 and 29, 2025). Read about our experience and tips to help you plan your Fairbanks Northern Lights in September trip.
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. We were hosted by Explore Fairbanks and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Northern Lights in Fairbanks, Alaska
Why is Fairbanks one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights?
The city sits right underneath an auroral oval, which are located at the center of the two geomagnetic poles. The ovals are where aurora activity is most active and concentrated, giving Fairbank visitors and locals plenty of opportunities to see the night sky light up and dance between late August to late April.
To get the best experience, you need to get away from the city lights and find the darkest spot you can. If you have a rental car, you can hop in the car and drive into the the outer forests and find a spot to pull over to watch the show.
In case you don't know how to see the Northern Lights or don't want to sit around in below freezing temperatures all night long, you can book a tour or stay at a hotel located outside the city center for the best Northern Light opportunities.
Fairbanks Northern Lights in September
September is the first full month of Northern Light activity in Fairbanks and we got to enjoy it to the fullest. Of the 4 nights we stayed in Fairbanks, we saw the Northern Lights three times. The last night we were too tired to stay up again.
Aurora Pointe
For our first Northern Lights viewing, we went to Aurora Pointe.
Aurora Pointe is located about 25 minutes from Fairbanks International Airport and about 22 minutes from our hotel, Pike's Waterfront Lodge. Although only about 16 miles (25 km) away, this center is a fantastic place to see the Northern Lights with knowledgeable staff and guides.
Their indoor heated facility has bathrooms with running water, couches, games, hot beverages (non alcoholic) fireplaces and cookies so you can be comfy and cozy the entire time.
Since the Northern Lights can start anytime between 10 PM and 3 AM, it was extremely nice to have all of these amenities available so you don't have to be outside in the freezing cold for hours on end.
The staff gives a 30 minute or so presentation of the Northern Lights which was really interesting. We learned about why these lights occur and why Fairbanks is such a great place for the viewings.
On the TV, they left up the Aurora forecast monitor so we could stay inside and hang out until the monitor started showing strong Aurora activity.
We arrived to the center at 10 PM, got settled in and by around midnight, the activity started peaking. Everyone ran outside to see if the show started yet.
Although that night was not a fully clear sky as it had a little bit of clouds, we still saw the lights and a short show as they danced across a slightly cloudy sky.
Taken from my iphone at Aurora Pointe
The lights started dancing across the sky!
Aurora Pointe
They have an outdoor fireplace where you can warm up while watching the lights. Photo by Aurora Pointe
We left the center at 2 AM when they closed.
Aurora Pointe Details
- Reservations required.
- Transportation is not included.
- Complimentary coffee, hot cocoa, tea and cookies
- Bathrooms with running water
- Open at 10 AM, closes at 2 AM and you may arrive and leave at any time
Our Thoughts
For our first Aurora Viewing experience in Alaska, I really enjoyed it. It was nice to have a warm couch and indoor facility to rest while we waited for the lights. Homemade cookies were delicious and it was awesome to have bathrooms with running water.
The cost is $50 USD per person. It's a tad high in my opinion but it's Alaska. Everything is expensive. But this was worth it for a more comfortable and cozy Aurora viewing experience with knowledgeable staff.
Borealis Basecamp
Borealis Basecamp is one of those incredibly Instagram-able hotels with eye-catching igloos, ceiling to floor windows and amazing views. This property was built specifically for a once-in-a-lifetime Fairbanks experience, to watch the northern lights dancing in the sky, play in the snow and trek through the Alaskan wilderness.
The modern igloos 12 foot ceilings with curved windows allow guests to watch the dancing lights while snuggling in a warm bed. If you have a bigger group, opt for a cube or cube suite, both options meticulously built with aurora viewing and utmost comfort in mind.
~ 34 miles (55 km) from Fairbanks International Airport. Should have a 4x4 if you drive yourself but they include transportation in their packages.
An incredible night seeing the Northern Lights from Borealis Basecamp
We saw the most incredible Northern Light show when we were at Borealis Basecamp. The lights did not stop dancing for what felt like HOURS! We couldn't keep our eyes off the night sky as it turned the most vibrant hues of green, purple and red. This was on September 28, 2025.
See more photos and videos of the Northern Lights we saw at Borealis Basecamp on our Instagram!
Crazy northern lights show at Borealis Basecamp
Hotel is not open to the public. Must be a hotel guest to enjoy the property.
The restaurant, Latitutde 65 is open to the public for lunch and dinner. Reservations rqeuired for dinner.
Arctic Circle Trading Post with Northern Alaska Tour Company (Arctic Circle Aurora Fly/Drive)
The third time we saw the Northern Lights was on the Arctic Circle Fly Drive tour with Northern Alaska Tour Company. Our fly and drive tour included a northern lights viewing experience at the end of the day.
The company has a station in Livengood called the Arctic Circle Trading Post set up for a full night of Aurora Borealis viewing. They have hot chocolate, apple cider, tea, granola bars and cup of noodles for guests. The cabin is heated and they also have an outdoor fireplace. Bathrooms are separate outdoor facilities without running water.
The cabin where we hung out at while watching the Northern Lights with the Northern Alaska Tour Company
Northern lights over the cabin and our bus
photo of us by Bobo and Chichi
Fairbanks Northern Lights in September
I was actually a bit surprised asto how intense the Northern Lights were in September. A misconception about seeing the Aurora Borealis is that they can only be seen in the winter time, which in Alaska, is definitely not the case!
Northern Lights viewing are never guaranteed but during the season, there are very high possibilities. If it's a dry, clear night, even if you aren't planning to stay out all night, set an alarm and just go outside around midnight or 1 AM and see if you can see anything. You never know!
I did enjoy going to a dedicated Northern Lights facility and had knowledgeable locals share information about the lights I never knew before. It was also a fun bonding experience with our friends as we huddled together in freezing temperatures, gazing up at a spectacular, sparkling night sky.
We luckily did not get ANY rain in Fairbanks that last week of September, which definitely helped!
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