Alaska Railroad Aurora Winter Fairbanks To Anchorage One Way

We took the train from Anchorage to Fairbanks then 4 days last returned to Anchorage. It was one of the highlights of our time in Alaska. The staff was so friendly and helpful. The one way trip is 12hrs but it didn't feel like it. We could move around free along the length of the train and there were areas to stand. We meet some wonderful fellow travelers and the atmosphere was very enjoyable. It's the best was to see all the mountains in our opinion. Highly recommend.

Long, but nice ride. It was more fun travel than travel from one town to another. Pleasant rail staff, kept us informed with history and what to see along the ride, and a good food too.

Great senary. You can see the whole snow covered Denali ridge. It's so beautiful. The staffs are very friendly and helpful too

It’s a long way from Fairbanks to Talkeetna on the train but do it. We did it on a group tour and enjoyed it very much. Staff were young and energetic. Big viewing windows. Decent seats. You can get up and move around from side to side if you get a glimpse of a moose or Denali. Adequate snack bar. Take a meal in the dining car. The pot roast was very good. Tip: diners were called from front of train (car A) to the rear (car D) so lunch for us wasn’t until around 3pm and we were very hungry! Take that into consideration Might have to buy or bring a snack. Recommend!!

This was a super interesting ride with great information and breathtaking views. Everything was done in such an efficient way that getting from Fairbanks to Anchorage was so smooth. I easily checked in a bag and everyone at the station and working the train were incredibly nice. Again, the views were amazing. I did wish that the lights could have been shut off at times so you didn't have the glare in pictures through the window, but that's probably for safety reasons.

Breathtakingly beautiful and comfort! We(me and my husband) went in March 2024 to Alaska for Aurora Viewing and took the train from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Views were jaw-dropping and we recommend everyone to take this ride.. we stopped at few key stations like Talkeetna. I think in terms of views I will let the pics do the talking. Infact we spotted moose more than a couple of times ! There are large windows for viewing and they have a separate coach for restaurant with even larger windows for viewing. The food was surprisingly very tasty and good choice! We both are vegetarians and we found some great choices there .. 😊

Our train trip was amazing! Breathtaking views, comfortable seating, and great food. Our conductor “Vern” added so much fun and information to our trip!

A long, comfy, scenic trip. Spotted moose and eagles along the way. Staff shared their knowledge along the way. Two stops, Denali and Talkeetna, allowed us to stretch our legs and breathe in some crisp air. Opted for lunch and dinner sitting.

The train station has bathrooms and a gift shop. You can take pictures outside. Upon arrival we gave our luggage with our cruise luggage tag and they handled delivery all the way to cruise ship, wonderful! No hassle.

We had a great family trip on the winter train from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Our conductor F Long and assistants Daniel and Dustin were awesome. They were available for questions and took the time to answer them. Our 12 hour journey didn't seem that long. We were able to play games provided on the train a long as we left tables available for others. We were able to walk through the different cars as we needed to. To make breakfast, lunch or dinner reservations, the host would go through each car. We chose lunch as we liked the options better and had to sit across from people we didn't know. This was in order to make room for those who wanted to eat, I get it but was a little uncomfortable for those who do not wish to engage. We were told when wildlife was spotted and the train slowed down so everyone could see which was much appreciated. Scenic sites were also pointed out along the way. There is a bar and snack bar if you would like a drink or small lunch or dinner. We brought snacks and food and drinks on the train, bags are not checked for these items so I'm guessing they are allowed . Check in process was great, staff were very helpful and informative. Looking forward to another trip on a different route!

The scenery from the train was amazing. We saw moose, wolves, and bald eagles as well as many tracks in the snow. Food and drink service was plentiful and well managed. The guides on the train made announcements with interesting facts along the way. The train stopped long enough to get off and stretch our legs at both Denali and Talkeetna. Twelve hours is a bit long though and I wish we had brought some cards or a little game to play during the less stunning parts of the ride.

