Aurora season is from August 21 until April 21. This is when there is sufficient darkness to see the northern lights. Visibility is dependent upon solar activity, atmospheric weather, and the Earth’s magnetic field. Guests are typically able to see the aurora 4 out of 5 clear nights. We suggest planning on staying at least 3 nights to allow for cloudy nights blocking your views.
Information about auroral activity may be found on the Explore Fairbanks page or on the UAF aurora forecast page.
We do not provide transportation to or from the lodge. Local transporters, taxis, Uber, and Lyft are options. Interior Tours & Taxi offers a flat rate for transportation between Fairbanks and Northern Sky Lodge ā contact them early as the owner is the only employee and his schedule fills quickly. Most of our guests choose to rent a vehicle. If you are visiting in winter or spring, we highly recommend a 4×4 or AWD vehicle.
Uber and Lyft services will not provide pick up from our lodge. If you use these services to get a ride from town, we highly recommend getting the driver’s personal phone number or plan on using a local transporter or taxi to get a ride back into town.
Subject to our availability, we may be able to provide alternative transportation to the airport. If you are unable to hire a taxi service, please contact us as soon as possible to discuss this option.
We are located at mile post 329 on the Parks Hwy (AK-3)
Our address is 8587 Parks Hwy, Fairbanks, AK 99709
From Fairbanks, take the Parks Hwy (AK-3) about 30 miles south (towards Anchorage). There is a blue road sign for the lodge 1/2 mile before you need to turn. If heading from Fairbanks, you will make a left-hand turn off the Parks Hwy, then turn left at the fork and follow the road all the way to the lodge.
You can find exact directions from Fairbanks International Airport here.
The weather is difficult to predict more than a few days in advance for Fairbanks. The lack of weather stations in the area and the mountain ranges to the north and south make weekly predictions unreliable. You can find the current forecast here.
There are many fun and unique things to do year-round while visiting the lodge. Check out our Things to Do page for the full rundown.
We do not provide wake-up calls to inform guests about auroral activity. The Explore Fairbanks aurora tracker offers good insights into the best viewing windows each day.
We currently offer a continental-style breakfast with individually wrapped foods which includes bagels, croissants, english muffins, cereals, oatmeal, yogurt, fruit, milk, cream cheese, and jellies/jams. The items available vary depending on local availability. We also have a full kitchen available for guest use. Many guests purchase food and supplies in town and cook their own lunch/dinner or add a little extra for breakfast.