Alaska Interior RV Adventures: Fairbanks as Base Camp
Fairbanks is a perfect base camp for exploring the outer region. If you have a couple of weeks, spend some time exploring Alaska’s interior. Even if you only have a few extra days, a side trip to Chena Hot Springs is an easy day trip or a very relaxing overnighter from Fairbanks.
While some people do take the Dalton Highway up to the North Slope, make sure you get the latest information about that rugged detour before taking off down that adventure. This post will focus mostly on Chena Hot Springs and then a bit of information about the surrounding area.
Chena Hot Springs
Take the Chena Hot Springs Road that junctions off of the Steese Expressway. Chena Hot Springs is 60 miles from Fairbanks on a paved highway. While the signs say 55 miles per hour, slow it down. The frost heaves and pavement breaks can make this a jarring side trip. There are numerous places to pull over for boondock camping as well as state park campgrounds. Plan on boondocking at the state parks. The area is known for grayling fishing. Canoeing and kayaking are popular activities on the Chena River. When you are finished with your wilderness experience, go to Chena Hot Springs Resort at the end of the road.
Chena Hot Springs Resort a Review:
As of 2018, RV camping was $20 (only boondocking). The draw is the hot springs. A long soak in the hot springs is well worth the side trip. As far as the resort itself? We are not big on tourist hyped attractions so my review may be a bit biased.
What we liked:
We loved that the resort uses geothermic energy. They have free talks and workshops showcasing their projects and facilities. The resort is also family friendly with space for children to get out and get some exercise. While the main hot spring pool is adult only, there is an indoor pool and hot tubs where supervised children are welcome. The greenhouses at the resort provide greens and vegetables for the restaurant. I think this fact is why their fresh salads were so tasty.
The turn-offs:
While the food was tasty, it was priced at resort high prices. There are a lot of activities listed and promoted, but they are seriously overpriced. Other people that we visited with felt the same way. The quality did not match the price. While some of our friends went to the Aurora Ice House Museum, it seemed over the top for a quick look. Most people enjoyed going inside to see the ice carvings and purchase a martini in an ice glass.
When we first went to Chena Hot Springs Resort last year, we looked around and thought it was way too cheesy and hyped. We immediately left. That was a mistake. We could have focused on the things that interested us the most and simply ignored all the over-priced tourist activities.
Recommendation:
This summer we spent two nights at Chena Hot Springs Resort. Overall, our stay was well worth it. We loved soaking in the hot springs. The ticket was one price for the entire day. We will plan a return trip for the food, the hot springs, and the friendly people we met.
Livengood
We had never been to Livengood. It was a point on the map, and I was curious. I chatted with people, and nobody that I knew had been there. The road was paved. It is the junction to Manly and the Yukon River, so we decided to go down and see what was there. Livengood used to be known for its gold mining. We arrived at the end of the road and discovered just a few cabins and a DOT fenced area for roadwork. There were some pullouts along the way and a large turn-around at the end of the road. So, that is Livengood. It is also the end of the pavement. We decided not to continue to Manly or the Yukon. We will save that for a future road trip. We also saved Minto Flats for another trip. I was there years ago and enjoyed the area. The views are beautiful and the berry picking superb!
Dalton Highway
The Dalton Highway, better known as the Haul Road, begins about 85 miles from Fairbanks on the Elliott Highway. It is the road to Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope. The highway was built for access to the Trans-Alaska pipeline. It was closed to public traffic until recently. The highway is mostly gravel. The freight trucking has priority on this 415-mile road. Do your research before deciding to go on this adventure. We decided to pass because of the damage it would do to our truck and camper. Maybe after it is well used when new dents and scratches won’t make me cry, I will take this road. For now, know that the gravel that the trucks kick up will damage your vehicle. The highway is an amazing journey for those that don’t worry about the paint job, windshield replacement, or a new set of tires. You can find out more information on these websites. I suggest downloading this pdf document for details about traveling on the Dalton Highway.
Bureau of Land Management: Dalton Highway
Dalton Highway
Check out this pdf file before you make any decisions about traveling on the Dalton Highway.
Park Service Guide to the Dalton Highway
You cannot see it all! Alaska is a huge state. Many people underestimate its size and wind up seeing very little of the state. A one-week tour will only act as an incentive to come back and spend a year. We suggest enjoying the journey through Canada northbound. Spend all summer in Alaska and then go south in the fall. Several families that we met, spent all summer, stored their rig in Anchorage and flew south for the winter. They returned the following summer to finish exploring Alaska.
Feel free to leave some comments. Have you traveled along the Dalton Highway? What did you think? Was it worth the risks?