James Dalton Highway Reviews

Something completely different than anything so far as seen. Every moment of the journey is very interesting

We drove from Fairbanks to the Arctic Circle sign in June 2022. It is a long drive but since it stays daylight all the time in June, there is no need to worry about driving back in the dark. I would not want to make this trip in the dark. The road was better than we expected. Lots of gravel and up and down hills. The worse conditions were gravel downhill grades that had the 'washboard' effect. But if you take it slowly, no need to worry. We drove between 35 and 50 mph during the trip. The views from the road are spectacular in places.

We rented a pick up truck in Fairbanks and took one extra gas container (didn't need it) Overall, it was a fairly smooth ride. Do watch for a few large holes in the road. You won't want to hit them.

There were very few cars or trucks on the road. It took us 11 hours but that includes stops to see the Yukon River, have lunch (one place near the Yukon River), see the pipeline exhibit, etc. I would recommend this trip but be prepared for the longest dirt/gravel road you have probably ever been on. Leave early in the morning, take water and a CB radio. If you breakdown or need help, it could be a long wait.

We traveled the road the first week of June. It wasn't as bad as we had read. Our gravel roads back home are worse to travel than this was. I wish we would have had time to go all the way to Deadhorse.

Drove the the artic circle sign and it was a nice drive. Pretty cool following the pipeline. I heard everyone had said it was a terrible drive and not to do it. But it was such an easy drive and the road wasn't bad at all

We rented a car from Arctic Outfitters so we would be prepared for the remote road with limited resources. We had 2 spare tires (1 full size), tool kit, first aid kit and CB radio in our Ford Escape. We got great gas mileage and had no problems navigating the road. Ironically the dirt road was better than the paved road with all its frost heaves.

Our highlights of the road were mp 56 The Yukon River crossing where we got our Arctic Circle certificate, mp 60 The Hot Spot Cafe for great burgers and shakes, mp 115 The Arctic Circle sign (we stopped twice for better lighting on the sign the second time), mp 132 Gobblers Knob for a good valley overview, mp 175 Coldfoot camp for food, beer and gas, and the Arctic Interagency building for area information, National Parks stamps and flush toilets, and finally mp 180 for Marion Creek Campground. We stopped here for the night and then headed back to Fairbanks in the morning. We wished we had more time to be able to drive all the way but we will just have to come back again.

There are not so much things to see in Coldfoot, but if you traveled all these miles to go from Fairbanks to Arctic Circle, it's not a long way to reach Coldfoot. But avoid it if it's rainy, the "highway" becomes just a big amount of mud! :D

My husband and I spent the weekend of summer solstice traveling the Dalton Hwy from Fairbanks to Deadhorse - and beyond. Once we got to Deadhorse, we took a tour of Prudhoe and even got to touch the Arctic Ocean. I documented our trip with commentary and photographs. You can read about it here:

http://susanstevenson.com/blog/2009/06/the-haul-road/

The trip was absolutely AMAZING and I would highly recommend it.

We drove the Dalton Highway, aka the Haul Road, to be at the Arctic Circle at midnight on the Summer Solstace. We rented a vehicle with larger mud-flaps, an emergency kit & tool box, a full-size spare tire, and a CB radio.

My husband drove the whole way to the Arctic Circle, and got a good feeling for the gravel portions of the road, and communicating with the truck drivers. We pulled off a few times to allow faster vehicles to pass us, and to check out the amazing views where there were safe pull-offs.

The Arctic Circle has an unofficial campground with over a dozen campsite occupied, and "national park style" outhouses. The mosquitos are insane and I swear they are predatory. It was probably 76+ degrees outside, but we had to keep our windows up and the doors closed so we wouldn't get eaten alive.
They have a sign that is the obligatory photo-op. At midnight there were so many tourists we were happy to have taken pictures earlier.

Apparently Cold Foot is only 60 miles further North, all on paved road. I wish we had gone.

July 2007: Travelled the entire length of the Dalton Highway from Deadhorse Alaska to Fairbanks 450 miles of dirt road washboard to smooth road, sapphire blue skies to ominous storm clouds & rain along the way. We took this excursion as part of a Holland America CruiseTour package. Researching the Dalton Highway route on line just doesn't do the real experience justice. You have to experience it! We flew in to Deadhorse on a 50 passenger jet, landed in dense fog, 40 degree air temperature typical for the Arctic Ocean. Stayed overnight in the Arctic Caribou Inn-spartan but very clean permafrost building that looks like several old trailer homes connected together. The rooms have only twin beds, a 12" tv (with satellite but don't expect a lot of choices), small bathroom with shower stall, inexpensive but clean linens. We slept well on reasonably comfortable beds.This inn is designed to accomodate Prudoe Bay oil field workers who work 2 weeks at a stretch then fly home for 2 weeks. But the inn welcomes the relatively small number of tourists like us who want to see more of Alaska than what is available during a cruise. Fantastic home cooked meals- buffet style. Great selection at all meals including fresh fruits, salad bar. You must do the arctic ocean & oil field bus tour (need to make reservations in advance) available through the Inn or cruiseline. Fascinating! Take a dip in the Arctic Ocean if you dare! 35 degrees in July! boarded our Holland America bus for the ride south to Fairbanks. Incredible topography- from barren tundra with cottongrass, moose grazing along the roadside & within the oilfields to granite foothills to the "avalanche zone" Atigun Pass through the Alaska Mountain range where it was rainy, the road was muddy & I was praying we wouldn't go off the road! Scenery just too spectacular to describe! The bus cannot go over 35 mph at any time & be prepared to stop or pull over for semis who have the right of way. Stayed overnight at Slate Creek Inn in Coldfoot-even more spartan than Arctic Caribou Inn-no tv, meals good but Arctic Caribou Inn was better. Encountered a few brave independent travellers-car & motorcycle along the way.
So different from a 5 star cruise experience but worth it! Would do it all again if we could!

We were extremely fortunate to have bright blue skies when we stopped at the Arctic Circle sign off the Dalton Highway. What a great sign for taking photos. Going NORTH from Fairbanks the turn-off is very visible and we were lucky enough to have someone else stop so we could have our pictures taken together. I also took one of the single guy, who was delighted, as traveling alone he isn't in many photos.
Traveling SOUTH from Wiseman, there didn't appear to be a good sign regarding turning in. So, be on the lookout when driving the Dalton Highway, aka The Haul Road.
There are tour buses that leave from Fairbanks, drive to the Yukon River Bridge, then on to the Arctic Circle sign. They most often stop at the Yukon Camp for dinner and continue on to Fairbanks. It makes for a very long day but lots of people just want to say they have been to the Arctic Circle.

We made the trip in our diesel pickup pulling a 22 foot trailer. We took 7 days for the entire trip of as little over 1,000 miles round trip from Fairbanks. The BLM has a good booklet on the Dalton Highway that everyone should have. It is also very useful to have Milepost, a book the describes every road in Alaska in some detail. We prepared for the trip by having a CB radio, two spare truck tires and three spare trailer tires. Luckily we did not need the extra tires, but the CB radio was really useful for hearing truckers comments and progress.

Unfortunately we encountered rain for the first three days making the roads to Coldfoot quite muddy. The first night we stayed at an unimproved campground near mile 60 and just up from the Hotspot Cafe (143 miles from Fairbanks), with its great burgers and milk shakes. The only dump site is at that location. Also very good water at an artesian well. The second day we made the 124 miles to Coldfoot in less than 6 hours. We camped at a nice developed forest campground a Marion Creek, 5 miles to the north. There is a really nice visitors center at Coldfoot. Because it was still raining (and snowing in Atigun Pass) we decided to spend another day in the Coldfoot area. Ate a reasonably good lunch and dinner at the Coldfoot cafe. In the evening we saw a PBS special on the pipeline and attended the evening program at the visitor's center.

The next day turned out with better weather, but still snow in the passes and on the mountains with plenty of muddy stretches. We left our trailer at Marion Creek and were glad we did--it's not a good run for RVs. The Atigun Pass road was steep, but no real problem. Just after the pass we encountered a 15 mile road-work section with delays waiting for a pilot car. The road was quite rough and muddy in places and we pitied people who were driving low-clearance cars (very few seen). After the construction it was just a matter of time and pothole avoidance to finish the trip to Deadhorse. Just before town we saw a small herd of Muskox, some close enough to photograph. The trip took us about 8 hours and was 241 miles.

We stayed in the Prudhoe Bay Hotel and took the tour to the Arctic Ocean. Only one night due to the relatively high cost. The next day after the tour we headed back. This time we made the trip in 6 hours because the roads were dryer, the construction delay was shorter and we were more experienced at high-speed gravel road driving. The weather and views were spectacular on the way back. The Brooks Range is one of the more exciting ranges we have seen. The game sightings were few on the road. We did see a pretty red fox and lots of arctic ground squirrels. A trucker say he sees very few bears along the road. He thought the truck traffic had driven them a few miles off the highway.

On the return to Coldfoot we counted the trucks: 27 northbound and 5 southbound. There were 16 pickups, campers, cars, etc northbound. Interesting that one truck had three pilot cars because it was 31 foot wide (we think some kind of building). The made everyone pull over as far as possible before it passed.

Overall the trip was great and the drive was not too bad if you are comfortable driving gravel and mud and you are prepared. The trucks had the right of way so it is important to get out of their way. Most were courteous and slowed down, but a few created a storm of rocks as they passed us at 50 mph plus. Broken windshields and headlamps are common. Fuel is available at the Yukon River, Coldfoot, and Deadhorse so plan to keep your tanks topped off.

Well, I drove only to Coldfoot, which is past Arctic Circle, so can't speak for the whole highway ...

The road in winter is arguably better than in summer. Most of the gravel is frozen, so some times it's hard to say if it's paved or not - it feels about the same The road was reasonably clean, so passing tracks didn't do much damage with the flying rocks and traction was mostly pretty good. There were are couple spots where my SUV was just not able to stop completely going downhill, but i could steer just fine.

So from the technical difficulty point of view, it's a fairly good road, you don't need a big truck or large SUV.

The views are amazing. I didn't realize how big Yukon river is and it's interesting to see how deep forest changes to fragile sticks and finally to just plain white snow.

A few things to consider.

1. Watch your gas. Some of the gas stations are closed in winter, so it could be 200+ miles before you can fill up. So buy gas at every open station you pass by and if you bring gas with you - you might save some money, since gas on that highway is more expensive (like price in Fairbanks was below $3 and it was above $5 in Coldfoot).
2. There are plenty of trucks going back and forth, so if something happens to you or your car, there will be people around. But keep it reasonable. Carry some food and water with you, some warm clothes. Make sure the car is in good shape.
3. The winter road looked good, so I don't take any extra spare tires. But it could be worse in summer.

Used this road on Northern Alaska Company's Artic Circle and Aurora Viewing tour. Awesome road through the interior of the 49th state. Snow-covered hills and valleys that stretch for miles on either side. Great views.

Rode to the top of the Dalton Highway to Deadhorse! It was an amazing experience. Definitely not a fan of the graders and the mud, but otherwise enjoyed it! It wasn't as difficult as some of the stories that we had heard. Not cheap either. Gas in Deadhorse was $8.07 a gallon.

I only went as far north as the Chandalar Shelf but apparently, the scenery (tundra mostly) gets somewhat mundane from there to the Arctic Ocean. The sealed parts of the highway are probably more dangerous than the gravel road as the freezing/unfreezing of the permafrost creates an uneven surface and some huge cracks appear in the pavement and there are some undulations that can make the vehicle airborne if going too fast. I was surprised at how much is sealed. The scenery is unbelievable in Winter at least on a clear day. It would be somewhat unsettling when there is snow and wind.

Two things of importance. The trucks rule so do anything to let them get past you without getting showered in stones or ice pieces.

The next thing to consider is toilets. They are there but they are umm.. errr.. horrible. Most seats are stainless steel and you would not want to sit on them as you might freeze to them. The smell is disgusting so even hovering is liable to make you want to throw up. They are not warmer than outside so at -25 it makes no difference where you go. The reason I raised this is that many people just don't consider this before going on the Dalton. There is no where north of Coldfoot so you can't hold it in. The average speed on the Dalton is not 65 mph so you can't look at the map and say yep, I can do that trip in two hours which is enough for me to hold it in.

The road is considered dangerous so be prepared and you will enjoy one of the most surreal places on earth.

Rode about 200 miles on the Dalton highway from Fairbanks to the Arctic Circle. Stopped at the gift shop/coffee shop in Joy, saw the pipeline, and miles and miles of fireweed. Worth the trip.

It's a long and dusty drive. The Brooks rand is spectacular, you drive hundreds of miles to get to the 50 miles that's the highlight of the trip. I went only as far as Happy Valley and not into Deadhorse because I'd already seen the Arctc Ocean on Barrow. There were no animals...none..spotted along the wat. There are the highlights like crossing the Arctic Circle and the Yukon Rver, but then you drive for several hours before something else to see. I love to drive and I'm glad I did it but it's not a trip I plan to repeat. Regional fires made much of the scenery unspectacular because of dense smoke.. Luckily it wasn't into the Brooks range and that part of the drive made it worthwhile.

The first 250 miles are quite average until you get to Coldfoot. There is the Arctic Circle sign on your way up, but even that is anti-climactic as compared to the sign on the Dempster. It has been ticked off but I would go to Denali for the Animals, Denali Highway for the scenery, and McCarthy Road for the remoteness and activities. Don't get me wrong, I had a nice trip but if you have a limited amount of time, choose option B.

Dalton Highway
For those of us that watch the numerous Alaskan TV shows that feature the Dalton Highway.... I can explain the excitement at actually reaching it.
Out of the 2.5 million visitors each year only 1% actually travel beyond this point

I had left a 2-3 day window open in our 2 week trip for a small adventure...the Dalton hwy filled this gap. We started in Girdwood and drove to Fairbanks, where we fueled up, bought 6 sand bags for our rental truck and food. The drive was crazy! We were there the last week of October and the road was an gritty ice. My husband drove the whole way, which would have killed me!!

We stayed in Wiseman the first night at the Artic Getaway, Bernie and Uta were awesome hosts. We saw the northern lights even on a cloudy night! It was unbelievable.

The next morning we headed north to drive the Atigun pass over the Brooks range. We saw a herd of Caribou and a bunch of white birds with black tail feathers. We hiked a bit out to get closer to the caribou and headed back to Wiseman after experiencing the Artic tundra. Super cool!! We stayed in Wiseman again and headed back down to civilization the next day. A great drive, I recommend it if you have someone who is really good at driving in poor conditions, especially in October!

Amazing raw beauty. Plan before you do this because there is no cell service and no gas stations! After Fairbanks the next gas is Yukon but they are not guaranteed to have gas or to be open. You have to get to Coldsfoot for supplies and you won't make it on one tank of gas. Buy a gas can or two. The bathrooms are a pile of snow on the side of the road. There are no lights; all signs are covered in ice and snow and are unreadable. Drive slow! We passed many people in the ditch. The drive to the Arctic Circle took us 8 hours from Fairbanks. The roads are bad. Snow covered and bumpy but not as bad as you would expect in the middle of nowhere. Don't miss this experience; it is stunning! Be careful!

