Visiting the Quirky Santa Claus House and North Pole, Alaska

Yes, the town of North Pole really does embrace its name. The streets have Christmassy names, the street lamps are candy cane style, and the Santa Clause House is the biggest tourist attraction in town. Our first day here was just enjoying some Christmas out of season, and if you know our family, we’re always down for holiday things. Enjoying the Christmas trees, ornament shopping and taking fun photos is a great way to mix up your activities when you’re visiting Fairbanks, Alaska.

Even in the summertime the town of North Pole is a fresh break of holiday spirit… but not every element of the town reflects it, so if that’s not completely your thing, don’t worry. We’ve got some great suggestions for things to do when you visit North Pole, Alaska, particularly in the winter months. If you have any questions about North Pole or more things to do in the Fairbanks area, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help YOU plan a great Alaska trip.

Highlights of Visiting North Pole, Alaska

Really, the coolest thing about visiting North Pole, Alaska is the sprinkling of Christmastime all through the year. The Santa Claus House is the culmination of Christmas with Santa’s workshop, meeting Santa, shopping for nutcrackers, and finding every theme of Christmas ornament you can think of. Walking between the professionally decorated Christmas trees at the Santa Claus House makes me feel really amature when I think about the trees we’ve decorated in our own home over the years, but the folks in North Pole are professional Christmas-ers.

There is more than the Santa Claus House when you visit North Pole, Alaska though. This is a great place for outdoors activities. It’s like the Palmer of the Interior, full of ATVs, fishing, hiking and lots of great winter activities. I think that’s really the great thing about North Pole is that you have endless recreation opportunities in any season (even mud season). There are parks and trail systems that you can explore on your own or with a guide.

I will say though, visiting North Pole, Alaska in the winter is really top notch. With the snowmachine trails and tours, the ice fishing opportunities and great snowshoe trails. While North Pole might not have a great walkable downtown with side walks and cheese shops like other touristy towns, the combination of outdoors activities and Christmassy flare make it a fun addition to a visit to Fairbanks or a road trip loop.

Where to Stay to Visit North Pole

Given that North Pole, Alaska isn’t a full on city with lots of hotel options and restaurants (it’s got a few), I feel like staying in Fairbanks is the better option when you’re planning your visit. There are some cool cabins and lodges around North Pole, but given the run of other activities you’ll likely be doing when you’re in the area, Fairbanks has lots of great options for different budgets. There is camping in North Pole though (Chena Lakes Recreation Area is good) so if you’re doing that sort of Alaska trip, you’ll be all set.

How to Visit North Pole, Alaska

Yes, you need to visit North Pole, AK for the photo ops, if nothing else. You’ll want to do all the fun recreational stuff, but then pictures with Santa (any time of year), the North Pole sign, and more make it a fun and funny stop. So here’s how you can add it to your trip. When you visit Fairbanks, plan a day out at Chena Lakes Recreation Area either fishing or kayaking in summer or ice fishing or snowshoeing in winter, and then you can pair it with a kitschy visit to the Santa Claus House and the iconic North Pole pole.

For anyone doing the drive from the Lower 48 up through British Columbia and the Yukon, you can add North Pole and Fairbanks by heading north when you get to Tok. Doing this reroute only adds 4 hours to the drive to Anchorage (or in reverse). It’s a tough call to add time to a long road trip, but adding North Pole and Fairbanks means that you also get to add Denali NP and Talkeetna. You’ll make the right call for your travels.

More Day Trips from Fairbanks Besides North Pole

Being based in Fairbanks when you’re visiting the Interior is a great way to have a convenient place to return to each nigth with lots of restaurants and things to do in the city itself. Here are some good day trips you can make from Fairbanks, some are further away than visiting North Pole, but each is worth the little adventure:

• Chena Hot Springs Resort
• Basecamp Adventures at Borealis Basecamp
• Chena Lakes Recreation Area
• Castner Glacier and Ice Cave (guided is best)
• Alyeska Pipeline (there’s a viewing area with exhibits)
• Nenana
• Denali National Park

You’ll have plenty to do in any season and even in the winter months the highways are well maintained, so it’s not difficult to get around. You’ll love exploring the area all around Fairbanks and North Pole, Alaska.

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: