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There is something extra special about visiting Alaska—America’s 49th state and “Last Frontier”—in its shoulder season.
This is particularly true in the fall, during September-October, when leaves turn a crisp yellow, and an early morning frost dusts the ground.
We had the chance to road trip Alaska for one week, and I now feel that it was the best way to explore the state’s wild and remote landscapes, native heritage, and towns—especially as a first-time visitor!
So, why visit Alaska in the fall?
Aside from it being prime time to catch the Alaskan northern lights (September–April), Alaska’s autumn off-season means fewer crowds, near-empty scenic roads, and active wildlife.
However, visiting this late in the year has a few drawbacks, which I’ll discuss below!
Main Reasons to Visit Alaska in the Fall
Northern Lights
If chasing those dancing lights is on your Alaska bucket list, there’s no better time to visit than in the shoulder season from September to April when the aurora borealis is more visible.
While Fairbanks is known for being the place to scope out the northern lights in Alaska, you can get lucky and even see them as far south as Anchorage (or further).
Denali National Park, remote lodges, and the Hatcher Pass are great northern light viewing spots, too.
Believe it or not, the key to seeing the northern lights in September and October in Alaska depends on the weather! The clearer and cloudless the skies are, the better.
Again, while it’s not guaranteed that you’ll see the northern lights on your trip, as a variety of factors affect visibility (such as weather, time, location, etc.), there’s a pretty high chance you’ll see the electric-green curtains dance across the night’s sky.
Fall Foliage
I have a weak spot for summer, but seeing the vibrant Alaskan autumn colors, with aspen, birch, and cottonwood trees shining like gold against the snow-dusted mountain peaks and glaciers, stands out in my memory from our Alaskan road trip.
The only tricky part about planning an Alaskan fall vacation is that you never know exactly when or how long the autumn colors will appear.
I’d recommend visiting early-mid September for the full-color spectrum and mid-end of September at the latest if you wish to catch the colors before they fall off completely!
Wildlife
Wildlife watching is great any time of the year in Alaska, but wildlife can be more active in the fall, which is also moose mating season.
On our drive from Valdez to Fairbanks, we saw a fox, a bald eagle, and two moose. However, we didn’t see any grizzly bears!
For brown bear viewing, it’s best to visit and spend time exploring Denali, Lake Clark, or Katmai for a few days.
Fewer Crowds
Fall’s milder temperatures and activities mean fewer summer crowds compete for attractions, road space, and wildlife viewing.
Despite how beautiful Alaska is this time of year, I was surprised at how little road traffic there was. Sometimes, we’d only see a handful of cars passing on long stretches of scenic roads.
Drawbacks of Visiting Alaska in the Fall
Closures
After September 15th, several tours and excursions, such as sea kayaking or glacier hiking, close down for the season because no more cruises (aka tourists) are coming in.
After this date, locals prepare for the approaching winter season.
As a result, there will be fewer tours available, and there may also be restaurant closures—at least in the smaller towns and destinations where cruise tourists gather throughout the summer.
Other than the inconvenience of a few closures, there’s really no reason not to visit Alaska in the fall.
At first, I thought the cooler temperatures would negatively impact my experience, but it’s been the opposite! The early winter chill isn’t a con if you prepare and pack well (check my recommendations below!).
There is still plenty to do, even in Alaska’s shoulder season.
Places to Go & Things to Do in Alaska in September & October
There’s no perfect way to discover and enjoy an autumn vacation in Alaska, whether in the fall or on a first-time itinerary. But an Alaskan road trip is ideal, considering you can see and do so much.
Alaska is outstanding year-round for wildlife, outdoor adventures, and native heritage culture, but the fall is particularly renowned for the northern lights and wintery activities.
Whether you want to steep in the coastal town atmosphere and whale watch or hike to glaciers and chase the northern lights, a road trip is a great way to explore Alaska at this time of year.
Thanks to our equipped Dodge Sprinter Van from River Wild Campervans, we could boondock in the middle of the mountains and wake up warm among snow-dusted peaks. That alone made our trip worthwhile!
Here are a few suggestions and ideas on what to do and see in Alaska in the fall!
See the Northern Lights & Soak in Hot Springs
In the fall, Alaska has many remote towns and lodges ideal for viewing the northern lights.
