Arctic Circle Tour From Fairbanks: Fly and Drive Adventure

Visiting Alaska’s Arctic Circle had always been a dream for our family. When my husband and daughter expressed their desire to venture into the far north, I knew we had to make it happen. However, reaching the Arctic Circle isn’t as straightforward as one might think. The region is remote, and driving there poses its own set of challenges. After some research, we discovered the Arctic Circle Fly & Drive Adventure Southbound offered by Northern Alaska Tour Company. It promised the perfect blend of aerial views and ground exploration, making it ideal for first-time visitors like us. This really was the perfect Arctic Circle tour from Fairbanks, Alaska and a great addition to any Fairbanks itinerary.

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Checking in With the Northern Alaska tour Company

When you choose the Fly and Drive Adventure, the tour begins at the Fairbanks Airport. You don’t need to actually drive to the terminal. Instead you meet up with the tour guide at the Northern Alaska Tour Company office. A tour representative will give everyone a brief overview, confirm meal options, weigh bags, and check id’s. Then you walk over to the terminal (it’s literally next door).

Before you get to the airport and definitely before the tour date, there are some logistics you need to arrange. First, order lunch. You have to pay for your own lunch, but the lunch is not bad (sandwich, chips, and cookie) and will be freshly prepared in Coldfoot.

The second consideration is that if you choose the fly and drive adventure tour option, you can only take a bag weighing 10lbs or less on the flight. The back must be a backpack type bag and the weight limits are strict. Choose carefully when packing your day pack. And if you have kids, keep in mind that lightweight toys and games are going to be the better option.

The terminal you will fly out of is where the adventure really begins. This is not an airport like you are used to. All of the planes departing and arriving are servicing remote parts of Alaska. Many of the passengers awaiting flights are indigenous peoples who are returning to remote tribal areas.

When it’s time for your flight, the airport worker will announce it (no intercom), and then you head out to the prop plane.

Fly from Fairbanks to Coldfoot, Alaska

Once our flight was called, the pilot greeted us at the 9-seat passenger plane and we were off!

The seats in the airplane were comfortable but of course it was loud! Still, everyone got a window seat. This detail is worth mentioning because the views were utterly spectacular.

The flight was meant to last a little more than an hour and along the way we got to see fantastic aerial views of the Brooks Mountain Range.

Surprise! A quick Detour to Gates of the Arctic National Park

But, as with many things in Alaska, nature had a surprise detour in mind for us. The weather was dangerously cloudy. So, cloudy it wasn’t safe to fly. Inside the airplane everything was bright white– like we were being transported into the Twilight Zone or something. It wasn’t the Twilight Zone, but it also wasn’t safe to fly in. Our pilot would not have been able to see the mountains or the runway in Coldfoot.

So, we made a surprise stop in Anaktukuk Pass, Alaska. This remote village was located smack dab in the the middle of Gates of the Arctic National Park!

Anaktukuk Pass and Meeting the People!

Anaktukuk Pass, Alaska is located on the North Slope or the Arctic Slope. The only way to reach the Inupiaq village seemed to be via airplane, although I am sure snow machine would have worked too.

We only stopped here for about 45 minutes, but the tribal elders all came to the air traffic camper, which was the town hub, to greet us and welcome us! It was really fantastic to meet everyone and they could not have been more gracious! The elders encouraged (asked) us to take loads of photos. Mission accomplished!

As a former linguist, I found the Inupiaq language translation sheets the most interesting part of our stop. The elders are incredibly invested in making sure the younger generations continue to learn and use the indigenous language.

Once the weather cleared, we were back in business. It was a quick flight to Coldfoot. The scenery continued to impress! And now I knew we were looking at the Gates of the Arctic National Park.

Another interesting feature on our flight was we flew over a huge chunk of the remarkable Trans Alaska Pipeline. This is the massive oil pipeline that pumps from Prudhoe Bay at the Arctic Ocean, down to ports and eventually to a gas pump near you! It was really neat to see just how small and inconsequential this pipeline was against the vastness of the Alaskan wilderness. It really was just a ribbon.

Our Experience at Coldfoot, Alaska

I am not sure what I was expecting to see at Coldfoot, Alaska, but I guess I didn’t realize how remote Coldfoot really was. Coldfoot it basically a hub for backcountry exploring in the Brooks Mountain Range. At its heart though, Coldfoot is basically a really big truck stop.