My wife and I flew over the southern sections of the iconic Dalton Highway during our escorted ‘Natural Wonders of Alaska’ tour with Titan Travel. We also travelled a road section by minibus from Coldfoot (Mile 175) to Wiseman (Mile 188). This was an optional evening excursion we'd pre-booked for our stay in Fairbanks, staying 3 nights on a room only basis at the welcoming and comfortable Bridgewater Hotel located on the banks of the Chena River. The excursion included our return flight from Fairbanks across the Arctic Circle to Coldfoot and our return journey by road along the Dalton Highway to visit the small village of Wiseman. Our 8 seater light aircraft took off from Fairbanks and we were fortunate to have a warm evening with clear skies offering panormaic views in all directions. Our friendly pilot was also our knowledgable guide, providing us with facts, stories and anecdotes through our headphones whilst drawing our attention to the wonderful landscapes below.

Our aircraft reached the southern end of this 414 mile highway at it's junction with the Elliot Highway near the community of Livengood, about 90 miles north of Fairbanks. Our flight path roughly followed the highway to Coldfoot and also the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) which runs parallel with the highway, taking oil from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez. Our pilot explained that the highway, also known as Alaska Route 11, was initially built in 1974 as a supply route for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System and continues to have a key role in the maintenance of the pipeline. It's also an important route taking equipment and supplies through to the oilfields at Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean. It's used all year by truck traffic with the number of trucks using it on a daily basis ranging from about 160 in summer to more than 250 per day in winter. TV series such as 'Ice Road Truckers' which feature the trucks that use this highway have brought the route and this part of Alaska to the attention of a wider audience and it's becoming increasingly popular with visitors. However this has also created problems especially for the trucks, ranging from large tractor-trailers to articulated lorries, that use the highway. Inexperienced and unprepared drivers of smaller vehicles sometimes fail to understand that trucks have right of way along this route and need to take extreme care when using their vehicles on this highway. Failure to keep a safe distance from trucks using the highway can result in accidents and injuries but more often in damage to their vehicles from the gravel the trucks can through up from the road surface and also their spray from snow and ice in winter.

Our pilot explained that it's named after James W. Dalton, the Alaska-born engineer who directed and supervised its construction across such a remote and inhospitable terrain. I could appreciate through my binoculars it's path across such a spectacular landscape which includes dense forests and tundra, the majestic mountains of the Brooks Range, across the mighty Yukon River and further north over the North Slope to Prudhoe Bay and the Arctic Ocean. This excursion provided my wife and I with a safe vantage point to enjoy the famous Dalton Highway from the air and by road between Coldfoot and Wiseman. I now appreciate so much more the challenges involved in constructing this iconic highway across such a desloate, difficult but breathtaking lancscape.

Well its a road trip and a half to get there along the highway. You get to see the tundra the Alaska pipeline.

You do need though a good car to go there l went in May 2003 and the snow was cleared but well the road was a fun ride. The day light hours a long and you get to enjoy the ride.

I would try to take a tour v.s. renting your own vehicle. Only certain companies will allow you to drive on this road and insurance is crazy. They give you 2 spare tires and a cb radio. After taking a tour on Dalton, my husband and I are very happy we didn't attempt to drive this ourselves. We went in September during there "rainy" season. The roads were bumpy with rivets. Great experience but be safe about it!

We rented the appropriate vehicle from a company that specializes in rentals for the Dalton for this is an extremely rough road at times. Your vehicle will come back to Fairbanks dirty, no ifs, ands, or buts!!!!
State route 11 (the Dalton highway) actually starts near Livengood, Alaska on the Elliott highway (State route 2). Speed limit is 50 mph maximum but we rarely were above 40 mph except the 20% of the Dalton that is paved without extreme pot holes. Drive with extreme prudence & good common sense!!!!
There are sections that are gravel & some truckers exceed that 50 mph by a lot so there will be flying rocks on your windshield. There are sections that are packed dirt which weren't so bad to drive on, then there were paved sections that were tore up badly with extreme potholes, & lastly there were very good sections, the best in my opinion was just south of Coldfoot to about 10 miles north of Wiseman, Alaska. We drove up to Atigun Pass which was worth the white knuckle driving at times. Our rental had a CB radio, I strongly suggest use it when passing or being passed & approaching blind spots for proper road etiquette on the Dalton.
The scenery along the Dalton especially middle to north is nothing you'll see in the lower 48 states. Beautiful country in Arctic Alaska. Gates of the Arctic national park & preserve is to the west of state route 11 in some places as close as a mile although Wiseman is your best bet to hike in with a safe river crossing there via a bridge.
The Arctic inter-agency visitor center is a must stop in Coldfoot if you plan on doing any kind of hiking off of the Dalton. Bring spare water & food just in case. We drove wisely and had no flat tires. Our rental started to over heat with our frequent stops on the incline at Atigun Pass but had no issues coming back southbound. The only reason I'm not giving this an excellent rating is the extremely rough road in many parts otherwise the trip was worth it for the unspoiled scenery of Arctic Alaska. I strongly suggest download & print the guide to the Dalton or pick up a booklet at the public lands (Gates of the Arctic NP) visitor center in downtown Fairbanks before you go. The Arctic Circle, Atgun Pass, Coldfoot, Wiseman, & the Yukon River all plus more was well worth the trip!!!!

Most likely the only place place for food, fuel, lodging and a comfort break between Fairbanks and Cold Foot, just north of the Yukon River. Great ambiance and warm and welcoming on a cold day. I had a Vietnamese style Banh Mi sandwich with Salmon for lunch, very tasty with healthy ingredients. . Everyone in our small group enjoyed the food. Most of them were returning in the evening for dinner. Take a look at the Yukon River for a break from the drive north or south on the Dalton Highway. River was frozen solid in March.

I took train to Fairbanks first weekend in February 2016 and one of my goal was to try go over the Arctic circle. I rented just regular car but with winter tires for extra fee. No insurance no 4x4 wheel drive. 145$/2days
I hit the road from downtown Fairbanks where 130 km is decent drive, nice road, once I get on Dalton HGW it was absolutely wonderful to observe frozen country. It took me 5 hours to Arctic circle.Road was very icy but with those tires no problem. You need be good in driving.
I recommend to go in winter as the scenery is unforgettable. Frozen kingdom as in Russian fairytales. :-)
Better you are 2 drivers so you share the ride back. I was pretty exhausted only by myself.

Incredible Experience to drive the Dalton Highway!!!
It was in June 2016 from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay.
We meet some Caribou, 2 brown bears. And the most impressive : the Landscape!
We also walk on the ice that was melting.
We spent the night at the Deadhorse Camp.
Nice experience

We drove the dalton highway with 6 Aussies to dead horse
Saw lots of musk ox some caribou and dall sheep
Fall colours were amazing and road very good
Stopped in wiseman for the night on way up and saw amazing northern lights
Decent food along the way available

We drove the Dalton all the way to the end and it was amazing! I saw several people mention that they saw no wildlife. You have to make sure you are on the road when the animals are out. That means dawn/dusk. We saw fox, Musk Oxen, birds, and an entire herd of Elk Migrating!! It's totally an amazing experience if you take the time to do it right.

On August 31st, 2010 we drove from Fairbanks to Wiseman. The road was in very good condition, no Pot holes or corrugations and could have easily been driven in a standard vehicle. We hired a 4 Wheel Drive from GO North,but on this ocassion was probably not required. There may be other times of the year when a 4 Wheel drive should be used,so check with BHM before you go. This is a slow road partly due to stops for road works and also in places there is loose gravel. Safe speed ranges from 30mph,40mph and sometimes 50mph. There are few places you can stop for fuel,so you either need long range tanks or carry fuel . This is a unique and Beautiful part of Alaska and did not feel isolated at all. We passed a significant amount of traffic and there are many sections,which are now paved. You pass lots of trucks,so it pays to slow down and move over to the side to prevent a chipped Windscreen. This is a good reason to hire through a company like GO North,as they cover Windscreen and Tyre damage on the Dalton. Allow 5 days if you are going to drive all the way from Fairbanks to Prudhoe bay and back. You reach the Arctic circle before Wiseman and make sure you stop for a Photo at the sign. We saw a bear crossing the road near here. Wiseman is a beautiful spot to stay and there are comfortable rooms available surrounded by Mountain Spruce. Wiseman does not have fuel or restaurants,so you will need to fuel up and eat at Coldfoot,which is 14 Miles south of Wiseman.

Wiseman to Prudhoe Bay
September 1 We left Wiseman and headed for Prudhoe Bay. Passing through the Brooks Range (which is spectacular) you leave behind the last of the Spruce trees and reach the vast arctic Tundra. Musk Ox were visible in the distance approaching Prudhoe bay and the Franklin bluffs are unique. Prudhoe bay / Deadhorse is a highly industrial town and is somewhat of a let down compared to the rest of the Journey. The only evidence that you are near the arctic Ocean are the signs restricting you from entering the Oil Fields. Deadhorse is as far North as you can Drive and you are at the end of the Dalton Highway when you reach the general store. Deadhorse / Prudhoe bay is fascinating,but not impressive. There is no access to the Ocean unless you are on an organised Tour and this lasts for 2 Hours. We flew across to Barrow from Deadhose and got access to the Arctic Ocean there. The Arctic Ocean has unfetted access at Barrow and we did a very quick dip in the Ocean to join the Polar Bear Club. I would highly recommend the exprience of driving the Dalton Highway,but make sure you consult the BHM before you go Doument at http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/recreation/dalton_hwy.html

We went to the Dalton Highway by the Firefly Northern Transport charter service. We loved having him as a tour guide. The entire trip was for us alone without extra strangers. He answered any question and was knowledgeable about Fairbanks and Alaska in general.

The Artic Circle is a full day's return drive in a minibus from Fairbanks to Coolfoot on the Dalton Highway. As there are very few roads in Alaska most visitors use tours to get around .The tours are fairly expensive but well orgainsed with ample opportunity to stop en route and enjoy the surroundings. The mighty Yukon River and the Alaskan Oil Pipeline (which carries oil from the northern tip of Alaska right down to the southern Alaskan coast) are two amazing sites which are not to be missed. The arctic circle is marked on the side of the highway so a great photo opportunity. During the short Alaskan summer the Dalton is safe as there's no snow on the road but I wouldn't risk the long journey once the snow returns.Tours are available which take you to the most northern point of Alaska along the highway but it's avery long way to drive so better to travel part of the way by air and enjoy a birdseye view of the wilderness. A great trip to meet the road truckers and other characters who work in the road stops along the highway. We even met some gold miners which ticked off one of the things on our Alaskan busket list.

The Dalton is what the truckers use and they have the right of way. It was extremely bumpy and can see why your car rental places have you sign that you are not going to go on that road. We were on it with a tour company.

We rented from Alaska 4x4 so we would be able to drive on the Dalton as well as the Denali Highways (among others). We lucked out with very little truck traffic and dry weather. I love driving on crazy roads and this one did not disappoint although it was not as frightening as guides indicate. That may have to do with the fact that we only drove up the first 60 miles. Stick to the speed limits and slow down a bit for oncoming traffic to avoid gravel smacking the windshield. There are lots of pullouts where you can get out to take pictures - you CANNOT stop on the road. Also use the pullouts if you want to drive more slowly than the traffic behind you. Remember there is no cell service (satellite phones or cb radio work) but 'they' say usually someone will stop to help if trouble. The only disappointment - the Hot Spot Cafe is no longer open. (But the Yukon Bridge River Camp was open for good food and a gift shop.) Didn't see much wildlife but the views were great and the roller coaster hills made me grin from ear to ear!

We took a tour up the Dalton Highway to Prudhoe Bay. The tour was with 1st Alaska Outdoor School. We rode in a large van. Our driver/guide was very knowledgeable and friendly and planned frequent stops to stretch our legs and view the gorgeous scenery. The vastness of the wilderness is unbelievable!! We saw a black bear, wolves, musk oxen, various birds, and amazing scenery. AND we got to see the Arctic Ocean and wade in it! It was definitely worth the trip. I would advise anyone who wants to experience the Dalton Highway and the Arctic Ocean to take this tour or one like it. The "highway" is a two lane gravel road -- unbelievably bumpy -- with no guard rails. A good idea to have someone driving who is familiar with the road and the area. I'm really glad we took this tour!

Very long drive, nice sightseeing and visit stops, beautiful views and good pictures. The only bad thing is don't go with rush, because there is a lot of major construction on the road,and you have to stop 20 to 30 min to let you throw.

The Dalton. The Ice Road. The North Slope Haul Road.

Amazing and scary all at once. Bone-jarring....

We travelled this road on a tour, from Coldfoot back to Fairbanks, so we didn't drive it ourselves. I'll review the tour separately...I just want to say that it's a long rough ride. Really long. Really rough. Be prepared.

We are seasoned travelers and pretty adventurous but I can definitely say that, after this trip, I am thankful we didn't drive it independently and would never reccommend that anyone do so. It's remote, exactly zero services available including cell service, and there are a lot of huge trucks who fly on this road. Between the washboard, the potholes, the 8% and 11% grade and the mud...well...the likelihood of a flat tire or some other trouble is high, and getting help would be a problem.

I'm glad we did it. Once was definitely enough.

Adventure on!

Of course an experience is only as good as those with you. We have followed the highway twice. The last time however things had changed. Several roadside businesses had closed due to the economy. None the less Mr. Bill of Skyfire Tour made this the perfect day. Loves his style!

We drove the Dalton Highway in a very long day and had an amazing but challenging journey. The first part is largely tarmacked and is easy to drive, although you are sharing the road with the truckers who are the main users of the road. The second half is mostly a dirt road. The day we did it, it was raining and the road was therefore really muddy, meaning that our car got filthy and it was at times hard to see with the dirt. This added to the challenge. It was also nice to pass the Arctic Circle and to drive over the highest pass in Alaska. Most people do it on an organised tour but we wanted to self drive and really enjoyed the choice we made.

The trip started at 7:15 am and lasted until 10:00pm. It was well worth the trip. So glad I saw it. Words can't express how amazing this trip was.

A great experience to be taken up the ice road across the Yukon River, grab lunch at the Yukon River Camp, and see spectacular views as we worked our way to the Artic Circle

Alaska is big - we hear that all the time from visitors; however you don't realize how big it really is until you do this trip. Sure you get the lottery and drive the Denali Road; and yes that is pretty; and long; and on the side of a mountain... but then you drive the Dalton Highway in the middle of the summer and then you realize just how big this amazing land is.

This road maintained by the BLM is purely a functional road built for the O&G industry and you take in the difficulties of driving it in the summer; and realize how hard it must be during the winter and during the not so nice times outside the 3 summer months.

You go through distinct areas of Alaska, and spend most of the time driving in the Arctic Circle - where the sun just spins above you without knowing which way is North, South, East or West because the sun never went down.

You see all sorts of animals; no one is there to stop you from walking anywhere - you might die but that's on you.

We drove from Fairbanks to the Arctic Circle. The road itself was in reasonably good shape, although much of it was gravel. Traffic was minimal, and there is no cell service so it is important to either have a sat phone or self sufficient. We did see someone changing their own tire and not needing assistance. We went in summer, but I'm sure the Northern Lights are great in the winter. Remember that you can only take certain rental cars on this road (most companies don't allow it, so be sure to choose one that does). Also, pack extra food as the Yukon River camp did not have any real food (kitchen was closed) - I think it was due to lack of staff rather than Covid related.

first of all no rental cars are allowed to drive on this highways as its not paved....so we went in a van with a tour guide....its worth the money bcos there is no cell phone service here....so our guide had a well equiped van with radio etc....if u r not familier with this highway...its not for everyone...we were facinated after seeing ice road truckers on TV...so look it up online....we first stopped at the trans alaskan pipeline....amazing engineering ...it runs for 800 miles from arctic ocean to valdez.
then we drove to arctic circle then came back with a certificate from our guide with bragging rights that we crossed arctic circle.....is you have a full day to spare this is a thrilling experience....worth the money and 10 hrs round trip

We rented a pickup truck in Fairbanks, drove to Coldfoot, and finally about 50 miles north of the Atigun Pass. Trip of a lifetime. We went in March because I wanted to see it in the Winter. If you have ever thought about making this trip, don't hesitate, just do it.

