Transportation: An International Gateway and Interior Hub
Fairbanks is the ninth largest international cargo
gateway to the United States and is also the
transportation hub for Alaska’s Interior and North
Slope. We have multi-modal transportation systems: air,
land and water. For even more information of ways to get
here, click
here.
Fairbanks International Airport
The
Fairbanks International Airport
is
strategically located to serve the US and International markets with a
foreign trade zone
and the shortest flight distance to Asia and
Europe. You can easily get connecting flights to the
lower 48 states, Canada and Hawaii in more or less than
one connection.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough communities rely
heavily on year-round air transportation. The Fairbanks
International Airport provides regional air service for
Borough residents. Jet traffic moves the bulk of
time-sensitive goods. Fleets of smaller, mid-sized
aircraft based in the Borough provide service to the
surrounding communities.
Alaska Railroad
Click for larger image |
Alaska Railroad and Fall colors
Photo credit:
Fairbanks Convention & Visitors Bureau/Courtesy of Alaska Railroad
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Fairbanks is the northern terminus of the
Alaska Railroad (ARRC) which connects Fairbanks to international seaports and provides passenger service to Anchorage and Denali National Park.
Rail transport is expected to play an increasingly important role in meeting the Borough's future transportation needs. The Alaska Railroad, while officially a Class II freight railroad under jurisdiction of the federal Surface Transportation Board, does not physically connect Borough communities with track in Canada or other states. Instead, the Borough relies on rail-barge connections to remain part of the North American freight rail system. However, as the northern terminus for the Alaska Railroad, the Fairbanks North Star Borough has rail access to the ocean ports of Seward, Whittier and Anchorage.
Highways and roads
Fairbanks is connected year-round to Canada and the "Lower 48", and communities throughout Alaska.
There are two Highways that lead to southern Alaska from
Fairbanks (The Parks Highway and the Richardson
Highway). The Parks Highway Runs south from Fairbanks to
Anchorage. The Parks
Highway also runs through
Alaska's top tourist attraction
Denali National Park,
where North Americas tallest mountain, Mt. McKinley, is
located. Denali National Park is just 2 hours south from
Fairbanks. The Richardson Highway runs south from
Fairbanks to Valdez. The
Steese Highway leads north as
far as the Yukon River. The Elliot HWY connects to the Dalton
Highway which leads to northern communities, the Arctic
Circle and the Prudhoe Bay oil fields.
Excellent road accessibility links the Fairbanks North Star Borough to all of the state's major highway systems. Accordingly, Fairbanks serves as the transportation hub for vehicle traffic and freight entering and leaving Interior Alaska.
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