Coldfoot Camp

I mean, the truck stop part totally makes sense. Coldfoot was made famous by the Dalton Highway truckers in the television show Ice Road Truckers. And the truck stop serves as the primary place to hang out, grab a bite to eat, and do some fun souvenir shopping.

This is where we picked up the lunch we had ordered before the day of the tour.

There was a prime section of the truck stop cafe dedicated to the Dalton Highway truckers. That was neat to see, particularly given how hard their job is. And there was some great information about the establishment of Coldfoot Camp and the trucking history.

Arctic Interagency Visitor Center

If we doubted the legitimacy of our pit stop at Gates of the Arctic National Park, the park ranger confirmed that yes, we absolutely saw plenty of the park for it to count. Of course, the fact that you can’t actually visit Gates of the Arctic via vehicle makes it one of the most remote national parks in the world.

Gates of the Arctic National Park shares the Arctic Interagency Visitor Center with the Bureau of Land Management and the Fish and Wildlife Service.

The visitor center was really nice. Honestly, this was the nicest and best maintained building we saw in all of Coldfoot. There were numerous displays on the history, wildlife, and ecosystem of the park.

This was a great way to be introduced to the arctic tundra, the arctic national wildlife refuge, the indigenous culture, and historic sites in Alaska’s north.

And the stunning views from the windows didn’t hurt either. (and yes, I know.. all you see is clouds. It was still gorgeous).

After stopping for food and fun in Coldfoot (and of course a restroom break), it was time to tackle the Dalton Highway!

Driving the Famed Dalton Highway

After about 45 minutes in Coldfoot, it was time to drive the rugged Dalton Highway to the Arctic Circle!

The James W. Dalton Highway, most commonly known as the Dalton Highway (also called the Haul Road) is a 414 mile road that runs from Livengood, Alaska to Deadhorse, Alaska on the shores of the Arctic Ocean.

You can drive this road as a tourist, but this is not like an improved highway you might drive in the rest of Alaska. In addition to tour groups, almost all of the traffic on Alaska’s Dalton Highway are truckers headed to the North Slope oil fields to bring supplies. We did see a few RV tourists on this road, but honestly, we mostly didn’t see anyone for miles at a time.

What was the Drive like?

The goal for our small group was to meet up with the main tour group (the ones who opted to drive both ways). at the Arctic Circle. Unfortunately, the bad weather and our pit stop at Anaktukuk Pass put us behind schedule a bit.

Our guide didn’t rush us though. There were 5-6 people in the van who opted for the fly and drive adventure like we did. So, we headed out and stopped at some of the more notable points of interest along the way.

Honestly, I thought the views of the Brooks Range were just gorgeous, as were all of the wildflowers we got to see! We didn’t see any wildlife on our tour, but often visitors will see Dall sheep, caribou, musk ox, and arctic foxes.

Speaking of animals, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System has 579 built-in animal crossings (not the game, although that would be fun. lol). This allows large animals to move back and forth across the pipeline without restriction.

Here is a photo of the prepared lunch we purchased ahead of time. The turkey sandwich was quite good, and the chocolate chip cookie was delicious!

Even though the Dalton Highway was a pretty remote location, there were still dedicated viewpoints with informational signs. Apparently you can get a fantastic view of the midnight sun from Gobblers Knob during Summer Solstice.

The Arctic Circle Sign

Welcome to the Arctic Circle! Ok, if you choose the Fly and Drive Adventure, you have already spent most of the day north of the Arctic Circle. But it’s still really cool to get your photo taken in front of the official sign.

All visitors on the tour get an official Arctic Circle adventure certificate for crossing the Arctic Circle. Yep, you get an official arctic circle certificate as a souvenir. The sign is the main event, but there are also a few interpretive displays, and restrooms. Very important to note. Ha!

Once we snapped our photos and went potty, it was time to speed to catch up with the rest of the tour group. Our local guide (and driver) really raced to make up time. It meant he had an extra long driveback to Coldfoot but I was super relieved that he took care of us.

yukon River Camp Meet up

We did meet up with the rest of the tour group at the Yukon River Camp. Like Coldfoot, there wasn’t much to the camp, but they did have a great restaurants, restrooms, and a gift shop! The menu changes frequently so check their website if you want to be prepared.

