Where to Stay when in Fairbanks Alaska
Traveling to Fairbanks, Alaska area?
Aurora is seen from the Fairbanks area EVERY NIGHT. Yes, every night when it is dark! Sometimes though, the aurora is short lived, faint or low on the horizon, or the cloudy weather blocks the view. That is why many do not see it every night. If you want to see the aurora from your hotel, house, bnb, or other, then the first thing you need to consider is the light pollution. Then, be awake.
Aurora is seen from the entire Fairbanks area, even downtown, even the Walmart parking lot, and even if you are standing underneath a giant streetlight. But the best aurora views will be where it is darker. The details of the shimmering and dancing color will be clearer, prettier, and easily seen where the sky is darker rather than where city lights are on. It not only is the electric light itself, but the large light pollution bloom it causes for miles around. Learn more on the light pollution page.
Hotels— No hotels in the Fairbanks area are outside of light pollution. There are a couple near Walmart that are close to what we need for viewing, but you would have to stay in a north facing room, and even then, the security lights in the parking lot are blinding and will hinder sky viewing. You can leave the hotel and walk or drive to the side street near the clearing facing north. There are 2 hotels near the airport that also have OK viewing, but again, the security and city are not great for viewing, and you will be looking directly into light pollution. Do not be fooled by marketing. YEARS ago it was possible, but the addition of literally hundreds of streetlights and bright overdone security lights have destroyed a good thing. Also, NEVER rely on hotel staff to notify you of aurora sightings. Sure, sign up, but do not RELY on it. Most staff are simply watching for a big aurora and will miss short lived or low on the horizon displays. Most hotel staff are not aurora experts, and do not know anything about space weather. Watch the data, webcams, and the sky yourself. Only exception: if the staff are space weather experts and/or active aurora chasers.
Short term rentals— There are many in the area that are away from light pollution. Some areas do have a lot of trees or are on the south side of a hill (with aurora obstructed). There are several that claim good aurora viewing, but you have to leave the building and drive down the road to see it. You just have to know which ones are the best, and this is how to know:
The host is an active aurora watcher or photographer, the building is not nestled in the trees, the windows face north, the porch, deck, or platform faces north, the building has exterior lights that can be turned off, the neighbors do not leave lights on all night, or there are no neighbors, there are no streetlights at all, it is not on a busy road (with car headlights), and the building isn’t on the side of a mountain or hill that blocks the northern view.
That being said, aurora is very high in the sky and can be seen from all over the entire region. Even if you have streetlights and trees, and even a mountain, the aurora can be seen. Aurora can be seen facing all directions some nights. The descriptions above list the best scenarios for maximum success.