I like trains and train rides. We first took the Alaska Railroad from Fairbanks to Denali. I highly recommend the dome car, which was less crowded than expected. The scenery was good at times, but the bulk of what could be seen during the ride was a surprisingly monotonous mix of trees and marsh. Still, we enjoyed it. The Denali-to-Anchorage stretch was better. The first 2-3 hours featured great mountain views. Then there was a long, dull stretch where you couldn't see the forest for the trees. Mountains were a thing again as we got near Anchorage. BTW, the cod dinner was great, and better than the pot roast. Final thought: whoever designed the hideous "ALASKA RAILROAD CENTENNIAL YEAR" logo really outdid themselves. That thing should be featured in a Stephen King movie.

There was no heat on the train. It was a cold damp day and we had cold air blowing on us for the entire trip. We were too cold to enjoy the train ride. Bring winter coat, hat and gloves for the ride.

Upgraded to Good Star and glad we did! It was an amazing ride. The view of Mt Denali was breathtaking !

We had never ridden a train before and so we had no clue what to expect. All staff, on the train and at the station were friendly, efficient and helpful. We had the Gold Star service and we ate breakfast lunch and dinner. All meals were excellent with good sized portions. The facilities were well maintained and clean both on the train and at the various stations. The conductor pointed out sights of interest during the ride and also provided some history. They even pointed out animals on the route. I was most impressed with how the railroad and the various hotels handled the luggage. The luggage was tagged not only to our next destination but also to the hotel we were staying at. Each time our luggage was at our door shortly after checking in at the hotel. On checking out, the hotel tagged out luggage for our next destination, specified the time to have it outside our door and it was picked up and taken directly to the train for us. It couldn’t have been easier. Cheers to a great job Alaska Railroad!

On the last day of April, my husband and I embarked on the Alaska Railroad Aurora Winter train, a journey from Fairbanks to Anchorage. For 12 hours, we marveled at the winter wonderland of Alaska’s mountain ranges, sparkling and majestic. We caught a glimpse of Denali, the crown jewel of the land, on a rare clear day. We were filled with awe and joy. The train offered us delicious food to savor. But what made the trip so delightful, was the warm and friendly staff on the train that day. They entertained us with their personal stories and enlightened us with their knowledge of Alaska’s history. Those memories are etched in our hearts forever. We are grateful to the Alaska Railroad staff for their dedication and service.

The ride was beautiful and staff was very friendly and informative. Unfortunately, our luggage got wet along with some of our belongings. But overall a great experience.

The ride is 12 hours but you'll get to see a ton of amazing views! They have a restaurant on the train as well as the grab and go and all the food was very good. You'll see plenty of moose as well!

Loved the train ride! The ride itself is 12 hours between Fairbanks and Anchorage. There is a dining car and a cafe. The seats are spacious and comfortable. The conductors gave announcements along the way as to the history of the area or if there was an animal sighting. I saw around 15-20 moose! There are also several places where Denali is visible. Worth the trip!

This was a wonderful way to experience the beauty of Alaska. Great views of Denali, saw herd of moose! Staff pleasant and courteous. Enjoyed it immensely.

We took the railroad from Fairbanks to Anchorage, and made stops in Denali and Talkeetna. We traveled Gold Star class. The train is comfortable, the meals are adequate, and the commentary is good. The rest rooms are clean, and the dining room was clean and comfortable. The views are outstanding IF the weather cooperates- as it did for use. In Gold Star their is small outdoor viewing area which is cool. The train is slow though. You can probably drive the same distance in 40-50% of the time.

We rode the train from Fairbanks to Anchorage. It was a beautiful and relaxing way to to see Denali and the wilderness of Alaska. Comfortable seats with a dining car and snack bar. On board reservations for meals is easy but required. Easy to get up and walk around. It is a long ride (12 hours) so be prepared. Made a couple of stops along the way with a short stop in Denali National Park. Great views of Denali if the weather cooperates. Towards the second half of the trip, the train becomes a commuter rail and picks up passengers going to points South. It is the only means of transportation for people that live there. This is truly a unique experience and is worth it in my honest opinion.

