| Visitor Information
Fairbanks Convention and Visitor's Bureau
Practically everything you wanted you know about Fairbanks.
Fairbanks Transit Bus System
Bus information, schedules and fares
John's Helpful Notes:
PRICE ESTIMATES (Subject to change)
- $225 Fairbanks Hotel 3 nights (September 7, 8, and 11) (Does not include tax)
- $50 Local transportation ( Fairbanks is spread out)
- $14 Transfers to and from Fairbanks hotel and train
- $29 Scheduled dinner Thursday night (includes gratuity)
- $78 Train Fairbanks to Denali RT (includes 10% group discount)
- $7 Denali baggage handling fee
- $236 Denali hotel 2 nights (September 9 and 10) (Includes tax)
- $20 Murie Science & Learning Center (Gross estimate as they have not established prices yet)
- $34 Park shuttle bus (includes $10 park entrance fee)
- $40 Normal WAML registration costs
$733 approximate total, plus tax on Fairbanks hotel plus meals
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As of Thursday April 7 Air fares arriving Fairbanks September 7 leaving September 12:
- From Seattle: $400 and higher (before conference discount)
- From San Francisco: $560 and higher (before conference discount)
Hotel Notes:
- Because of contract requirements with the Denali hotel and train, we will need to make these reservations and you will have to pay WAML for this portion.
- You will need to make and pay for the Fairbanks hotel reservation yourself.
- If for some reason Pike’s is not agreeable to you there are several other reasonably priced places. See Fairbanks Convention and Visitor's Bureau. However, you will have to get yourself to the train depot and back, which would complicate things.
- Pike’s is the best buy for the money but is isolated from the city. There is a grocery store about 1 and ¼ miles away (walkable but busy road). You can stock up here for Denali Park .
- Some hotels have wake up call service if there is aurora activity during the night.
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Denali Notes:
- Touring in Denali is optional. If you want to concentrate on the fore country near the visitor center, or the first 15 miles of the road, there are free shuttles.
- For those familiar with the park, Eielson Visitor Center, deep into the park, is closed this year due to renovation. The substitute turn around point is called Fish Creek about 63 miles into the park and about 7 miles short of Eielson. I recommend this as the destination for the WAML group. Buses leave the Main Visitor Center for Fish Creek on Saturday September 10 at the following times: 7:30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 11:00, and 12:30. Ticket price $33.75 (includes $10 park entrance fee). You can also change your reservation for a small fee.
- Reservations can be made from their website, or by mail or FAX (the website gives instructions), or by phone 1-800-622-7275 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM Alaska time. I prefer the phone as that way you can discuss alternatives. Remember the system I am describing is called the park shuttle bus system.
- You can ride the same bus round trip back to the starting point, or get off at almost any place, hike and return on a later bus. HOWEVER, if it is a nice day too many people try to return on the last bus and this causes problems. Also, the mountain top visibility is usually best early morning, so the early departures are the most popular. There will be more options on the way back. Depending on where you are on the road, there may be buses returning from other destinations. It will also be possible to ride a camper bus back but not outbound. People often play guessing games of when to get on and off and where to hike based on when they think they can get bus seats. Drivers WILL refuse boarding if all seats are taken.
- The shuttle buses have no built in toilets, but do make stops at rest centers. There is no food or water, so you should bring your own. Sack lunches will be available for purchase at the Denali hotel. However you should still bring some of your own snack food and water.
- Hiking in Alaska is totally different than in the lower 48. There are few groomed trails. Instead people are encouraged NOT to hike on trails and instead disperse, as the wild animals do recognize that natural throughfares such as streambeds and ridgelines will receive the most traffic. Denali does have a few groomed trails near the visitor’s center and Savage River (15 mile post). It is also common to simply hike the road. If you intend to go off road I would strongly recommend sturdy hiking boots (not the soft soled low-impact kind often promoted in the lower 48--you will feel the rocks even on day hikes)
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