If you love Christmas, then visiting North Pole, Alaska is perfect for you as the community stays decorated for Christmas all year long. You will want to stroll along Santa Claus Lane, St. Nicholas Drive, Snowman Lane, and Kris Kringle Drive, but be sure to obey the candy-cane striped traffic signals.Â
About 2,200 people live in this community. Bon and Bernice Davis first discovered the slough that this the community is near on April 7, 1944. The couple used a law enacted by Congress to obtain 160 acres, where they planned to homestead. Soon, the couple sold off parts of their land to others looking to homestead near Fairbanks. The quickly growing area was called Davis, which was a name that the government had given the area when constructed nearby Ladd Field and Eielson Air Force Base.Â
In February 1952, Dahl and Gaske Development Company purchased most of the original homestead, and they decided to change the name to North Pole. The company hoped to entice a toy manufacturer who wanted to say that they made toys at the North Pole or someone who wanted to open a holiday-themed amusement park. After a court hearing and a vote to approve incorporation, North Pole became an official Alaskan city on January 15, 1953.Â
After taking a family photo any time of the year with Santa Claus, head down Santa Claus Lane, and you will find many delicious places to dine. The crepes are fantastic at North Pole Crepery, or you can enjoy a hamburger and milkshake in a converted railroad car at Little Richard’s Family Diner. You can get excellent Chinese food at Pagoda Chinese Restaurant & Bar. If you want to eat with the elves, you must head to the Elf’s Den Restaurant & Lounge on Mistletoe Drive.Â
4th of July – Celebrate Santa and Uncle Sam together at this festival held at the North Pole Grange, which features food, crafts, music, and games.Â
Winter Solstice Celebration – Watch fireworks, shop for Alaskan crafts and enjoy the Christmas decorations during this three-day festival in downtown Fairbanks.Â
Christmas in Ice - See Christmas-themed ice sculptures, find your way out of an ice maze and go ice skating at this December festival held next to the Santa Claus House.Â
Winterfest – Shop with over 35 craft vendors at this December festival held at North Pole Mall.Â
Denali Winterfest – Watch dog-sled races, go hiking, and join park rangers for informative programs during this February festival at Denali National Park.Â
Denali National Park is about 134 miles south of North Pole. A great way to explore this park is on the shuttle, where you can listen to a trained naturalist explain what you are seeing. Take a helicopter ride and land on one of this park’s glaciers, where you can go glacier hiking. Rent an ATV or a jeep to make a path over the tundra, or choose to go with a guide on a multi-day hike at this park covering more than 6,000 acres.Â
Wrangell St. Elias National Park is about 243 miles south of North Pole, Alaska, and you will love the drive down the Richardson Highway. Wrangell St. Elias is the largest national park in the U.S., and you can find lots to do there. Start your visit at the Copper Center Visitor Center, where you can learn about Alaska’s different ethnic groups. Fabulous hikes also start at this center. Then, take the 2.5-hour drive along McCarthy Road to see the scenery and wildlife. Take a guided tour of the abandoned Kennicott Mines, where workers mined copper from 1903 to 1923. Go for a flight over the Bagley Ice Field, which is the largest non-polar ice field in the world.Â
Chena River State Recreation Area is a fabulous outdoor space to explore. You can take sled dogs out for a run, or there are great hiking paths to follow at this 254,080-acre preserve. If you are looking for an all-day hiking adventure, follow the 15-mile Granite Tors Trail.Â
Denali State Park is a beautiful place to go hiking. You will want to explore Curry Ridge’s alpine tundra and the bottomland along the Tokositna River. In the early summer, this is a wonderful place to see bears catching salmon. Byers Lake is the perfect destination for a paddling adventure.Â
Harding Lake State Recreation Area is a great place to go fishing for Arctic char, burbot, and lake trout. All types of watercraft are welcome on Harding Lake, and the park also features areas where you can play volleyball, baseball, and horseshoes. There are over 90 campsites if you would like to spend the night.
Visitors to North Pole, Alaska are greeted by a 42-foot-tall Santa Claus statue that proudly stands on a white base with red stripes. Santa is dressed in his red suit and raises a gloved hand to wave at all who pass by. The 800-pound statue was initially located at Westlake Mall in Seattle before being moved to its current location in front of the Santa Claus House. It was the largest Santa Claus statue globally for many years.Â
You can find terrific campgrounds in Fairbanks. Tanana Valley Campground And RV Park is about 10 minutes from downtown Fairbanks. Take advantage of their free internet to tell your friends about your great adventures in the Last Frontier state. Chena River State Recreation Site covering 20 acres offers widely spaced camping spots along the river. Northern-Moosed RV Park & Campground is on the Elliot Highway about 12 miles north of Fairbanks. It offers scenic beauty and wildlife not found in the city.Â
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in North Pole, AK, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in North Pole?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in North Pole from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in North Pole?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