Great scenery. Can be very windy and passing those huge trucks is scary. Being out there with little amount of people driving by is intimidating. Make sure you have enough gas and let someone know you are on it. Forget cell phones! Seeing the pipe line up close was neat

For anyone who has watched Ice Road Truckers this is the road, except in summer it is pretty dusty! It is not for the faint hearted. It can very very rough in stretches even on the 'paved' sections and there is constant roadwork. It is an incredible experience to see the Tundra, then the beautiful Brooke's Range, the Musk Ox, Caribou, bears and many birds. The run up Artigan Pass is spectacular. This is real wilderness - there is just one set of facilities all the way up at Coldfoot. In between there a very clean, well maintained outhouses except the one closest to Prudhoe bay over which there is some silly bureaucratic dispute about State vs Federal land - who cares, after being stuck with roadwork for way too long you need a toilet. Some has already prised the iron bar off the door and it is being used anyway.

If you see the word “highway”, you might think this was a paved two or four lane road. You would be wrong. This is essentially a gravel road for over 400 miles. Luckily we had an excellent tour bus driver who had lots of experience on this road. As she pointed out at the start of our trip, this Highway is one of the three most dangerous roads in the world. Seeing all of the crosses along the road for killed drivers, that was not hard to believe. There are many dangerous curves and the road is barely two lanes wide in many places. Add to that the semis racing down the road to the North Slope, this is not a drive someone unfamiliar with it should do. Do what we did and leave it to the professionals. There is only 1 area to stop for 200 miles at the Yukon River. Do not plan on getting any sleep on this road. It is a constant rough and bumpy ride. It was a unique Alaska experience which we would highly recommend. But do not try to drive it yourself.

Fantastic day trip (10 hours rt from Fairbanks). We rented our jeep from Go North....they allow their rentals on the Dalton Highway. It was a great drive,seemingly safe on partially paved, partially dirt and gravel road. A few trucks, some roadwork going on, but otherwise not a widely traveled road. We stopped at the Yukon Crossing for gas and lunch, and at the Alaska pipeline center( also at the crossing) on the way back. Such a fun day ( in late July 2013)..... Grateful for 2 motorcyclists that showed up just in time to take our picture at the Arctic Circle Sign.

drive from Fairbanks Ak Dollton highway to just north of Coldfoot Ak
Fairbanks to Liivengood Ak about 84 miles Artic Circle 199 miles
this is the start of the Dolton Highway Livengood Ak to Pruedoe Bay Artic Ocean (Deadhorse Ak)
We didnt have enough time to drive all the way to Deadhorse (about 15 plus hours each way)
We got to about mile post 204 Sukakpak Moutains in the brooks Range
We wanted to get to Atigun Pass (highest pass in Ak) but ran out of time
BLM camp at Artic Circle was very good BUT no Fuel Water very nice Bathrooms No Shower
Highway was not good but way better than I was expecting

The Dalton Highway or Haul Road is so great and beautiful it deserves to be called an attraction. From start to Finnish and return its unbelievable scenery and wildlife viewing experience. It could be the most amazing drive or road to hell depending on the weather (rain),just go slow and pull over when you meet the big trucks on the road and slow right down. Take as long as you can pull over and explore all the pull offs and points of interest and the few towns and information places.The meals if you got to buy them at the truck stops are great and filling and respectably priced. Finger rock, Yukon river, arctic circle rest stop,goblers nob and many other places are worth checking out. Keep your camera out and ready and keep shooting you can always delete later, Wild life you see on the way up will probable be in a different location on way back. The road is perfectly safe just drive accordingly and keep your gas tank mostly full all the time. Over 450 miles and at least 3 fuel stops each way We didnt do it in 2014
The other is the Dempster in the Yukon and that's this year.

We had read so many reviews saying not to drive this road. Since we have driven in 58 countries we were not afraid and were glad we did. We had a four wheel drive vehicle from Alaska 4x4 which allows you to drive it on all Alaska gravel roads. Since the hotels in Deadhorse and Prudhoe Bay were not open to tourists due to covid we stayed in Wiseman. We drove from Fairbanks to Wiseman. Stayed over night in Wiseman. Drove the next day to Deadhoorse and back to Wiseman again. Scenery was absolutely incredible! Make sure to fill up your car in Coldfoot and then in Deadhorse. Gas will not be a problem. Also recommend you take a tire plug kit which you can get at any auto parts store. Had to plug my tire once.

"Scenic" would apply but it was not particularly scenic. It is a long, rural, lightly traveled highway, the only highway leading to Barrow, Alaska. I give it 3 stars because I survived it, and the traffic was light. There is nearly nothing along this highway, because most of the length of this highway, north of Fairbanks, is sparsely populated or completely uninhabited. If I had died, it would have received a 1-star rating, if there had been Starbucks and In-N-Out Hamburger restaurants along the way, it would have received a 5-star rating. Why am I rating a highway anyway?

The only way to truly experience this, is of course to drive it yourself, but meanwhile here is a tiny bit of taste through our eyes:

https://vimeo.com/120558656

We flew into Fairbanks one late February weekend and followed the Haul Road north well into the Arctic. Despite the low aurora activity forecast we captured some nice footage of the Northern Lights. The drive itself was phenomenal. We drove through hundreds of miles of gravel, mud and ice into the fabled Brooks Range and a frontier town called Wiseman, with a population of 16. To quote Frommers "the scenery is so mind-boggling in its grandeur and repetition, that after a time it feels as if you are living in a dream", it really does.

The Dalton Highway is a tough drive though: all but three specialized rental agencies allow their cars on this road; but we were rewarded with absolutely one of the most stunning driving experience through this dreamy winter wonderland.

Practical notes:
Speed limit is 50, be extremely vigilant of the flying gravels (less likely in winter), low temperature, and ice conditions, Go with snow tires, carry two full-sized spare tires. Tow trucks all come from Fairbanks and are $$$$$.

The road has no shoulders for the most part and you should park only in the few designated pullout sites. Avoid sudden stops or stopping on top of a hill, as the trucks may not see you.

Many services are closed during winter. Make sure you fill up in Fox; Hilltop is the last station, then it's 200 miles to Coldfoot (open 24 hours), then no gas until 240 miles later at Deadhorse.

First off, I only went up to the Arctic Circle. Having said that, I did it SOLO on a BALD rear tire on a FULLY loaded Harley Electraglide from North Carolina (and back) inside 15 days FLAT. The hazards, in order of relevance, are MUD, potholes, and calcium chloride. This is NOT ordinary mud. I have ridden on MUCH mud in 57 years of riding. This is glacial silt mud containing silica, as in sand, exacerbated by repeated applications of calcium chloride. It is slick as snot. It is like riding on motor oil applied to a bowling alley. NOT for the faint of heart. A car, by comparison, is NO problem. Four (4) contact points. Go slow because potholes are greatest hazard when you get up speed on a "nice" stretch. Calcium chloride is primarily a hazard to machinery, as it hardens to a concrete like substance that gets into every nook, cranny, nut and bolt of vehicle. A good reason to take a rental vehicle. This trip is completely doable. Just carry ALL you need. Gas generally available at Yukon River. GOOD food there also. Pretty cooks too. I would NOT go to top, Prudhoe Bay, on a "belt" drive bike, because I have an acquaintance who got stranded when belt (and quick fix spare sold commercially and carried) broke out in the middle. Highway crews are prohibited from picking you up. Also, do not fail to carry compressor for tire air and patch/plug kit. Be certain to buy a tshirt at both Yukon River and the Hotspot, or you will have to search ebay, etc. later to acquire.

Really getting out into the wilderness when you travel this road. It was bumpy in a lot of spots, but still enjoyable.

We were pleasantly pleased with the food at the truck stop. Everything we ordered was excellent. The pies, salads, entree's, cookies. All much better that you would expect for a place so remote.

Alaska’s Dalton Highway, which runs from Fairbanks to Deadhorse, is 414 Miles of gravel road designed for Heavy trucks. There are some patches of Paved Road as well now and more is added. The road is bumpy and has many steep grades. No edge protectors , and takes you through Arctic Tundra!
If you ask me that’s a perfect recipe for an exciting and challenging road trip!
The Alaskan Pipeline Runs parallel most of the may.
Make Sure you have done all your preparations beforehand and have read about this over Internet thoroughly as what you are about to see and experience is beyond words and expectations. Its Wild and nothing in between for Hundreds of Miles.
There a only a handful of rest stops along the way. One at Yukon River Camp , Coldfoot , and a couple more ( Non flushing) .
Do carry a Mosquito Hat.

A long trip if you take this mostly dirt road, to the top of the states. A truely unique experience unlike any "touristy" thing you can do. It is desolate at times, we drove for hours and did not see another human or vehicle, but we did see lots of wildlife and miles of beautiful country. You can truely get the feeling of why this is called the "Last Frontier" from driving this road especially if you drive all the way to Dead Horse, AK.
Go well prepared, there are very few places to get fuel, water etc, Circle is one very important place to make sure you have fuel and supplies. Desolate, but breathtaking, an adventure you will not soon forget.

My grandson's name is Dalton so I had to get a picture of this.
It was a long drive from Fairbanks the highway is curvy and bumpy there is absolutely nothing up there you need to fill your car in Fairbanks.
Remember you can not take a rental car on gravel and if you head out on that gravel there could be damage to your car but it was a cool experience.

if you're in the Fairbanks area and have nothing to do for a day, drive up the Dalton Highway(AK11) made famous by the "ice road truckers" TV show. this road was built to help build the Alaskan oil pipeline.you'll leave Fairbanks on AK2 and follow the signs. this is a summer(mid/late May-July) drive. once you actually get on The Dalton it'll be a mixture of dirt and pavement with the dirt mostly being smoother than the pothole lines asphalt highway. on the way you'll cross the only bridge in Alaska that crosses the mighty Yukon River, you pass the arctic circle and end up at Coldfoot station. you may go further(250 miles) to predunone bay but there is no access to the ocean so do what you want. at Coldfoot(mm175) there is a post office, gas for the return trip back to Fairbanks, a dinner with a small gift shop. on the other side of the Dalton is a joint use US/AK forest visitor center that you must stop at in season(late May-August) so you can get your free "crossed the arctic circle" certificate. it's very nice and again it's free. at MM 115, the same US/AK forest services maintain a big sign that states you're at the arctic circle so don't pass up this once in a life time(for most of us anyway) picture opportunity. drive safe. last thing, if you're going to drive this road, have a CB radio so you can communicate with the other drivers

We took our suv rental car up to coldfoot. It rained most of way. Not nearly as bad as we had heard but not for faint of heart either. Car was fine. Gorgeous fall colors but we were unable to see any panoramas because of rain. No animals seen. Took us 4 hours to get back to fairbanks.

we did risked it and drove with a rental car - it was on a Sunday (mid september) and we just passed 15 trucks - weather was a bit rainy so the car got messed up but the road itself is not this bad. its partly good graveled and some parts are also paved. We just drove to the Arctic Circle and back (which you can do easily in one day) - landscape is not this brilliant to be honest. In my opinon a bit overrated (maybe because of the TV programm). And its getting a bit touristy now (even Chinese were driving the Dalton allready)

Had an excellent drive and got some snow on the return journey! REcommend a four/all wheel drive, but possible in summer with a 2 wheel drive with enough clearance - just slow down for surface change, trucks and pothole sections.

people tell you horror stories about driving the Dalton. some are true, it is 400 mile of beautiful scenery and an amazing drive. Be sure to gas up at Fairbanks and at Coldfoot, both ways and again at Deadhorse. Can be done in a day but that is pushing it. you can't get to the Arctic Ocean unless you arrange for a at Coldfoot of the oilfield. This is as close as you can get to the real Alaska on a roadway. KNOW that the truckers own this road and it is there for there use and you are an interloper. I may cost you a windshield and it did me. BUT I would drive it again in a heartbeat.

I'm not going to tell anyone not to believe the hype and be responsible for them putting themselves in danger but I will say that after reading the reviews we rented a "specially equipped" SUV to make the drive on "The Haul Road" and at least in Early August, as far as the Arctic Circle the Dalton Highway was in better shape than the road I grew up on in South Dakota, we actually regretted not having our more comfortable Minivan but I do believe Hertz would have frowned on our taking their equipment up there anyway.

Stock up on bug spray and snacks before the trip but the views are pretty amazing and this drive is worth your time.

Be careful, although you think you are all alone up there, we got nabbed by a State Trooper above the arctic circle for rolling through a stop sign.

So is the Dalton Highway scary? Absolutely not.

Should you take your travel there seriously and be prepared, Yes of course.

Have an awesome trip, and I'm dead serious about the bug spray.

you may have seen the film or tv but nothing prepairsyou for this Do not atempt it unless you are well prepaired big rigs run year round they are working not sightseeing give them room

Everything I read indicated that this road was unsafe for RV travel so I took a tourbus. I really regret that. The road is dirt/gravel and paved in places but it's TOTALLY drivable in an RV if one is careful. Granted, I only got as far as the Arctic Circle but it was a piece of cake.

There is fuel here and there and a lot of very, very nice folks. The bus did suffer a peck in the windshield and the driver did say that he has two spare tires onboard. One does need to be prepared...but not scared.

Also, the driver said the road is even better in the winter because it's smooth. His bus has studded tires during those trips and he said he can actually drive faster.

I wish I had taken my RV and had the opportunity to camp here and there. The scenery isn't as good as Alaska Highway 1 or anything but it's still pretty and I wish I had had the opportunity to drive the entire thing. Maybe another time!

Not so impressive as the other reviewers described. It's pretty much a common road in Alaska. We flu to Cold foot and then joined a guided van tour back to Fairbanks. I was impressed by the pipeline story . The sign "attic circle" it's basically in a parking area. As I said one of those things you do just bcs you have to.

We went until the Arctic Circle Sign past the Yukon River on the Dalton. We rented a van for the 11 of us with all the back-up fuel and full size tires since we were on a overnight journey to witness the midnight sun.
Started from Fairbanks at 9pm and reached the Sign at about 2:30am. On the way, captured photos of the midnight sun and the pipeline. It was a speechless experience for all of us to see a brightly lit sky and also visualize the sun being on the NW and NE directions - haze formed by the sunset and sunrise.

We realized once we were back, that the sun did never set that night and it was the last day before the sun did go down (the sun sets starting about July 5th until which it wouldn't) for a few minutes.

Drove back from the Sign at 3am and reached Fairbanks at about 8 in the morning. The road is partially paved and gravel filled. We only had a few trucks pass by us and no cars around that time. Safe and steady driving necessary!

