Viewing the northern lights in Alaska is a unprecedented expertise you’ll keep in mind for a lifetime. It’s no marvel viewing the Alaska aurora borealis tops lots of people’s bucket lists. Touring by RV is a unbelievable approach to expertise Alaska’s distant magnificence whereas chasing the lights.
We’ll check out the perfect areas to see northern lights in Alaska and share when it is best to go through the yr. We’ll additionally share RV journey ideas for a clean journey to see the lights.
Finest Time to See the Northern Lights in Alaska
One of the best time to view northern lights in Alaska is from mid-September to mid-April. These are the darkest months in Alaska, which implies you’ll have extra time throughout which the lights may be seen within the night time sky. The whole aurora season runs from August 21 via April 21 in Alaska.
One of the best time to look at for lights is between 10 pm and three am every day. You’ll wish to be sure the nights you attempt to view lights are clear and chilly. Be certain there isn’t any cloud cowl and skies are clear so you may see the lights with none obstructions.
Often, much less crowded areas provide higher alternatives for seeing the lights as a result of there isn’t as a lot mild air pollution.
Prime Places to View the Northern Lights
There are many nice spots in Alaska the place you may view the northern lights. Listed here are just a few locations the place folks usually have luck seeing the lights.
1. Fairbanks
Fairbanks is commonly touted as top-of-the-line locations to see northern lights in Alaska. It has an airport and is well accessible by way of the Parks Freeway, so folks can journey to town with out an excessive amount of hassle. Fairbanks can also be below the “Aurora Oval.” That is an oval-shaped space that covers the highest of the globe and signifies the place the place the aurora borealis are most lively. You possibly can usually see the aurora borealis proper in downtown Fairbanks. Town additionally has a reasonably low quantity of precipitation and lightweight air pollution, which makes viewing the lights even higher. Fairbanks can also be dwelling to the College of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and the institute points northern lights forecasts you may examine to try to work out the perfect time to look at for lights.
Throughout the metropolis, attempt among the following spots to arrange and look ahead to lights:
- Creamer’s Discipline Migratory Waterfowl Refuge – simply outdoors Fairbanks and simple to achieve
- Cleary Summit – 20 miles from Fairbanks with a number of pull-outs. The summit is accessible however there are sharp turns and inclines. In snowy circumstances, an all-wheel or 4-wheel drive car is beneficial.
- Murphy Dome – 25 miles from Fairbanks with accessible, excessive views. There are sharp turns and inclines and in snowy circumstances an all-wheel or 4-wheel drive car is beneficial.
RV campgrounds: There are many campgrounds within the Fairbanks space. Most function seasonally from mid-Might via September. Nonetheless, the Chena River Recreation Space does have year-round tenting obtainable.
2. Denali Nationwide Park
Denali Nationwide Park is a panoramic nationwide park that will be effectively price visiting even with out northern lights to view! However the park has little or no mild air pollution, and in keeping with the Nationwide Park Service nearly wherever within the park is an efficient spot for viewing. See if you could find an space with a transparent view of the northern horizon with no buildings, bushes, or mountains that may block your view. The northern lights are normally seen first in direction of the north, so start by wanting in that route.
The Parks Freeway into Denali does have RV entry, however the freeway is partially closed in winter.
RV campgrounds: Riley Creek Campground is open year-round. Tenting is free besides through the summer season months. Savage River Campground and Teklanika River Campgrounds are open from mid-Might via mid-September and permit RV tenting. Not one of the campgrounds at Denali have hookups.
3. Chena Sizzling Springs
Chena Sizzling Springs is a calming sizzling springs resort that’s 60 miles from Fairbanks. Visitors 18 and up can loosen up within the outside sizzling springs lake year-round. Youthful youngsters can swim within the resort’s indoor pool. Since Chena is thus far north, and away from mild air pollution, it’s a terrific spot to view the aurora borealis.
The resort is off of Chena Sizzling Springs Highway, which is a paved highway. Situations may be icy and snowy in winter, so that you’ll wish to be cautious driving in chilly climate.
RV campgrounds: There are just a few choices for staying close to Chena Sizzling Springs. Chena Sizzling Springs Resort has RV and tent tenting obtainable from Might via September. These websites are first-come, first serve and price $20 every. There are potable water and dump stations obtainable in-season, however there are not any hookups. The campground does have a laundry room.
