Before there were snowmachines and fourwheelers, people in Alaska traveled by dogsled and boat. As these forms of transportation take a lot longer than airplanes and autos, roadhouses sprung up across Alaska where travelers, prospectors, and pioneers dined, relaxed, and stayed over until the next step in their journey. These roadhouses haven’t lost their reputation as comfortable places to eat, rest and enjoy these amazing places in Alaska.
1. Coldfoot Camp (Mile 175 Dalton Highway)
Timothy Wildey | Flickr
Originally a mining boomtown in before 1912, Coldfoot has had many incarnations. The truck stop with restaurant and rooms was built in the 1980's and is a comfortable place to visit when traveling up the Dalton or into the Brooks Range.
2. Tolovana Roadhouse (53 miles by trail from Nenana)
The Tolovana Roadhouse is where the famous dog musher Wild Bill of the 1925 diptheria serum run handed of the antitoxin to the next musher at the brisk temperature of -50. The mushers had to get the serum to Nome to save the town from the diptheria
epidemic that was sweeping the population. Now this place is a cozy fly-in dog mushing tour locale where you can really get away from it all and live like a pioneer.
3. Manley Roadhouse (100 Front Street
Manley Hot Springs, AK 99756)
This roadhouse is near the the arctic oasis of Manley Hot Springs, a place that people have been relaxing and soaking for at least a hundred years. The Roadhouse restaurant offers family style dining in the tradition of the old roadhouses to bring travelers together for fun and conversation.
4. Chatanika Roadhouse (5760 Steese Highway, Fairbanks, AK 99712)
This has always been a hotspot for gold miners and sourdoughs headed up to Central and Circle Hot Springs, and up north beyond the Arctic Circle. There is a delicious restaurant, a full bar, occasional live music and comfortable rooms to stay in. This place will make you feel at home no matter how weary you are of the road.
5. Salchaket Roadhouse (9162 Richardson Highway,
Salcha)
The Salchaket Roadhouse is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with pizza, burgers, cheesesteaks, and homestyle dinners that include elk meatloaf!
6. Monderosa Roadhouse (309 Parks Highway, Nenana, AK 99760)
The Mondorosa is known far and wide for their burgers, grilled to order with your choice of cheese. This place has the rustic classic vibe you expect in a roadhouse with fresh ingredients and classic burgers. Relax on their excellent screened porch in the summer.
7. Fireweed Roadhouse (28870 George Parks Highway, Clear, AK 99760)
The Fireweed has a cozy atmosphere, an excellent view, reasonable prices and great service. This historical Alaskan place is decorated original artwork for diners to enjoy.
8. Old Town Copper Center Inn & Restaurant (Mile 101 Old Richardson Hwy
Copper Center, AK 99573)
This place has a delicious restaurant, full bar, gift shop, and rooms to stay in. Copper Center is the center of salmon dip-net fishing in the summers in Alaska and this place is a great place to stop on a fishing adventure.
9. Safety Roadhouse (Nome, AK 99762)
10. Lodge at Black Rapids (1221 Richardson Hwy, Delta Junction, AK 99737)
Built on the site of the historic Rapids Roadhouse which operated from 1904-1993, the Lodge at Black Rapids is a modern rebuild. The rooms are comfortable, the dining room cozy and view superb. Dine, hike, hunt, or ski the area and stay at the lodge for a worry free stop along the Richardson Highway.
More information about the Lodge at Black Rapids here.
Have you been to any of these Alaskan Roadhouses? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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