We traveled from Healy {Denali} to Wiseman, overnighted, Wiseman to Prudhoe Bay, overnighted, back to Wiseman, and then, believe it or not, Wiseman to Anchorage for our flight home. Prudhoe Bay to wiseman...4 1/2 hours. Wiseman to Anchorage under 10 hours. I know..we were moving.On the way north we stopped at all the suggested spots, finger rock, Arctic circle ect. and still made it from Fairbanks to Wiseman in under five hours. I found the Dalton to be better than some of the roads in my town. The dirt sections were easy. Watch for the pot holes and move over for oncoming vehicles. The older paved sections had many frost heaves which could bounce you around and flat inducing potholes, I had a CB, water, tp, and some food. Only one spare that came with the suv, it was full sized.
The Dalton is a remote road with vast uninhabited spaces. We went two hours without seeing another vehicle. If you dive safely and are alert and have a reliable vehicle you should have no problems. You don't need twelve spare tires and a fifty gallon drum of gas strapped to your roof. The only way you'll run out of gas is if you drive off the road and punture your tank. Get gas in Fairbanks, Coldfoot and Prudhoe bay. If you break down, flag down someone and get help. It might be awhile so have water and tp, but you'll survive.
I don't mean to minimize the potential for misfortune, but don't be put off from taking this trip for fear of the Haul road. Being able to say you've driven the Dalton, touched the Arctic ocean and seen the tundra and it's inhabitants is very cool indeed!

The Dalton Highway is the Ice Truckers Highway (Yah - That Ice Truckers Highway). There is only ONE Place to get gas and / or a meal and that is mile 175 at Coldfoot. If you keep your wits about you and pull over every time a truck comes the other way, you will likely be fine. There is no place to buy provisions at all. The road itself is not bad after the first 30 miles or so. You better have a reservations somewhere before trying it. Regards, OldeBear

Took a 37 ft Class A motorhome up the Dalton at the end of May. The road wasn't too bad and not many trucks yet. The Elliot Hwy seemed worse! My last trip up was in 1988 so I did notice the road was much improved. Weather was unseasonably warm. Drove back down about June 12th and went to Anchorage where we bought 6 new tires because the Michelins we started on were quite beat up. The Haul road has a way of doing that to your tires BUT it was class A all the way!!

My husband and I went up to the Arctic Circle over July fourth we were lucky it was clear and the fields of fireweed were awesome. We found the only decent campsite at Fish creek where the fish were great we kept just enough to have a dinner and share with a young man from South Africa who was riding his bike, amazing, also found out our sweet dog is not a woos, as a grizzly decided to visit during the night. We got a awesome picture and between our dog and my husband who has a good rock throwing expertise and as loud as I have ever heard him yell the beautiful bear went on his way. We left the next day as smoke was beginning to smell. It got smoker as we came home to Ester AK at one point we could only see 50 feet, I have asthma so it was awesome to get home to breath .I told my husband I was glad he had built our house tight and the air inside pretty good. Was a great adventure. OH and the fireweed was just awesome it is not that thick every year

Tour guide explained and showed us parts of Alaska that we would never have seen. what a great State.

I volunteer at the UAF's Toolik Field Station (admittance is by reservation only, this is an NSF working field station). My travel and expenses are paid. Sometimes I drive all the way from Fairbanks, or down from Deadhorse. So we see most of the traffic from roughnecks and truckers to Princess Cruises people ("Luxury ends here" at the airport), oh, and the bicyclists, motorcyclists, and last year a horse party rode South (I caught sign of them at the start in Deadhorse and they have a facebook page).

I don't drive a personal vehicle. The Haul road has no shoulders to fix a flat. Traffic plies the haul road 24 hours a day. It's handy to have a CB road (you also hear the chatter). Most civilians will be "4-wheelers" (this means you). You can get gas North of Fox at: Yukon River, Coldfoot (got the mosquito tee shirt), and Deadhorse. It's not like there is a lot to do along the way. Get lost of rest before starting and when you can take a break.

The Haul Road has been traversed by Google street view.

It's mostly a gravel road where the AK DOT does paving experiments (most failing). A satellite phone is an expensive but useable tool. Forget cell phones (they will work in Deadhorse because of the number of oil guys).

Animals: THE DRIVER SHOULD NOT LOOK FOR ANIMALS, only the PASSENGERS.
I've seen grizzly bear, a wolf, fox, many, many caribou (depends on time of year), moose (south) muskox. We had a polar bear once in camp early season. I just missed it. Drive too fast, and you will miss animals. You have to realize that driving 50 MPH on a gravel road means to traction. The Atigun Pass (the highest) may have a ice base. It can snow on this road any time the further North you go. Carry chains.

Discharge of firearms, I think with 5 miles of either side of the pipeline is forbidden. They are NOT forgiving about this (people have already been thrown in prison for putting holes in the Pipe). The Pipe is constantly patrolled 365 days a year by truck (the Alyeska (oil pipe consortium) trucks have the industrial motto on the side "and no one get hurt.") and a couple of times a day by air. Bow hunting is allowed in season, check with AK DFG. What's visible is mostly insulation. It's barely flowing at half capacity right now. They have a pull out just North of Fairbanks to describe this.

The oil facilities can be toured with a background check and a few $$. Deadhorse has a famous post office and store. The photo is the Arctic Circle sign. Plan where you think you will camp. You can ride the Dalton Express if you don't want to drive (small plane flying is better in my opinion).

Get a copy of The Milepost (a friend's mom is an editor).

Driving the Dalton is a serious proposition (people carry extra spare tires), and people get killed and injured on it with regularity. Note: the North Slope Borough is DRY. Alcohol is forbidden in the Deadhorse hotels and anywhere near the oil facilities.

You will learn that the mosquito is the Alaskan state bird in summer.

As the saying goes,you only go around once so this is a true experience.
If you do not like being away from civilization or tend to get car sick, do not go on this long road. Otherwise, it is a scenic wonder that you will always remember.

Dalton highway is not the typical highway one would imagine. It starts with an asphalted stretch which gives way for the dirt road as the extreme cold would not hold the asphalt together for long. This highway leads to Prudhoe bay almost 330 miles from the Arctic Circle. The Arctic Circle is approximately 165 miles from Fairbanks, AK. This is the famed highway where the most experienced and highly paid truck drivers ply their trade transporting good for Prudho Bay where the Alaskan oil flows. A must experience for the ones who wants the unusual but exciting tourist experience.

When I started planning this, I was excited that my family agreed to take the 3 days to get to Prudhoe Bay and back to Fairbanks and the added cost of the rental that allows you to go on the haul road. Because we went on the Haul Road we got to see Wolves, Arctic Foxes, Snowshoe Hares, Ptarmigan (down south they were brown, but towards Prudhoe Bay they were still white), Muskoxen, Grizzly Bears and Caribou. We also got to see great scenery – mountain ranges covered in snow, arctic tundra, boreal forest, etc. There was a rain storm that passed through, and we saw several rainbows which wasn’t expected. Crossing the Yukon River and the Arctic Circle were also a neat feat. Visiting the Arctic Visitor Center by Coldfoot is well worth the stop as well. The only gas that I know there is available from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay is in Coldfoot. Gasoline was priced $5.50/gallon when Fairbanks was $3.33 and the lower 48 was about $2.60. But the cost was offset by the great monster cookies for sale for a $1. So while filling up, send one of your kids in for a cookie or two! We also made it all the way to Prudhoe Bay and drove around and got to see a lot of industrial drilling equipment. We also paid for the tour service to wade in the Arctic Ocean. On the subject of renting a car with an extra spare. We saw maybe 10 cars on the way up and back. 1 of them had a flat. The extra spare gives you peace of mind to continue on the trip. If you use your spare and don't have one - you better head back or stop in Coldfoot to get it fixed.

We booked the three day tour from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay. Our guide, John, drove five of us along the Dalton Highway. This was in early September, so it was fall - beautiful fall colors of gold, red, orange, interspersed with vivid, deep green. There are so many things to see along the way: remote truck stop restaurants, visitor centers, little villages where you wonder how people survive all year long, random rest stops and campgrounds, and, of course, beautiful scenery. As the snow-capped mountains and colorful forests give way to the tundra, the foliage turns to ground cover of vibrant colors where grizzlies, caribou, wolves, Dall sheep, and musk oxen roam. We also saw the pipeline along the road and even stopped for a closer look along the way. We saw all of this and more on our two day trek as we passed through Coldfoot, The Arctic Circle, Wiseman, Joy, and ending up on the Arctic Ocean and Prudhoe Bay. Only 1% of Alaskan visitors make it past Fairbanks, and the Dalton Highway is very rugged and remote, but it was an experience of a lifetime.

This was one of those bucket list items that i probably wouldn't want to do again..at least not taking a tour bus both ways. The ride was long and tedious (cloudy foggy day). Traveling the Haul Road was a very neat experience when it finally did clear, and the tour company did try to break it up with videos, but cooped up for 16 hours in a tour bus with strangers (one family had a very sick 5 year old and her 7 year old ADHD brother) was a bit more stressful than a vacation should be
If you decide to do this I'd take a combination Fly in bus out tour (make sure that you fly first as if the plane has weathered can't land... its a long bus ride BOTH WAYS)

Away from all hustle and bustle of city life, and all controlling tour company ride, you could rent a car (which are permitted to drive on Dalton Highway) and take a drive. It is not very cheap option and at times feel not safe - when you face the haulers truck - driven at 70 miles with flying gravels.
Once out of Fairbanks region, it felt like being with nature - with white all around - from 2 week old snowstorm and frozen River (even mighty Yukon). Drove all the way to Atigun Pass - after customary stop at
- Yukon Camp - for refill /coffee (Bless the owner - who suggested that I should go beyond Coldfoot to Atigun Pass - it is so beautiful),
- Arctic Circle Sign, and
- Coldfoot (stayed their for the night - and enjoyed the Aurora)

Landscape of Taiga and Tundra, with all white mountains - so beautiful, and I will remember this trip forever.
I will probably go back once again - to drive all the way to Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay - and my be in Fall.

Pleased how friendly the truckers were on this road. I road with a tour company. They were especially helpful to truckers announcing on cb when entering and exiting roads. Not a bad road in winter but expect it is very bumpy rest of the year

What an amazing adventure, to drive down the entire length of this world-famous highway. I thought it would be a teeth-rattler; on the contrary, almost half of it is paved, so it's quite a nice ride.

We rented a 15 passenger Ford van to drive up and back.
We stopped at the Yukon River at the Yukon Flats Nat Wildlife Station.
A good place to view the river, and look at the pipeline.
You better cross the road on the way out and fill up on gas, cause it's the only place you can buy it.. And on the way back too.
Going north of there a few miles, there is a little truckers restaurant run by two ladies, that have pretty good food.
A long day, but all in all a good trip.

If you have no sense of adventure this is not for you. This trip is very exciting, we did the 2 day trip but there are other options. We used Northern Alaska Tour Company and they are awesome. You can also drive if you dare. They drove us (6 people) to the Arctic Circle then on to Coldfoot where we spent the night and ate at the Coldfoot Diner. 10 hour drive. Bumpy, dusty, mosquitoes, all on a famous gravel dirt road. No Marriott up there. Next morning they took us to the Brooks Mountain range where we crossed Atigun Pass. 5 hour round trip. (Separate tour). beautiful. Then flew back to Fairbanks in small prop plane. This is the true Alaska, you’re here, may as well see the real deal. Awesome!

So glad we caught a ride on the highway up to Coldfoot-very interesting and informative to learn about Alaska, early settlers and the pipeline and highway construction. After 4 days in Coldfoot I was also glad that we flew back to Fairbanks as I didn't want to sit that long on the road again. Note-this was in winter/early April

Traveled from the furthest point south, to the Arctic Circle and a little beyond and it was an experience we will not forget for sure.

Hey, it's a great way to get above the arctic circle. You need to tell your rental car agency (if you have one) before you go up this road though, or you could get fined big time. The road itself is terrible in places, but quite scenic and, well, is the only way to get north of the Yukon that doesn't involve air or water craft.

I flew to Coldfoot which is is really just a truck stop (and doesn't pretend to be anything else) and drove back along the Dalton to Fairbanks. I went with the Northern Alaskan Tour Company in a small bus.

It was one of the highlights of my 6 week Alaska and Canada trip.

The drive is long and at times boring but once it got dark, it was pitch black and enabled us to see the Northern Lights. We stopped quite a number of times to look at the fascinating scenery. We also stopped at a little roadhouse along the way very late at night. It was owned by the driver of our mini bus and they made us feel very welcome.

This is a historic highway laid down by brave workers in harsh conditions and under great time pressure. The road is rough in places but manageable in others and there are some good viewpoints and rest stops along the way.

The drive to the Arctic Circle and Coldfoot in a vehicle without a tour is not for everyone. It is a gravel road with significant trucking traffic. It is great to see the different landscapes within in Alaska, the Yukon River and the pipeline. There is no phone service and everyone uses CB radio.

We had an amazing bus tour guide, Sabrina, who was knowledgeable, friendly, and fun. We saw so much on this trip and learned a lot about Alaska (culture, history, the pipeline, animals, plantlike, permafrost, etc.) She shared lots of stories and fun snacks along the long journey. The bus was very comfortable and she had us rotate from front to back throughout the trip. There were frequent stops for pictures and bathroom breaks too. The bus had small tv screens throughout, so we watched a few educational videos which I appreciated. Sabrena said that only 1% of the people who visit Alaska go north of the Arctic Circle. Well we are in that 1% and it was soooooo worth it!

We drove as far as Wiseman. We left Fairbanks early in the morning and returned in the evening. The toughest part of this drive was between Fairbanks and the start of the Dalton. This portion is paved, but the bumps in the road and the curves made it difficult at times with the trucks. Be sure to take this section slow. On the Dalton, we found the gravel portions to be better to drive on than those that were paved. Be careful with the frost heaves. There were some doozies that could really do some damage.
The scenery is great! The mosquitos were fierce! My son went fishing at a few different spots (I watched from the truck - the mosquitos were driving me crazy). He even caught an arctic grayling above the arctic circle!!
If you have the time, and a vehicle, you should make this trip.

This is a must do if you are adventurous! Luckily we traveled with a tour group on a large vehicle meant for the snow/ice and the driver was well versed in not only the history and information along the way, but used his CB radio to call in to other truckers where he was located for safety reasons. I'm glad we went in winter because the road was smooth with packed snow so not bumpy at all. We went from Fairbanks to Coldfoot and stayed 4 days there. The enchanted forest is something from out of this world, walking out onto the Yukon River was remarkable and hitting the Arctic Circle sign was a bucket list item! The bus/truck was always warm and temps were tolerable during our drive. It did take us 11 hours but we had lots of fun stops along the way. We flew back from Coldfoot to Fairbanks, so that was a great ending to the trip north! Highly recommend and do book a knowledgeable/experienced tour company.

This is one of those experiences you come to appreciate more once you are back home safe in your living room. I read quite a bit about this road and I have to admit I was a little nervous about stepping off of the edge of the "known world" to drive to the Arctic Ocean. My sense of adventure outweighed my longing for ease and comfort and I am really glad that we made this drive.

The road surface varies from being paved in many spots, to hard bone jarring rocky surfaces, to the soft smooth and more predictable dirt road. It is difficult to stay on high alert for the next frost heave for a twelve hour period without becoming exhausted.

Be sure to give the 18 wheelers plenty of room to get by and my biggest piece of advice is to not get lulled into trusting the road surface. You are constantly pulled between driving carefully on unfamiliar roads and reaching Deadhorse sometime before midnight.
We were able to drive from Fairbanks to Deadhorse in just under twelve hours. This included a couple of picnics, the obligatory photo at the Arctic Circle sign, and squeezing every possible drop of gas into the vehicle at Coldfoot.

You will pass through extremely diverse areas from green rolling hills, to stunted forests, to river valleys, to rugged rocky slopes, to treeless tundra to a frozen marsh at the edge of the ocean.
You are not able to drive to the Arctic Ocean on your own so be sure to send your identification information to the tour company at least 24 hours before you arrive for the guided tour to the ocean

The drive up to the Brooks Range is breathtaking. It is an experience everyone should take in the winter.