There may be additionally year-round tenting obtainable on the three campgrounds at Chena River Recreation Space. These campgrounds do not need hookups, however there are bogs.
The ghost city of Coldfoot close to Gates of the Arctic Nationwide Park is a former gold mining city. It’s now a cease on the Dalton Freeway. The city has few facilities – town heart is dwelling to simply an airstrip, a publish workplace, a trooper outpost, and a gasoline station with a small diner.
However Coldfoot is above the Arctic Circle and has no mild air pollution, making it a terrific place for critical northern lights hunters to discover.
You possibly can journey to Coldfoot by way of bush airplane from Fairbanks, or you may drive the Dalton Freeway. In a automobile, the drive takes about 8 hours and 45 minutes. Touring by RV will possible take longer. Each types of transportation will also be affected by climate, particularly through the peak northern lights viewing months.
RV campgrounds: Staying in Coldfoot places you in a terrific spot to view the aurora borealis, and likewise places you near Gates of the Arctic if you wish to discover the nationwide park. Coldfoot Camp has free tenting obtainable through the summer season. In colder months, there are primary cabins obtainable the place you may bunk. Iniakuk Lake Wilderness Lodge has rooms and cabins at Gates of the Arctic Nationwide Park.
5. Anchorage & Eagle River
Viewing northern lights in Anchorage could also be barely extra of a problem than among the extra far-flung Alaskan areas. Anchorage is the most important metropolis within the state, with 40% of the state’s inhabitants. Whereas town isn’t large, it does have extra mild air pollution than different spots. Nonetheless, Anchorage additionally has extra facilities, together with comfy campgrounds and locations to remain, eating places, and gasoline stations.
Listed here are just a few locations in Anchorage and Eagle River the place you might wish to look ahead to lights:
- Glen Alps Trailhead: That is close to Chugach State Park, and there’s a scenic overlook simply north of the trailhead parking zone with views of the Anchorage Bowl, Prepare dinner Inlet, and different Anchorage sights. You possibly can hike from right here as much as Flattop Mountain, or look ahead to lights from the parking zone.
- Anchorage Downtown Viewpoint: This can be a common spot for photographers to get scenic pictures of Anchorage towards the Chugach Entrance, and at night time the northern sky is viewable with out a lot mild air pollution. The point of view is simply off the aptly-named Northern Lights Boulevard, close to Postmark Drive. Earthquake Park is about 0.6 miles from this parking zone.
- Level Woronzof: Level Woronzof faces northwest, and is on a bluff 120 toes above Knik Arm. You’ll get sweeping views of the northern sky, and it needs to be darkish sufficient in season to see the aurora.
RV campgrounds: The Palmer/Anchorage North KOA is open year-round and is a good possibility. The campground has full hookups, laundry amenities, a pet space, a common retailer and extra. Eagle River Campground is a seasonal campground that’s open from late Might via late September. Camp websites have picnic tables, hearth pits, water, and flush bogs. Golden Nugget RV Park in Anchorage is open year-round for longterm tenants. And Ship Creek RV Park is open every season from Might 1 via September 30.
RV Journey Suggestions for Northern Lights Looking
Nobody can assure that you just’ll see northern lights once you go in search of them. Nonetheless, there are some issues you are able to do to extend your probabilities. There are additionally some tricks to attempt to ensure your winter journey is protected and comfy.
Selecting the Proper RV for Winter Journey
If you happen to’ll be tenting whereas chasing the northern lights, you’ll wish to be sure your RV is ready for winter. You’ll wish to be sure there’s heating for tanks, glorious insulation, and good heating techniques.
Highway Situations & Driving Security
If you happen to’re staying in a much bigger metropolis like Anchorage or Fairbanks, you might be on principally paved roads and highways. Nonetheless, in case you plan to drive to distant areas, you might discover rougher roads. The Dalton Freeway has sections which are paved and sections that aren’t. You might also discover snow and ice, relying on the time of yr you’re visiting, so that you’ll desire a car that may deal with powerful highway circumstances. A smaller rig like a Class B campervan with 4-wheel drive would possibly suit your plans finest.
