Aurora In Alaska / Northern Lights in Fairbanks
The Northern Lights in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Fairbanks is one of the best places on Earth to see the aurora borealis. Here's how it works, when to come, and how to give yourself the best night, from guides who are out under this sky every night of the season.
The aurora borealis happens when particles from the Sun pour into Earth's magnetic field and light up the upper atmosphere, mostly in green, sometimes with pink, red and violet. It's concentrated in a ring around the magnetic pole called the auroral oval, and Fairbanks sits almost directly beneath it.
That's why the Northern Lights here aren't a rare event. In season, they show up on most dark, clear nights. The real questions are simpler: Is it dark? Is it clear? Can you stay warm and awake long enough?
When to come
Late August to mid-April.
The aurora is overhead all year, but from late April to mid-August the midnight sun keeps the sky too bright to see it. Once nights turn dark again in late August, the season is on.
September brings mild nights and open water for reflections. December and January have the longest nights and the deepest cold. Late February through March is a visitor favorite: long nights, often clearer skies, and milder temperatures.
Within a night, plan on about 10 PM to 3 AM. Many of our guests' best moments come after 1 AM.
What actually decides your night
Clouds and darkness beat the forecast.
Clouds. The number one reason visitors miss the aurora in Fairbanks is cloud cover. Clouds are often patchy: it can be overcast in town and clear an hour's drive away.
City glow. Fairbanks' lights wash out fainter aurora. A strong display can be seen from town, but a properly dark sky with an open view to the north changes everything.
The Kp index. Kp is a global, three-hour average of geomagnetic activity. It matters a lot for places farther south. Under the oval in Fairbanks, the lights are often overhead on low-Kp nights. What the solar wind is doing right now matters more. Check tonight on ANN, our free Fairbanks aurora forecast.
The moon. A bright moon can hide a faint aurora but not a strong one, and it lights the snow and trees beautifully for photos.
On your own or with a guide
Two ways to see it.
On your own. You'll want a car, real winter gear, a forecast, and a plan for where to wait in the dark and warm up between waves. Watch for clouds and give yourself several nights.
With a guide. On SkyChase, our Fairbanks aurora tour, guides compare weather models, satellite views and live sky cameras, then drive to the clearest, darkest skies they can reach. You get lodging pickup, a fire, hot drinks, the Mobile Lodge on nights it travels, and unlimited portraits of you under the aurora. Want the night to yourselves? Private SkyChase.
“Due to cloud cover in the Fairbanks area, they drove 65 miles out of town to find a clearing in the clouds.”
Dale Backlund · Google review · Oct 2025Dress for it
Warm feet, long night.
You'll be outside, standing still, for long stretches. Dress in layers: a base layer, an insulating mid layer, and a windproof outer layer, plus a warm hat, mittens over thin gloves, and insulated winter boots with room for wool socks. Keep your phone and a spare battery in an inside pocket; cold drains them fast.
Quick answers
Northern Lights in Fairbanks, answered.
Can you see the northern lights in Fairbanks?
Yes. Fairbanks is one of the best places on Earth to see them. It sits almost directly under the auroral oval, so the aurora appears on most dark, clear nights from late August to mid-April, often even when the forecast calls it quiet.
How often are the northern lights visible in Fairbanks?
Often. Explore Fairbanks says the aurora is visible on average four out of five nights when the sky is clear and dark enough. Clouds, not the aurora, are what decide most nights, which is why we recommend planning three or more nights.
What time are the northern lights visible in Fairbanks?
Plan on about 10 PM to 3 AM, with activity often strongest around midnight to 2 AM. The aurora comes in waves, so it can be quiet for an hour and then fill the sky for ten minutes.
Can you see the northern lights from downtown Fairbanks or your hotel?
Sometimes. A strong display can be seen right in town, but city lights wash out fainter aurora. Getting away from town to a properly dark sky with an open view to the north makes a big difference, even on the same night.
Can you see the northern lights in Fairbanks in summer?
No. From late April to mid-August the midnight sun keeps the sky too bright. The season returns in late August and runs to mid-April.
Do I need a tour to see the northern lights in Fairbanks?
No, you can watch on your own if you have a car, proper winter gear, and the patience to wait in the cold. A tour takes care of the driving at night, finding clear and dark skies when it's cloudy in town, a warm place between waves, and photos of you under the aurora.
How cold does it get?
September nights are often in the 30s °F; mid-winter nights are commonly well below zero, sometimes −20 °F to −40 °F. See what to wear.
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