Fairbanks sits almost directly beneath the auroral oval, which is why it is one of the most reliable places in North America to see the northern lights. The aurora is not on a schedule, though, and the difference between a good night and a frustrating one is often local weather: a ridge of cloud over town can hide a spectacular display only an hour's drive away. A chase tour solves that problem by putting a guide in charge of the decisions. Your guide reads the aurora forecast, checks satellite cloud imagery and local road conditions, and then drives the group to wherever the sky looks clearest and darkest, which may be a ridge north of town, a frozen lake, or a pullout along a highway with an open northern horizon. You spend most of the night outside in the cold, watching the sky, with breaks in a warm vehicle or cabin. Most operators carry hot drinks, and many will take photographs of your group with the aurora overhead, which is a real convenience because aurora photography needs a tripod, a long exposure and patience that most visitors do not have set up. The chase format is the right choice for travelers with a short stay, because it makes the most of every clear hour instead of waiting at a single viewing spot.
The aurora forms when charged particles from the sun strike gases high in the atmosphere, and Fairbanks benefits from both its latitude and its dry interior climate, which produces more clear nights than the coast. The viewing season runs roughly from late August to mid April, when nights are dark enough, with the deepest darkness and the most reliable displays from autumn through the winter months. In the summer the sky never gets dark enough for the lights to be seen, which is why no chase tours run then.
Displays vary enormously
Some nights bring a faint grey-green arc on the horizon that your eyes read as a thin cloud, and others bring curtains that ripple and pulse from one side of the sky to the other, with pink and violet edges. A camera often sees more colour than the naked eye, so photographs taken by your guide may look more vivid than the real thing, and that is normal.
Plan for the cold as seriously as you plan for the lights. Interior Alaska winter nights can be well below zero Fahrenheit, and standing still for hours is much colder than moving. Wear layers, insulated boots, a warm hat, a face covering and mittens, and ask about rented cold-weather gear if you are travelling from a warm climate; several Fairbanks outfitters rent parkas and boots. Bring spare camera batteries and keep them warm inside your jacket, since cold drains them quickly. Dress your phone for the weather too, as touchscreens struggle with bare cold hands.
The single best piece of advice is to stay at least three nights. Even in the best season, a clear sky and an active aurora do not always line up on a given night, and visitors who book one night sometimes leave without seeing the show. Spreading tours across several nights, or combining a chase tour with a hot springs soak or a dog sledding ride, raises your odds and makes better use of the long winter evenings. Late starts are normal, with many tours leaving in the evening and returning after midnight.
What to expect
The experience
A guided evening in a small vehicle or van, driven to the clearest sky, with time outdoors watching the aurora and warm-up breaks.
Best time
Late August to mid April, with the darkest skies from autumn through winter. Nights near a new moon give the most contrast.
How long
Most tours run several hours into the night and return after midnight.
Tips
Book at least three nights in the region, dress for deep cold, charge spare batteries and ask whether the tour includes photos and hot drinks.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone who wants the best odds of seeing the aurora without arranging transport or reading space-weather forecasts.
- Families
- Fine for older children who can stay up late and tolerate the cold; check the operator's age rules.
- Couples
- A classic winter night out under the lights, best paired with a hot springs soak on another evening.
- Pair with
- A hot springs day, dog sledding or the Aurora Ice Museum.
- Time needed
- One evening, ideally repeated over several nights.
Good questions
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Fairbanks?+
The viewing season runs roughly from late August to mid April, when nights are dark. Autumn through winter gives the best combination of dark skies and active displays.
Can I see the aurora in summer?+
Not usually. In the midnight sun months the sky never gets dark enough, so aurora tours do not run from late spring through midsummer.
What if it is cloudy?+
A chase guide will drive to find clear sky, which is the main advantage of the format, but no operator can control the weather or the aurora. Staying several nights is the best insurance.
What should I wear?+
Layers, insulated boots, mittens, a warm hat and a face covering. If you do not own extreme-cold gear, several local outfitters rent it.
Will the aurora look like the photos?+
Cameras collect light over several seconds and often show more colour than your eyes do. Strong displays can still look vivid in person, but a faint one may look grey-green.