Be certain to hold snow chains and examine highway circumstances incessantly. You’ll additionally wish to examine the climate on the whole, to ensure there aren’t any storms shifting in once you plan to be driving. Lastly, hold an emergency equipment in case you break down. Don’t overlook to deliver additional meals and water as effectively!
Tenting & In a single day Parking
Many Alaskan RV parks are solely open seasonally, normally from Might via the tip of September. If you wish to chase the aurora outdoors of these months, search for campgrounds which are open year-round. We listed just a few of them above. You can even boondock in distant areas. If you happen to’re on BLM land, you may camp in most locations for as much as two weeks earlier than needing to maneuver. If you happen to’re on tribal land, you’ll want permission from tribal landowners earlier than establishing camp.
Be certain your RV can deal with boondocking. You’ll want sufficient energy and water, and add in some additional in case harsh climate prevents you from shifting precisely once you deliberate.
Important Gear for Aurora Viewing
If you happen to’re headed to Alaska to view the aurora, you’ll positively need heat clothes! Remember the fact that you might be outdoors, ready and expecting lights for a substantial period of time. Remember to deliver a heavy jacket, hat, waterproof gloves, snowboots, wool socks, and heat shirts and pants. You might also need some hand and footwarmers to tuck in your pockets or boots. Further blankets may be useful in case you’ll be sitting outdoor expecting lights. You’ll additionally need some comfy camp chairs.
Photographers who wish to take photos of the lights will desire a tripod, a digicam with handbook settings for capturing the lights, and a distant clicker or digicam timer in the event that they wish to be in some photos as effectively.
Lastly, use a red-light headlamp to protect night time imaginative and prescient when you’re out in search of lights. An everyday, brilliant headlamp can damage folks’s eyes once they’ve gotten used to the darkish.
Verify the Forecast
There are just a few completely different forecasts obtainable for northern lights viewing. We are able to begin by narrowing down the perfect season for the aurora – mid-September via mid-April. Then, there are just a few locations that can provide forecasts for about 3 days forward of time. These have a look at climate forecasts for the following few days so if there shall be cloud cowl. They examine the moon to see if its mild will intrude with the aurora. And so they additionally have a look at the KP index, which measures geomagnetic exercise and is used to foretell how seen the lights are. Essentially the most correct forecasts shall be through the day of the night time you wish to see lights. You possibly can even get some forecasts 30 to 60 minutes earlier than the aurora are anticipated to be lively.
Listed here are some locations to search for northern lights forecasts:
- Fairbanks Aurora Borealis Tracker: Makes use of info from the Geophysical Institute on the College of Alaska Fairbanks, climate information from common close by viewing areas, and the quantity of daylight to inform you your probabilities of seeing lights proper now
- Geophysical Institute on the College of Alaska Fairbanks Aurora Tracker: Provides you the present KP index, plus notes on the depth of exercise, the moon section, and the place to view the lights.
- NOAA Area Climate Prediction Middle: Reveals the situation and depth of the aurora within the subsequent 30-90 minutes, and the place the Aurora Oval is.
- Aurora Alerts: An app that screens real-time exercise and sends alerts to let if the aurora borealis shall be seen the place you might be that night time.
- My Aurora Forecast: One other app that reveals the present KP index, a listing of the perfect locations to see the aurora proper now, a map displaying how robust the lights are around the globe, and notifications when auroral exercise is predicted to be excessive.
Take a Tour
The choice to take a tour or not merely will depend on your choice. If you happen to really feel comfy hopping in your car and chasing the northern lights your self, you might not want an official tour. However in case you’d just like the experience of somebody who spends numerous hours researching the lights, determining the place to go, and probably bringing alongside perks like sizzling cocoa, chairs, or blankets to make you extra comfy, you might wish to enroll with a tour. Some excursions even have skilled photographers alongside who can take images or show you how to with your individual digicam settings.
You possibly can examine for excursions close to Fairbanks or Anchorage the place corporations provide loads of packages.
Give Your self A number of Days (and Nights)
Since climate and the aurora are each unpredictable, you’ll wish to enable a number of nights to try to view the lights. If you happen to’re relying on seeing them on one explicit night time, and the sky is cloudy, you’ll miss your probability. Give your self a minimum of three nights to try to catch the lights, if doable.