Fairbanks, at 65 degrees north latitude, is the hub of aurora borealis activity, but other towns are just as lovely to visit on a road trip.
If visiting ice sculptures and relaxing in natural hot springs sounds like your ideal getaway, drive one hour north of Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs Resort for a day pass or overnight stay.
You can also join a guided tour of Chena from Fairbanks, which includes:
- Tour of the Ice Museum
- Chena Hot Springs
- Northern Lights guided viewing
If you plan to visit Fairbanks on your own, stay at least 2-3 nights, as chasing the northern lights requires clear weather, high activity, and active searching!
Even though we had perfect conditions for the 2/3 nights we spent in Fairbanks, we still didn’t get to see them. Set alarms for midnight–3 am northern lights hunting!
Visit One of Alaska’s 8 National Parks
Can you believe how many national parks there are in Alaska? There are eight Alaskan national parks and preserves, all worthwhile in their own right.
- Denali National
- Glacier Bay
- Katmai National
- Kenai Fjords
- Wrangell-St. Elias
- Gates of the Arctic
- Lake Clark
- Kobuk Valley
However, not all eight will be ideal or convenient to visit this time of year.
Home to the native Alaskan Athabaskans (or Dena) in South-central Alaska near Healy, about two hours south of Fairbanks, Denali National Park and Preserve is an excellent choice for wildlife viewing, hiking, camping, and scenic drives along the Denali Park Road.
Viewing North America’s highest peak, Denali, is bucket-list-worthy year-round, especially when you can witness the tundra in its entire autumn decor.
In the fall, you can also visit the working dog kennels and pet adorable (and famous!) musher pups! 🐾
Otherwise, I suggest these four other national parks for a fall road trip: Glacier, Katmai, Kenai, or Wrangell-St Elias. These are the most accessible parks from Anchorage.
Flightseeing, Glacier Hiking, & Other Outdoor Adventures
While several tours, such as sea kayaking or glacier cruises, close down for the approaching winter season, there is still plenty to do in the Alaskan outdoors.
Perhaps the most popular are helicopter tours or flightseeing tours, during which you fly to land on glaciers inaccessible by other means.
Many of these tours depart from Anchorage, but you can also book from Talkeetna, Fairbanks, Healy, and other nature gateway towns and cities. 🚁
The Grand Denali flightseeing tour from Talkeetna is a top-selling tour for a reason!
If you have a few days in Anchorage to spare (and you should), the Knik Glacier flightseeing tour and the Matanuska Glacier hiking experience are not to miss.
If you’re visiting closer to winter, you may get the chance to go winter dog sledding. If not, swing by to pet the dogs at the kennels in Denali (weekends only).
Alaska’s Fall Temperatures & Packing List
I was pleasantly surprised that Alaska in September and early October wasn’t as cold as I initially expected.
I thought I’d be utterly frozen each day, but I managed just fine with layers, even without a winter coat.
What you pack will depend on your Alaskan itinerary, mainly your planned activities and locations. Daytime fall temperatures can vary widely, from 12 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Also Read: The Ultimate Alaska Road Trip Itinerary
Most days were sunshine-filled, with temperatures hovering in the lower 40s.
At night and early morning, temperatures dropped below freezing to around 25 degrees.
If you need an Alaska fall clothes packing list, cross-check with what I used below:
- 1x raincoat (I use the Patagonia torrentshell in wool white)
- 2x long-sleeves
- Hiking boots (my all-weather trail boots from Vivobarefoot were perfect, even on the ice!)
- 2x sweaters
- Gloves, warm hat, scarf
- 3x mid-warm leggings
- 1x puffer jacket
- 2x jeans
- 3x wool socks
- 1x bathing suit (for the hot springs!)
Additionally, I recommend taking a 70-200mm lens and a drone (to use responsibly). Seeing Alaska from above (at any time of year but especially in the fall) is incredible!
Most of the time, I “light” explored in warm leggings with wool socks, a heavy sweater, a scarf, and my denim trucker jacket.
For the glacier hike, I wore 3-4 long-sleeve layers and made out okay! For the rest of our time in the van, I wore light layers as our van had heating (thank goodness).
So, are you feeling ready to visit Alaska in the fall yet? I hope so! If you have any questions, please comment below. 🍁
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