The train travel (Fairbanks to Talkeetna and Talkeetna to Anchorage) was one part of our Alaska Railroad Package. In addition to the train rides, the package included 3 hotel stays (Fairbanks, Talkeetna and Anchorage), transfers and two tours (a nighttime Northern Lights tour in Fairbanks and a Dog Sled Tour in Talkeetna). Working with a railroad agent was a pleasant experience setting the whole trip up. It had its challenges because of the limited schedule of the train - traveling north or south only on certain days of the week. Communication by the company was excellent and very helpful throughout. Once all the pieces were in place, a final itinerary was sent with good details (whether a voucher was needed or not, what would be provided, etc.). When all was in place, I was quoted a price that was lower than I expected. It was a good deal indeed as it was not a "one itinerary for all" but a package set up to meet my travel plans. I would highly recommend booking a package with Alaska Railroad.

Worst experience even. We had wait almost an hour for the engineers to fix one of the cart of the train. Sure, no problem. When we finally boarded, we thought it was smooth sailing from there. They started to ask people to sign up for breakfast at the sit down restaurant. The serve you according to your cart. A goes first and C goes last. So our breakfast started around noon. Lunch was at 4pm, and dinner was at 7:30pm. When we were there, you could tell the wait staff was miserable. They hated their jobs. One of the server even said that to another server. Breakfast was good and the kids enjoyed it but it took 45 minutes to pay because only 1 credit card machine worked. Lunch was ok too because our server asked to cut the cheeseburger in half for our kids since they wanted to split a burger. Dinner was a joke though. They sat us down just to have us wait 30 minutes so we can look at our menu. There is only 4 choices. They came by and dropped off silverware and then left. I had to flag down another waitress just to take our order. The first waitress that sat us down was a black lady that said someone will come take our order. 20 minutes another black lady came by to drop off silverware. When the second black lady came back, I tried asking her to take our order and she said she was busy and will come back. She was more interested in serving other tables that have already eaten than take car of new customers. WTF. After we flagged down a third waitress that was white. She took our order and got the kids feed. If you are here for the scene, don’t do it. All you see are trees. Was able to see a lot of noises though.

We trained through a beautiful winter wonderland. The dining experience aboard was fabulous. From the train we spotted 46 moose, 2 sheep, a coyote, a snowshoe hare, 7 bald eagles, 2 separate flocks of ptarmigans, and a possible hawk (either a baby eagle or a hawk). What fun to spot wildlife during the almost 12 hours train trip. The narration throughout the journey by the onboard staff supervision was outstanding. The conductor was often available for questions and answers. The entire staff was professional, friendly and on top of every guest request. Thanks for an unforgettable journey!

My sister and I caught the train from Fairbanks to Anchorage as a more scenic way to head south. It was very seamless booking and then transacting with our voucher - no issues at all! The train was clean, the food served (not included) as pretty good and you can't beat the scenery! There was intermittent commentary which was perfect - not too much, but tidbits along the way... Whilst this was a long trip (12 hours), I'm really glad we did it! So much more scenic than a flight!

Pleasant experience! The seats are very comfortable, there is really pretty scenery for part of the day, and the food is good. They serve 3 meals for the 12 hour ride. I highly suggest buy the $5 book of the history of railroad before you depart. It is worth the money and will give you something good to read while it’s still dark outside. The conductors were also super informative and fun!

This trip was a unique experience ,we took many pictures. We enjoyed from the begin to the end. All the personnel was very friendly and we got good information during the trip. Food was good Seats and temperature very comfortable I really love this train ,meet my dreams I love trains

The bad. They would not shut off interior lights. Witch in turn ruined most photo ops. And a lot of viewing ops. The good. Nice ride, beautiful landscape, lots of wildlife, great people, great older train. For me I probably wouldn't recomend. But if you dont want to take photos or mind the reflection it would be a great experience.

A perfect way to spend Easter 2019. (Please excuse the Sept. Date. April wasnt available on the dropdown) we saw snow, our trip had 4 flag stops along the way. Scenery was amazing, dinner was very good. We have watching tje Alaska Railroad show over the years and we so happy to see all the guys running the train on our trip.It just made our Holiday great

The staff was very friendly and helpful. I loved my dining experience. I enjoyed following the trail guide as the person on the intercom informed us of the local surroundings.