Further Actions to Improve Your Journey
Since viewing the northern lights occurs at night time, you’ll nonetheless have time to fill through the day. There are many thrilling actions you may plan within the meantime to discover the good state of Alaska. Listed here are just a few to attempt:
- Canine sledding in Fairbanks: There are a number of canine sledding corporations in Fairbanks, and you may guide rides that begin at half-hour lengthy. You would possibly even get to fulfill a star athlete – some canine on these excursions are former Iditarod or different race individuals.
- Ice fishing and snowmobiling in Denali: You possibly can go snowmobiling in some elements of Denali Nationwide Park. Snowmobiling is allowed every year after the park superintendent has decided there’s satisfactory snow cowl. Chelatna Lake and different lakes within the space even have ice fishing to attempt.
- Sizzling Springs Rest at Chena: Chena Sizzling Springs Resort is open year-round. Loosen up within the sizzling springs through the day, and look ahead to the aurora after the solar goes down.
- Wildlife Viewing in Arctic Alaska: In accordance with the Alaska Division of Fish & Sport, you may see polar bears, Arctic foxes, wolverines, caribou, whales, and lots of different wild animals within the very norther elements of Alaska. This wildlife viewing calendar reveals you when you may watch for various animals, and what they may be as much as. There are tour operators who present guided wilderness excursions to seek for wildlife in northern Alaska, if you wish to go along with a professional.
Northern Lights in Alaska FAQs
Are you able to see the northern lights in Alaska in an RV?
Sure, you may see the northern lights in Alaska in an RV. There are campgrounds the place you may keep when you chase the northern lights. Areas just like the Chena River Recreation Space don’t have a lot mild air pollution, so you might not even need to stray too far out of your rig to see the lights.
What are the perfect RV parks for northern lights viewing?
RV parks in Fairbanks, just like the Fairbanks/Chena River KOA Journey, are good spots for northern lights viewing. Fairbanks doesn’t have as a lot mild air pollution because the bigger metropolis of Anchorage. Additionally, this RV park is located near locations like Cleary Summit and Murphy Dome, that are nice spots for viewing the aurora.
How chilly does it get in Alaska for RV tenting in winter?
Alaska winters can get very chilly, and in case you’re planning on RV tenting, you’ll positively want a rig that’s prepared. In southern Alaska, temperatures are sometimes within the 20s through the day and get colder after darkish. However these temperatures can drop and get fairly chilly. In northern Alaskan locations like Fairbanks, temperatures are sometimes beneath zero and might plummet to 30 or 40° beneath zero.
Is it protected to drive an RV in Alaska in winter?
It’s protected to drive an RV in some elements of Alaska in winter. Highways and roads in Anchorage and Fairbanks are well-traveled and plowed. However extra distant highways will not be maintained in winter. Be certain you’ve gotten a route deliberate and know that it’s accessible in winter.
You’ll additionally wish to watch the climate and keep away from driving throughout snowstorms if doable. Carry chains in your car or use studded tires in fall, winter, and spring. Maintain your gasoline tank a minimum of half full. Drive rigorously and depart loads of distance between you and the car forward. Look ahead to ice, particularly black ice that may kind on bridges and overpasses.
Lastly, carry emergency provides together with additional heat clothes, a snow shovel, jumper cables, additional meals and water, and blankets.
What’s the finest Alaska highway journey for northern lights?
One of the best Alaska highway journey to see northern lights can be a drive from Anchorage to Fairbanks. Spend a while in Anchorage, exploring the world and expecting lights on the locations we profiled above. Then head to Fairbanksto try the northern lights and the actions within the space. From Fairbanks, you possibly can additionally take a day journey to Chena Sizzling Springs an hour away, or you possibly can proceed on to Coldfoot for extra probabilities to view the aurora.
Heading to Alaska to view the northern lights is an unforgettable journey! You possibly can see the state’s majestic mountains, lakes, and different pure wonders. You’ll expertise the wonderful kaleidoscope of colours swirling throughout the sky. And you may attempt numerous winter adventures like ice fishing, canine sledding, and snowmobiling. Be certain to plan forward for the perfect expertise and guide excursions or make reservations once they’re wanted. Additionally, you’ll want to examine RVshare’s Alaska leases to lease the proper car in your winter journey!