The Dalton Highway is the original pipeline maintenance road. We took it to get to the Arctic Circle. There are restrooms periodically throughout the drive. You can stop in at the Yukon River Camp Cafe for lunch and dinner, or pack your own food. It's about a 16 hour day there and back (Arctic Circle) so come prepared. This road is not for the faint of heart. It is slightly elevated and still a working road for the truckers so stay out of their way. Finger mountain is a fun place to stop along the Dalton and climb on the rocks, as well as stopping to view the pipeline, and stretch your legs by the Yukon River. If you are lucky, you might get to meet Danny the Red Doberman owned by a local birch bark artist near Yukon River Camp. There are moose along the Dalton, if you are lucky you may just spot one crossing the road! You can take this road all the way to Prudhoe Bay! It is bumpy and long but well worth it! You can also see all the scars on the terrain from recent fires.

I got rented a car with a C.B. radio and a Sat phone along with uprated road springs and off road tyre;s but the drive was easy a few large pot hole's but i saw them and drove round them with ease, the room's at cold foot not realy worth what i paid for them just a double bed shower a sink and loo bear room with no heating but it was better than driving there and back in one day, i am glad i did the Dalton Highway.

This drive is about the journey, not the destination. Deadhorse is not in anyway a tourist destination. However, seeing this unique landscape is worth the trip if you are self-reliant and have a decent vehicle. You'll cross the Yukon River on the only bridge over it, pass the Arctic Circle and cross the Brooks Range!

The possibility for flat tires and damage to your vehicle is real. We traveled with a group of 10 electric vehicles including three Rivians, a Hummer, and Ford F150 and 5 Teslas of all models, and two gas-powered pick-up trucks as support vehicles, which carried tires and electrical supplies. The group suffered three flat tires and two chipped/cracked windshields. Conditions were pretty good-to-perfect for the round-trip.

Our trip was part of an event demonstrating that the "electrification of the last freeway" is definitely doable using the infrastructure currently in place. However, if you have an EV, be careful! It's possible without support but some of the charging opportunities we used were only temporarily installed. A couple of Teslas have made it, but only one completed the RT, and a F150 with a hybrid charging support truck did it. You'll need around 280 miles of reliable range and plenty of extra time. At the saem time it's 80 degrees F in August in Fairbanks, it can easily be snowing sideways at Deadhorse!

We had relatively dry conditions overall, and the group's return trip was supported by an enthusiastic AK DOT crew who buffed the road surface to perfection. However, because calcium is used as a binder to reduce dust when the road is dry, when it is wet the road material will stick to your wheels and wheel wells like cement. A local gal told me that she did thousands$ damages in 2017 because the liners were ripped out from her truck's wheel wells due to the tires sticking to the mud and the thick build-up there. Her windshield wipers were also broken trying to keep up with the mud flung from passing trucks. The road has more pavement since then, but I could still see this type of damage as a real possibility in very wet conditions. It required hours with a hose and high pressure washer to fully clean the wheel wells and wheels of our Tesla Model S after the trip. By the return to Fairbanks, the brake rotor guards were scraping harshly against the build-up on the inside of our wheels on sharp turns. We had scraped the mud from the wheel wells several times along the trip in an attempt to keep the build-up to a minimum.

The final 50 miles to Deadhorse is paved and flat, like a smooth super-highway in Florida. Other stretches are steep and muddy. Haul road commercial trucks, which have the right-of-way, throw copious gravel/mud as they zoom by; it's best to slow to a near stop and get as far over as possible to avoid windshield damage. Monitor channel 19 on CB radio to hear of approaching trucks on especially steep or treacherous sections. There are signs: "Call CH 19 Before Proceeding" in a few places.

Probably about 200+ miles of the 414 mile route were unpaved in 2022. Muskoxen, caribou, the Brooks Range and the coastal plain scenery are unmatched, as is the feeling of wildness on this road.
One sign at Coldfoot indicates: "No Services Next 240 Miles". Many would say that there are barely services at Coldfoot! Spares and a cheap windshield repair kit and the tools to use these items are probably a requirement. If you get a flat, there is no tow truck until Fairbanks, which would have been 300 miles from where we got our flat tire (i.e. a 600 mile RT for the tow truck). We had work clothes, a mounted spare, a solid hydraulic jack, a tire inflater, a torque wrench, adjustable suspension, and wheel blocks, so our flat was only a minor inconvenience. A support truck carried our second spare, an unmounted tire, which we had mounted in Deadhorse. The flat was not repairable.
Mostly you should have a great trip, but be prepared! One gent drove it in his Ferrari! A group of Mini Coopers made it! Bicyclists and motorcyclists do it!

I have read many tour books that suggest a cabin and outhouse is the ultimate Alaskan experience and that may be if for some people, but not myself and my husband.
We rented a car in Fairbanks(there is a rental car place that allows you to travel the Dalton) and drove to Atigun (spelling)Pass and camped Gailbeth (spelling) Lake. Be aware of the mosquitos..it rained, and was 45*F and still encountered many of them. BRING BUG SPRAY!!!

We cycled the Dalton in July 2014, taking 12 days after flying into Deadhorse. The first few days are flat, the hills begin after the brooks range and are crippling. No supplies and a cafe at Coldfoot, glad to have done it but wont be doing it again. The landscape was beautiful and the wildlife was plentiful. The mosquitos where the size of pigeons and would eat your face off however.

Driving down from Coldfoot, we stopped at the Arctic Circle to change vehicle’s. Had a nice sunset and a look at some arctic birds.

Spent a few hours driving the highway up to the arctic circle and back on a Saturday; from what we were told, its better to drive on the weekend, as there is much less truck traffic. In fact, we saw very few trucks, which made the drive nice. Had a 4x4, but didn't need it at all. Technically, you are not supposed to drive the rental cars on it, but we did, and there really was not alot of rock debris, though the car itself was filthy, (and that is a very fun thing to do to a rental)! Great views of the pipeline, and several good areas to get out and hike along the way. The Yukon River has a visitor center, and the staff are very pleasant with good info and gas if need be, and they will give you a free certificate indicating you've driven to the Arctic Circle there. There is a fun (very rustic) cafe at about MP 60, called the Hot Spot Cafe, worth a stop if you need coffee or want a milkshake. Also with some cute t-shirts. In all, the drive was easy up to the Circle (I compare this trip as better than when I drove in certain rural areas of Hawaii and Costa Rica). BTW, the arctic circle location is just a sign, so when you drive this road, drive it more for the fun experience, scenery, and some of the hiking along the pipeline, not to reach the arctic circle.

Maybe if I traveled this road in the winter I would have a different review. I road is narrow but the views, changing scenery as you continue along the highway to the tundra. The Yukon River, lakes, etc... is a priority when traveling in Alaska.

Dalton Hwy is the haul road, but it is much more than just a haul road. We did this trip last August, our experiences were:

- We rent our 4WD Ford Escape from Arctic Outfitter - $179/day plus 20% tax, 250 miles per day free (which was adequate), $0.35 per additional mile. It was pricey, but the price included 2 spare tyres, radio, and extra service kits. Suggest you mark your mileage everyday. Our car's meter overstated our actual mileages (which we monitored very closely by MP to avoid running out of gas). When we stated the fact, AO graciously accepted our count.

- We saw more and better wildlife in Dalton than we did in Denali (which we went all the way to end of the road in Kantishna). Wildlife must be good in both. But in Dalton, we were in our own car and could stop frequent and long provided that spot was "safe", or maybe we just got lucky - see photos. At minimum, Dalton was less travelled than the many tour buses in Denali.

- The road was very scenic, especially at Atigun Pass where the mountain ridge is the continental divider. We were there on Aug 23, a week after full red color in Brooks Range. The peak color faded away quickly but it was still awesome. Autumn colors along the Dalton was incredibly beautiful - probably true for the rest of Alaska :-))

- We stayed at Slate Creek Inn (with private bathroom) in Coldfoot and Deadhorse Camp (shared bathroom) in Deadhorse, both booked thru Arctic Outfitter @$199/night. Aurora Hotel is a much more comfortable hotel in Deadhorse but was difficult to book as priority will be given to the oil company. We booked our bus tour to Prudhoe Bay with a pickup at Deadhorse Camp (advance booking required for security check). The end was not as exciting as the process of getting there. But since we have travelled so much north already, it was still interesting to take a small dip in the arctic ocean and see the oil facilities there.

A few suggestions:
- Make sure you read The Visitor Guide from Bureau of Land Management for planning your trip.
- Mark the damages on the windscreen when you collect your rental car. There was almost no way to avoid gravels hitting at one point or another. Arctic Outfitter has been reasonable and accommodative.
- In your way north, make ABSOLUTELY SURE that you stop at Farthest North Spruce (MP235). It was the last eco toilet we could find until hitting Deadhorse at MP414. There used to be a toilet at Last Chance Wayside (MP355) but heard it was closed for good - unfortunately we didn't realize it then. Be ready for the same challenge on your way back south :-(
- One other good reason to stop at Farthest North Spruce - the scenery was simply awesome. As you start your climb to Atigun Pass from here, watch out for a lookout to your left at the top of the hill as you climb. It was very difficult to see and most tourists would miss the turn and it would be very difficult to turn back. We found it because we saw a car up there as we enjoyed our last toilet stop for the next 179 miles.
- Drive with care and give the Dalton the respect that it rightly deserves.

As many people has already commented in this forum, Dalton is not for the faint-hearted. But we are really glad that we did it and will happily do it again.

Have fun and best luck :-)))

I drove the 200 miles from Fairbanks up to the Arctic Circle Sign(didn't go any further). It was a grand experience, although a long trip. Stop on the north side of the Yukon River at the BLM shack and pick yourself up a Arctic Circle certificate for free. There is also a Yukon River Camp store across the road where you can get fuel, as well as some Arctic Circle Sign t-shirts/gifts/etc. As far as the road itself, it wasn't too bad overall. Most of the dirt road up to the Arctic Circle sign was in very good shape, and there was several stretches of pavement that was in excellent shape. However, make sure your tires are aired up to correct pressure, and you have plenty of fuel. On the way up, I didn't see my first car once I got on the Dalton Hwy. for close to 90 miles. On the trip back, saw more vehicles, but they were spotty. Just use common sense, and you will do fine.

One highway over 400 miles in length with less than 50 people living along it. Big big trucks carrying huge loads. All white in winter. Great auroras in March and October. Only one patrolman on the whole highway.

Darn good road for a gravel surface. We were there in Feb. Very smooth, better than many asphalt surfaces. Great scenery. Have never seen trees so totally engulfed. In snow.

We went to fairbanks in March 13 2014.And we were super exited about this trip to the artic circle...is a beautiful experience, but pack food and extra gas! We had full tank and we used half going there ... But in the way back to Faitbanks we turn he heat off bc we were runing out of it. We were just 2 girls and a kid... In the middle of a ice desert!!!! Jejejee we did it... But just be prepared, is no gas stations, or restaurants (I think they open in summer) but nothing until you get to Cold Foot ... Like an hour after you pass Artic Circle. Also no cellphone signal .... I totally recommend this trip if you are in fairbanks, is an amazing experience. But be prepared in case of emergency. Was like 9 hours RT.

We stopped here on our way to Finger Mountain. It was a great place for a group photo. We left a sticker on the back of the sign as well. Beautiful scenery, great memory.

Traveled the Dalton highway as part of a tour. The scenery including the mountains were absolutely breathtaking. We drove as far as Atigun Pass so I got to see the treeline. There are outhouses along the way. Got to see a flock of the state bird the Willow Ptarmigan but didn't see any other animals. Saw lots of animal tracks but none of the animals. Also got to see long stretches of the pipeline. Enchanted Forest is also very cool.

Absolutely stunning..sure you might run into tar heaves from perms frost, but that is the Alaska experience, you just slow down.

I was very positively surprised about the Highway. The scenery is just fantastic, with lots of nice spots to stop and take Pictures. Once you get closer to Coldfoot, the Brooks Range come into view, it's also well worth driving further than Coldfoot into the mountains. You do meet big trucks, but it is still well worth traveling up the road as a tourist. The road is partly paved and partly gravel road. The only restaurant is at Yukon River, then Coldfoot, so take some picnic and make sure the gas is filled up.

If you take a tour that takes you to Coldfoot, then you will definitely get to see the Dalton highway. It is literally in the middle of nowhere. It was built by the oil companies to construct the Alaska pipeline. You’ll even be able to see the pipeline in many sections of the highway. Very interesting.

Talk about an amazing drive. I drove from Coldfoot to Fairbanks as part of a tour and the drive is breathtaking. This is the only highway through northern Alaska and was built essentially for the pipeline. The history behind it is incredible. The road can be a bit scary at times... I’m glad I wasn’t driving! I can’t imagine what it’s like in the middle of winter. But it was one hell of an experience to say the least!

Drove up to the Artice Circle in July. You must go if you can. We arrived at the sign at about 12:30am and have a picture in front of the sign with the Sun still sitting on the horizon in the back ground. How many people can say they have driven to the Artic Circle taken a picture at midnight with the sun in the background. I highly recommend making this a stop on your journey in Alaska.

Driving Dalton hwy is similar experience as driving Dempster hwy in Canada. It is shorter though and Dempster is usually wider. Atigun pass and area around it is just breathtaking. When you start approaching them and the peaks of the Brooks range appear in the distance, amazing. You drive up the steep dirt road, not terribly difficult but watch out for slow moving 18-wheelers, and you reach the pass. The oil pipeline here is underground, only markings are visible.
I did a 2 hour hike on the pass, the views were amazing. The end of June day was sunny and warm, only the wind felt fresh. Not much mud on the road. The drive is generally good, but have to be vigilant and careful. Along Dalton, there are many paved sections and my feeling was that ratio of paved and upaved sections was about half-half. Leaving the pass, I saw a beautiful muskox at Happy Valley camp. Had only 1 horn and was tagged.

Friday 13th May 2016 I rode my BMW 1200 GS Adventure bike from Anchorage to Coldfoot. My goal was to cross the Arctic Circle and return, however there was no gas at the Yukon river crossing, forcing me to continue to Coldfoot to get gas for the return to Fairbanks. It was an amazing adventure crossing the tundra and taiga in the land of midnight sun. The road was partially "paved" but mostly gravel and dirt. The most difficult parts for me were the re-graded stretches that involve dousing the fresh earth with a mixture of calcium chloride and water turning the surface into slippery slime. Brutal on a bike with street tires. In Coldfoot I was offered a room at $219 per night but was allowed to pitch my tent for free. I camped. The restaurant was warm and busy with great coffee and good home style food, but then anything is superb after a grueling ride up the Dalton Highway! I returned to Fairbanks the next day and slept fitfully for 10 hours at the Best Western at Pioneer Park.
I recommend the trip with dirt tires and also advise caution when crossing the bridges as they are wooden decked which are slippery when wet.

We drove the Dalton from Fairbanks to the gates of the Arctic park north of Coldfoot. It was in better condition than I thought it would be. Not much to see other than the ever present pipeline but we did see a pretty good size black bear on the way home. Got a chip in the windshield but that was expected.

Just a truckstop and nothing more, but then it doesn't pretend to be anything else. It fulfills its purpose, food and bedding!

