Northern lights in Fairbanks

Tonight’s aurora forecast for Fairbanks, where to watch, and when the sky is usually clear.

The night of Sunday 1 November, Fairbanks time (AKST)

Stay in tonight

Aurora activity looks low tonight.

  • CloudClearAverage cloud cover 1% after dark
  • AuroraWeak activityKp 3 forecast at its highest
  • DarknessDark from 6:00 PMUntil 7:00 AM
  • MoonRises around 11:00 PM47% lit · brighter after

High confidence · Forecast data up to date · What this means

Forecast details
  • Cloud forecast updated 6:31 AM
  • Aurora forecast issued 3:30 AM
  • Recalculated by Little Aurora 7:45 AM
  • This page made 7:50 AM

Fairbanks time. The sources’ times say how fresh the forecast is; the page’s own time doesn’t. What these mean

Where to watch near Fairbanks

Chena Lake Recreation Area

Lake

Tonight: stay in

Large lake and wide open areas outside North Pole, away from city lights, with plenty of places to park.

Getting there
30 min drive
Darkness
Dark: little light nearby
Parking
Plenty of places to park.
In winter
Paved to the area, then maintained gravel and dirt roads inside; 2WD is fine except in extreme storms, AWD or 4WD for unplowed pull-offs.

Directions in Maps · Public sources, not yet visited

Cleary Summit

Hill

Tonight: stay in

Pullouts at 680 m on the Steese Highway with a view north to the White Mountains on clear nights.

Getting there
30 min drive
Darkness
Very dark: far from town lights
Parking
Multiple pull-outs; very popular, so expect other vehicles and tour buses.
In winter
Paved all the way but with very sharp turns and major elevation changes; AWD or 4WD suggested in winter.
Good to know
Turn off your headlights as soon as it is safe, as others will be watching.
Safety
Never park on the highway; use plowed pullouts only, as roadside snow can be soft enough to trap a vehicle.

Directions in Maps · Public sources, not yet visited

Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge

Viewpoint

Tonight: stay in

Open fields on the north side of town, 3 km from downtown.

Getting there
18 min drive
Darkness
Town glow: faint aurora is hard to see
Parking
Park near the big old barn, close to several trailheads (2016 visitor account).
In winter
Paved, well-maintained road; 2WD is fine all aurora season except in stormy conditions.
Good to know
The refuge is open to the public at all times; winter trails are shared with skiers, skijorers and dog mushers.

Directions in Maps · Public sources, not yet visited

Ester Dome

Hill

Tonight: stay in

Hill over 2,300 ft about 15 miles from town, with 360-degree views and no town light.

Getting there
25 min drive
Darkness
Very dark: far from town lights
In winter
Good snow tires are advised for the winter drive up.

Directions in Maps · Public sources, not yet visited

Felix Pedro Monument

Viewpoint

Tonight: stay in

Plowed, signed turnout at mile 16.6 of the Steese Highway, recommended for aurora viewing.

Getting there
24 min drive
Darkness
Very dark: far from town lights
Parking
Plowed, large, safe turnout with signage.
In winter
Steese Highway is paved but has very sharp turns and major elevation changes; AWD or 4WD suggested in winter.
Safety
Never park on the highway; use plowed pullouts only, as roadside snow can be soft enough to trap a vehicle.

Directions in Maps · Public sources, not yet visited

Murphy Dome

Hill

Tonight: stay in

Highest point near Fairbanks at 877 m, with unobstructed views and pullouts on the road around the dome.

Getting there
40 min drive
Darkness
Very dark: far from town lights
Parking
Pullouts where the road curves around the rim of the dome, for photos or a brief stop.
In winter
Murphy Dome Road is packed dirt and gravel for the last five miles; AWD or 4WD suggested in winter.
Good to know
The summit is an active radar site (Murphy Dome Air Force Station); Explore Fairbanks points visitors to the pullouts on the rim road.
Safety
Explore Fairbanks notes that bears are common in the area. The last 200 ft (60 m) to the summit is alpine terrain; bring suitable gear if heading up.

Directions in Maps · Public sources, not yet visited

Times are typical, from the centre of Fairbanks by road or path rather than in a straight line, and winter conditions can make them longer. Walking times don’t mean a route is lit or safe on foot in winter; check each spot’s notes.

Clear dark nights by month

  • 34% Jan
  • 29% Feb
  • 25% Mar
  • 25% Apr
  • – May
  • – Jun
  • – Jul
  • 5% Aug
  • 12% Sep
  • 18% Oct
  • 23% Nov
  • 30% Dec

The share of nights with at least two dark hours under 30% cloud cover, averaged by month over 2016–2025. It describes cloud, not aurora: a clear night still needs activity. A dash means no record for that month, usually because it doesn’t get dark. About this record

Questions

When is the best time to see the northern lights in Fairbanks?

In the dark months. Over 2016–2025, a clear spell after dark was likeliest in January and December, on about 34% of nights. That record is about cloud only: on any one night, the cloud and the activity forecast matter more than the season, so check on the day.

Where can you see the northern lights near Fairbanks?

This page lists 6 viewing spots near Fairbanks; the darkest is Cleary Summit (30 min drive). Each has how to get there, parking, winter access and safety notes. Little Aurora picks the best one each night from cloud and darkness.

Aurora data from NOAA and GFZ. Cloud forecasts from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Places and travel times from OpenStreetMap contributors. Usual cloud from Copernicus ERA5 and weather-station records from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet, SMHI and the Icelandic Met Office. Forecasts are never guaranteed; conditions can change quickly. How the forecast works