Had all but given up hope on ever encountering an efficient, knowledgeable, polite staff. Alaska Railroad renewed my faith. Exceptionally efficient dining, good food. Orderly--by directions from staff. Washington, D.C. metro as well as many others have alot to learn from Alaska Railroad. Some wildlife. Seating is comfortable. Only recommendation is to update Rail Guide with more explicit maps and two versions-one north, one south.

This ride on the railroad was great. We saw numerous things as well as wild life. Treated absolutely great and the host and hostess were very educated as to what was coming next. The food was good in the dining car an you could sit a while. Seats on train very comfortable.

I was nervous about this train ride as it is about 8hrs and we were traveling with our 3 yr old. We reserved for the dome car which was great. He was able to see everything as were we and we were also able to go out on the open train deck to get fresh air and watch for animals. We had a fantastic trip. Our 3yr old enjoyed every minute of it until he was so exhausted he fell asleep. The conductor was wonderful and really interacted with the children on the train and the staff was extremely friendly. The views and nature of alaska were great to see. We took a lot of pictures and had a great time. The food was good to. Much better than I expected on a train ride. Would recommend this to anyone who may be traveling from one point in alaska to another if you have the spare time to travel this way. It's worth it.

We look the train from Denali to Anchorage and road in the 'first class' car. We had beautiful views the entire trip. Service was great. We had both lunch and dinner on board. for dinner - get the pot roast!

I rode most of the Alaska Railways lines(Anchorage to Seward and back, Anchorage to Fairbanks), except the one from Anchorage to Whittier in July of 2019. I reserved all my tickets for the trip beforehand on their website with no problem. My first leg ws the Anchorage to Seward. It left Anchorage at 0645 and arrived in Seward a little after 1100. They either were sold out of their 1st class cars or did not have any on this leg so I went 2nd class on this line. You go to the railway station at least 45 minute prior to rail departure to obtain your ticket at the station house. You provide them your ID card and your name to obtain it. If you have any big bags you then go outside the building to check it in. When you can board the train is ready, you go to your assigned car and board. The conductor will verify your ticket prior to boarding. Then you go to your assigned seat. The car seating was comfortable. Pretty much like seating on a commuter train in the US. I was comfortable enough. The trains on all the lines travel around 45 miles per hour. So just know that cars and bus travel is faster than taking the train in Alaska if it is available. There is commentary during the train ride about the scenary, animals, and Alaskan history. It is not constant but nicely spaced out you can relax your attention. The commentators vary in quality. They use high school students who make the final cut to do this kind of work. They switch during certain legs of the trip and they were mostly good even had a cocky one who mention Alaskan teenager often had to decide between wanting an airplane or a car from their parents. The scenary from the Anchorage to Seward and the Anchorage to Fairbanks is worth seeing. We did see some mountain sheep on the Seward line and I think a moose. On the Anchorage to Denail we did not see any animals. On the Denali to Fairbanks line we saw quite a bit of moose and carribou. On the two legs between between Anchorage to Fairbanks(Anchorage to Denali, Denali to Fairbanks) I went 1st class. Quite a change from 2nd class. The cars are more spacious. The car is two story. The upper level is where you seat. Practically the entire side and most of the roof is all glass/plastic. Hence, you have a virtually unobtructive view of the countryside whereas 2nd class you have the standard railway windows you see on commuter trains. There is constant running bar on the 2nd level of the car where you seat. You can order almost any drink you want. I think you are allowed two alcoholic beverage as part of your fare. After the 2nd drink you pay for the extra alcoholic drinks. Everything else is unlimited. The Anchorage to Denail leg starts at 0800 and gets to Denali around 1530. We were served breakfast and lunch on that one. We go to the lower level or the dinning area. It can not seat all at once and so they will call some passengers at a time to come down when a table empties. I had French toast since everyone was raving about. I did not care for the cream on it but it was good. I did not have lunch since breakfast was a bit much for me . 2nd class passner have a cafe/bistro car they can go to for drinks and meals. Of course, they have to pay for everything. On the Denali to Fairbanks that leaves around 1600 and arrives at 2000 they served dinner. That was real good. I had pot roast and a bowl of chilli rather than a salad. The 1st class cars to Denali I think were full but the leg to Fairbanks was only about 1/3 full. I guess people turn around to go back to Anchorage instead. The seating in 1st class was a lot more spacious and nice leather seats. There is a tray you can fold down from the seat in front of you like on an airplane. Not true in 2nd class. The railway crews keep the 1st class passenger cars and 2nd class passenger cars segreated from each other. Meaning 2nd class passenger can NOT enter the 1st class class which are in the forward portion of the train. But 1st class passenger can walk into the 2nd class passenger cars if they want. They will verify either with your boarding pass or the pin they give you at the station to wear on your shirt/bouse. Luggage is pretty much like airlines. You can carry on bags if you want. There is no compartment above your head in 1st class though. This is due to al lthe glass/plastic. There racks above your head in 2nd class you can put your bags on. Big and wide enough for small bags like on airlines. Bigger bags in both cases have to be checked at the station prior to boarding. Then picked up at the station house if not already done so by your accomodations.. I forgot to mention there is commentary as well on the Anchorage to Fairbanks leg as well. Good as well.. I should mention that 2nd class passengers have access to an observation deck car. They would have to move from their assigned car to use it. They can not stay in throughout the trip if other passengers are waiting to get up to it. The train will stop on ocassion during these legs to let off Alaskan residents or pick them up. The stops are brief. No more than 5 minute max. Also they do train crew changes at the halfway point of each leg in order for them to be home at the end of the day. Overall, I had a great time on the Alaska railway. It was a nice way to see the countryside. It is more expensive than and time consuming than taking the bus or enting a car but certainly more relaxing.

