Staying at Chena Hot Springs Resort: a Rustic Alaskan Icon near Fairbanks

Having lived in Alaska I have pretty good expectations when it comes to rustic settings, but Chena Hot Springs Resort is more than a fun rustic stay. We enjoyed our winter visit so much and wished we had just one more day, but we’ll just have to be excited to be back in the summer. Whether you’re looking for general information for the Chena Hot Springs Resort or you want us to give you a great itinerary for your stay, keep on reading and you’ll find it all.

Are you thinking you might want to try out a rustic cabin up at Chena Hot Springs Resort? Or maybe just stay in one of the lodge rooms? You’ll have some options! If you have any additional questions or want to share your own Chena Hot Springs tips, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to include commentary and helpful ideas from others so everyone can plan the best Alaska trip possible!

Why Stay at the Chena Hot Springs Resort?

Staying at Chena Hot Springs Resort is one of those Alaska must-do things, whether it’s winter or summer. It’s not the epitome glamour in the slightest, but it captures the fun, quirky, rustic side of the Fairbanks area. The resort property is huge, as it’s much more than just the hot springs. You’ve got a variety of accommodations (see below), there’s dining on site, there are several guided tours and activities that are wonderfully Alaskan, and then there are the hot springs themselves.

Chena Hot Springs Resort is a complete stay that’s great for a full two days. I think what makes staying at the Chena Hot Springs Resort a worthwhile use of your time when you’re in Alaska is that you do actually have a diverse set of experiences all in one place. Over the course of two days you can enjoy dogsledding, hiking in the snow, learn about hydroponic gardening and geothermal energy, have some good food, and really actually get some solid relaxation in.

Planning to have your time at Chena Hot Springs Resort in the middle of your trip to Fairbanks is a great way to ensure that you actually get a moment to slow down and take in the Alaskan experience. There’s just so much to do all around the Fairbanks area that having some time to reset can have a big, positive impact on your trip. This is also a great place to end a two week Alaska road trip coming from Seward.

Book the Chena Hot Springs Resort here!

Chena Hot Springs Resort Activities

I love getting to have experiences that disconnect us from the outside world, especially when we’re in Alaska’s Interior. As you prepare to stay at Chena Hot Springs Resort, keep in mind the ways you can relax and unwind, including books, cribbage, maybe a pre-downloaded movie or show… It’s very quiet out here and it’s easy just to sit and watch the stream. Balancing your time at Chena Hot Springs with down time and active adventures is the perfect way to enjoy it. You can plan all kinds of activities while you’re here, in summer or winter.

Winter activities include dogsled tours, kennel tours, ice fishing, visiting the ice museum, snow mobile tours, sunset snow cat tours and late night Aurora Borealis tours (my favorite). Summer activities include ATVs, side-by-side ATVs, horseback riding, summer dog cart experiences and more. And then there are always the pool, hot tubs and outdoor hot spring rock pool.

There are also lots of hiking trails that leave from Chena Hot Springs Resort. Whether you’re thinking about hiking for an hour or all day, there are quite a few trails with varying difficulty. This is BEAR COUNTRY so always hike with a buddy and keep in mind about bear safety. If you’re carrying bear spray, be sure you know how to properly use it.

Room Options at Chena Hot Springs

As you’re booking your room at the Chena Hot Springs Resort, keep in mind that this is rustic Alaska, not Manhattan. Rooms are clean and well maintained but not fancy. The lodge rooms are coded as animals (moose, fox, bear…) and you’ll find the following room types:

• two queen beds
• one king bed
• family suit that sleeps 6
• two double beds
• or a single queen bed.

There are also quite a few cabins you can pick from. These are NOT luxury glamping cabins, but are rustic and do not have running water. That’s right, dry cabins are the option here at the Chena Hot Springs Resort, so if you think you can roll with that do it! Our family had fun staying in the King Salmon cabin which has a queen bed, sleeper sofa, and a loft with two double beds. There’s a small kitchen space with a fridge, but not running water. There’s also a great screened in sunroom.

