Hotels in Fairbanks
Going the bed-and-breakfast route is a good choice in Fairbanks. At the B&Bs I've listed here, you can save money over a hotel and get a private room just as good while staying in a unique place with interesting people. The Fairbanks Association of Bed and Breakfasts lists about 10 more on its website at www.ptialaska.net/~fabb. The visitor bureau also provides B&B information and up-to-date vacancy data in person at the Morris Thompson center, or by calling tel. 907/459-3785.
Expensive
There are many hotels here in the expensive category, so I have included one for each taste. The enormous Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge (www.princesslodges.com; tel. 800/426-0500 or 907/455-4477; fax 907/455-4476) also merits a mention as a luxurious and well-run hotel in a pleasant setting near the airport (it's quite similar to Pike's Waterfront). However, in summer, the Princess usually books fully with the owner's cruise-line clients. Rooms are most often available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Marriott Fairbanks Springhill Suites (www.marriott.com; tel. 800/314-0858 or 907/451-6552; fax 907/451-6553) offers spacious rooms in a prime spot in the center of town, and has Lavelle's Bistro and one of the few hotel pools in town.
Going with the Flow
Many of the large, top-quality hotels in Fairbanks -- including the Princess, Westmark, Pike's Waterfront Lodge, Sophie Station, River's Edge Resort, and Wedgewood Resort -- cater to enormous escorted tours, which flow through town on a rhythm set by the arrival of cruise ships hundreds of miles away. As a result, certain nights are booked up every week many months in advance, while others are wide open. Fortunately, this flow alternates on different nights for different companies, so when one hotel is full, another is empty. If you find your first choice is booked, just call one of the others. If they have rooms, ask for a discount, as they may have a lot of empty rooms.
Hostels & Camping
There are several hostels in Fairbanks. Among the best is the homey Billie's Backpackers Hostel, near the university, at 2895 Mack Blvd. (www.alaskahostel.com; tel. 907/479-2034). It's a charming place with a charming owner -- a real home, but quirky and fun. Billie assigns bunks as people arrive, and you could luck into a private room for the same $30 a night she charges everyone. Rooms are coed, and the price includes tax, all linens, coffee and tea, the Internet, and much else. The Alaska/Yukon Trails shuttle stops out front. To find the hostel, turn south off College Road on Westwood Way and look for the first house on the left just past Mack Boulevard. I also recommend the hostel at GoNorth Alaska Adventure Travel Center, near the airport.
Tent camping is a good way to go in Fairbanks, with its mild summers and ample public lands, but stock up on mosquito repellent. In town, Chena River Wayside (tel. 907/455-8881 or 452-7275) is located where University Avenue crosses the river. (The campground is also known as the Chena River State Recreation Site and should not be confused with the recreation "area" of the same name.) Sites are surrounded by birch and spruce, some are near the river, and there are flush toilets. Arrive early to camp close to the river instead of at one of the noisier sites nearer the road. Eleven sites have water and power hookups for RVs and cost $25 a night; another 45 drive-in sites for tent campers or RVs, without hookups, are $17; and 5 tent-only walk-in sites $10. Getting a bit out of town, there are superb public campgrounds at Chena Lake Recreation Area and along Chena Hot Springs Road.
Fairbanks has plenty of commercial RV parks, some with full service and then some. Pick up a list at the visitor center. Among the best is River's Edge RV Park and Campground, at a riverside bend of the Chena at 4140 Boat St., off Airport Way and Sportsman Way (www.riversedge.net; tel. 800/770-3343 or 907/474-0286), with lots of services, including shuttles and a tour desk. Full hookups are $42 and tent camping $24. The same people operate the cottage resort and restaurant next door.
Bookstore
Available as paperback
and as e-book.
