Routes at a glance
| From | How | Time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage (ANC) | Flight to Utqiaġvik | About 2 hours direct; longer with stops | Daily jet service |
| Fairbanks (FAI) | Flight to Utqiaġvik | About 1.5 hours | Some flights route via Deadhorse or Anchorage |
| Fairbanks | Car or tour to the Arctic Circle | About 5–6 hours each way | 320 km, half of it on the Dalton |
| Fairbanks | Car to Deadhorse | 2 days (800 km) | Overnight at Coldfoot or Wiseman |
| Anchorage or Fairbanks | Flight to Deadhorse | 1.5–2 hours | Used by fly–drive tours |
| Deadhorse | Shuttle to the Arctic Ocean | About 2 hours return | Summer only; advance security check |
Flying to Utqiaġvik
There is no road or regular passenger ship to Utqiaġvik; scheduled jets from Anchorage and Fairbanks are the lifeline. Fog off the sea ice causes delays and cancellations, especially in summer, so keep your plans loose. The airport is in the town itself, a short taxi ride from the hotels.
Driving the Dalton
Most rental companies in Fairbanks forbid their cars on the Dalton; a few specialists rent vehicles equipped for it, with two spare tyres and a CB radio. Fuel is sold only at the Yukon River crossing, Coldfoot and Deadhorse, and the 385 km between the last two have no services at all. Give trucks the right of way, slow down for oncoming traffic to save your windscreen, and carry food, water and warm clothing in every season. In winter the road is for experienced drivers only.
Entry rules
Alaska is part of the United States: most visitors need either a visa or an approved electronic travel authorisation, and a passport. There are no extra permits for the North Slope, but access beyond Deadhorse into the oilfield is strictly controlled.
Getting around locally
- Utqiaġvik has taxis with flat fares and a few rental vehicles. Distances in town are walkable in summer.
- Do not walk the beaches or the road towards Point Barrow alone; polar bears come ashore at any time of year.
- At Deadhorse there is nothing to do without the shuttle tour; hotels are workers’ camps with cafeteria meals.
- There is little or no mobile coverage along most of the Dalton.
- Summer mosquitoes on the tundra are notorious. Bring a head net and repellent.
