Instead of going through Fairbanks, I was contemplating turning south at Delta Junction on A4 then taking the Denali Highway AK-8 over to A3 before heading south to Anchorage. Will still make the 30 mile jaunt from A3/AK-8 junction north to Denali Visitor Center. The thought is we would enjoy the scenery along the Denali Highway more than Fairbanks. Or do you think there is enough to see in/around Fairbanks to go that direction?

I think it really depends on whether you prefer a city or the wilderness. I enjoyed camping along the Denali Highway much more than the sights in Fairbanks. Many places to camp, hike, and explore.Here a picture of the mountain from the highway.

We starrted to drive part of the Denali Highway from the east to west a few years ago. It's just about all gravel and when we were on it the surface was very badly washboarded. Of course that depends on when the last time they ran a grader over the road, bur we decided not to take it. We were only in the toad, and had left the Bus elsewhere. Also, while we were stopped enjoying the scenery a LARGE tour bus blew by us at about 50mph. No damage, but I wouldn't have wanted to meet that guy on the road driving the Bus. We're not unfamiliar with Alaska, as this summer will be our 9th trip up and we have driven the Dalton to Prudhoe Bay.

Fairbanks is a small city. I really enjoyed the people there, the Tanana River and the fur shops among other things. I like going to Fox to do some gold panning and watch the Northern Lights. We caught the Robert Service inspired melodrama outside of town in Ester. . Alaska is mostly bush, so being in a remote frontier town was very interesting to me. Plenty of history everywhere.We saw no evidence of any "caravans."

One of the few roads in Alaska that is pretty much free of trees blocking the views and the views of the Alaska Range as well as the rest of the landscape are worth seeing in my opinion. The road starts out as paved on the east end, turns to nicely maintained gravel and then lesser maintained gravel in the middle. Tangle Lakes area is good with a nice BLM campground and also a lodge with a great cafe. The road had a lot of potholes when I went so with the travel trailer ended up going pretty slow, maybe 20-25 mph in places. The road grader was sitting (but had not been grading) there so guess it depends on when the road was last maintained. Take your time and enjoy the scenery,maybe plan on overnighting somewhere along the road as there are numerous turnouts to do so. If you plan on traveling at 60 mph this is not the route for you. For me the scenery was worth whatever time it took to travel the road and would do it again.

Thoughts (from nearly 60 years !!!) in Alaska:- I took a couple of trips as a kid on the Denali Highway when it was "the highway" to get to McKinley. It was beautiful then and beautiful now.- The Denali is arguably the most scenic drive in Alaska, although TOW and the Richardson into Valdez are also competitors. - I've got some great friends in Fairbanks and go there often to see them and every now and then as a jumping off spot for hunting/fishing. Other than that, I don't find Fairbanks appealing, although there's plenty to do there.- If your rig can handle an (often-rough) gravel road, take the Denali..but there's limited services and it's not a road to rush over.- If you can swing it, I think one should take the "old road" from Delta to Anchorage. Then one can visit Denali NP by taking the Parks Highway back up North.

Denali Hwy vs Fairbanks? | Good Sam Community

c_traveler2
Nomad
May 16, 2019
kohldad wrote:
Instead of going through Fairbanks, I was contemplating turning south at Delta Junction on A4 then taking the Denali Highway AK-8 over to A3 before heading south to Anchorage. Will still make the 30 mile jaunt from A3/AK-8 junction north to Denali Visitor Center. The thought is we would enjoy the scenery along the Denali Highway more than Fairbanks.

Or do you think there is enough to see in/around Fairbanks to go that direction?

If you decide on the Old Denali road there's a great bood docking spot near MM49.
Grit_dog
Navigator
May 16, 2019
If I could only do one, I’d do the DenAli hwy.
lakeside013104
Explorer
May 16, 2019
kohldad wrote:
Most caravans will spend more time there than any other place.

I don't like doing the things that most caravaners like to do so that is a big turn off.

Agreed.

Denali Hwy was well worth the trip. One or two over nights works well for us. So amazingly beautiful. Much more so than the city of Fairbanks.

Each to their own.

Lakeside
EEWally
Explorer
May 19, 2019
The photo in my signature shows why I would not miss the Denali Highway.
snowedin
Explorer
May 19, 2019
Absolutely Right!!! The awesome picture in EEWally's profile says it all, well not all as any picture is just one piece of the pie. There are fabulous, unobstructed views in all directions and it was not crowded when I was there. With so many great places to go in Alaska it is hard to pick a favorite but this route has to rank right up there.
fanrgs
Explorer
May 20, 2019
It's been many years since I took the Denali Highway (did it because they were still completing the Parks Highway). But, despite its condition, the views were absolutely worth the slow pace. And seeing the huge Susitna River in a remote location with no houses or stores to mar the view was a reminder of how unpopulated much of Alaska remains.

I spent a week in Fairbanks two years ago, but, with your rig, I wouldn't hesitate to miss it and take the Denali Highway.
TUCQUALA
Explorer
May 20, 2019
lakeside013104
Explorer
May 22, 2019
TUCQUALA wrote:

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

Just like I remember it.

Lakeside
mockturtle
Explorer II
May 31, 2019
I'm a little late to the party but yes, the Denali Hwy is well worth the slow and sometimes rough drive. Great turnout spots to overnight, incredible views. I'm back in AK right now and am considering visiting Fairbanks this time but only to shop at Walmart. :D

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