We all had delicious cheeseburgers and hot berry pie with ice cream. Everything was so tasty.

I really appreciated this sign that highlighted all the points along the Dalton Highway. Once everyone had finished eating, we piled into the main tour vehicle for the last leg back to Fairbanks.

Note: the website states you will. be riding in a passenger van or motor coach with 15-25 passenger capacity. That was not our experience. It seemed like the main tour bus was exactly that– a bus. And it was packed. I am not complaining, but just stating that if you are expecting prime comfort, you will likely not get that.

So, we left Yukon River Camp and crossed the mighty Yukon Rier one last time on our way back to Fairbanks. After dinner, almost everyone was happy to try and sleep. And that’s pretty much what we did (minus potty breaks).

Why Choose the Fly and Drive Adventure

Quite frankly. You get the best of both worlds. And with kids, I would highly recommend this option vs. the ground tour where you drive both ways. Why? Because the day is incredibly long. Even with the fly and drive option, your tour will last about 13 hours. If you choose to ride the bus both ways, the entire trip will last over 16 hours. And there is no wifi on board the bus. So, your kids will be on the bus for hours on end… you get the point.

The fly and drive adventure is the best way to see a part of Alaska most people will never see.

Plus, if you choose the fly and drive tour option, you will get the chance to visit Coldfoot, which is 60 miles north of the Arctic Circle. This is the town made famous by the Ice Road Truckers.

The allure of combining a scenic flight with a guided drive was irresistible. Flying north provided us with panoramic views of Alaska’s vast wilderness, while the drive back allowed for intimate encounters with the landscape and its stories. For families, especially those traveling with children, this tour offers a comprehensive Arctic experience without the logistical headaches of planning each segment independently.

Tips for Traveling With Kids (or even without Kids)

When we went on the Arctic Circle Fly and Drive Adventure, our daughter was 9 (almost 10) and she did great. So, if you are wondering if the tour is ok for kids.. I would say yes! But probably older kids would be less likely to melt down at the end of the long day. But you know your kids the best.

Best Time to Visit: Summer months offer milder weather and the unique experience of the midnight sun.
Packing Essentials: Layered clothing, mosquito repellant, and a good camera are must-haves. If you are prone to motion sickness, I would also pack dramamine or another form of motion sickness medicine.
Family Considerations: The tour is suitable for children, but it’s essential to prepare them for long travel times and limited amenities in remote areas.
For Kids: You only have 10 lbs in your kids backpack so make it count. I would highly recommend packing a stuffie and/or travel pillow so that they can sleep once you leave Yukon River Camp. As far as activities, there won’t be wi-fi or cell service for much of the trip, so this would be a great time to use a sticker book, or other activity book to keep your kids from getting bored on the bus trip leg of your tour.

Arctic Circle Tour Logistics and Good to Know Info

Some of these tips are reminders and some are just tips to help you plan better.

Definitely order the bag lunch that is offered at Coldfoot. This way you don’t have to use your 10 lbs per person on snacks.
You can opt for a hotel pick up. But if you want to save time, you can also just drive to the tour office at the Fairbanks airport. We opted for hotel drop off and it was really convenient. No one wanted to drive at 2am.
I would strongly urge you to not plan any major activities for the day after your Arctic Circle tour. You will be completely exhausted. The day after is not the day to stick to a strict tour schedule. Yes, the Arctic Circle drive adventure and the fly and drive adventure are basically a day trip. But they are a very very long day trip.
We took this tour in the summer. However, you can take a similar tour in the winter season where you are basically assured of seeing the aurora borealis.

Fitting the Arctic Circle Tour into a Fairbanks Itinerary

We spent 3 days in Fairbanks and the Arctic Circle Tour was one of the three days (and honestly the main reason we visited Fairbanks). Other options that are family friendly include:

Chena Hot Springs and the Aurora Ice Museum
Museum of the North
Pioneer Park
Visit the North Pole!
See Reindeer
Pan for Gold
Pet huskies at a sled dog kennel

Arctic Circle Tour From Fairbanks: Fly and Drive Adventure

Checking in With the Northern Alaska tour Company

Fly from Fairbanks to Coldfoot, Alaska