So I've read how scary and etc Dalton hwy is and you must use special transport as you can't drive regular rentals due to no service, so I've ended up see renting RAV 4 (3 days =1000$ yeah rip off ) so off I went in Sep 19th 2015. Gravel road is only in part for the most drive it's good asphalt road, even gravel part are pounded down by trucks well, as for service YES limited to none but truck and maitanance crew are heavily on the road so even you breakdown you won't die.. and people do slowdown to ask what's up and to offer help. Views amazing.....
Drive slow, let trucks go, be smart and know how to change a tire and you can easily take any suv or pickup truck and enjoy the beauty(during summer ) best views are above coldfood camp... and fuel price was cheaper in Coldfoot than at Yukon crossing: -)))
Pic of fuel $@Yukon xsing
Drive safe...

This is something you need to experience at least once if you are in the Fairbanks area and have some free time. Its one of the most unique and dangerous highways in the USA with lots of stunning scenery along the way. This review will take a much different twist than most of the other reviews here in that I would recommend to take a tour and NOT attempt to drive yourself. The reasons for that are as follows: A.) most rental car companies in AK do not allow you to drive on the Dalton or Eliot highways, B.) there is no cell phone coverage on the Dalton, and will probably cut off just after you get out of Fairbanks, C.) in case of emergency you will need a CB radio or SAT phone to call out for help, D.) a tow from even a mile into the Dalton starts at about $1000 and can go up to $3000 pretty quick, E.) rocks from passing trucks and potholes can damage your vehicle.

This all makes a $200 guided tour with an experienced guide look pretty attractive! Note there are some companies that will rent you a vehicle and emergency package (including SAT phone) to travel on the Dalton if you do decide to go it by yourself.

We decided to take the "winter tour program" Arctic Circle/ Dalton hwy/ aurora viewing tour by 1st Alaska Outdoor School. The plan is to pick you up at your hotel or the cultural center and be on the road by 2:00 pm, then drop you off back in Fairbanks by 4:00 am. This tour was
worth every cent of the fee and every minute of the trip.

Jim was our driver that day and after pickup at the cultural center, we were well on our way by 2:00 pm. (Note: they do serve you a nice sandwich and snacks later that night, but I recommend that you eat a good lunch before the tour just to hold you until then). Jim was really entertaining and educated us about a lot of Dalton Hwy and other Alaska facts. The time went by really quickly as we were having fun and watching some nice winter scenery
from the van. We made a few stops at some scenic points along the way while it was daylight. It was strange to see truckers passing us like we were driving slow! Those guys go crazy fast and don't slow down for anything. By law, truckers actually have the right of way on that road.

Much of the scenery was like a winter wonderland and it looked especially nice as the sun was setting. The sun was almost down by the time we reached the Yukon river. Then after a while longer we reached the Arctic Circle and everyone jumped out and took lots of pictures by the marker sign. Jim also gave us our Arctic Circle certificates so that made us feel like legitimate explorers! He also broke out the hot tea, coffee and hot chocolate for anyone that needed a little something warm to drink. By that time it was getting pretty cold and Jim estimated it to be
about -20 to -25 F.

Before we took off from the Arctic Circle, a funny thing happened, we were sitting there in the van getting ready to go and the radio turned on by itself! Jim said the auroral oval was probably beginning to pass over us and we were anticipating this may be the night we get to see the lights for the first time. We then started the journey back to Fairbanks and at about 10:45 pm Jim noticed the beginnings of an aurora band. We pulled over back at the Yukon river stop and saw the band expand across the sky and then intensify, then streamers popping
out and dancing every now and then ...very exiting!!!! We stayed there for a while then kept driving to the next pull off area down the road. The aurora was getting more intense and we got some nice views and pictures at that stop as well. This was the highlight of the trip for us. Even though the aurora activity was actually low that night with Kp = 0, we were still able to get a great show because we were were so far North of Fairbanks and the auroras were basically overhead. The people at our lodge back in Fairbanks did see a faint show that night but
not nearly as good as we saw. Being this far North really helps your chances to see the auroras even when there is low activity, so if you want to see the lights and have a just a few days in Fairbanks, this tour is a great way to increase your odds of a successful viewing!

This was the second tour we had taken with 1st Alaska and the guides were excellent...5 stars...each time. We left the driving and liability to them, and just sat back and relaxed and learned a lot of facts about Alaska along the way that we would not have known otherwise.

The Dalton is beautiful and rugged no matter when you go...you have to see it!

What can you write about the Dalton, if you go there you know already what you're getting yourself into.
Gateway to the Arctic Circle and further onto dead horse.
Went there in May on a Motorcycle which was way too early in the year.
Be mindful that the surface isnt actually just dirt but some weird mix that turns into a slip and slide when wet. Road Construction is a problem when you're on the bike since they water the surface and it turns to hell.
other than that, nice landscape and the only way to go.

I flew to Deadhorse and drove down the Dalton Highway over the course of two days. I saw many sights along the way. Pump stations, caribou herds, mountain goats in the Brooks Range, small camps flying out bush planes, frozen debris lobes encroaching on the roadway (slow motion avalanche. Look it up, pretty interesting stuff), the Sag river and Yukon river and bridge. It was an amazing experience that I hope to some day repeat.

What a great experience. I had only one day for Dalton highway fun, so I left Fairbanks early in the morning in my rented F-150 4x4 and stopped at the grocery store on the way out of town for breakdown supplies (food and water). I made it up to the Yukon River which is stunning. Several stops along the way for animals and to see the Alaska Pipeline and for scenic photography. I hope to return to do the whole thing one of these days.

The Dalton Highway, which is also known as The Haul Road because it was constructed to haul equipment, materials and supplies to the North Slope Oil Fields, is quite the adventure. So, with some reservations, I consider it to be an excellent attraction. The highway is named after James W. Dalton, a life long Alaskan and considered to be an expert in arctic engineering.

Driving The Dalton, is not for the faint-of-heart nor for anyone with a marginal unreliable vehicle. You are pretty much out-there-all-alone for much of the Dalton. You have the Yukon River Bridge / Camp (Milepost 56, about 150-miles from Fairbanks) where there are some facilities. Then you have Coldfoot Camp (Milepost 175 another 120-miles) and Wiseman Village. Then there-ain't-much until Deadhorse (Milepost 415) another 240-miles. Yes, compared to 20-years ago when I established a residence in Manley Hot Springs, it is much better now than even back then. BUT it is still quite a drive.

The Dalton Hwy begins at its junction with the Elliott Hwy. My wife and I have a residence in Manley Hot Springs so we drive to and from Fairbanks from time-to-time on the Elliott Hwy. The Elliott is paved and in pretty fair shape for Alaska. As you turn left on the Elliott Hwy at Milepost 84, the Dalton Hwy is straight ahead.

Keep this in mind : The truckers have the right-of-way no questions asked. There is no debate on this. When one comes up behind me, I pull way over to the right shoulder and wave them past. When one approaches me head-on, I again pull over to the right shoulder and give it plenty of room. I do NOT recommend getting into any kind of unpleasantness with the truckers, many of whom I have known over the years. Use your headlights at all times. Bring survival gear. Bring extra water just-in-case you breakdown. We have a twin-bed mattress in the back of our Chevrolet Suburban with blankets and pillows etc et all.

I carry 6, 5-gallon, gasoline containers, on the back of my Suburban. We also have a tull twin bed in the back where we can sleep comfortably should we need to do so due to no rooms being available en route or in Deadhorse.

IF you get any rain, your vehicle may soon be covered with mud from the roof down to the running boards especially your rear windows. So I carry a long handle squeegee to occasionally clean the rear windows as well as my outside mirrors. Again bring lots of water. I use empty, 1-gallon clorox bottles.

In the warm weather months, IF you perhaps stop to relieve yourself, the mosquitoes may try to carry you away. They will get under your glasses, up your nose, in your ears, in your mouth too. The answer to this is simple : A good, high quality, over-the-head mosquito net along with long sleeve shirts and gloves as well in addition to some good bug-dope. They are NO joking matter.

So why travel The Dalton? Because it is there. Because YES there is some nice scenery. Because few people (comparatively speaking) will travel the Dalton in their lifetime. IF up here with a good vehicle, it is a challenging adventure. Don't go because you think there is something to see in Deadhorse because, in my humble opinion, there is nothing in Deadhorse to see that would make the drive worth the cost and the time. I suggest you allow yourself a minimum of 5-days for the complete round trip. 2-days going North (stopping in Cold Foot / Wiseman Village). A day / night in Deadhorse. 2-days coming back South. En route drive into Manley Hot Springs and soak in the hot tubs and enjoy the Manley Road House.

Good Luck and Best Wishes.

We enjoyed our day on the Dalton Highway! It was filled with all kinds of surprises as the environment was constantly changing. We saw fall, winter and spring climates all in one visit. It was a very solitary trip as we only noted about 3 dozens passing cars/trucks on our way there. It was very serene. Beware though, there is only one gas station and store on the way near the Yukon River, so be sure to stop and gas up! Expensive at $5.50 per gallon, but worth it for peace of mind!

Yes, some of the road is gravel, but I found it to be in better shape than other roads I traveled in Alaska. I was worried about driving the Dalton, but decided to give it a try. We were so glad. Lots of great places to admire the view. We drove about 20 miles north of the Arctic circle. Wonderful drive. We were driving a Yukon (oh the irony), but there were some smaller cars, though I would recommend some type of SUV.

There is some gas on the way. I would recommend filing up north in Fairbanks. The next station is 135 miles from Fairbanks at mile 56 on the Dalton. It is easy to find if you know where to look. It is found on the left after you cross the Yukon river. It's open from 6am-10pm during summer. They have a website if you want to make sure they are open yukonrivercamp.com

Opposite of the "camp" is an information cabin that you can get "arctic circle club" and get information. Trails to river view, bathrooms, and a good spot to picnic.

From the Yukon river it is about 60 miles to the arctic circle. There is a place to pull off and get a picture with the sign. I recommend driving at least 15 miles further north for some great views.

Make sure you have a good spare tire, some snacks, and plenty of fuel to make it where you are going. Plan and you will be fine. Some of the worst of the road we drove was within the first 20 miles so if you make it that far you will be fine. I was surprised how much was paved, I expected much less.

Long road initially built to support pipeline construction.

Now can accommodate tourists but very hard on vehicles.

Probably the best way in the US to visit Arctic Circle.

Some geology and some landscape but after viewing the pipeline itself, not much else to see.

Little wildlife in the lower part.

We did the Dalton highway last September with my wife it was part of our honeymoon. Rented a Dodge Nitro from GoNorth in Fairbanks and simply started to drive nkrth:-)

Amazing scenery bears crossing the road, musk ox, fox owls and more... It was simply amazing. Crossing the continental devide we even had a real big snow storm just to feel the real arcric:-)

We did a stopover in Wiseman both ways, I suggest to eveyone do it this way rather than trying to drive the whole on one day.

I would do the trip again and again anytime!

we drove the Dalton highway on the summer Solstice June 22, and arrived at the Arctic circle marker and campground at 10 pm. We all went out at 1 am and the sun was indeed still up!

It was worth the drive, but there were HORDES of Mosquitos, so bing nets, or bug spray in the least. The road was dry for our trip and very good in general, many sections were paved! The Yukon River bridge is an attraction of its own, Huge wooden bridge with a little truck stop/camp along the river.

It was an unforgettable 2 day trip up and back In our Tacoma and 19 foot trailer. Lots of Haul trucks, and endure bikes (dust to Dawson rally).

Very scenic. We drove from North Pole AK to Coldfoot and back the same day. The drive can be grueling but worth it. We've heard of people spending a night or 2 at Coldfoot or Wiseman. We went on January 30 2022. It was roughly -20 to -30 below zero Fahrenheit outside. Going up the mountains it actually warmed up to around -10F. There you can find the snow monsters (snow covered trees). There is only a couple of places to fuel up on the route from the southern beginning of the highway and Coldfoot - Yukon River Camp and Coldfoot. Gas is very expensive at Coldfoot, but you pretty much do not have a choice if you are driving a regular car. We rented an SUV from Alaska 4x4 that came with studded tires. Studded tires MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. We were able to do the speed limit (50mph) most of the way. The roads are snow packed, and believe it or not it was the smoothest road we were on during our trip to North Pole/Fairbanks AK. Other roads near Fairbanks/North Pole had huge ruts of ice, snow, and pavement. We did bring extra cold gear, snacks, drinks and a CB radio just in case we put ourselves into a ditch and no one saw us. We stopped, fueled, and ate at Coldfoot. Food and service was great despite being in the middle of no where and they actually have cell service. The drive back was just as great as the drive up. The white snow covered roads were easily navigable. With clear skies we were able to stop at a few places (safely off of the road in a pull out) and got some wonderful pictures of the Northern Lights (Aurora).

We had a good window of weather during our stay in Fairbanks, so hired a car and hit the Dalton. You can do a tour, but we wanted a more personalized experience so we drove. It should be noted, you can’t (and shouldn’t) take regular hire cars up in to the Arctic Circle. We rented a fully kitted out Ford Expedition. Rental was $350 for 24h, so by the time you pay for fuel, it’s about the same price as a tour for 2 people.
The highway itself was in pretty good condition and with some experience we felt comfortable in the Ford with its studded tyres. Like anywhere, just be aware of the weather conditions, come prepared and give the trucks space when they need it.
The only place between Fairbanks and the Arctic Circle you can get fuel is Yukon River Camp. Next spot is Coldfoot.
Total bucket list experience

It is just a sign, no dotted line unless you bring your own. But you must get a photo here!!! I flew into Coldfoot, which is about 130 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Every place is off the grid! The Dalton Highway is as amazing as the pipeline itself. An old friend flew up here every day during the pipeline construction. He experienced a temp of minus 46 degrees F!!!

It was cool that we were literally in the Arctic Circle !
Not much over there but a cool experience.

Road can be nasty, mosquitoes can be nasty, weather can be nasty...but what a great ride! Truckers are up and down this road and they know you are there as soon as the first one spots you. Pull to the side and watch out for rock spit! They will slow down but sometimes it happens anyway. Food at the Yukon River Camp is surprising good!

Dalton Highway was built during construction of the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline in the 1970s. On our way to Arctic Circle, we drove on this highway. As it was snowing all day, all what we could see was white scenery and the pipeline along the way. It was rather scary to see the incoming heavy tracks. It was interesting to see ground blizzard and feel the bumps of permafrost, which reminded me of the corrugation of the gravel road in the Northern Territory.

Taken two trips on the Dalton. Would recommend one in late August to catch the color changes for the trees.
Both trips resulted in flat tires and chipped windshields, but that is part of the Alaska experience. I made sure to pull over and let the trucks go by and slow way down, but the chips still happen.
The Brooks Range was a very pleasant surprise as it is just stunning.
Camped on both trips staying at Coldfoot and Galbraith Lake.
Take the time to do some hiking and enjoy the solitude and animal life.
Headed up again, this time in June so can see the tundra when it is green and see some caribou.
As stated, highly recommended.

This was a nice stopover to change our travel to the van continuing on to Coldfoot Camp, we had a blast traveling these roads in the winter time.

