Bayougal:

Didn't I read that you said you have driven from Valdez to Fairbanks in one day and that the drive was not too bad?

I have tried to find the post, but can't.

We would already have made the "required" stops on the way down from the Glenn Highway, so we would have a pretty clear shot. Spending the night will not be an option.

Thanks,

We made the drive from Denali NP through Fairbanks to Paxson in one day. We stopped in Fairbanks for most of the day then drove on to Paxson. It was a LONG day. We drove the rest of the way to Valdez the next morning.

The drive is a long one, but if you don't stop along the way, then you'd have a long day, but it's doable. BUT you need to stop and do the 20 mile paved section of the Denali Hwy, if the weather permits.

Do you have a reason to go to Fairbanks? How long will you be there? If you can't spend some time there, or don't have family or friends there, then it's just not worth making the drive. I would really rethink taking this route again. I'd be more inclined to find a rental company to let me drive the Denali Hwy if my goal was to get from Valdez to DNP.

Hope this helps! If I'm not answering your questions, please ask more. I'll try to help.

Also, we went early season, with no fires. I've heard from others that the fires can make this a very boring drive since you wouldn't be able to see anything.

what about the fires? do they have conytrolled fires in the summer?

bayougal:

Son really wants to do the trip to the Arctic Circle--I know, there's not much to see, but that is the main thing he has wanted to do since we began planning the trip. And how many kids from a town of 5,000 can say they've been to the Arctic Circle. I have planned so many activities and this is the only think he has asked to do and has wanted to from the begining. I don't want to do a 13-hr trip, but a 10 hr. doesn't bother us (well, too much, anyway) Driving from Valdez to Fairbanks is the only way to do it. We can take the early morning flight and be back to Fairbanks by noon.

We will spend the night in Fairbanks.

The problem with this itenerary is you are underestimating time. Fires aren't usually the problem but construction is. Fairbanks/Valdez is 400 miles. This area is loaded with scenery which is a main reason to consider it. You will be missing it all on a nonstop marathon drive. Why are you going to Valdez?? Again, this is a 2 night recommended stop, you will have already missed Copper Center area and Worthington Glacier speeding by.

I also NEVER recommend the shuttle day trips to the Arctic Circle, just a big long boring ride- this is the fire area. Since you "have" to go, far superior are the fly/shuttle combo trips to Coldfoot, my only recommendation, if you physically have to stand at the circle.

Since you are doing a round trip flight- I highly recommend you consider Anaktuvak Pass, which is one of the most scenic flights, far superior to going to Coldfoot.

I suggest you look closely at your entire itinerary. It may be the best overall option, rather than trying to add/subtract pieces. An adjustment of routing may offer you more.

Do you know what you'd like to see in Coldfoot? Basically any answer you'd give to that question, the answer is, it isn't in Coldfoot. Coldfoot is a truck stop, literally a wide spot in the road. Helpful when, like me, you've had the requisite two flats on the Haul Road, but not a destination in the classic sense. I agree heartily with BudgetQueen to head more towards Anatuvak Pass. I have the photo to prove I was at the Arctic Circle sign. I had days to wander around and see that part of the country. We hiked in valleys where the caribou migrate, stayed up late watching Northern Lights, all that. On a short in and out trip, though? Eh...

What do you mean 13 hours? We drove a couple times from Fairbanks to Valdez in one day with stops on the way and never took us longer than 10 hours. It is not a big deal at all. I don't know how old is your son but we took our 14 year old granddaughter, who lives in Europe, for a short flight to AC. Yes, Coldfoot is nothing special but we all enjoyed this trip a lot and she loves her picture with a sign of Arctic Circle. Her picture with a sign of the AC is still on her school's website and she already graduated. BTW, if you won't expect anything touristy like North Pole then you and your son will like this trip. If you want more of touristy glitter then visit North Pole. We stopped in North Pole and after 3-4 minutes she had it.

that is the main thing he has wanted to do since we began planning the trip.

That's one thing our granddaughter wanted to do and we have no regrets we stayed only one night in Fairbanks on this trip. However, we did not do a drive/fly trip . We did a 1/2 day trip. We took a small plane flight. I cannot recall a company's name but I can check my file and get back to you, if you not changed your mind after reading all comments. You need to do what your heart tells you to do, not what others think you should do. It is possible to do it. We did it and enjoyed it.

Thanks, all.

IF we go to Fairbanks, we will do the Arctic Circle flight up and back. The flight leaves at 7 a.m. and returns at noon. I believe the company is Northern Alaska Touring Co. We realize that there won't be much to see or do, but my son (who will turn 14 right after we return)really wants to go to the Arctic Circle--he also wants to go to the North Pole, but we won't attempt that--LOL!

I will look into a trip to Anatuvak Pass, although I have not come across that in my research. Thanks for the suggestion.

We will already have stopped at Copper Center, Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center, Horseshoe & Bridalveil Falls, Worthington Glacier, Thompson Pass on our trip from Sheep Mountain to Valdez. We will be spending two nights in Valdez and doing a kayaking trip to Columbia Glacier. We had planned to take the ferry from Whittier, but there schedule didn't work with ours. The drive from Valdez to Fairbanks will be the only long drive of the trip--longest other drive will be no more than 5 hrs. and that's just one day.

Thanks again.

Lynda

Can you tell me names of companies that offer this trip?

Thanks.

Lynda, I'm not familiar with the companies, but I'm sure others will advise you.

I can totally understand taking the Artic trip for your son. We had our 16 yo daughter with us on our last trip to Alaska, and we did some special things just for her. She's in college now, so that will probably be the last big trip with her for some time, so I'm so glad we did some of the things she thought would be cool. BTW, some of those things were cool, some weren't. ;-)

Have a special postcard or letter ready to mail home to your son, and make a point to stop in North Pole, Alaska, to mail it home to him. It's a small town not far from Fairbanks. Not much there, but you could make the stop a surprise for him. Our daughter had fallen asleep in the car, and we woke her up announcing, "We're at North Pole!" We all still laugh about that one. Oh, and the postcard will be postmarked North Pole if mailed there. Our daughter has hers framed in her dorm - she says it's quite a conversation piece.

We stopped at a little restaurant/bar outside of Fairbanks for a drink and snack. We ended up having a slice of the best lemon pie ever! Add the cool stories we heard about the winters from the few people there and it made one of our best Alaskan memories. Our dd especially loved the tales of the syrofoam outhouse seat covers.

we used Northern Alaska Tour for our flight to the Arctic Circle. http://www.northernalaska.com/

It is Horsetail Falls not Horseshoe

Be aware, there you do NOT see the Arctic Circle "sign" unless you are on a shuttle or drive. It is 60 miles one way from Coldfoot. So if you want to see it, be certain that your "tour" includes going there, most do not.

With the flights, you essentially get a certificate stating you have crossed the circle.