“What about the bathroom?” Yes, a dry cabin means that you don’t have a plumbed restroom in the cabin, but you do have a well maintained traditional Alaskan outhouse detached from the cabin. The rest of the Chena Hot Springs Resort is plumbed, but not the cabins.

Dining at Chena Hot Springs Resort

There are two dining options on property at the Chena Hot Springs Resort. There is the main restaurant in the lodge building and the Aurora Cafe in the activities center. The Aurora Cafe serves coffee and hot beverages, as well as baked goods and limited savory options. There is a convenience store attached here with a microwave if you want to grab something from the frozen food area.

The primary dining is the lodge restaurant. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Chena Hot Springs Restaurant is actually pretty good. The burgers and breakfast are, I think, their best offerings. They also have a full bar available.

TIP: space is very limited at the restaurant and it’s the ONLY dining option besides another lodge’s dining room more than 30 minutes back down the road. For dinner, be sure that you arrive as early as you’re able to ensure you’ll be seated before they close. Sometimes tour groups show up and take up a large portion of the restaurant, so dine early for both the best experience and just to ensure you’ll eat.

Do I have to be a guest to visit?

No! If you want to visit Chena Hot Springs but not stay overnight, that’s totally fine. You can drive up to the hot springs and purchase a day pass for the pools. This will grant you access to the indoor swimming pool, hot tubs, outdoor rock pool (my favorite) and the grounds. You also then have access to the trails, can participate in the geothermal tour, and you can book other experiences on property. There’s a lot to do at Chena Hot Springs, so doing an overnight at the resort is recommended.

Location of the Chena Hot Springs and Resort

Chena Hot Springs Resort is located at the end of the Chena Hot Springs Road. It’s 60 miles from downtown Fairbanks on a dead end road, so once you’re out here you’re out here. Even in the winter the road is passable and is well maintained. The drive is beautiful and as you drive along the Chena River you have some amazing wildlife viewing opportunities. We’ve seen many moose along the road approaching the hot springs. Once there, parking is easy (self parking) whether you’re a day visitor or staying overnight at the Chena Hot Springs Resort. If you’re staying in one of the cabins across the creek, there is parking at your cabin. It’s included with the cost of your stay.

Book the Chena Hot Springs Resort here!

Things to do in Fairbanks

I feel like when people talk about visiting Alaska, Fairbanks is a last thought, but it shouldn’t be. I love this city, it’s people, it’s dogsled culture and the beautiful nature all around it. Fairbanks is THE winter destination in Alaska with ample dark sky space to watch the Northern Lights and endless outdoor opportunities, whether you’re looking for a mellow snowy escape or hardcore Alaskan adventures. In summer, Fairbanks is a great home base for visiting the Arctic Circle, Denali National Park, spending days kayaking or fishing. It’s beautiful!

Ideas for Fairbanks activities:

Where to Stay in Fairbanks, Alaska

Keep in mind when you’re planning your trip to Fairbanks that it is not a large city. It’s the second largest in Alaska, but it’s not huge. Hotel options are limited and when it comes to booking a luxury hotel stay, that’s not really a thing here. There are nice hotels and really cool lodges and vacation rentals, but white glove luxe ain’t happening. We’ve stayed in all kinds of Fairbanks accommodations, so have solid recommendations (below). I like being based downtown if we have a diverse, busy itinerary, but staying outside of town up in the hills is such a treat, it’s worth planning a night or two away from the city.

You’ll find that the cost of lodging in Fairbanks ranges wildly from season to season. In the summer, standard hotel rooms are not likely available for under $250 per night, with the average being well over $300 per night. In the winter you can get some awesome hotel deals as low as $125 per night. Just keep this in mind as you’re planning your visit to Fairbanks or anywhere in Alaska.

Here are our hotel picks in Fairbanks: