Trip Reports - Alaska in September: a best-kept travel secret

Used a 25K standard WorldPerks award, discounted to 19K through credit-card annual deal. Wanted to fly in/out of FAI just for change of pace, but award availability dictated ANC. Still, 19K for an ATL-ANC RT is a tremendous deal, and IMO September is the very best time of year to go. Crowds and mosquitoes are gone, prices really fall, discount deals start opening up, and you have about a 3-4 week window of opportunity after Labor Day to really enjoy it before days get short, snow falls and roads start to get treacherous. You can't see Denali, but just about every other notable place that's road-accessible is still open.

Also, fall colors are SPECTACULAR, especially as seen from the Parks Highway on the last 30 miles or so into Fairbanks.

Hotel Pricelined at $35++ (2*) in ANC and $53++ (2.5*) in FAI. Stacked a free weekend day and ENT discount at National and got $69 all-in (appx $17.50/day) for 4 weekend days in a compact (upgraded to midsize). Am sure it'd be a different story in mid-July or mid-August rather than mid-September. Gas was around $2.80 in cities and $3.40-ish in the sticks.

Took Parks Highway to Fairbanks and Richardson/Glenn Highway back. Weather mostly cooperated and views were spectacular, especially with leaves around their peak south of Fairbanks. Also got out to Chena Hot Springs for a first time...very refreshing, and it's a beautiful drive through a nature preserve to get there. Also saw a bit of northern lights, but not as active as on the postcards.

The one splurge beyond the midrange budget was a 14 oz. filet mignon at the Club Paris steakhouse.

Overall, it's great to be able do an affordable fly/drive to ANC in September.

Used a 25K standard WorldPerks award, discounted to 19K through credit-card annual deal. Wanted to fly in/out of FAI just for change of pace, but award availability dictated ANC. Still, 19K for an ATL-ANC RT is a tremendous deal, and IMO September is the very best time of year to go. Crowds and mosquitoes are gone, prices really fall, discount deals start opening up, and you have about a 3-4 week window of opportunity after Labor Day to really enjoy it before days get short, snow falls and roads start to get treacherous. You can't see Denali, but just about every other notable place that's road-accessible is still open.

Also, fall colors are SPECTACULAR, especially as seen from the Parks Highway on the last 30 miles or so into Fairbanks.

Hotel Pricelined at $35++ (2*) in ANC and $53++ (2.5*) in FAI. Stacked a free weekend day and ENT discount at National and got $69 all-in (appx $17.50/day) for 4 weekend days in a compact (upgraded to midsize). Am sure it'd be a different story in mid-July or mid-August rather than mid-September. Gas was around $2.80 in cities and $3.40-ish in the sticks.

Took Parks Highway to Fairbanks and Richardson/Glenn Highway back. Weather mostly cooperated and views were spectacular, especially with leaves around their peak south of Fairbanks. Also got out to Chena Hot Springs for a first time...very refreshing, and it's a beautiful drive through a nature preserve to get there. Also saw a bit of northern lights, but not as active as on the postcards.

The one splurge beyond the midrange budget was a 14 oz. filet mignon at the Club Paris steakhouse.

Overall, it's great to be able do an affordable fly/drive to ANC in September.

SHHHH!!!RustyC Don't let the secret out.:)Its one of my favorite times of the year and I live here.

I love it when it is cold, but not bitter freezing, crisp and clear, with 200 mi visibility, and room rates that don't make me vomit.

Nice report, RustyC. I was up there (ANC area) May '05. Not a bad time either. I'll look forward to going to FAI and seeing even a glimpse of the Northern Lights someday.

Forgot to mention that I went 2-for-4 on upgrades, getting ATL-MSP and, notably, ANC-MSP on the return. I think the deal with elite upgrades to award tickets on NW is that they don't EUA, but if there are still seats left or are no-shows on the day of the flight you're in the running. Got the ANC-MSP at the very last minute sitting on the plane.

On the minus side, the MSP-ANC outbound was delayed about 30 minutes for late connects and their bags, and then just as it gets on the runway a nasty rainstorm hits. So it's sitting on the ramp for almost 2 hours before taking off.

Great report. I'm heading up to Anchorage in May, first time to AK, so if anybody has any "must see" ideas for a first-timer please PM me. Would love to see the northern lights...check out the Arctic Ocean...can you drive there from Anchorage in May (is there lodging along the way?) If thats a stupid question forgive me...I'm from NJ:D

SHHHH!!!RustyC Don't let the secret out.:)Its one of my favorite times of the year and I live here.

Agreed, although it's been a bit on the rainy side this year. May and September are great because the tourists en masse are gone, everything is snow-free, and us locals have the place to ourselves :cool:

Great report. I'm heading up to Anchorage in May, first time to AK, so if anybody has any "must see" ideas for a first-timer please PM me. Would love to see the northern lights...check out the Arctic Ocean...can you drive there from Anchorage in May (is there lodging along the way?) If thats a stupid question forgive me...I'm from NJ:D

No rental car company will allow you to drive their vehicles up the Dalton Highway to Prudhoe Bay. Plus, once you are in Prudhoe, you have to take an oil company tour to reach the Arctic Ocean; public access isn't allowed. If you have the time and either $$ or miles, fly to Barrow instead.

You won't be seeing the northern lights in May; ANC and FAI are already in the 16 to 18 hour daylight range by May and it won't be dark enough.

If you can let us know how much time you have, us locals can give you some tips. ^

What?! No visit to Denali National Park?

I'm always interested in fall foliage opportunities -- for my future planning could our Alaska-resident FT'ers inform us when peak foliage colors would be expected in various Alaska locales in an "average" year.

Thanks. :)

That's a great tip re Anchorage and Fairbanks. I wouldn't say the same for Juneau. I was there last week, and it was raining. I was told by several locals that it is fairly constant rain thru Sept and Oct. We had rain all the way south thru the inland passage.

I'm always interested in fall foliage opportunities -- for my future planning could our Alaska-resident FT'ers inform us when peak foliage colors would be expected in various Alaska locales in an "average" year.

Thanks. :)

September.

For Fairbanks and the interior, first two weeks of September.

For Anchorage and Southcentral, last two weeks of September.

Why Barrow instead? Ok....oil company tour....sounds awesome!! :rolleyes: LOL!

I'm arriving in Anchorage May 14 (got a free TR room at the Hojo) and leaving May 20 (free TR room at the Ramada for the 19th) and nothing planned in between, would love to hear your suggestions - thanks so much! :-:

Is Denali no longer open in September? I was there in early september 2001 and we went on the coach tour no problem. I think the week after it was open to anyone to drive through, but the waiting list for that is months.

This season the last day for shuttle busses was September 13th. Tours to Teklanika (Mile 29) continued until September 20th. Most hotels out on the highway near the park close by the 20th. There are however still places to stay in Healy, 10 miles north of the park entrance.

Most years, depending upon the weather, the park road will be open to drivers at least as far as the Savage River bridge (Mile 15) and often beyond to Teklanika from the end of the tour schedule (Sept. 20th) to about October 1st.

The rest of the year, the park is open but you're on your own as to transport (dog sled or cross country skis - no motorized vehicles) and accommodations (Hotel = Healy or arctic tent inside the park).


I think the week after it was open to anyone to drive through, but the waiting list for that is months.

What you are describing here is called the Road Lottery. It is a four day event (This year September 14-17) wherein 400 cars per day (determined by earlier lottery) are allowed to drive all the way out to the end of the road (Kantishna at mile 93). No overnight stays are allowed, so one must drive out and back the same day. No biggie - I do it everyday as part of my job.