How to get from Fairbanks to Anchorage

It is 360 road miles from Fairbanks to Anchorage. The trip by train takes about 12 hours. Most travelers will break this up with overnights in Denali Park and/or Talkeetna. There a train and bus combo options are available for this, and we also offer one-way car rentals between Fairbanks and Anchorage. If you need to travel to Anchorage from Fairbanks more quickly, we recommend flying.

12 hours by train | 7 hours by car

Read on for more details, or if you are ready to book train or bus seats now, head over to our Train & Bus Express Checkout.

Fly

For quick same-day travel from Fairbanks to Anchorage, consider flying. The flight takes less than an hour. Several carriers fly the route, including Alaska Airlines.

Ride the Train

It takes a full day to travel from Fairbanks to Anchorage by train. On the plus side, there is spectacular scenery, you can get up and walk around, and you can enjoy meals and beverages on board. Service options include the Adventure Class and Goldstar Dome from the Alaska Railroad, or the privately-operated Wilderness Express dome. All of these services run on the same Denali Star train.

Take the Bus

Traveling from Fairbanks to Anchorage by bus in one day is usually not a great option as the Park Connection Motorcoach travels only as far north as Denali Park. We do offer van transfers between Fairbanks and Denali, but those are not designed for a same-day connection with our bus from Denali to Anchorage. Many of our guests combine the train and Park Connection Motorcoach while traveling from Fairbanks to Anchorage, with an overnight in Denali Park or Talkeetna.

Drive Yourself

The drive from Fairbanks to Anchorage takes about seven hours plus some stops. The town of Talkeetna is a fun place to grab a bite to eat or do a little shopping, although it is a 30-mile detour off the main highway. See these pages for more information on Fairbanks car rentals including one-way rentals from Fairbanks to Anchorage.