I was starting to think this was a mistake. Right out of Fairbanks the traffic was heavy but got lighter as I traversed the Elliott Highway which was a series of climbs and decent over rutted and frost heaved black top. There was still more traffic than I hoped for and it continued quite steadily all the way to Coldfoot. At the Arctic Circle sign there were a couple of very friendly BLM guys handing out certificates of accomplishment for reaching that point. Nothing like waiting in line to get your photo taken. Most of the truck traffic was considerate but once in awhile one would come hurtling down the road very fast and I was showered in rocks and dust. I now have 3 star cracks and one big vertical crack in my windshield. Wildlife was very scarce but did see a moose munching on grass in a lake. I reached Coldfoot quite early and was thinking I could have made Deadhorse in a day but I’ll see tomorrow if that’s the case. Regardless it’s nice to have a few hours of downtime. The Coldfoot Camp Hotel is a series of shipping containers converted into small but functional rooms. It’s primarily a truck stop for the haul drivers but they seem to put up with the tourists with a smile.

The second day’s drive to the Arctic Ocean was totally different. The roads became very rutted, big pot holes, and a 30 mile section was totally messed after the huge flooding last year by the Sag River. It took twice as long to traverse these 250 miles but well worth it. The moto bikes must have had a tough time with all the loose, deep gravel and rocks. A couple of Harleys weren’t so lucky and laid their bikes over. A semi needed a tow through one section. The scenery was again spectacular and I rarely shared it with anyone. Upon reaching the tundra the mosquitoes came out in huge numbers. I stopped to pee and was surrounded by hundreds in seconds and the Jeep was full in just the time it to to get in and out. Most of the traffic was heavy haulers coming and going to the oilfields. I probably only saw a half dozen tourists all day. I stayed at another oil rigger encampment, this one was quite primitive and the food was just plain nasty. Shared bathrooms are not my style, they didn’t even have doors, much like an old army movie.

Before heading back to Coldfoot I took the government ordained shuttle bus for a tour through the Prudhoe Bay oil fields and a dip in the Arctic Ocean. Sadly it was raining and the bus’s windows steamed up so I couldn’t see squat I did walk into the Arctic Ocean and yes it was fracking cold. Got the “ been there, done that t-shirt" and got back on the bus to warm up. The oil field was hardly working as it was waiting for oil prices to climb. Workers worked 12 hour shifts for 14 days and then flown back to Anchorage for 14 days off. They get flights, meals and lodging for free but winter temperatures have been recorded at 80 below freezing The ride back to Coldfoot Camp was fairly uneventful except that it rained just about the whole way. This reduced the dust but damn the Jeep got dirty. I’m pretty darned tired so skipping dinner and settled for a couple of beers and a candy bar. It’s hard to sleep with 24 hour sunshine so I started early and headed south to Denali Park.

If you want to feel isolated and a little vicarious pioneer spirit then take a drive on the Dalton Highway. The vast countryside is beautiful.

Traveled from Coldfoot to Fairbanks yesterday. The highway is well maintained. You need a CB radio due to the oversized truck traffic.
There is a lot of loose gravel so you can get window damage.

When we first got to Fairbanks, we asked about driving to the Arctic Circle. Half the people we talked to said it was impossible in a regular vehicle, and half said it wasn't a problem. It turned out to be not so bad. There are stretches of dirt road, paved road, and gravel road. Sometimes the dirt roads were smoother than the paved ones. We rented a full sized SUV and didn't have any problems driving around. Coming from a family of oil workers, we've seen some rough roads, and the consensus was that this was definitely driveable. Just slow down and take it easy and you should be fine. There are large tanker truckers every once in a while, however most will slow down and stay to the side if you do the same. There were people driving on the road with smaller cars as well. We passed by a Hyundai sedan, a Subaru Forester, and a very distinctive 90's Honda Accord.

The views were impressive, and the road follows the pipeline. You can get gas a few dozen miles north of the town of Fox, which is well before the Dalton begins. There is camp on the north shore of the Yukon River that also sells gas, however they may not always have gas to sell, and it was expensive, $5.60 a gallon compared to $3.40 in Fairbanks! We stopped at the Arctic Circle picnic area, but we heard that the really impressive stuff was further down the road. It was about an 11 hour round trip for us.

One of our main goals on our 3 month trip to Alaska was to drive the Dalton Highway. We succeeded, drove as far as about 30 miles north of the Atigun Pass (you Ice Road Trucker fans will know all about the Atigun Pass), and lived to tell the tale.

Seriously, it was a great trip. We drove as far as Wiseman on the first day. We got up early on day 2 and headed north until we got over the pass and went for about 30 miles further. We did not go all the way to Prudhoe Bay as we did not figure that it was worth the additional miles and cost just to dip my toe in the ocean.

We chose to stay in Wiseman which is a little bit further than Coldfoot because the place seemed interesting and was much cheaper than a room at Coldfoot. We stayed at the Wiseman Gold Run Camp B&B (I will be posting a review of the place). Wiseman is a neat and funky town. Do stop in the government sponsored museum and information center in Coldfoot - it is excellent and the staff are very helpful.

I was a bit disappointed in the drive on the Dalton as I was expecting horrible bad roads and tons of trucks throwing gravel onto my windshield. The road is actually paved for a good bit of the way and you can even make good. speeds on the unpaved portions as they are frequently flattened with a grader. In fact, the worse part of the road was probably the first 50 miles or so. Also, even though we were on the road during midweek, there were some but not a lot of trucks on the road.

There are 2 places that you can get gas before you get to Prudhoe Bay - the Yukon River and Coldfoot. Gas up at both places both ways. We paid about $5.00 per gallon but you have no alternatives.

If you decide to use your own vehicle, make sure to have a full sized spare (not a donut) and a second spare just in case. We rented a car from one of the 2 places in Fairbanks that allow you to drive anywhere with their vehicles. We probably could have done it in our Honda (we saw lots of regular cars, motorcycles, small RVs and even people on bicycles) but we were cautious.

The scenery was great; the trip was great; and you you will be able to tell your Ice Road Trucker friends that you have done the haul road.

Yup, we took an ordinary car 200 miles on the Haul Road, aka the Dalton. Made it to the Yukon River crossing at the E L Patton Bridge. It has a wood deck and is really long at 2300 feet...that's half a mile. The Yukon River Camp was really cool and offered everything weary travellers needed. Food, postcards, souveniers, gas, showers and river access.

Going slow is the secret to saving your tires and windshield. Lots of wild life, views, and a couple of mosquitos

Not for the faint hearted or the unexperienced, the James Dalton Highway (aka The Haul Road) is the only access road between Fairbanks and Deadhorse, Prudhoe Bay. It is driven almost exclusively by massive trucks serving the couple of towns along its 500 miles to Prudhoe Bay, hauling whatever is needed for living in the Arctic; other travellers use it for business or pleasure. If you're travelling in a smaller vehicle you are definitely No.2 in the chain. Might is right on that road, and necessarily so. Those trucks cannot make way for smaller vehicles. You need to be in radio contact with the trucks and you need to make way for them. Having said that, both times I've travelled the road, I've found the truck culture supportive, kind, and really entertaining. You know you'll get help if you need it.
You have to be prepared. Read all you can about the safety equipment you need and make sure you take it. Spare tires, chains, compressor, radio, First Aid, extra clothes and sleeping bags, food - take it all. If you have a breakdown you'll need to be well prepared. I travelled with a couple of paramedics on my 2nd trip and it was very reassuring to know that they'd travelled the Haul Road many many times and knew exactly what was needed. Thanks guys!
We were on a photography expedition - what a place to visit! The scenery is superb. Yes, it was an effort getting it all sorted, but an effort that was worth it all.

I took a drive/fly tour to the Arctic Circle via the Dalton Highway. The unspoiled views of the tundra and mountains was spectacular! The highway is in relatively good shape and it ranges from paved, to gravel to mud with some potholes. Because the road conditions change and the highway is narrow, you can drive at about 25-30 mph. We were fortunate that it had not yet snowed so the drive was not treacherous. There are places to stop and get food and gas approximately every 50 miles for the first 175 miles on the way to Coldfoot/Arctic Circle. However, after Coldfoot, there is not another place to stop for more than 250 miles. Make sure you get gas in Coldfoot and consider taking a spare gas can so you have extra. The road is primarily used by truckers and traffic is very light. I went with a tour company on a tour bus. However, I was surprised at how good the road conditions were. As long as snow was not in the forecast, the Dalton Highway did not seem to me that it would have been hard to drive a passenger vehicle to the Arctic Circle. There are several scenic spots along the Dalton Highway including on top of Finger Mountain, at Yukon Camp, at the Yukon River, at the Arctic Circle and at Coldfoot Camp. The fall colors of the tundra, mountains and trees was just spectacular.

This is how you get to the Arctic Circle (and beyond obviously). It was actually better than I thought it would be based on other reviews. Our driver was good at smoothing it out as much as he could. It is an experience, but it is a long day.

Very adventurous driving up the Dalton. Slow down during curves in the road as this is the main transport of goods from Prudhoe Bay/Dead Horse and trucks are very frequent. The road is gravel and gas station service are few and far between. Expect at least one flat tire. The Arctic Circle sign and area to take photos is about 150 miles north of Fairbanks. Dead end is at Dead Horse unless you have permission to tour the oilfields and Arctic Ocean. Be prepared for any type of emergency. Truckers will usually stop to help stranded drivers. Along the way, you will be following the oil pipeline which will be visible from time to time.

I had dreamed of driving the Dalton since it was opened to the public and was not disappointed. What an incredible road with beautiful scenery.

1. Don't even think about driving to Deadhorse and back in two days. This a four day trip if you stop to see the sights. Throw in some day hikes and it can easily fill a week. Hiking in the Brooks Range is spectacular.

2. Don't try it in a rental car. Most of them have space saver spares that will not get you far. It might be the most expensive flat you will ever have. I run 10 ply tires on my truck and have never had issues. I still carry 2 spares, patch and plug kit, 12 volt compressor, and a set of tools.

3. It's a haul road and trucks have the right of way. If you see a truck approaching from behind, pull off at the next available spot and let them by.

4. The pipeline corridor is not a National Park. You will probably not see a lot of wildlife along the road. During September you will see a lot of archery hunters. If you want to see large animals, glass open areas with binoculars or a spotting scope. Be patient. I have seen moose, lots of caribou, black and grizzly bears, sheep, goats, musk ox, wolves, and wolverines.

5. Most will make the trip in the summer. 24 hour daylight and round the clock insects. September is my favorite month for this trip. Fall colors start around Labor Day in the north and can be spectacular. Frosty nights have taken care of the Mosquitoes, traffic is light, and the Auroras are visible. One of my best memories is watching an amazing light show from Galbraith Lake. Crystal clear night, new moon, and 10 F. A good sleeping bag is essential if you are tenting it.

6. You do not need to carry extra fuel. It is available in Coodfoot and Deadhorse. Both places also offer solid grub. The breakfast buffet at the Coldfoot truck stop will easily provide a couple days worth of calories.

We had been planning this trip for awhile. The drive up the Dalton was part of a 3 week adventure in Alaska. Our first week was spent on the Dalton Highway from Fairbanks to
Prudhoe Bay. Spring was late as the temperatures ranged from 5*F to 35*F. with a snow storm thrown in north of Wiseman. We made arrangements to stay at the Boreal Lodge in one of their cabins (http://www.boreallodge.com/) and it was a decision that paid dividends during the whole trip. Heidi Schoppenhorst was a wonderful hostess and made us feel very welcome to her home. The cabin was built by her husband Scott and is very rustic and comfortable. Don`t expect a 5 star accommodation as this place is totally off the grid. When you make your plans to travel be sure to stock up in Fairbanks as there are no places to purchase anything but gas and small items in Coldfoot . There is a lot of information on the Dalton and surrounding areas and I would suggest looking at as much of it prior to traveling. We had planned to hit the highway during the spring melt with milder temperatures but instead hit it before the warmer temps. arrived. SO MUCH THE BETTER. Roads were not as muddy and the scenery was breathless. When we left Wiseman after our first attempt to cross the Brooks Range (had to turn back because the pass was in white out conditions and we were not familiar with the road like the truckers.) we were rewarded with gorgeous blue skies and brilliant snow cover that seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. Antigun Pass and the tundra to the north were the crown jewels and left us speechless in it's beauty and vastness. My wife and I are planning to do this trip again but are having a hard time deciding what part of the year we will try again. I would like to thank the people at Go North in Fairbanks ( check their website & rent from them ) for their help. May rent a camper next time. This is not a difficult trip when well thought out, and well worth the effort. Took nearly 1000 pictures and each one is unique. A special thanks to Heidi and we will be looking forward to seeing you again.
Steve & Judy Fiore

Beautiful landscape. You need to go and to see. A good road, some parts on north it´s gravel you need to have attention

Fantastic. We just completed this trip, no real rush, no where to be, and had a fantastic time. I would suggest to take your time as much as possible, and to stop and get out of the car as much as you can. We drove from Palmer, AK (hour north of Anchorage) to Deadhorse and back in a Prius, camping along the way. Here are some of my thoughts and opinions:

The road: Overall, better than expected. I expected dirt the whole way, but sections are paved, and they are working to pave it all. Expect sections of all mud (like driving in snow), gravel, gravel mud, paved, paved with dips, dusty mud. The worst driving was in the rain or after rain. The trucks drive fast, but we had no problems passing, or being passed.

Camping: You can stop and camp anywhere off the road, including the little roads for the pipeline, as long as you dont block the gate. We car and tent camped at the Arctic Circle (looks like a day use site only but look for the camping sign and follow a dirt road back a ways), Galabraith lake (have a construction pit near by, so not great on the "wilderness" level, but quiet at night.

Wildlife: Suprisingly only saw Caribou at Deadhorse and a bunch of sheep at Antigun pass.

Waysides: Good to stretch legs, get snacks, and read intpretive boards. Pick up a visitors guide to the Dalton Highway at the Yukon river crossing.

Supplies: We were prepared with extra gas and tire, didn't need either. Gas was expensive in Deadhorse, so you might want to bring gas just so you dont have to buy it there - 3.80 in Palmer, AK, and 5.30 in Deadhorse. We brought all our food and a cooler for the trip. We filled up with water whereever we could - plus brought water purification since we were also backpacking in Gates of the Arctic National Park. There was cell phone service in Deadhorse.

The Arctic Ocean: cant get there without taking a shuttle/tour. It's a racket, but the only way - operated out of Deadhorse Camp, you MUST reserve and pay 24hours in advance because you are also required to give your license number (passport or SSN might also work) to them so they can run a background check since you are going into a restricted part of the oil field). You can drive a bit in Deadhorse, but really, there's only the oil field workings to see. It's like a moon base there. The tour was worth it and not, at the same time. You spend 20 minutes at the ocean. It's not pristine or anything, it used to be an old wharf.

Bring binoculars. Bring an eye shade (for the summer). Bring an ipod and charger.

AS an Alaskan resident I have driven this road many times... my husband drove it for work. It is beautiful!!! Tourists should know that there is no cell service !!!!! Take supplies and yield to the truckers ... ALWAYS ... good luck!!!!

We traveled this as part of a tour to the Arctic circle. our rental car company specifically said not to take the car on this highway. I can see why. between the washboard gravel, potholes, and the convoy of tanker and reefer trucks heading to the oil fields, this is not for the faint of heart or those who don't want gravel chips in their paint or windshields.

The Dalton highway is a very long gravel road up to the arctic circle. there are a few stops on the way, but mostly this showcases the remote Alaskan wilderness. We were there in March so it varied from muddy gravel to some snow to big snowbanks on either side of the road. obviously it got much colder the further north we went. The road pretty much follows the Alaska pipeline which can be seen much of the way.

the views of the mountains and surrounding area are very weather dependent. when we went it was sunny at first, but quickly got cloudy.

The trip from Fairbanks with a couple stops and a dinner break took about 5-6 hours. It probably could be done in 3-4 hours with no stops.

