Why These Months Are The Worst Time to Visit Alaska

If you’re planning a bucket list trip to Alaska and wondering when to pack your bags, take it from me (I spent seven winters in interior Alaska): avoid visiting in December and January unless you’re a fan of the extreme.

The worst time to visit Alaska is when it is both dark and intensely cold. Those months can be very challenging, but maybe you’re up for the adventure.

As Fairbanksians, we always said: The light in Alaska comes back around Valentine’s Day. Remember this and plan your travels around it!

By mid-February, it’s brighter, and people’s moods lift. We aren’t hibernating as much, and the sun, while still low, starts to warm faces, even though the air remains shockingly and dangerously cold.

This is all a matter of opinion, though! And maybe, other months I mention in this post concern you more.

💡 Wondering when the BEST time to visit Alaska is?
Check out my advice based on my experience HERE!

Why Are December and January the Worst Time to Visit?

These months mark the darkest time in Alaska. For example, the winter solstice in Fairbanks brings only 3 hours and 40 minutes of “daylight”. That is, if it is a clear day without ice fog. There can be days on end of ice fog and overcast skies.

The darkest days can feel suffocating, especially if you miss the brief daylight and face another 24 hours in darkness.

Many Alaskans wish to escape to warmer and sunnier locations such as Hawaii and Mexico in December or January. You should, too if you are not interested in experiencing these conditions in Alaska.

Staying home often means grappling with a profound sense of feeling drained, making it the season of endless coffee and vitamin D drops! The lack of sunlight can truly weigh on your spirits as a local. It might also disappoint you as a visitor!

The Cons: Alaska in December and January

Alaska’s beauty is undeniable, but travel to Alaska in December and January can challenge even the most adventurous spirits.

In Fairbanks, temperatures often nosedive below -20°F, making outdoor activities less inviting and sometimes hazardous.

Extreme Cold and Darkness

Visiting Alaska in January means truly embracing the cold. Fairbanks experiences some of the harshest winter conditions. Daylight is scarce—about 3 to 4 hours in December and slightly increasing to about 4 to 5 hours by late January.

You’ll need to pack serious winter gear, including a down parka (buy one if you don’t own one), insulated boots, and other essentials to withstand the extreme cold!

Travel Can Be Tricky

Alaska winter travel can be rough. Snow and ice can disrupt flights and road travel, potentially stranding visitors.

Don’t even think about driving from Anchorage to Fairbanks or vice versa unless you have tons of experience. Sometimes this route is outright impossible in the winter.

If your vehicle breaks down, you need to have emergency blankets, extra gear, food, and water, to stay warm and safe until help arrives. Hopefully, you’re in an area with cell coverage!

Wildlife is Less Active

Most animals are less active or hibernating, so wildlife spotting is tough. The moose are out in abundance though!

For those seeking the Northern Lights, these months offer magical views on clear nights. However, if you prefer more comfort and accessibility, consider visiting in the shoulder seasons when the weather is milder and daylight more generous.

My favorite months for viewing the Northern Lights are September, October, and March!

What is the Worst Month for Mosquitoes in Alaska?

June is by far the worst month for Alaska mosquito mayhem! There is typically still a lot of moisture leftover from winter and spring so the mosquitoes are thriving and hungry!

I have had moments in Alaska during the month of June where I feel like I am going to go mad due to the number of mosquitoes biting me and buzzing around me at one time.

This is not an exaggeration. I’d try to avoid visiting in June unless you think experiencing the summer solstice (the midnight sun is epic!) in Alaska is worth the bug bites.

Visit Alaska in August if you want more light and fewer mosquitoes. Visit in early September if you want fall colors and gorgeous autumn light.

Other Months to Avoid Visiting Alaska

I don’t want to pick on January and December in Alaska too much because when it comes down to it, unpleasantness can occur year-round.

Break Up Season

This is not when people part ways, but rather it’s a season of snow melt, slush, and MUD! While it is beautiful and bright in April and May, it’s also when driving on dirt roads becomes dicey and unpleasant due to deep mud.

Snow can still happen in April. Lots of rain can happen in May despite it being a “drier month.” It’s a gamble!

My parents always wanted to visit me in April in Fairbanks because it’s my daughter’s birthday month. So, sometimes they won, and one year they got to experience using chains on tires to get up our driveway so we could get out to buy groceries during a freak storm that dropped 2 feet of sweet snow mid-month.

Ice Storms

Freezing rain and ice can also occur, especially in November in Alaska, and particularly in the Interior. It can be tricky navigating this time, but remember, shoulder season travel can be kinder on your wallet!

Fire Season

Fire season can unfortunately last for the bulk of the summer. Cross your fingers that the part of the state you visit in the summer is not experiencing smoke due to the proximity of wildfires.

When it hits, it can seriously limit your plans. For example, in the summer of 2025, sections of the Parks Highway were briefly closed to travel due to the Bear Creek fire.

You may find yourself stuck indoors due to air quality alerts, like we were in Fairbanks back in August 2009, when our neighborhood on Murphy Dome was blanketed in thick smoke and ash. It was very unpleasant. Photo below.

This isn’t to scare you off, just to give you a real heads-up. Alaska is breathtaking, but it comes with some wild unpredictability, and summer isn’t immune to that!

Final Thoughts on the Worst Time to Visit Alaska

Please remember, my advice here is based on general opinions to help you love your trip to Alaska. If you plan one trip, ever, to Alaska, you want to love i,t right?

When it comes down to it, consider your interests, when you can get the most time off from work, and when everyone in your family will have the best time checking out the things they want to experience.

Don’t let any worries stop you from booking your dream trip to Alaska. So much is waiting to be explored in the Last Frontier, and you deserve to experience it!

So…still thinking of braving January? You’ve been warned! And, you are brave. But if you’d rather enjoy Alaska at its best, here’s my guide to the best times to visit Alaska!