The Best Hotels in Fairbanks, Alaska

Warm decor and stunning views characterize rooms at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel | Courtesy of Westmark Fairbanks Hotel and Conference Center / Booking.com

Abigail Blasi

29 November 2021

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Fairbanks sits clustered alongside the mirror waters of the Chena River. This remote-feeling city is a superb jumping-off point for exploration, with a vibrant downtown, rich local culture and cuisine and myriad activities and attractions – from dog mushing and hot springs to panning for gold. Here, you can see the aurora borealis spill across the sky and experience the midnight sun. Alternatively, take a day trip to the Arctic Circle or walk with reindeer – before coming back to one of the best hotels in Fairbanks.

Westmark Fairbanks Hotel and Conference Center, for fine dining

Neutral room with a view at Westmark Fairbanks Hotel and Conference Center

Courtesy of Westmark Fairbanks Hotel and Conference Center / Booking.com

With views over the gently curving Chena River and the White Mountains, yet just a few blocks from downtown Fairbanks and the Fairbanks Ice Museum, this hotel in Fairbanks offers spacious rooms in sedate creams and browns, with leather-upholstered headboards, a fitness center and a gift shop. There is a choice of restaurants, the fine-dining Northern Latitudes restaurant, decorated with northern lights-inspired art, and Red Lantern Steak & Spirits, where you can feast on reindeer meatloaf washed down with a local microbrew or paired with the excellent wine list.

River’s Edge Resort, for riverside tranquility

A traditional room at River's Edge Resort with patterned carpet and terrace

Courtesy of River's Edge Resort / Booking.com

On the banks of the Chena River, the charming clapboard houses at River’s Edge Resort are shaded by birch trees and have tranquil views over the water. This is one of the best hotels in Fairbanks: the well-equipped, self-catering houses have simple interiors that are all the better to frame the leafy garden views. If you don’t want to cook, try the wild-caught Alaskan salmon and halibut as well as tender steaks on the terrace of resort restaurant Chena’s Alaskan grill. The location is super-convenient for the airport and only a short drive from downtown.

Springhill Suites, Marriott, for downtown convenience

Courtesy of SpringHill Suites / Booking.com

Right in the heart of downtown action, this all-suite hotel in Fairbanks comprises spacious suites decorated in pale blues and biscuit-browns, with large padded headboards and smart, comfortable sofas. There are good fitness facilities, including a gym, indoor pool and whirlpool tub. Besides a handy onsite convenience store, there’s the splendid Lavell’s Bistro, one of the best hotel restaurants in Fairbanks. It’s famed for its crab legs and serves up American and Mediterranean-inspired food, from Louisiana-style shrimp to Caesar salad.

Hyatt, Fairbanks, for proximity to the car museum

Hotel

Simple room at the Hyatt Place Fairbanks with a tv and chair

Courtesy of Hyatt Place Fairbanks / Booking.com

One of the sleekest of the Fairbanks hotels, the Hyatt has modern rooms decorated with contemporary verve. Warm hues, pale chocolate walls and polished blonde wood furnishings dominate. Lounge areas with sofa beds are separated from the main bedroom by an opaque, tree-etched screen, giving your traveling companion some privacy. As well as the wide breakfast offering, there’s a bar for light bites, plus numerous fast food joints a short drive away. Petrolheads will wish to check out the nearby Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum.

Pikes Waterfront Lodge, for proximity to the airport

Traditional room at Pike's Waterfront Lodge with wood-panelled wall and floral bedspread

Courtesy of Pike's Waterfront Lodge / Booking.com

Right across the street from the airport, Pikes Lodge has 180 rooms and 28 cabins, sitting amidst lush gardens. Many of the rooms have river views, some have balconies too, and perks include a steam room, riverside deck, lounge, and Aveda aromatherapy products in the rooms. The decor is old-fashioned but comfortable, with chintzy bedspreads, dark wood headboards and curtains with flounced pelmets. Pike’s Landing restaurant is next door, with dishes emphasizing fresh local produce, including the finest Alaskan seafood.

Candlewood Suites, for self-caterers

Modern facade of Candlewood Suites - Fairbanks

Courtesy of Candlewood Suites - Fairbanks / Booking.com

With spacious suites featuring pale-lemon walls and furnishings in approximately 50 shades of tan, Candlewood has more than enough room to spread out, even if you’re traveling with a ton of suitcases. The suites have kitchenettes so that you can self-cater with ease, and are ideal for a family and longer stays. For exercise junkies, there’s the extensive fitness suite, plus bike trails outside. During the summer you can barbecue in the gazebo with mountain views, while in winter you can take advantage of the nearby Birch Hill ski area. There’s a shopping mall across the highway for all your Barnes & Noble and fast food needs.

Best Western Plus Chena River Lodge, for river views

Stylish rom with polkadot bedspread and grained carpet at Best Western Plus Chena River Lodge

Courtesy of Best Western Plus Chena River Lodge / Booking.com

Overlooking the Chena River a five-minute drive from the airport and surrounded by a living picket fence of fir trees, this reliably comfortable Fairbanks hotel receives consistently good reviews for its efficient service, amenities, and handy location – particularly if you have an early flight to catch. The pitch-roofed building has cream-walled rooms featuring blue or brown carpets and smart dark wood headboards. The beds are notably good quality, made up of soft white linen and stylish throws. The continental breakfast receives good reports, and there’s a fitness room.

Hampton Inn & Suites Fairbanks, for good amenities

Classic room with desk, flatscreen tv and wooden headboard at Hampton Inn & Suites Fairbanks

Courtesy of Hampton Inn & Suites Fairbanks / Booking.com | Courtesy of Hampton Inn & Suites Fairbanks / Booking.com

Hampton Inn and Fairbanks Suites’ rooms have plush Hilton-brand Hampton beds and all the amenities you’d expect from a Hilton, including a flat-screen TV, microwave, and well-designed, spacious bathroom. Larger family rooms have more space, two queen-size beds, and the same unfussy decor, with warm-gray walls and mid-brown furniture. Amenities include an indoor swimming pool, whirlpool tub, fitness center and a complimentary hot breakfast with eggs cooked the way you like it. Downtown Fairbanks and its range of restaurants are a 10-minute drive away.

For more options, discover our guide to the best luxury hotels in Alaska.

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