17 Results
- Hotel
A Taste of Alaska Lodge
The homestead of a charismatic Alaskan family, this log building is set atop a hillside on 280 acres, facing Mount McKinley. The location off Chena Hot Springs Road, less than half an hour from Fairbanks, makes it an excellent choice if you want a feeling of wilderness or a winter…$$North of Fairbanks
- Hotel
All Seasons Inn
On a quiet residential street within easy walking distance of downtown Fairbanks is the cedar home that’s been transformed into the All Seasons Inn. It’s a homey, country-inn-like bed and breakfast, with a tidy if tiny yard, cozy common areas, lots of rugs and runners, and a hostess…$$ - Hotel
Aurora Express Bed and Breakfast
Imagine spending the night backstage at a community theater, with all sorts of props and costumes to get into, and you’ll have some idea what it’s like to stay at Aurora Express Bed and Breakfast. Now imagine this community theater is housed in seven retired railway cars, hauled up…$$Chena Ridge - Hotel
Bridgewater Hotel
The Bridgewater Hotel’s most obvious attraction is its location. It’s just one block from the downtown Marriott but it’s usually $50 less expensive. What’s less obvious, until you stay there, is the remarkable care bestowed on each guest by the unusually friendly and gracious staff…$$Downtown - Hotel
Chena Hot Springs Resort
Geothermal hot springs come to the surface in a steep-walled valley at the end of the road, beyond the state recreation area. An ingenious Fairbanks entrepreneur’s resort stands here, with a museum made entirely of ice; greenhouses heated with geothermal water, producing food for the…$$Pleasant Valley - Campground
Chena Lake Recreation Area
About 30 minutes out of town, in North Pole, the campground has a variety of sites set around a swimming and boating lake.$North Pole - Campground
Chena River State Recreation Site
This public campground is right in the city, on a bend in the river among spruce and birch trees. Don't confuse it with the Chena River State Recreation Area, which is outside of town. Arrive early for a riverside site. Bathrooms have plumbing, and 11 sites are available with water…$ - Hotel
Golden North Motel
A long-time Alaskan family operates the Golden North Motel and they get much of their business from other Alaskans, including quite a few Native families making their annual trips into the big city in the summer. These locals know that this two-story motel is the best bargain in…$Near the airport - Hotel
Grand View Bed & Breakfast
A big log house, 15 minutes out of town, Grand View overlooks a panorama of the Tanana Valley and Alaska Range. Hosts are members of an interesting, well-traveled family with three young children. All bedrooms have, yes, grand views and private bathrooms.$Chena Ridge - B&B
Minnie Street Bed & Breakfast Inn
Located on a busy but residential street, the four buildings that make up the inn are built around a garden courtyard, which serves as a calming counter weight to the street traffic. The inn’s got a dozen bright, airy Martha Stewart-esque rooms along with one a three-bedroom,…$$Downtown - Hotel
Pike’s Waterfront Lodge
Rooms in this riverside hotel are loaded with amenities, and common areas have a lot of unique features, such as a greenhouse, an ice cream parlor decorated with a real airplane, solar panels, and a huge collection of wildlife art. A truly fun place to stay.$$Near the airport - Hotel
River’s Edge Resort Cottages
A cheerful little village of pastel cottages sits on a grassy lawn at a bend in the Chena River, an idyllic setting that brings the best of Fairbanks to your doorstep. Families will enjoy having their own unit, without worries about noise and with lots of room to play outside (each…$$West Side - Campground
River’s Edge RV Park and Campground
On attractive land along the Chena (the camp sites are right on the banks of it), near the resort of the same name, this commercial park has lots of services, including free shuttles.$$ - Campground
Rosehip Campground
The rushing upper river passes by this handsomely forested campground in the Chena River State Recreation Area, 32 miles from the city.$ - Hotel
Sophie Station Hotel
The units here all include full kitchens and separate living rooms and bedrooms, and the site is near grocery stores and the airport—making this the ideal spot for business travelers or longer stays. The in-house cafe, Zach’s, is surprisingly good for a place tucked away in such a…$$West Side - Hotel
Wedgewood Resort
The Wedgewood Resort consists of eight large buildings on 23 acres adjoining the Creamer’s Field Refuge; the Alaska Bird Observatory is on the grounds, as is an antique auto museum. For families, the units of converted apartments make all kinds of sense, with large living rooms,…$$East Side - Hotel
Westmark Fairbanks Hotel & Conference Center
The city’s traditional central hotel and meeting place covers a full block and boasts one of the town’s tallest towers. It's stylishly decorated and offers many services and amenities. Because it is owned by the Holland America Line, service is up to cruise ship standards.$$Around Town
