Best Places to See Aurora Borealis in Alaska
Discover the best places to see aurora borealis—from our private aurora viewing locations deep in Alaska's interior to guided aurora locations across the region. Where to see the aurora makes all the difference among northern lights destinations, especially in areas within the arctic circle, a prime region for aurora viewing.
🌌 Why Choosing the Best Places to See Aurora Borealis Matters
Finding the best places to see aurora borealis can mean the difference between a fleeting glimpse and a breathtaking display. Three factors determine viewing quality at aurora viewing locations: latitude (proximity to the auroral oval), darkness (distance from light pollution), and climate (clear sky frequency).
The aurora borealis forms when solar particles from the sun enter Earth's atmosphere and are guided by the planet's magnetic field toward the polar regions. As these charged particles collide with atmospheric gases such as oxygen and nitrogen, they produce the aurora's vibrant colors—greens, purples, and pinks that illuminate the night sky across high-latitude locations.
Interior Alaska—the vast, wild region surrounding Fairbanks—offers the ideal combination of all three, making this the best place to see aurora borealis in North America. That's why we've positioned our private aurora viewing lodge deep in Alaska's interior in this prime viewing zone, and why we utilize multiple backup northern lights destinations throughout the region when chasing clear skies. For optimal viewing, dark, moonless nights are generally preferred, as a full moon can brighten the sky and reduce the visibility of the aurora.
Pre-Trip Preparation: Getting Ready for Your Aurora Adventure
Before you set out on your northern lights trip, a little preparation goes a long way toward making your aurora adventure truly unforgettable. The aurora borealis—those mesmerizing lights that dance across the night sky—are the result of solar wind and charged particles from the sun colliding with Earth's atmosphere, creating vibrant colors that illuminate the far north. To see the northern lights in their full glory, you'll want to plan ahead and choose locations with minimal light pollution, such as Alaska, northern Europe, or Canada's northwest territories.
⏰ Timing Is Everything
The best aurora season stretches from late August to late March, when the nights are longest and the auroral oval is most active. Regions within the aurora zone—like northern Sweden, Norway, and Finnish Lapland—offer excellent northern lights viewing, but Alaska's interior remains a top choice for clear skies and dark nights. Keep an eye on the aurora forecast and weather forecast, as cloud cover and solar activity can make or break your chances. Strong solar storms and peaks in the solar cycle can lead to especially dramatic aurora activity, so tracking the KP index before your trip can help you time your visit for the best possible show.
🧥 Pack for the Arctic
The far north can be unforgiving, so bring plenty of warm layers—think thermal underwear, insulated jackets, gloves, and a cozy hat. If you're hoping to capture the aurora with your camera, don't forget a sturdy tripod, extra batteries (the cold drains them fast!), and set your camera to night mode to catch those vibrant colors. Many travelers also bring a headlamp with a red light setting to preserve night vision while moving around dark sky locations.
🎯 Choose Your Experience
Whether you're joining a guided northern lights tour or planning your own aurora chase, look for local experts who know the region's microclimates and can maximize your chances of seeing the lights. Unique accommodations—like glass igloos, ice hotels, or cozy lodges—can turn your northern lights viewing into a true bucket list adventure. Many tours also offer classic Arctic activities such as dog sledding, ice fishing, or relaxing in hot springs, making your trip even more memorable.
🌙 Respect the Night Sky
When traveling to remote areas, be mindful of your impact. Avoid unnecessary city lights, keep noise to a minimum, and leave no trace so future visitors can enjoy the same magical experience. The aurora is best enjoyed under clear night skies, far from the glow of the largest city or even small towns.
Our Aurora Viewing Locations: Face The Outdoors Lodge
Our private cedar log lodge sits in one of the best places to see aurora borealis—deliberately positioned deep in Alaska's interior for optimal northern lights viewing with the comforts of home.
Located deep in Interior Alaska, our lodge serves as a premier viewing platform for the aurora borealis, offering a private vantage point with zero light pollution, 360-degree unobstructed views, and heated indoor comfort when you need a break from the cold. This isn't a commercial tour bus stop—it's one of the best places to see aurora borealis in Alaska, and we're sharing it with you.
What Makes Our Aurora Viewing Locations Among the Best Places to See Aurora Borealis
We didn't choose this location by accident. Every aspect of our lodge was designed for optimal aurora viewing at one of the best places to see aurora borealis. From our prime vantage point, guests can watch the auroras dance across the sky, creating a mesmerizing display of shimmering lights in the pristine Arctic landscape.
Zero Light Pollution
Deep in Alaska's interior means absolute darkness at our dark sky aurora locations. You'll see stars you never knew existed, and even faint aurora arcs become visible to the naked eye—details washed out by city lights at other aurora viewing locations.