This was great. The fact that you can ride for 12 hours, all meals available for purchase or bring your own. Drinks, snacks, games for the family. I love that I could finally see everything without having to worry about driving in snow. It's a pretty long ride but we flew up to Fairbanks and then road the train back to Anchorage. A relaxing day of naps, food, drinks, family time, and lots of beautiful landscapes. The bistro car has the best windows!

We loved our train ride! The train is comfortable, the conductor kept us well informed about what we might see along the way, and the other passengers were very friendly. We spotted several moose along the way, including one that decided to walk on the tracks right in front of the train - which explained why we were going so slowly for about 15 minutes. The scenery was just incredible - it changed along the way, and looked like a fairy tale. We did the trip in two parts - Anchorage to Talkeetna, and Talkeetna to Fairbanks two days later. That was a nice way to travel, and gave us a chance to experience a very small charming town. The traiin snack bar was decently stocked with sandwiches and drinks, and we had a pleasant dinner in the dining car. And talk about a bargain - as seniors, we got a 50 % discount, so the ride from Anchorage to Fairbanks was just $100.

We were lucky enough to have the best weather. Sunshine and clear skies. This is the best way to see Alaska. The guy on the microphone was great, interesting and informative. All the staff were so helpful. The dinner was the best, I recommend the pot roast. This trip and seeing the Aurora last night made our Alaska trip so special.

This January we took the Aurora and were not disappointed. We saw wildlife, beautiful mountains, and untouched wilderness. The RR's web site did not hype the trip. It was as advertised. The cars were comfortable, modern and clean. There was a dining car and food was well-priced and pretty good. Thel train staff were friendly, professional, and knowledgable. There were regular announcements and discriptions of where we were and what to look for. The train travels through very small Alaskan bush towns and offers a glimpse of this incredable state's rural lifestyle. Checked baggage was no problem. You check in your bags in Fairbanks and things are delivered by forklift outside the door of the Anchorage station. Several hotels offer transfer services from the hotel to the train station.

The scenery is so beautiful. We originally couldn't buy tickets on the official website. Fortunately, we booked tickets on the TripAdvisor website, which allowed us to experience this once-in-a-lifetime Aurora train journey. Although the journey took 11.5 hours, the scenery along the way was amazing. People marveled that I didn’t feel tired. I took a lot of photos without taking my eyes off it. It’s impossible to experience it without being there. This is a great mountain scenery that can only be seen by taking the Aurora Train. I want to experience it again if I have the opportunity in the future...

Es una experiencia única. Hay que hacerla. Creo que difícilmente sea superada por otro lugar de Alaska