Alaska Railroad Winter Route: Everything you Need to Know about the Aurora Train

The Alaska Railroad trip from Fairbanks to Anchorage (or in reverse) is on a lot of people’s bucket lists. I get it. The scenery is gorgeous and it’s such a different way to experience Alaska. The Aurora Winter route and not as busy as the summertime Alaska Railroad service and is a wonderful way to end a visit to Fairbanks. The Alaska Railroad Aurora Route train ride is fun and relaxing, especially after a week of being on the go constantly. You may see wildlife, you’ll get to roll through the towns of Nenana, Denali Park, Talkeetna and into Anchorage. You’ll have beautiful views of the Alaska Range, Talkeetna Mountains, and maybe even Denali herself.

For those considering the Alaska Railroad (AKRR) between Anchorage and Fairbanks (or vice versa), read on and see if it’s a good fit for your travels. Even though we completed this route in winter, the summer AKRR experience is beautiful too. If you have any questions about our winter trip or enjoying passage on the Alaska Railroad (any route), please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more about our experiences and help YOU plan a great Alaska trip.

Highlights of the Alaska Railroad Aurora Route

The view from a train is always a nice change from your standard road trip, including an Alaska road trip which I love, but the Alaska Railroad Aurora Route really is something. Even with the roads and highways being well cleared in the winter months, riding the train between Anchorage and Fairbanks is really special and fun. I have to say that I don’t mind the added time because the scenery and experience is worth it. Yes, it does take about 11 hours to do the Alaska Railroad Aurora Route because it does make quite a few whistlestops along the way, but it’s a really enjoyable and relaxing trip.

Train travel is a big contrast to road tripping because you’re forced to just enjoy the ride and take it all in. When you’re on the Alaska Railroad Aurora Route, because it’s such a long train trip, there are three meals served through the day and each is done in group seatings to make sure everyone has a chance to enjoy a leisurely meal. The food is restaurant quality and the menu is diverse for any diet. The biscuits and gravy for breakfast is some of the best in Alaska, the Smoked Salmon chowder a winner, and the reindeer sausage Bolognese was actually amazing. Great food with wine pairings as you trek through epic scenery, what’s not to love!?

Train booking links: Anchorage -> Fairbanks — Fairbanks -> Anchorage

Tips for a Great Aurora Route Journey

With the Alaska Railroad Aurora Route, the experience is quite different from if you’re doing one of the summer routes with the full set of cruiseline land tour cars and such. For the winter route on the train you have your assigned seats and then access to the bistro car which has tables to be shared with travel mates or smaller tables in an upper seating section that are great for enjoying a beverage or playing cards. We moved between our assigned seats and the upper seating of the bistro car quite a lot during our Aurora Route day. It was a nice was to get a fresh view, and really was good for being able to spot wildlife as we went along.

While train travel isn’t that common for people in the USA, the rest of the world really embraces it. If this is new for you, you may not be accustomed to the motion of a long haul train trip. It’s not rough like an Italian country train or rocky like a French bullet train, but the motion feel very different than a car. People who are prone to motion sickness should be fine on the Alaska Railroad, but if you’re worries, be sure to have motion sickness patches or medication before you board. I get nauseous on rough boats and bullet trains, but I personally was totally fine when we did the Alaska Railroad Aurora Route.

Being Prepared for the Alaska Railroad Aurora Route

Most people traveling on the Alaska Railroad Aurora Route are heading to either Anchorage or Fairbanks for several days or a week, so chances are you have a day pack you’ll be bringing with a book, maybe a tablet, magazine or a deck of cards. Yes to all of that. I love just staring out the window, but there are times that it’s nice to be able to read or play a game as you go. Bring your own entertainment, but keep it flexible so you can look out the window as much as you like.

Despite the temperatures outside being below freezing for most of the season the Alaska Railroad Aurora Route runs, the train cars are kept at a good temperature, leaning towards the more cool side. Dress for a cold day with layers, and adjust throughout the journey. You will have chances to get off the train for just a few minutes at Denali National Park and Talkeetna, so be ready to bundle up for any breaks in the train travel. Alaska is beautiful to ride through, but it’s nice to take those moment to step off the train and breathe fresh air.

How Long in the Aurora Route Train Day?

When you’re doing the Alaska Railroad Aurora Route, plan to arrive to the train station by 7:30 am. You’ll need to check in and get your luggage sorted, and then if you need any souvenirs there is a shop. When you board, you’ll start in your assigned seats and then once you’re underway breakfast service will be announced, then Bistro Car hour, lunch… From embarkation to disembarking the Alaska Railroad Aurora Route, the full day is around 12 hours. This can be faster if there are fewer whistlestops and no delays, but you should expect and plan for the trip to take 12 hours. Summer routes are shorter, but the winter route is so beautiful and you’ll love it.

What do you see from the Aurora Winter Train?

While wildlife is never guaranteed, we did see six moose from the Alaska Railroad Aurora Winter Route train. As you go along, the conductor and staff are always on the lookout for wildlife and they’re very good about announcing it as it comes up, but being on a trail you cannot just stop on a dime to watch them. If you’re on a tour to Denali National Park your driver can easily stop, or if you’re biking the Tony Knowles Trail in Anchorage, you can hop off your bike quickly… Not so with a train, but seeing moose and eagles as you go is pretty cool.

A highlight to watch for is getting to see Denali (the mountain) from the train. Both before and after Talkeetna there are great opportunities to spot Denali if it’s clear. The mountain is HUGE and amazing, so I have my hopes up for you!

Does the Aurora Winter have the Dome Observation Cars?

That’s a great question! The Alaska Railroad winter service is very different from the summer routes. For the winter, the train only has the standard passenger cars, the Bistro Car and the Dining Car. If you’ve ridden the Alaska Railroad in the summer, then you’ve probably enjoyed the lounge car with the soft seating and the all glass walls and ceiling, or you’ve gotten to out on the observation platforms as you travel along, but those cars are not connected during the Aurora Route trips.

Also, the cruise lines that have Alaska Railroad offerings and special observation cars are not connected because there is no cruise line service during the winter month. THIS IS ALL OKAY THOUGH. The passenger cars have huge windows, the Bistro Car provides wonderful views and the dining car is very easy to enjoy the scenery from.

Parking for the Alaska Railroad

If you live in Alaska and have a car that you need to leave at the train station, there is a large lot at the Anchorage Depot, and a smaller lot at the Fairbanks Depot. I think it’s best to be dropped off at the train station, but everyone is different. You can also get an Uber or taxi to the station. We returned our rental car to the airport and then a friend picked us up to drop us at the train station. Basically, you have options so do whatever is convenient to you, just DON’T MISS YOUR TRAIN!