Seeing the Northern Lights in Fairbanks
Fairbanks is one of the better-known places in the world to go looking for the aurora, but nobody here can promise you a display. What you can do is stack the odds: be here when it is dark, give yourself more than one night, and be willing to move away from the brightest lights in town.
Aurora viewing basics
The aurora is only visible against a genuinely dark sky, so viewing is tied to the darker months rather than the long-daylight part of the year. Most attempts happen late at night, and most people who see a good display waited outside for a while rather than stepping out once and going back in.
Give yourself several nights
Aurora activity and cloud cover both change from night to night. A single night is a coin flip; several nights in a row is a plan.
What affects your chances
Darkness
Without a dark sky there is nothing to see, however active the aurora is.
Cloud cover
Clouds end the night regardless of activity levels. Local weather matters as much as space weather.
Aurora activity
Activity varies constantly and is forecast only over short horizons. We do not publish tonight's numbers here — check a current forecast source on the day.
City lights
Getting away from the strongest lights in town generally improves what you can see. That usually means a short drive and somewhere with an open view.
No aurora sighting can ever be guaranteed. Treat it as the best possible bonus on a trip that is worth taking anyway.
What to wear
Aurora watching is standing still outdoors at night, which is far colder than walking around in the daytime. Insulated layers, real winter boots, hats and gloves make the difference between staying out long enough to see something and giving up early. More on that in the Fairbanks winter planning guide.
Getting away from city lights
Plenty of aurora attempts happen out along the road system beyond the city. If you are driving yourself at night in winter, plan conservatively — see winter driving awareness in the winter guide — and pick daytime activities that leave you rested. The things to do in Fairbanks page is a good place to build those days from.
Aurora tours
Guided aurora outings exist in Fairbanks and suit visitors who would rather not drive at night. Our own tour details are still in progress and we will only publish experiences we can stand behind — see the Fairbanks Local tours section for where that will appear.