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Many dream of watching the neon colored lights of the aurora borealis dance across the night sky, but you have to be in the right place at the right time to catch the elusive phenomenon. We’ve covered the best places to stay in Alaska but if you are looking to experience the Northern Lights, these locations are tried and true for the aurora seeker. Head to these places in Alaska to view the northern lights in style.
This quaint and tiny town on the Kenai Peninsula is a lovely spot to get away from it all at any time of year. When the aurora dance above the historic town, you will probably feel like staying forever.
Alaska's official welcoming committee, Tok is one of the first stops as you enter Alaska from the Alaska Canadian Highway. Tok is a great place to see the aurora and enjoy the friendly folks and businesses designed for those on the road.
Borealis Basecamp offers these adorable igloos for comfort and coziness while watching the aurora. In the remote hills outside Fairbanks, the odds are good that you will see the aurora.
Earthsong Lodge in Healy is a great place to see the aurora. Mount Denali is a tourist destination year-round and an accessible place in Alaska for travelers. Earthsong Lodge offers trips into the park, dog sled adventures, and lodging. From day trips to week long excursions, head here for exquisite northern lights viewing.
In an beautiful country spot about 30 minutes outside Fairbanks, this lodge offers a perfect opportunity to view the aurora. Dog mush, ski and walk by day, watch the stars and the aurora all night from the spacious deck and large windows of the lodge.
The area is perfect for aurora viewing! Nestled in the boreal forest near Fairbanks, this European style yurt is perfectly situated in a meadow with no light pollution. You will have an excellent chance of seeing the aurora from this idyllic spot in the country.
This resort caters to Alaskan visitors year-round, but really shines in the winter with perfect aurora viewing conditions. For a truly Alaskan adventure, relax in the steamy hot springs and gaze up at the aurora.
Reserve one of the twelve Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public-use cabins in the White Mountains for the adventure of a lifetime. You'll love Alaska more than ever with the endless piles of powder for playing in the snow in any fashion that your heart desires. Sledding, skiing, snowshoeing, snow machining, snowboarding, and making snowmen are all on the table. Then relax all night by a crackling fire and pop out every few minutes to check for aurora activity. You're bound to see a dazzling show of aurora borealis.
Anvil Mountain rises up near Nome and is dotted with equipment and ruins from times past. But the timeless beauty of the aurora dancing above the mountain, the stark Nome beauty and the endless arctic ocean will mesmerize you.
This small town in the arctic is remote and quaint. Due to the arctic location, Kotzebue is a wonderful place to watch the aurora dance above the frozen Arctic Ocean. There are a variety of places to stay.
Alaska has hundreds of miles of state and national park lands to explore. If you are tough enough for winter camping, head out into the wild for a weekend and aurora gaze to your hearts content. (Make sure to bring a buddy and tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.)
This awesome aurora footage was caught right near Alaska's biggest city. Even in the lower latitudes of the state, you can still see the aurora borealis on occasion.