Under the Aurora Oval
Our lodge sits at approximately 65°N latitude, directly beneath the auroral oval—one of the best places to see aurora borealis where northern lights activity is most frequent. You can see aurora here even with a low KP index of 1-2.
Favorable Microclimate
Our location in Interior Alaska often has clearer skies than Fairbanks due to its position in the continental climate zone. Less precipitation means more viewing opportunities at these aurora viewing locations.
Indoor Viewing Option
Giant panoramic windows let you watch the aurora from inside the warm lodge. Step out when activity peaks, warm up by the fire when you need a break—one of the best places to see aurora borealis in Alaska without freezing in a parking lot.
Unobstructed 360° Views
We've ensured no trees block the main viewing areas at our aurora viewing locations. Watch the aurora dance across the entire sky—north, south, east, and west—without obstruction.
Private & Exclusive
This location is reserved exclusively for our guests at one of the best places to see aurora borealis. No other tour companies, no crowds, no waiting for a turn. Just you, your group, and the northern lights.
Guided Aurora Locations: Our Mobile Chasing Northern Lights Destinations
Weather in Alaska is unpredictable. If clouds roll in at the lodge, we don't give up—we become mobile aurora chasers to find the best places to see aurora borealis. Guided northern lights tours are available, providing expert guidance, transportation, and maximizing your chances of seeing the aurora. Using real-time weather monitoring and local knowledge, we drive to find clear skies, sometimes up to 4 hours away. Many guests remember their first night seeing the aurora as a magical experience, and booking multiple nights greatly increases your chances of witnessing a spectacular display. Here are the guided aurora locations we utilize for remote aurora viewing, where you can enjoy taking photos of the northern lights with assistance from our guides to capture the vibrant colors.
Richardson Highway Corridor
One of the best places to see aurora borealis, this highway heading south from Fairbanks into Alaska's interior offers excellent roadside pullouts with dramatic mountain backdrops and minimal traffic—perfect for aurora photography at these aurora viewing locations.
- Dark sky aurora locations away from Fairbanks
- Mountain foreground options
- Multiple safe pullouts
Elliott Highway Corridor
Heading north from Fairbanks, the Elliott Highway quickly leaves city lights behind and offers excellent dark sky aurora locations with rolling hills and boreal forest backdrops—one of the best places to see aurora borealis for remote aurora viewing.
- Quickly escapes Fairbanks light pollution
- Multiple safe guided aurora locations
- Less crowded than popular spots
Steese Highway Corridor
Heading northeast from Fairbanks toward Circle, the Steese Highway provides access to some of the darkest skies in the region—truly the best places to see aurora borealis with excellent pullouts and minimal traffic for remote aurora viewing.
- Some of the darkest dark sky aurora locations
- Minimal traffic at night
- Excellent safe aurora viewing locations
Parks Highway & Remote Areas
When weather patterns require flexibility, the Parks Highway heading toward Nenana and beyond offers excellent northern lights destinations with dramatic landscapes. We also utilize remote spots discovered over 20+ years of finding the best places to see aurora borealis.
- Up to 4 hours driving if needed
- Local knowledge, not just GPS
- We never give up on your night
Why Interior Alaska Offers the Best Places to See Aurora Borealis
Not all Alaska northern lights destinations are equal for aurora viewing. While Fairbanks and Interior Alaska consistently offer the best places to see aurora borealis compared to coastal regions, other world-renowned aurora destinations—such as northern Scandinavia, Swedish Lapland, and the Lofoten Islands—are also popular among aurora chasers for their stunning landscapes and optimal viewing conditions.
Interior Alaska (Fairbanks Area)
Best Places to See Aurora Borealis- 65°N latitude — directly under the aurora oval, making these the best places to see aurora borealis for maximum viewing frequency
- Continental climate — drier with more clear nights, making these the best places to see aurora borealis with less precipitation
- Aurora visible at KP 1-2 — don't need geomagnetic storms at the best places to see aurora borealis
- Easy dark sky access — head into the interior for zero light pollution at aurora viewing locations
- Robust tourism infrastructure — lodges, guided aurora locations, and services built for the best places to see aurora borealis
Coastal Alaska (Anchorage Area)
- 61°N latitude — further from aurora oval, needs stronger activity
- Maritime climate — more cloud cover and precipitation from Gulf of Alaska
- Requires KP 3-5+ — need geomagnetic activity for visible displays
- Significant light pollution — larger metro area makes dark sky aurora locations harder to access
- Less aurora infrastructure — fewer dedicated northern lights destinations and viewing facilities
Your Guide Knows the Best Places to See Aurora Borealis
Born and raised in Alaska's interior, I've spent my whole life exploring this region to find the best places to see aurora borealis. I don't rely on GPS to find clear skies—I read weather patterns like familiar text, understanding how cloud cover shifts and where viewing windows open across the region at our aurora viewing locations.
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Aurora Viewing Lodge (Primary)
Our private log home deep in Alaska's interior—one of the best places to see aurora borealis. Zero light pollution, 360° views, heated comfort.
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Richardson Highway Corridor
Mountain backdrops and dark sky aurora locations heading south from Fairbanks into the interior.
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Elliott, Steese & Parks Highways
Multiple guided aurora locations and northern lights destinations in every direction from Fairbanks.
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Remote Interior Zones
Various best places to see aurora borealis I've discovered over 20+ years—we chase clear skies up to 4 hours if needed.
Tips for Choosing the Best Places to See Aurora Borealis
Whether you're booking a tour or planning your own aurora adventure, keep these factors in mind when choosing the best places to see aurora borealis and aurora viewing locations.
Get Far from City Lights
Light pollution dramatically reduces what you can see at the best places to see aurora borealis. Even faint aurora displays become spectacular when viewed from true dark sky aurora locations. Our lodge sits deep in Alaska's interior with zero light pollution.
Choose Interior Over Coastal Alaska
Fairbanks and Interior Alaska offer clearer skies and better aurora frequency than coastal Anchorage, making these the best places to see aurora borealis. The dry continental climate at these aurora viewing locations makes a significant difference.
Seek Unobstructed Horizons
Wide-open spaces away from city lights are ideal. Many lakes in Alaska and other aurora regions offer excellent, reflective viewing spots for the aurora, as their shores provide clear vistas and enhance the overall experience. The aurora can appear in any direction, so avoid locations surrounded by trees or buildings.
Have Backup Locations Ready
Weather changes quickly in Alaska. The best places to see aurora borealis have multiple backup northern lights destinations and are willing to chase clear skies when clouds move in at dark sky aurora locations.
Consider Comfort & Safety
You may be outside for hours in extreme cold at the best places to see aurora borealis. Aurora viewing locations with heated shelters, restrooms, and safe road access make the experience much more enjoyable.
Use a Local Guide
Native Alaskans with years of experience know the best places to see aurora borealis that don't appear on maps. Local knowledge beats any app when it comes to finding optimal guided aurora locations and viewing spots.
🌏 Auroras in the Southern Hemisphere
While the northern lights (aurora borealis) are famous, the southern hemisphere also experiences its own natural light display called the aurora australis. Prime viewing locations for the aurora australis include Tasmania, New Zealand, and Antarctica, especially during periods of high solar activity and in the winter months. These destinations offer unique opportunities to witness this rare phenomenon.
Frequently Asked Questions: Best Places to See Aurora Borealis
What are the best places to see aurora borealis in Alaska?
Interior Alaska—specifically the Fairbanks region—offers the best places to see aurora borealis in Alaska. This region sits directly under the auroral oval at 65°N latitude, has a dry continental climate with more clear nights, and provides easy access to dark sky aurora locations away from light pollution.
How far from Fairbanks do I need to go to see the northern lights?
You can see bright aurora displays from Fairbanks city limits, but heading into the interior to dark sky aurora locations eliminates light pollution and reveals significantly more detail and color. Our lodge sits deep in Alaska's interior with zero light pollution—one of the best places to see aurora borealis in the state.
Why is your lodge so far from Fairbanks?
We built our home deep in Alaska's interior for a reason—it's where the aurora is best. Our location often has clearer skies than Fairbanks due to its favorable microclimate, combined with zero light pollution and 360-degree unobstructed views. The 90-minute scenic drive is part of the experience, and we're one of the best places to see aurora borealis in Alaska.
What happens if it's cloudy at your lodge?
We become mobile aurora chasers to find the best places to see aurora borealis. Using real-time weather monitoring and 20+ years of local knowledge, we drive to find clear skies—sometimes up to 4 hours away. We utilize multiple backup guided aurora locations across Interior Alaska and never give up on your night.
Is Anchorage among the best places to see aurora borealis?
Anchorage is further from the aurora oval and has a maritime climate with more cloud cover. You typically need KP 3-5+ activity to see good displays, whereas Fairbanks regularly sees aurora at KP 1-2 at the best places to see aurora borealis. For the best odds at aurora viewing locations, we recommend Interior Alaska's northern lights destinations.
Can I see the aurora from Denali National Park?
Yes, when clear skies align with activity, Denali offers dramatic aurora viewing with mountain backdrops. However, it's further from the auroral oval than the best places to see aurora borealis around Fairbanks, and winter access is limited. Interior Alaska around Fairbanks provides more consistent aurora viewing locations and opportunities.
Ready to Visit the Best Places to See Aurora Borealis?
Location matters. Our private aurora viewing locations and mobile chasing approach give you the best possible chance of witnessing the northern lights—from the ideal spot under the aurora oval at the best places to see aurora borealis.
Call us at (907) 590-1567 or email michael@facetheoutdoors.com