I'm sure its a lot nicer in the warmer months. especially if more wildlife was to be seen.

We made the trip from Fairbanks to Coldfoot/Wiseman in our RV and just came back. It is a very long drive, even though the road was not as bad as we had expected.

On our way back we stopped at the Hotspot Cafe. The burger was FANTASTIC and so was the milkshake. It's a great place and feels comfortable with nice decor and lots of blooming flower pots. Definitely stop here when you find yourself on the Dalton Highway!

A drive along the Dalton Highway is a must experience while in Alaska. It is a pretty rough drive as alot of the highway is not paved but I experienced some of the most beautiful scenery along this highway. Make sure to take food and water along with you though as you are literally in the middle of nowhere and there are no places to stop for food or water for miles and miles.

I rode on the Dalton Highway along its entire length, from Fairbanks to Deadhorse. I was traveling solo. I'm from Quebec (Quebec City) and I went on board my old Chevrolet Cavalier 2003 (small low clearance sedan) all the way through Canada up to Alaska.

On the Dalton I had some mechanical problems given the quality of the road but nothing major. There was a lot of work on the road which caused timeouts and almost impassable stretches. It was pretty scary but the landscape and the wild life was totally worth it. I'll never forget that drive. In fact, after doing this drive I'm not afraid of anything else. ;)

Other notes: I had a CB mounted on my car so I could hear what was happening around (truckers, workers, ...). There's no cell service between Fox and Deadhorse. Be sure to bring food, water, spare tires and basic tools. If you're traveling with your own car, be sure you know your car well (I knew what were the weaknesses of mine so it was easier to troubleshoot when I was in trouble). Make sure to yield when you encounter trucks.

Oh I almost forgot. Mosquitos are horrible, seriously. Be sure to bring a good mosquito repel.

I hope you'll enjoy that ride as much as I did, but that definitly come with good preparation.

www.quebecalaska.ca

This is to describe my driving the Dalton hwy up to mile 115 (Arctic circle stop):
The road starts just outside Livengood village (no services, no gas station there) at the road crossing to Manley Hot Springs. Couple of signs indicate that you are about to start the hwy and also tells you that paved road ends. After the bend you enter the unpaved gravel-soil road.
State of the road:
Up to mile 37 it is unpaved, a mix of soil and fine gravel, quite even, not too many serious wholes or rocks.
Mile 37 till 47 it is paved with short gravel breaks and holes.
Then it is unpaved again with some very short paved parts.
Then between mile 85-90 all the way to Arctic Circle Wayside Rest Area and beyond is paved again.
The unpaved sections are either smooth gravel, or smooth soil or mix of both with holes and constant road works.
Paved sections are wide, the rest is narrower or very narrow with soft sides or no sides at all.
Road is elevated due to the permafrost. There are constant bends and curves with very hilly deep high and down driving.
In some parts the soil was new and deep and thick muddy as I was driving on a rainyish day. Very slippery at times.
Speeds are safe around 45-55 but some sections demanded speeds of around 30-35 mph.
On paved sections speeds of 60-70 were no problem but watch out for deep wholes in asphalt.
The road snakes mostly thru low bushy tundra, sometimes forests and lakes. Here and there are useful road turn outs.
Near Arctic circle is the finger mountain stop with interesting rock formations and toilet facilities.
Traffic was surprisingly infrequent and much less than I expected. Mostly small maintenance trucks or tourist cars and of course big trucks. But all of them slowed down when close to me and I did the same. I had no issues with my car! Only very muddy due to the rainy day.
Gas and food stops:
First food and gas stop is Yukon Crossing gas station with restaurant. Very nice blueberry pie! The "parking lot" was very muddy but nobody expected anything different. In contrary to the sign at the start of the highway, this is the only gas station before Coldfoot!!! Also, here you find access to Yukon river and an info centre about the bridge and the pipeline.
Next stop is 5 miles away and has only food services. No more gas until Coldfoot!
All the way the gas pipe snakes in and out of view and at some places can be accessed by walk. At Yukon Crossing the pipe is build into the bridge. Interesting.
The drive is nice, quiet and even relaxing at times. Some mosquitoes outside but not too bad maybe because of the rain and cooler weather.
Arctic circle is at mile 115 but before it you come across abandoned houses next to pipeline.
Weather was mostly rainy, misty at some areas, cloudy and partly sunny at times.
All in all, it is a very adventurous drive requiring lot's of attention and vigilance. You have to watch out for the big trucks, especially on the narrow sections where you basically don't have space to distance yourself from the oncoming traffic. According to a trucker, they tend to slow down when approaching cars and especially if the cars do the same. I observed that all the cars slowed down when nearing me and I was doing the same. Driving to Arctic Circle Wayside Rest Area and back to Livengood took me approx. 8-9 hours.

Great to be at this site; not sure if I would come back when Iam older! So do it when you can. Got my certificate.

I drove the entire Dalton Highway from Livengood to Prudhoe Bay and back. I found this highway to be in great condition — if you truly deserve your driver’s license, you don’t need to worry, you’ll survive! Of course, you need to follow some rules: trucks always go first, don’t overspeed, and slow down or pull over when another car or truck approaches. This way I drove all the way without having flat tire or windshield damage.

It’s also very interesting for travelers to see the magnificent views and wildlife along the way.

Drove the entire length of the Dalton Highway. Seen musk ox, bears, many birds, especially shorebirds along with lots of waterfowl. The road was in pretty good shape but you do need to be careful of all the trucks. Also seen hundreds of caribou and even a wolverine which seeing one is very rare. One of the best things we did while in Alaska.
Not impressed with the oil fields though they really have destroyed the tundra and habitat.

Read my review of Coldfoot and Fairbanks.
The view of Denali, is almost a once in a lifetime view for travelers. The first time we visited Denali, the mountain had a halo of fog or clouds. The second time we visited Alaska, we saw the ice cream cone top of Denali, and the next day, as we left Denali, we could still see Denali for the entire day, as we headed as far southeast as we could drive.

Advice: Bring a poncho, insect repellent, and a camera. We saw more moose than people on the day we drove to Coldfoot. The Dalton Highway winds its way north while nearby its companion, the pipeline, winds its way south. As another reviewer said, the road and the weather and the bugs can all be pretty nasty, but you have to be awed by being in country that changes so much over 250 miles, and the only signs of humanity are a few camps, a few bridges, the pipeline and the road itself. We drove up and flew back, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

The Dalton HWY is one of the Last Adventure Road in the world. It’s a Gravel Road. Remember in this Road the priority is to the Heavy-Trucks. Just in the Yukon River Camp, Coldfoot Camp and Deadhorse you can find Petrol and a place to can sleep. Very lonely road. Beautiful Landscapes. Drive safe and enjoy it.

We read all the reviews. I think we had it a bit easier than some because the road was dry but not too dry. Perfect road conditions. It wasn't too dusty and wasn't muddy. We only went to the Arctic Circle. We tried to stop to let all the trucks pass with ease (the ones coming toward us). We didn't want a kicked up rock through our windshield. The scenery is pretty. There are so many parts of the pipeline that you can see. Great road trip just plan accordingly. Watch your fuel, make sure you have a spare, bring your own music, forget cell service!!

This is without a doubt the most beautiful drive in the State of Alaska. Once you get into the Brooks Range, Alaska's Arctic mountain range, you enter into wilderness world of stunning beauty that is unparalleled from any other road in the state. Take advantage of any pullout you can find to take in the beauty, and take a few pictures. Despite its importance to commercial traffic, however, it has been very poorly-maintained the last two years and can be a bit nasty of a drive in some areas. Recommended you drive with a high-center vehicle with at least AWD.

We went in January 2016 on a trip to see the Northern Lights. Stayed at Coldfoot Camp for 2 nights. As other reviews have said the hotel is clean but basic, it was very comfortable. Restaurant had great food and large portions. People were extremely friendly. We went with Northern Alaska Tour Company out of Fairbanks and they were great. The Dalton Highway was frozen, it was January after all, but was very smooth. I can understand that it may be rougher in the non-winter months though. I agree that only very good drivers should be on this road driving for themselves.

if you are heading to Arctic Ocean or to Arctic Circle - stop at this cafe to have a snack. Its 144 miles from Fairbanks , still 55 miles ahead before you reach Arctic Circle.
You will have really tasty big burgers, fresh salads,homemade desserts. Can get some souvenirs along with local Native arts and crafts and enjoy the flowers.
Did you know that mammoth remains were discovered near the Hot Spot Cafe during Dalton highway construction?
Oh, did I mention that bathroom facilities are Outhouse? :) An experience you will not find too often :)
Enjoy your time here :)

We rode on the Dalton Highway during a tour to the Arctic Circle. The road was mostly unpaved but they kept it in relatively good shape. They work on it a lot to keep it passable for the trucks heading to / from Deadhorse at Prudhoe Bay. Very nice ride

We spent 3 days and 3 nights camping about 120 miles south of Deadhorse on the tundra the end of August into September. The first day of nothing but fog, wind, rain/ice. The roads are pretty great up until Coldfoot, but once you pass that a ways the road is mostly dirt/gravel with HUGE potholes that can't "really" be avoided. We ended up driving all the way to Prudhoe Bay one of the days and the road was even worse. My advice to anyone is bring extra gas (5.50$ a gallon in Coldfoot and slightly over 5$ in Deadhorse), food, and binoculars. We saw loads of waterfowl, birds of prey, muskox, caribou, fox, etc. If camping on the tundra, make sure to bring some sort of heat source as it dropped below freezing multiple times at night as well as a sturdy tent, the winds picks up pretty violently and tries to tear the tent down. Once you pass Atigun Pass there are no trees for firewood or to break the wind.

We went to the artic circle, cold Foot and 100 miles north of dead horse. We were on the road for 17 hrs round trip. We did stop to take pictures. The road starts out asphalt but turns to gravel with lots of pot holes. You can't travel over 50mph. One time was definitely enough.

One of those once in a lifetime experiences for a couple from the Chicago suburbs. A drive up the Dalton Hwy. to the north slope and polar bears. Plenty of beautiful scenery and wildlife through the mountains.

We made it to milepost 301. That is way past Atigun Pass which seemed the least hospitable part of the Highway.
The Brooks range is impressive, the tundra north of it too.
It is not as bad as some seem to suggest. Then again, I've seen lots of unpaved road before.
Glad we did it. Next time all the way.

it's kind of cool to be there, but they dont have much to see around. the landscape was amazing for sure. but not much beyond that.

Drove all the way to Galbraith Lake (MP274.7).

Have to say that I was a little afraid to drive on Dalton since I am the only one in my party who can drive and it is a long, harsh drive. It turned out to be fine. I rented the car from Alaska Auto Rental (I am younger than 30 so not eligible to rent from Arctic Outfitter; and I only rent 2 days so not eligible for GoNorth, which are a lot cheaper). Although not 4WD, it was a great vehicle. I did not experience any difficulty to drive on those scary slopes.

The landscape was very unique and wild.

Tip: you will feel lonely, especially beyond Coldfoot (MP189). Prepare enough water and music.

10 years ago we did an Arctic Circle fly/drive with a tour company and decided one day we will actually drive it ourselves. I discovered Arctic Outfitters which would rent me a car that would go on the Dalton and off we went!! It is a lot of fun doing a self drive since we had more freedom where we stopped etc... and we did make it to the Arctic Circle sign. It's cool how the pipeline follows the road.
The road really is not that bad, just take it easy and slow.

Driving on the Dalton is another one of the once in a lifetime experiences for those who may never make it to Alaska more than once. It’s incredibly bumpy! Lots of potholes and washboards. I do not recommend pregnant women or those with neck or back problems to venture down this road for too long. However. if you’re up for the adventure it’s totally worth it. You’ll have to drive your own vehicle, take a tour, or rent from a company that allows you to drive on the Dalton. Most rental companies forbid driving their cars on the highway because of the damage it can cause.

I stopped off to stay about halfway to Deadhorse on the Dalton Highway about 60 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

Decent restaurant. No cell service but you can purchase very sluggish wifi.

Decent food and a post office. Also there is a Visitor Center where you can get the Gateway to the Arctic National Park Stamp.

I have lived in Alaska for about 6 years now and have not made it past Fairbanks yet. I have, however, found a rental car company that will allow me to take this journey as well as make sure that I have all I need for the trip! Alaska 4x4 Rentals has vehicles equipped for this highway (and other's that most rental places will forbid) and have even presented me with the option to add a GPS and a satellite phone for the trip!

Does anyone have recommendations of places to capture some wildlife photos or a glimpse of the northern lights along the Dalton Highway?

It's amazing to be able to drive this road with hundreds of miles of wilderness on either side, cross the Yukon River and Arctic Circle, drive up over the Brooks Range, and then across the arctic tundra to Deadhorse and Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean. Along the way we saw great scenery with vast landscapes, moose, caribou, musk ox and a number of other smaller wildlife. However, this trip should not be taken lightly. Much of the road is rather rough, has no cell phone service, restrooms (pit toilets) are few, and there is one 240 mile section with no services. Most ordinary rentals cars are not allowed to be taken on the Dalton Highway, but there are some rentals specifically for this purpose with heavy duty tires, two spare tires and a CB radio. We also rented a satellite phone in Fairbanks to take for extra peace of mind. If you are prepared, I highly recommend taking the trip. I suggest four days minimum for the trip all the way to Prudhoe Bay, with an overnight stop in Coldfoot, Wiseman or Marion Creek Campground on the way up and on the way back. There are several lodging options in Deadhorse also (camping there is not recommended). You cannot drive the last few miles to the Arctic Ocean due to security restrictions at the oil fields, but must make arrangements at least one day in advance for a tour that will take you to the bay on the Arctic Ocean. There is good information in the "Dalton Highway Visitor Guide" that can be downloaded from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) web site. Also, for people with food allergies, such as gluten free, dairy free, etc., I highly recommend taking some of your own food because what is available along the way can be very limited if you have diet restrictions. Deadhorse itself is like being in an industrial park because the only reason it's there is to support the oil fields. However, the trip getting there is great. Enjoy the journey!

First I will say after driving this road 7 times it is beautiful but dangerous. Highly recommend that you have a CB to talk to the semi's that use this road. This road is not made for cars, I have seen numerous cars on this road and bunch off to the side with blown tires and other trouble. The road can become very muddy during rain and impassable at times during the winter. People that are not familiar with this road need to be extremely careful and observant. There are many blind corners and steep grades both ways. 400 or so miles of this road is dirt/gravel and is maintained to a certain point. After hilltop there are not really any services until you get to the Yukon River. I was there last week and gas was $4.25 per gallon. After that about 60 miles North is the Arctic Circle, many people think that there are services there. There are none, it is a sign and that is it (maybe a restroom, can't remember as we usually drive right by without stopping). North of there is Coldfoot Camp, there is fuel and a restaurant there. It has good food for being that far out. Chili is a recommendation :-) After Coldfoot you will go over Atigun Pass, watch for semi's as they will be in the middle of the road most of the time up here. Give them room as they can't stop easily coming down the pass. North of Atigun Pass you are on the North Slope and heading into flat country until you get to Deadhorse where the road stops for civilian vehicles without passes to the oil fields. This whole drive is very scenic and will take you about 10-12 hours depending on road conditions and how much you stop. Please do not stop on the road, pull off to the side or use a turn-out. I highly recommend you take a good spare tire if not two. If you are going to take a car (not recommended) and not allowed by most rental car companies I would have 3 spares. Check road conditions before you go. www.511.alaska.gov